Most Popular
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Jimin of BTS, actor Song Da-eun suspected to be dating, again
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What's next for the government's push in quota hike?
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Woman falls to death from acquaintance's home after exhibiting ‘unexplained' behaviors
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‘Malice should not undermine the system, social order,’ says Hybe's Bang
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N. Korea says it test-fired tactical ballistic missile with new guidance technology
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N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles toward East Sea: JCS
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[Weekender] Geeks have never been so chic in Korea
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Korean firms target EV charging market in US
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Seoul sees further jump in cost of dining out
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Teens banned from entering, working at 'hold 'em' pubs, cafes
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Wearable micro camera used in TOEIC cheating
The Busan police have caught eight people using a self-devised miniature wireless camera and transmitters to cheat on the popular Test of English International Communication, or TOEIC, on Tuesday. The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency booked two men identified by the surnames Jung, 33, and Lee, 31. The men, along with six others who purchased their devices, are suspected of obstructing business and brokering illegal devices.With the miniature video transmitter installed in the collar of his jacke
Jan. 9, 2014
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U.S. tries to end school discipline discrimination
The Obama administration wants to end the apparent disparities in how students of different races are punished for violating school rules. More than half of students in school-related arrests or referred to law enforcement were Hispanic or black, civil rights data show.“In short, racial discrimination in school discipline is a real problem,” according to a letter sent to schools.Civil rights advocates have long said that a “school-to-prison” pipeline relates to overly zealous school discipline p
Jan. 9, 2014
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Over 90% of SNS rumors can be filtered: report
A new technology that can draw a distinction between false rumors and truth on social networking services including Twitter has been developed in Korea, the world’s most wired country.A research team led by professor Cha Mee-young of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology announced Thursday that it is now possible to filter out false rumors with over 90 percent accuracy. “Rumors characteristically spread through arbitrary users. There was a clearly discernible pattern in their use of
Jan. 9, 2014
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‘Pay-per-minute’ cafe appeals to Korean small-coffee shop owners
The “pay-per-minute” café in Europe may be the answer to Korean small coffee house owners who worry over customers overstaying, including job-seekers and students.Ziberflat recently brought this innovative business model to London from Russia, charging three pence per minute. The price is all-inclusive, with access to Wi-Fi and complimentary snacks including biscuits and coffee. Ziberflat comes from the Russian and German words for clock, as guests take an alarm clock from a cupboard on arrival.
Jan. 9, 2014
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‘Groups pressured schools not to use Kyohak textbook’
The Ministry of Education said Tuesday that what it called “outside pressure” had forced schools to withdraw their selection of a controversial Korean history textbook by Kyohak Publishing Co.“The testimony from school officials showed that certain civic groups pressured schools to not use Kyohak’s textbook,” the ministry said in a press release. The textbook had been blasted by historians and opposition party Democratic Party lawmakers for “whitewashing” Japanese colonialism and South Korea’s p
Jan. 8, 2014
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[Uniquely Korean] Postpartum centers make life easy for new mothers
Traditionally for Korean mothers, the three weeks after giving birth have been considered the most critical period for staying healthy for the rest of their lives. They are tasked with keeping their bodies warm by wearing long sleeves even in the scorching heat of summer, not lifting anything heavy and eating miyeokguk, or seaweed soup, three times a day. None of these practices have been scientifically proven to be effective. But the desire of young mothers to follow the traditional rules remai
Jan. 8, 2014
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Prosecutors indict 3 for record personal data leak
Prosecutors have indicted an employee of a local credit rating firm on charges of leaking the personal data of more than 100 million credit card customers, officials said on Wednesday.They also indicted two other individuals on charges of purchasing the illegally obtained information.The largest-ever information leak raised concerns over apparent flaws in the data protection policies and mechanisms of the local credit card companies implicated in the case.The 39-year-old employee, surnamed Park,
Jan. 8, 2014
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Railway strife continues with major rally planned
District courts on Wednesday turned down prosecutors’ request for arrest warrants for eight railway union leaders pending trial over the three-week strike heldlast month.Some 8,700 laborers of Korea Railroad Corp. went on strike on Dec. 9 in protest of the government’s plan to set up an affiliate under the company, a move that the union believes is aimed at rail privatization. The walkout is the longest on record.While the government and KORAIL remained steadfast in their pursuit of key figures
Jan. 8, 2014
