Most Popular
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[Exclusive] Korean military set to ban iPhones over 'security' concerns
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Korean, Romanian leaders discuss defense tech, nuclear energy
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[Graphic News] 77% of young Koreans still financially dependent
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S. Korea calls on Japan to confront history amid Yasukuni Shrine visit
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Yoon’s jailed mother-in-law excluded from latest parole list
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Hybe and Min Hee-jin, CEO of Hybe sublabel Ador, lock horns
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[Pressure points] Leggings in public: Fashion statement or social faux pas?
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Yoo Jae-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok team up in 'Whenever Possible'
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Korea’s homegrown nanosatellite successfully launches into space
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Aging population to drive down Korea's housing prices from 2040: experts
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N.K. vows to begin disposal of resort assets
Seoul hints it could rely on international law to resolve issueNorth Korea on Friday notified South Korea that it would begin taking “practical steps” to dispose of South Korean assets at its Mount Geumgang resort, a move that could further aggravate inter-Korean ties.Friday was the deadline by which the North had demanded the South “dispose of its rights to the properties” at the scenic resort on
July 29, 2011
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Parties focus on flood countermeasures
GNP calls for emergency action; DP slams Seoul’s ‘neglect’ of safety dutiesAmid the record-breaking flood damage in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, political parties cancelled most of their parliamentary schedules and focused on aid measures and victims’ relief activities.The Grand National Party was especially tense as Seocho-gu and Gangseo-gu, the two districts hardest hit, are both represented by
July 28, 2011
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Lee not to grant special pardon for Liberation Day
President Lee Myung-bak will not grant special pardons for local prisoners and convicted people on the National Liberation Day, which falls on Aug. 15, one of Lee's close aides said Thursday. South Korea's president usually grants a special pardon in commemoration of major national holidays. The Liberation Day marks the end of the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula. "This yea
July 28, 2011
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GNP to push special law for savings banks victims
The ruling Grand National Party set to work on legal measures to guarantee comensation for the victims of the savings bank scandal.GNP members of the special committee met with Financial Services Commission Chairman Kim Seok-dong and Financial Supervisory Service Governor Kwon Hyouk-se on Wednesday to discuss the revision of related laws and the legislation of a special law, officials said.“The go
July 27, 2011
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S. Korean pastor indicted over celebrating N.K. founder's birthday
A South Korean pastor was indicted on charges of secretly entering North Korea to celebrate the birthday of the late North Korean founder Kim Il-sung, prosecutors said Wednesday.The pastor, a U.S. resident who was identified only by his surname Hong, is accused of visiting the communist state in April without government approval, and taking part in celebrations of the late leader's birth on April
July 27, 2011
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Letter from U.K. urges passage of N. Korea rights bill
Some members of the U.K. Parliament have sent letters to major political parties in Korea, urging them to work together to pass a long-delayed bill on North Korean human rights, a North Korea watcher here said. “Twenty U.K. MPs sent the letter on July 20, directed to four major political parties of Korea,” Ha Tae-keung, who runs Open Radio for North Korea, a Seoul-based radio station that broadcas
July 26, 2011
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GNP floor leader spurs tuition talks
Grand National Party floor leader Hwang Woo-yea urged the parliamentary education committee to accelerate the university tuition cut discussions and come up with detailed measures by the beginning of the fall semester.“I have been told that the education committee has made little progress lately,” said Rep. Hwang in the ruling party’s floor meeting on Tuesday.“Should the committee fail to reach a
July 26, 2011
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Women‘s rights advocates call for election nomination reform
Women’s rights advocates called for reform in the male-dominated political system on Tuesday to help more female candidates run for election, as part of efforts to expand their presence in politics.In a forum held by the state-run Korea Women’s Development Institute, panelists pointed out that a small fraction of the National Assembly and local legislatures were made up of women, suggesting variou
July 26, 2011
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Cabinet approves revised ethics code for government official
The Cabinet authorized the implementation of a revised ethics code for government officials Tuesday that bans retired officials working for private firms from seeking favors from their former colleagues and handling issues they directly dealt with while in office.The revision, set to take effect after a three-month notification period, came after a series of former financial regulators were arrest
