Most Popular
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1 in 3 Koreans live alone, family types becoming diverse
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Korea, Japan finance chiefs vow to tame rampant FX market volatility
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US 'incredibly concerned' about suspected NK-Iran military ties
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K-pop group's manager dismissed for setting up spycam in theater dressing room
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K-pop singer lost consciousness after being hit by foul ball, cancels show
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Korean Muslim YouTuber's plan to build mosque in Incheon goes viral
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[Kim Seong-kon] Democracy and the future of South Korea
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Why is Apple Pay struggling to get purchase in Korea?
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Yoon's office denies considering liberal figures for key posts
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Seoul says Fu Bao loan 'not going to happen'
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Parliamentary panel approves Korea-EU FTA bill
The foreign affairs and trade committee of South Korea's National Assembly on Thursday passed the nation's free trade deal with the European Union in a vote after rival parties agreed to tax cuts for small livestock farms.The parliamentary committee approved the ratification bill for the long-stalled free trade agreement with the EU by a vote of 17 to 2 in a plenary session after hearing protectiv
April 28, 2011
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Obama goes to Chicago for Oprah, NYC for money
President Barack Obama flew home to Chicago on Wednesday to help his pal and supporter Oprah Winfrey close out her syndicated talk show with an interview with him. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are pictured with Oprah Winfrey during a taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show at Harpo Studios in Chicago, Wednesday.Obama and his wife, Michelle, took turns answering Winfrey's questions
April 28, 2011
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Ruling party leaders resign after election defeat
The ruling Grand National Party leaders offered to resign en masse Thursday after a setback in Wednesday’s local by-elections. The party said it will form an emergency leadership panel next week.“We are fully responsible for the defeat,” GNP chief Ahn Sang-soo said during a meeting of its supreme council.“All the leaders will step down and the party will establish an emergency committee next week.
April 28, 2011
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Opposition wins key elections
Winners of the by-elections (from left): Sohn Hak-kyu, Choi Moon-soon and Kim Tae-ho. (Yonhap News)Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, paved his way to the presidential race next year by beating his ruling party rival in the Bundang-B constituency in Wednesday’s by-elections.The ballot count started soon after the polls closed at 8 p.m. but Sohn’s lead over Kang Jae-sup,
April 28, 2011
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Opposition prospects brighten for 2012 elections
Floor leader Park Jie-won (left front) and members of the main opposition Democratic Party cheer late on Wednesday as candidate Sohn Hak-kyu takes a lead in the by-election vote in Bundang. Yang Dong-chul/The Korea HeraldThe opposition seems to have made important progress in preparations for next year’s general and presidential elections as its candidates marked a better-than-expected performance
April 28, 2011
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Ruling party suffers crushing defeat in by-elections
South Korea's ruling party suffered a humiliating defeat in Wednesday's by-elections, heralding a political upheaval ahead of next year's presidential polls. In the most closely-watched contest, Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), defeated Kang Jae-sup, former head of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP). Sohn's win bolstered his profile as a potential presid
April 28, 2011
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Opposition leader wins in crucial district election: exit poll
Sohn Hak-kyu, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), scored a victory in the ruling party's stronghold of Bundang, just south of Seoul, which is considered the biggest match of Wednesday's by-elections, according to an exit poll by a local TV station. Sohn's triumph, if confirmed, will boost his bid to become South Korea's next president, while dealing a blow to the Lee Myung-b
April 27, 2011
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Turnout up on fierce campaigns, big names: experts
High voter turnout in the by-elections was a result of all-out campaigns by the parties, which had forecast the elections would be a prelude to the general and presidential elections in 2012, experts said Wednesday. They also said the presence of political heavyweights in the races and big-name politicians extending their support for candidates got the attention of apathetic voters.According to th
April 27, 2011
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Voter turnout gets by-election boost
Candidacy of big-name politicians raises electorate participation, officials sayVoters in by-election constituencies headed to nearby polling stations on Wednesday, pulling the turnout rate up to an unprecedented level and reflecting the public’s keen interest in this year’s political races.The general voting rate in 1,353 stations in 38 constituencies nationwide as of 3 p.m. was 28.2 percent, or
