Most Popular
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Medical profs at top hospitals suspend surgeries, clinics
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Exports to US reach all-time high, widen gap with China
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Trump rekindles criticism: US forces defending 'wealthy' S. Korea 'free of charge'
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Samsung chip business back on track, logs W1.9tr operating profit in Q1
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Shinsegae faces showdown with investors over SSG.com's delayed IPO
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Hopes rise for possible Gaza truce deal
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Ex-pro baseball player who killed debtor appeals sentence
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[Music in drama] Rekindle a love that slipped through your fingers
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S. Korea discussed possible participation in AUKUS Pillar 2 with Australia: defense minister
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[New faces of Assembly] Architect behind ‘audacious initiative’ believes in denuclearized North Korea
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‘Poison pills’ linger despite FTA passage
Despite the National Assembly’s approval of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, controversy over so-called “poison pills” in the FTA is expected to linger, observers said.Opposition party members, civic groups and critics have repeatedly demanded the Korean government renegotiate with the U.S. to remove the Investor-State Dispute settlement system from the FTA, but the deal passed without any change.ISD systemCritics say the ISD system allows a large-sized, multinational investment capital or c
PoliticsNov. 22, 2011
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Korea-U.S. FTA reaches end of convoluted road
The Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement was approved by Korea’s National Assembly on Tuesday, putting an end to a tumultuous process that dragged on for more than four years.The path leading to Tuesday’s development began in 2003, when the government drew up an FTA roadmap that included forming such pacts with mega-economies like the U.S.In the following year the concept became a working process with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative expressing interest in forming a free trade pact with Ko
PoliticsNov. 22, 2011
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FTA passage heightens political tension
DP decides to boycott all parliamentary sessions, fight back ratificationThe inter-party conflicts over the long-pending free trade pact peaked as the ruling Grand National Party enforced the trade bill in a surprise plenary session Tuesday, triggering heated backlash from the opposition camp and also from some of its own members.“From now on, the DP shall suspend all of its parliamentary schedules and focus on fighting back the GNP’s violence and expediency,” said Rep. Kim Yoo-jung, floor spoke
PoliticsNov. 22, 2011
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Yu urges China to send N.K. defectors to S. Korea
BEIJING (Yonhap News) ― South Korea’s top official in charge of relations with North Korea on Tuesday asked China to quickly send North Korean defectors to South Korea.Tens of thousands of North Korean defectors are believed to be hiding in China, hoping to travel to Thailand or other Southeast Asian countries before resettling in South Korea.Unification Minister Yu Woo-ik sought cooperation from Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to ensure that “North Korean defectors can quickly come to Sout
North KoreaNov. 22, 2011
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Ex-soldier investigated for spying
A former South Korean Army soldier is being investigated for suspicions of espionage.According to the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency on Tuesday, the former sergeant first class was arrested on suspicion of passing military secrets to North Korea.Police suspect that the soldier, Kim, 34, whose full name was undisclosed to the media, crossed through Shenyang, northeastern China, into the North and handed over information gathered during and after his military service.The police report found tha
North KoreaNov. 22, 2011
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Seven missing after S. Korean cargo ship sinks in South China Sea
Hong Kong and Vietnamese rescue workers are scrambling to find survivors after a South Korean cargo ship sank in the South China Sea as a result of apparent high waves, with three South Korean and four Myanmar crew still unaccounted for, Seoul officials said Tuesday.The 15,000-ton bulk carrier was carrying 21 crew when it went down on Monday afternoon while sailing from Malaysia to mainland China. Fourteen crew members, including six South Koreans, were rescued by other commercial ships and resc
Social AffairsNov. 22, 2011
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‘Denuclearization first, six-party talks later’
North Korea should stop its uranium enrichment program and implement denuclearization measures if it wants to resume the stalled six-party talks, a senior U.S. diplomat said Tuesday.“I think that both the Republic of Korea, the United States and our other partners have been very clear on what North Korea must do to be able to have a resumption of the six-party talks,” U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman told reporters in Seoul after meeting with South Korean Foreign
North KoreaNov. 22, 2011
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Panel suggests talks over Geumgang tours
A presidential advisory panel on national reunification has recommended to President Lee Myung-bak inter-Korean talks for the resumption of tours to the Mount Geumgang resort in North Korea.The recommendation by the National Unification Advisory Council came as Seoul has softened its hard-line stance toward Pyongyang to improve ties soured by two deadly attacks last year.“Although the North rejected our offer for comprehensive talks on the resumption of the tour program, the possibility at this
North KoreaNov. 22, 2011
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Military plans drill to mark Yeonpyeong attack
South Korea will hold a military drill in the West Sea on Wednesday, the one-year anniversary of North Korea’s attack on Yeonpyeongdo.In the drill, units including the Northwest Islands Defense Command, Air Force Operations Command and the Navy Operations Command will engage in an exercise simulating last year’s attack under the command of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Jung Seung-jo. The exercise will also include simulating the defense of Baengnuyeongdo against a North Korean attem