July 26, 2011
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Korea, India sign nuclear energy pact
South Korea and India on Monday signed a nuclear energy cooperation pact that will allow Seoul firms to sell atomic power plants in India’s multi-billion-dollar nuclear energy market, Korean officials said. President Lee Myung-bak and his Indian counterpart Pratibha Patil signed the agreement after their summit talks in Seoul. The agreement, forged after years of discussions, will provide South Ko
July 25, 2011
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Lee’s brother to visit Latin America as envoy
Lee Sang-deuk, former parliamentary vice speaker and elder brother of President Lee Myung-bak, left for South America on Monday as a special presidential envoy.Lee is to attend the Peruvian presidential inauguration ceremony Thursday and deliver President Lee’s personal letter to the new President Ollanta Humala, officials said.He is also expected to hold talks with Humala over a wide range of iss
July 25, 2011
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Panel starts probe on savings banks, watchdogs
The special parliamentary committee on the savings banks corruption scandal began its investigation on Monday, but is still mired in conflict over witness selection, the key factor in the upcoming public hearing.Members of the committee visited the central headquarters of Busan Savings Bank on Monday morning to meet with victim representatives and to audit the related documents.“Financial authorit
July 25, 2011
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Lee urges people to vacation here for economy
President Lee Myung-bak called Monday for South Koreans to head to domestic destinations for vacation, saying it will contribute greatly to spurring domestic demand that is key to revitalizing the country’s economy.Lee made the appeal in a biweekly radio address, saying that sluggish domestic demand is to blame for economic difficulties felt by low-income people, though South Korea’s economy is fa
July 25, 2011
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Bali talks give green light for six-party talks
Hopes are rising that the long-stalled six-party talks may resume as the two Koreas held a rare official talk for the first time since 2008.The South Korean top nuclear envoy Wi Sung-lac and his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho held surprise talks in the Indonesian island of Bali on Friday.“Our meeting was constructive and fruitful,” Wi told reporters after the talk. “We have agreed to make joi
July 24, 2011
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Lee Jae-oh likely to quit Cabinet
Minister for Special Affairs Lee Jae-oh is likely to quit his Cabinet post next month and return to party politics, sources close to him said Friday. “Minister Lee has long before made up his mind about departure from the Cabinet,” Yonhap News quoted an unidentified source at the ruling camp as saying. “I understand he plans to tender his resignation around Aug. 15, by which the parliament’s confi
July 22, 2011
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GNP, Cabinet agree to form joint body on public welfare
The government and the ruling Grand National Party will form a joint consultative body to decide on welfare and financial support in next year’s budget.GNP chairman Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and Presidential Chief of Staff Yim Tae-hee reached the agreement at a large-scale government-ruling party conference at the National Assembly on Thursday, the party spokesperson said.“T
July 21, 2011
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Hong’s privatization pitch stirs controversy
GNP leader proposes public offering of bailed out firms’ shares without premiumRecently elected Grand National Party leader Hong Joon-pyo has proposed privatizing government bailed-out companies through a public offering of discounted shares with no management premium, prompting further populist controversy.If the so-called “citizen shares” are sold to low-income earners, some 6 million people are
July 21, 2011
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Lee names new vice ministers for agriculture, environment
President Lee Myung-bak named technocrats as the new vice ministers for agriculture and environment Thursday in a minor reshuffle that also affected three other vice ministerial posts.Lee also named actor-turned-former culture minister Yu In-chon as his special adviser.Lee Sang-kil, a senior agriculture ministry official, was tapped as the ministry’s first vice minister, while Yoon Jong-soo of the
July 21, 2011
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Lee to hold summit with Indian president next week
President Lee Myung-bak will hold a summit with Indian President Pratibha Patil early next week to discuss ways to further ties between the two countries, Korea's presidential office said on Wednesday.The talks scheduled for Monday in Seoul will focus on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields, including diplomacy, security, economy, trade and culture, Cheong Wa Dae said.Shortly after
July 20, 2011
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Lee discusses nuclear ties with Malaysian king
President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday discussed with visiting Malaysian King Mizan Zainal Abidin bilateral cooperation on nuclear energy development and cultural exchanges, Lee’s office said.Malaysia plans to build two atomic power plants by 2021 in a bid to reduce its dependence on natural gas and petroleum. Japanese companies recently decided to give up their bid for the nuclear power plant proje
July 20, 2011