April 27, 2011
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Opposition leader wins in crucial district election: exit poll
Sohn Hak-kyu, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, scored a victory in the ruling party's stronghold of Bundang, just south of Seoul, which isconsidered the biggest match of Wednesday's by-elections, accordingto an exit poll by a local TV station. If the forecast is correct, Sohn's triumph will boost his bidto become South Korea's next president, while dealing a blow to theLee Myu
April 27, 2011
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Big issues to resurface after polls
Diverse issues put on hold due to the by-elections, which are expected to shake up the nation’s political circles.The government plans to submit the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement to the National Assembly for ratification in early May after finishing translation checks, according to local news reports.The trade pact will likely cause a clash between the rival parties, which are already fiercely d
April 27, 2011
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Twitter is favored campaign tool
Experts voice concern over spread of false, malicious informationBy Song Sang-hoTo court voters and boost their turnout for this week’s by-elections, candidates and their election campaigners have heavily resorted to Twitter, one of the most popular online social networking services.As its influence has greatly increased with the number of smart phone users having soared to 10 million, Twitter has
April 27, 2011
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Lee discusses FTA with visiting U.S. secretary
President Lee Myung-bak on Wednesday discussed with visiting U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke how to get the pending Korea-U.S. free trade deal approved by the parliaments of both countries.The bilateral free trade agreement, first signed in 2007 and supplemented last December, is yet to be ratified by the National Assembly and the U.S. Congress.Lee’s meeting with Locke Wednesday came a week
April 27, 2011
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Political big picture hangs on by-election results
The futures of the ruling and opposition parties may hinge on the results of Wednesday’s by-elections, considered a preview of next year’s general and presidential races.The by-elections are relatively minor in size, involving the replacement of three lawmakers, one provincial governor and 34 municipal or district officials. Voters cast ballots Wednesday in 38 constituencies nationwide. (From left
April 27, 2011
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Voting begins in S. Korea for by-elections
Polls opened Wednesday for small yet significant parliamentary and local by-elections seen as a test for the rival parties and some of the potential presidential candidates before South Korea elects a new parliament and a new president next year.Three parliamentary seats and one gubernatorial post are on offer in the elections, with the other 34 races vying for small local government heads and cou
April 27, 2011
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Parties pitch in countdown to election fight
Fiercest battle expected in BundangParties and candidates were in last-minute campaign mode Tuesday, the day before the by-elections that may set the course for next year’s general and presidential elections.A major matter of interest for all is voter turnout.In the past, the higher the turnout, the better the chances for the opposition party.In a survey on residents of by-election constituencies,
April 26, 2011
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Seoul to receive German records on reunification
The Seoul government is set to receive a massive database from Berlin on the 1990 reunification of East and West Germany to prepare itself for “sudden changes” in North Korea. President Lee Myung-bak has assigned the Ministry of Unification, which he initially planned to merge into the Foreign Ministry, with two main jobs ― preparation for reunification with the North and taking care of the increa
April 26, 2011
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S. Korea, New Zealand agree to enhance defense cooperation
The defense chiefs of South Korea and New Zealand held talks in Seoul and agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in defense procurement, officials at the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday.Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his New Zealand counterpart Wayne Mapp also exchanged their views on regional security issues and agreed to improve military cooperation in other areas, officials said.
April 26, 2011
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Army keeps hold on JCS leadership
Army, Navy, Air Force to have two vice chiefs each under reform planThe Ministry of National Defense has decided not to introduce a system to rotate the chairmanship of the Joint Chiefs of Staff among four-star generals of the Army, Navy and Air Force, officials said Tuesday.The decision has triggered concerns among military experts who said that the military’s reform drive aimed at enhancing inte
April 26, 2011
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Seoul gov't, parliament close to removing last hurdle to EU trade bill
The ratification bill for South Korea's free trade agreement with the European Union is expected to pass the parliament's standing committee later this week, as the South Korean government has responded positively to rival parties' demand to offer transfer tax cuts to small livestock farms, removing the last remaining hurdle to the long-stalled free trade deal, officials and lawmakers said Monday.
April 25, 2011