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10-man S. Korea lose to Indonesia to miss out on Paris Olympic football qualification
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Hybe-Ador feud should have limited effect on Hybe's overall performance: analysts
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Second Gimpo civil servant found dead, after apologizing for not finishing work
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DP leader says he will meet Yoon without conditions
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First-ever meeting of president, opposition chief set to finally happen
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NewJeans' singles, Japanese debut to proceed as planned, despite Hybe-Ador feud
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Experts raise concerns about Japan putting pressure on Naver over Line
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Samsung mobile chief, Google device head meet in Seoul
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Blinken calls on China to press N. Korea to end its 'dangerous' behavior
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Ship linked to NK arms shipments to Russia is moored in China: State Dept.
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[PROFILE} Park Won-soon, ‘People’s champion’
Newly elected Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was the unified candidate of the liberal bloc.The 55-year-old civic activist and human rights lawyer made his political debut through this high-profile by-election. It is the first time that a civil society leader without any political party membership has taken the helm of the Seoul municipality.Park has said that he joined the mayoral race after “seeing my fellow people suffer and the country going backward” under the leadership of the preceding GNP-affi
Social AffairsOct. 27, 2011
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Voters hope for a new form of politics
Although it was early in the morning with the mercury dipping to 3 degrees Celsius, the lowest this fall, voters in Seoul cast their ballots in the hopes that the new mayor would enhance their welfare. Featuring an unprecedented contest between a ruling party standard-bearer and a civil society leader, the by-election drew keen attention as its outcome was expected to be a crucial gauge of public sentiment ahead of the general and presidential elections next year.“All voters including myself wan
PoliticsOct. 27, 2011
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No time for Park to adapt for new Seoul mayor
The new Seoul mayor’s term begins Thursday without a transition period to get accustomed to the job, the Seoul Election Commission said on Wednesday. The newly elected Park Won-soon will not have time to arrange the transfer of duties before inauguration because the race was decided in a by-election, called after the resignation of former mayor Oh Se-hoon. Oh had spent a month getting used to the job.“A mayor selected in a regular election is given a month to understand city affairs because ther
Social AffairsOct. 27, 2011
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Police chief takes fire over gun use
The chief of police here is facing heated opposition from human rights organizations and even some officers after telling front line police to use their firearms more often. This will be the third time that the National Police Agency Commissioner-General Cho Hyun-oh has ordered his officers to more readily use their firearms after officers simply watched a massive gang fight unfold. “Police will wage war against organized gangsters by the end of this year,” said Cho.“I will allow all kinds of eq
Social AffairsOct. 27, 2011
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[Analysis] Victory comes with a price for DP
Park, Ahn and Moon likely to gain more political influence The main opposition Democratic Party scored a major win against the Grand National Party in the Seoul mayoral by-election, but that victory came with its own political cost, political observers said Wednesday. The liberal party lent its full support to Park Won-soon, an independent candidate backed by civil groups, in order to take Seoul from the control of the conservative GNP. The decision to root for a civil activist, not one of its p
PoliticsOct. 26, 2011
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Park’s victory a bitter blow for ruling party
Wednesday’s election victory of opposition-backed civic activist Park Won-soon rocked the ruling party, added to President Lee Myung-bak’s woes, and rattled the country’s traditional two-party political landscape.The 9 percentage-point gap in television exit polls piled pressure on the Grand National Party and the presidential office, already reeling from a series of setbacks including an opposition offensive on Lee’s purchase of property for his retirement and the bribery allegations of two of
PoliticsOct. 26, 2011
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High turnout indicates hopes for change
Nearly 50 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots in the Seoul mayoral by-election Wednesday, seemingly indicating their desire for change as the presidential race draws closer. Turnout was more than 48 percent, according to the election watchdog, with more than 4 million out of the 8.3 million Seoul voters turning up at polling stations. The turnout for 11 other posts in smaller local municipalities stood at 46 percent, the National Election Commission said.The higher-than-expected turnou
PoliticsOct. 26, 2011
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N.K. blasts GNP on election day
North Korea on Wednesday attempted to influence elections in South Korea, urging voters to judge the “pro-U.S. and dictatorial” administration of President Lee Myung-bak and the Grand National Party. “The time calls for the people of South Korea to hand down a judgment on candidates of the GNP, who have tried to conjure up ghosts from the Yushin dictatorial regime,” the communist country said in a posting on its official website “Uriminjokkiri.” “Oct. 26 is the day when the military dictator was
PoliticsOct. 26, 2011
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U.S. to strengthen Pacific military presence: Panetta
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta reiterated Wednesday that the U.S. will not only maintain its military presence in the Pacific region, but strengthen it, dismissing speculation over a possible troop drawdown in South Korea.The new American defense chief made the remarks during his meeting with U.S. troops in Seoul. He arrived here in the afternoon as part of his first Asian tour that includes Indonesia and Japan.“The message I brought throughout this region is that we will remain a Pacific p