North KoreaNov. 22, 2011
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Yeonpyeong rebuilds, but scars linger
Residents step up work to rebuild homes damaged by North Korean artilleryYEONPYEONGDO ― In early November, the northwestern South Korean island of Yeonpyeongdo was bustling. Builders were everywhere reconstructing the village ruined by North Korea’s shelling a year ago on Nov. 23. They were rebuilding ruined housings, air-raid shelters, a public health care center and a monument to the victims of the shelling. Just 3-4 kilometers from the Northern Limit Line separating the two Koreas, people wer
Social AffairsNov. 22, 2011
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Presidential office welcomes approval of U.S. FTA
South Korea's presidential office welcomed the parliamentary approval of the free trade agreement with the United States, saying the government will continue to come up with support measures for farmers and others."Though it went through a difficult process, it is fortunate that the Korea-U.S. FTA h
PoliticsNov. 22, 2011
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Lifelong learning participation increases among adults
Lifelong learning participation has increased from 29.8 percent in 2007 to 32.4 percent in 2011, but remains short of the OECD average of 40.2 percent, a survey showed Tuesday. Participation in adult education was higher among women, younger people and persons of high income, but remained otherwise, according to the Education Ministry survey. The survey asked 5,000 people between the ages of 25 and 64 to find out patterns and achievements in education and training in terms of lifelong learning s
Social AffairsNov. 22, 2011
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Foreign Ministry reviews scrapping own English test grades
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Trade, which came under fire in September for its officials’ suspected lack of ability to communicate in English, is considering scrapping its in-house English test grades, the ministry said Tuesday.“Foreign Ministry’s assessment on diplomats’ English proficiency has had a stricter standard. For example, a person who gets 800 in the (Test of English Proficiency) is rated TEPS 2 in general, but rated at the lowest fifth level at the ministry,” Foreign Ministry
Foreign AffairsNov. 22, 2011
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Parties to push welfare budget boost
DP to cut on MB-led construction plans; GNP to back Park Geun-hye’s welfare policiesWith next year’s general and presidential elections in mind, parties all set out to boost the budget allocation for welfare projects, though their directions and amounts varied.The main opposition Democratic Party focused on slashing the budgets for construction projects pushed by the Lee Myung-bak government, such as follow-up works on the four-river restoration project and the Jeju naval base construction.“We w
PoliticsNov. 22, 2011
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Yeonpyeong gearing up for recovery but scars linger
Residents step up repair to return to newly-built homes on 1st anniversary of bombingYEONPYEONGDO -- In early November, the northwestern South Korean island of Yeonpyeongdo was bustling. Builders were everywhere reconstructing the village ruined by North Korea’s bombing on the island a year ago on Nov. 23. They were reconstructing ruined housings, air-raid shelters, a public health care center and a monument to the victims of the shelling. Just 3-4 kilometers from the Northern Limit Line separat
Social AffairsNov. 22, 2011
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N.Korea’s denuclearization first, six-party talks later: Sherman
North Korea should stop its uranium enrichment program and implement denuclearization measures if it wants to resume the stalled six-party talks, a senior U.S. diplomat said Tuesday.“I think that both the Republic of Korea, the United States and our other partners have been very clear on what North Korea must do to be able to have a resumption of the six-party talks,” U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman told reporters in Seoul after meeting with South Korean foreign
Foreign AffairsNov. 22, 2011
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Military drill marks anniversary of Yeonpyeong attack
South Korea will hold a military drill in the West Sea on Wednesday, the one-year anniversary of North Korea’s attack on Yeonpyeongdo.In the drill, units including the Northwest Islands Defense Command, Air Force Operations Command and the Navy Operations Command will engage in an exercise simulating last year’s attack under the command of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Jung Seung-jo. The exercise will also include a drill defending Baengnyeong Island against a North Korean attempt t
DefenseNov. 22, 2011
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Former soldier investigated for espionage
A former South Korean Army soldier is being investigated for suspicions of espionage.According to the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency on Tuesday, the former sergeant first class was arrested on suspicion of passing on military secrets to North Korea.Police suspect that the soldier, Kim, 34, whose full name was undisclosed to the media, crossed through Shenyang, northeastern China into the North and handed over information gathered during and after his military service.The police report found t
Social AffairsNov. 22, 2011
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Multicultural center offers free social support classes
A Seoul multicultural support center has begun enrollment for free occupation, language and social support training for foreign brides, migrant workers and multicultural children, according to city officials Tuesday.The Seoul Haevichi Multicultural Family Support Center is accepting up to 360 students on a first-come, first-served basis for its seven courses divided into 26 classes, which will begin December 5.The curriculum includes Korean language courses, care-giving and babysitting occupatio
Social AffairsNov. 22, 2011
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Shares in Ahn’s company riding roller-coaster
The stock price of the antivirus software company founded by Ahn Cheol-soo in 1995 has surged since he was first touted as a potential presidential candidate in early September, leading to fortunes for early investors and shareholder-employees.But analysts have warned of continuing fluctuation in AhnLab’s share price, which they say has far exceeded its proper value.Shares in the company, which was listed in 2001, averaged slightly higher than 20,000 won in the first eight months of the year bef
PoliticsNov. 22, 2011