Most Popular
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Korea enters full election mode
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Seoul bus drivers go on general strike, cause morning rush hour delays
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Immigrant woman stabbed to death by Korean husband
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Lee Jong-sup resigns as envoy to Australia
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Yellow dust engulfs S. Korea, advisory alert issued
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Official campaigning kicks off for April 10 elections
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S. Korea to boost support for single-parent families
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Court upholds jail term for man who attempted to murder ex-girlfriend
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Kia EV9 wins world car of year
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Korea misses out on global bond index boost
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Private universities could cut tuition fees with gov't support: council
South Korea's private universities could cut tuition fees by as much as 15 percent if the government funds their scholarship programs, the head of a private universities' council said Sunday, amid a growing political debate over tuition cuts. Park Chul, who heads a council of presidents of private universities, told Yonhap News Agency in an interview that the council is surveying its members
June 12, 2011
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State auditor to probe college tuition fees
The nation’s public and private universities will face a sweeping audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection from August, amid a growing public outcry over exorbitant tuition fees, officials at the state audit agency said Friday. “It will be the largest-ever scale,” said Sohn Chang-dong, a BAI spokesperson. About 200, or one third of the entire BAI staff, will be mobilized for the inspection, whic
June 10, 2011
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Rep. Hyun stripped of seat
A rookie lawmaker of the ruling Grand National Party lost his parliamentary seat as the top court Friday upheld his conviction for accepting illegal political donations.Rep. Hyun Kyoung-byoung of the GNP became the 21st member of the 18th National Assembly to lose his seat for violation of the election or political fund laws.Hyun was indicted on charges of accepting a total of 130 million won ($12
June 10, 2011
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Lee replaces top Blue House aides
Reshuffle affects key posts of politics, publicity and welfarePresident Lee Myung-bak on Thursday replaced his top aides for political affairs and public relations as well as his spokesperson in a partial shakeup of presidential secretaries 10 months ahead of the general elections next year.The reshuffle of senior secretaries, which was previously scheduled for after the ruling Grand National Part
June 9, 2011
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Gong loses Assembly seat on conviction of illegal funding
Rep. Gong Sung-jin of the ruling Grand National Party lost his parliamentary seat Thursday as the Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s decision to convict him of receiving illicit political funds.The top court confirmed the appellate court’s ruling that sentenced the 58-year-old politician to eight months in jail ― suspended for two years ― and fined him 158.38 million won ($146,133). Gong Sung
June 9, 2011
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DP pushes 3-step plan tuition fee cut
As students vowed to stage a candlelight protest on Friday calling for tuition cuts, the main opposition Democratic Party on Thursday announced its three-stage plan toward that goal.“We will first restore the scholarship system for the low-income bracket, which the ruling party ruled out last year through budget reduction,” said Rep. Park Young-sun, the party’s policy chairperson.“The next steps w
June 9, 2011
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GNP turns against probe unit closure
Lawmakers increasingly oppose plan to shut Central Investigation DepartmentA parliamentary committee’s move to abolish the prosecution’s core investigation unit faced an obstacle as the majority of ruling party lawmakers opposed the plan, after Cheong Wa Dae urged the party to consider the matter prudently.The Grand National Party held a general meeting on Thursday to discuss whether to close down
June 9, 2011
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Lee names new top aides
President Lee Myung-bak on Thursday replaced some of his aides, including senior presidential secretaries for political affairs and public relations.Rep. Kim Hyo-jae of the Grand National Party was named to succeed Chung Jin-seok as senior presidential secretary for political affairs.The presidential office also appointed Kim Du-woo, executive presidential secretary for planning and management, to
June 9, 2011
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Justice Ministry ban mulled for prosecutors
Amid debate over recent demands to close down the prosecution’s core investigation unit, the parliamentary subcommittee on judicial reform is considering banning prosecutors from working in the Justice Ministry.The committee met on Wednesday to discuss the possible revision of the current prosecutor’s office law, officials said.The bill would forbid prosecutors from working in the ministry and est
June 8, 2011
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DP proposes tuition cut legislation