DefenseOct. 26, 2011
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Exit polls turn out in Park’s favor
Seoul voter turnout 48.6 percentCelebration and disappointment were seen in the liberal and ruling camps, respectively, as Seoul mayoral by-election exit polls favored Park Won-soon.In the exit poll jointly conducted by public broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS, Park got 54.4 percent of respondents’ vote
PoliticsOct. 26, 2011
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Camps tense over turnout
Eyes were fixed Wednesday on the voter turnout of the Seoul mayoral by-election, which is to set the tone for next year’s general and presidential races.According to the National Election Commission, 2.69 million out of 8.37 million voters or 32.2 percent cast their ballot as of 3 p.m. in 2,206 polling stations throughout Seoul.Seocho-gu, the relatively affluent district in southern Seoul, showed a visible rise in turnout in the early morning hours before 9 a.m. but was overrun after lunchtime b
PoliticsOct. 26, 2011
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Candidates eschew flashy campaigns
In terms of campaigning, the race for Seoul mayor was characterized by how relatively unflashy it was, focusing instead on volunteering and directly communicating with citizens.The most conspicuous change from past races was the relative lack of loudspeakers, which were typical of street campaigning in the past.The two candidates decided they should listen more and speak less to win the public’s heart, especially considering the public’s general discontent with politics and the ongoing economic
PoliticsOct. 26, 2011
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Teachers’ trip to help Ulsan Orphans
A teachers’ volunteer group is to host a trip to an Ulsan orphanage on Sunday. The T-hope Korea ― which stands for Teachers Helping Other People Everywhere ― is seeking at least 30 people to help with four different activities catering to 100 kids at the Eon-yang home from 3-5 p.m. The activities are divided into: Those for nursery and kindergarten students; arts, crafts and hiking for elementary and middle school students; games and chatting for high school girls; and soccer for high school boy
Oct. 26, 2011
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Pets win prizes for CARE
A charity dog costume contest will be held in Seoul on Oct. 30. The event to benefit Korean animal charities will run from 1-6 p.m. at Roofers bar in Itaewon. The event for Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth will see pooches decked-out in costumes take part in talent shows to win prizes. Owners are invited to dress up too at the Halloween-themed event. Entry to the contest is a suggested donation of 5,000 won to go towards CARE’s work to protect animals in Korea. The charity aims to prevent
Oct. 26, 2011
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Booze for donations at Busan bar
A party is to be held in Busan on Thursday to collect cash and goods to help a women’s shelter there. The event at HQ Jangsan from 7:30-11 p.m. is part of a drive to collect items needed by vulnerable women seeking refuge at Busan Women’s Shelter. A free Cass beer or shot will be offered to every person bringing a toiletry item to donate to the drive. Those who are unable to attend the event can still donate items at the bar, near Jansan Subway Station’s exit 5, or at other drop-off points inclu
Oct. 26, 2011
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Day of events raises millions to fight cancer
Two fund-raisers to support cancer sufferers have made almost 4.5 million won in one day. First, a Cancer Sucks event at White Box Theatre in Seoul on Saturday afternoon raised almost 2 million won for the Korean Cancer Society.Participants paid 10,000 won each to dress up and dance to record a music video. “Overall, it was a fabulous event,” said organizer Mitzi Kaufman. “A huge thank you is due to all the donors, volunteers, and participants.”Kim Seon-mi of the Korean Cancer society said: “The
Oct. 26, 2011
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Voters hope new Seoul mayor will bring better welfare
Although it was early in the morning with the mercury dipping to 3 degrees Celsius, the lowest this fall, voters in Seoul cast their ballots in the hopes that the new mayor would enhance their welfare. Featuring an unprecedented contest between a ruling party standard-bearer and a civil society leader, the by-election drew keen attention as its outcome was expected to be a crucial gauge of public sentiment ahead of the general and presidential elections next year.“All voters including myself wan
PoliticsOct. 26, 2011
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Pets win prizes for CARE
A charity dog costume contest will be held in Seoul on Oct. 30. The event to benefit Korean animal charities will run from 1-6 p.m. at Roofers bar in Itaewon. The event for Coexistence of Animal Rights on Earth will see pooches decked-out in costumes take part in talent shows to win prizes. Owners are invited to dress up too at the Halloween-themed event. Entry to the contest is a suggested donation of 5,000 won to go towards CARE’s work to protect animals in Korea. The charity aims to prevent s
Oct. 26, 2011
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Day of events raises millions to fight cancer
Two fund-raisers to support cancer sufferers have made almost 4.5 million won in one day. First, a Cancer Sucks event at White Box Theatre in Seoul on Saturday afternoon raised almost 2 million won for the Korean Cancer Society.Participants paid 10,000 won each to dress up and dance to record a music video. “Overall, it was a fabulous event,” said organizer Mitzi Kaufman. “A huge thank you is due to all the donors, volunteers, and participants.”Kim Seon-mi of the Korean Cancer society said: “The
Oct. 26, 2011
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Sharing through art
Artists from here and abroad are to display works inspired by the House of Sharing in December. The Multi-Media Art Exhibition will center on themes of sexual slavery, human trafficking, and violence towards women.The “Liberating Herstories” exhibition will also feature paintings by former “comfort women,” who have used art as a form of therapy to exorcise the pain of their past experiences, such as a painting entitled “Punish the Responsible” by survivor Kang Duk-gyeong, which calls for vindica
Oct. 26, 2011