Ruling bloc prefers fees help tailored toward disadvantaged studentsDebate over college tuition cuts once again picked up momentum in the parliamentary interpellation on social, education and culture issues on Thursday.The opposition parties called for an immediate tuition cut, whereas the ruling party claimed that an unconditional cut could lower the education level.“Some 7 trillion won or half o
June 8, 2011
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Parties blame Cabinet for savings banks scandal
During the parliamentary appellation on Thursday, parties blasted the Cabinet on the savings banks scandal and other vital economic issues.The opposition camp condemned the current administration for neglecting supervision over the savings banks, while the ruling party attributed the domino fall to the financial policies adopted by past administrations.Even some ruling party lawmakers aimed their
June 7, 2011
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GNP to keep one-man, two-vote in leader election
The ruling Grand National Party decided in its senior officials’ meeting to maintain a one-man, two-vote system in electing its new chairman early next month.The party’s standing national committee, held Tuesday at the Air Force Club, voted unilaterally not to adopt the one-man, one-vote system earlier suggested by the emergency policy committee last week. The committee holds the right to draw up
June 7, 2011
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Prosecution speeds up banks probe
Ex-FSS governor to be summoned, arrest warrant sought for FIU chief By Bae Hyun-jungThe investigation into the high-profile corruption scandal involving savings banks was picking up pace Tuesday as prosecutors were set to summon former governor of the Financial Supervisory Service Kim Jong-chang for questioning.The central investigation unit of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office was expected to inter
June 7, 2011
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Ratification of Korea-U.S. trade deal set to be decisive test for alliance
The planned parliamentary ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade accord is set to put to test the solidarity of opposition groups, gauging how far they could go in forming an alliance to beat the ruling party in next year’s key elections, political observers note.The Cabinet approved a new ratification bill for the trade agreement last Friday after fixing translation errors in its Korean text a
June 7, 2011
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Opposition solidarity holds key to 2012 elections
DP’s move to form unified party shunned by splinter groups seeking loose allianceHe looked gloomy receiving a group of top officials from the then ruling Uri Party at his office in May 2007.“I have never seen democratic reformist forces split like this,” said Kim Dae-jung, the former president, in a subdued voice. He was referring to the wrangling between the Uri Party and other liberal groups, wh
June 7, 2011
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Chung reveals desire for presidential bid
LOS ANGELES (Yonhap) -- A South Korean lawmaker and businessman, internationally known for his role in the football governing body FIFA, said Monday that he has set his sights on next year's presidential election. "Personally, I have much to improve (about myself) but I will try hard to become the presidential candidate of the Grand National Party (GNP)," Rep. Chung Mong-joon said in a meeti
June 7, 2011
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Presidential office calls for caution over proposal to scrap elite investigation team
The presidential office called for caution Monday in parliament's handling of a proposal to scrap an elite investigation team in the prosecution, as the chief prosecutor warned that the proposal, if adopted, would seriously undermine the prosecution's power to battle corruption. The move was seen as a de-facto opposition to the parliament's move to abolish the Central Investigation Department
June 6, 2011
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Lee urges N.K. to end hostility, seek peace
President Lee Myung-bak on Monday urged North Korea to end its hostility and seek peace and prosperity, less than a week after Pyongyang apparently rejected Seoul’s behind-the-scenes proposal for summit talks.“North Korea should break away from the path of confrontation and conflict, and come out onto the path of peace and prosperity,” Lee said during a Memorial Day speech at the National Cemetery
June 6, 2011
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Top prosecutor says bank scandal probe will continue
Presidential office urges GNP to consider unit repeal with cautionProsecutors will continue with corruption investigations at mutual savings banks to the end, despite the move by politicians to scrap the state prosecution’s central investigation unit, Prosecutor General Kim Joon-gyu said Monday. “If a ship sails to a wrong destination, the captain should take the responsibility. There is no reason
June 6, 2011
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Lawmakers to visit U.S. to promote Korea FTA
Leading members of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee are to have one-on-one meetings with U.S. Congressional counterparts to boost prospects for the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement’s ratification, officials said Monday.Reps. Nam Kyun-pil, Gu Sang-chan and Jungwook Hong ― all members of the committee and strong supporters of the KORUS FTA ― will leave for the U.S. within the week.The lawmakers will focus on individual communication with influential Congress members instead of their usua
June 6, 2011