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Health minister urges doctors to call off strike
Health and Welfare Minister Moon Hyung-pyo on Wednesday demanded doctors withdraw their plan to stage a walkout this month, stressing that the government’s new medical policies are not aimed at liberalizing the country’s health care system.“The government’s plan to allow hospitals to establish for-profit subsidiaries is not intended to break down their current governance structure but is to enhance their management efficiency,” Moon said in a meeting with reporters in Seoul.The minister suggeste
Jan. 8, 2014
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Courts deny arrest warrants for 8 rail union leaders
Local courts have rejected arrest warrants for eight rail union leaders, court officials said Wednesday, in a blow to a police probe into the nation's longest rail strike.On Saturday, police requested warrants to formally detain eight executives of provincial offices of the state rail company's union. All are alleged to have played major roles in the recently-ended strike and are awaiting trial.But courts, including the Seoul Western District Court and the Daejeon District Court, turned down all
Jan. 8, 2014
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[Graphic News] Economic burden of suicide, depression surging in Korea
The socioeconomic costs of suicides and depression jumped more than 40 percent between 2007 and 2011, a report showed on Tuesday.According to the state-run National Health Insurance Service, Korea saw 10.38 trillion won ($9.71 billion) in economic losses as an effect of people committing suicide or suffering from depression in 2011, a 41.5 percent increase from the 7.33 trillion won recorded in 2007.The report studied medical costs spent by people diagnosed with depression as well as financial a
Jan. 7, 2014
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History textbook row escalates as political parties enter fray
A local high school announced Tuesday that it is overturning an earlier decision to use a controversial history textbook from Kyohak Publishing Co., following a firestorm of criticism from its students, alumni, parent and civic groups.“Unlike our original intention of wanting to provide balanced history lessons, there is now the risk of students suffering from severe division and distrust among students, teachers and parents,” Park Sam-ok, the principal Park Sam-ok of Sangsan High School in Jeon
Jan. 7, 2014
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[Photo News] Gearing up for Seollal
Jan. 7, 2014
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Pathway out of poverty narrows for Koreans
The number of South Koreans pulling themselves out of poverty or moving into the upper income brackets has dwindled in recent years, a report showed on Tuesday.According to the Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs, the rate of people moving out of poverty has decreased more than 8 percentage points from 32 percent in 2005-06 to 23 percent in 2011-12. This means that one out of every three low-income households was able to move up to the upper-income brackets in 2005-06. But in 2011-12, o
Jan. 7, 2014
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SNU introduces new enterprise major
Seoul National University announced Tuesday that it is creating a new major for students who want to start up venture businesses. According to the university, the newly created “Business Venture and Entrepreneurship Management” degree program is intended to teach professional business knowledge as well as have students take humanities, social sciences and science classes. Those subjects, often overlooked by business majors in South Korea, are to help equip them with creativity and other skills r
Jan. 7, 2014
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Subway crime rate increases sharply
The number of subway crimes sharply increased last year, led by sexual crimes and thefts, despite the South Korean government’s efforts to prevent them, police data showed Tuesday. According to the Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency, a total of 412 crimes occurred in the Gyeonggi Province on the subway last year, which is nearly double the number in 2012. Sex crimes accounted for the most with 147 cases, followed by 105 thefts. Other crimes included physical violence with 56 cases and taking lost
Jan. 7, 2014
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Two nabbed for alleged drug smuggling
Two men have been arrested for allegedly smuggling and attempting to sell more than one kilogram of methamphetamine, prosecutors said Tuesday.The two, identified only by their surnames Jang and Park, were indicted and detained pending trial on charges of violating drug laws, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office said.Both had permanent residency in the United States before they were convicted and deported from the country for their involvement in narcotics violations and other crimes, th
Jan. 7, 2014
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Super Junior Leeteuk loses father and grandparents
Leeteuk, member of K-pop boy group Super Junior, mourned Tuesday the death of his father and grandparents after arriving at a hospital in Seoul where their funerals will be held.His family members were found dead at his home in Sindaebang-dong, southwestern Seoul, on Monday morning. Police are investigating the cause of death while some media outlets have speculated that his father killed his parents and then committed suicide.Leeteuk’s father has been reportedly had a difficult life while takin
Jan. 7, 2014
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Arrest warrant sought for Tong Yang Group chief for fraud
Prosecutors said Tuesday they have sought an arrest warrant for the head of embattled Tong Yang Group for fraud and malpractice in issuing and selling financial products.The 65-year-old Chairman Hyun Jae-hyun is accused of leading the issuance of fraudulent corporate bonds and commercial paper worth over 2 trillion won ($1.86 billion) since around 2007 and deliberately filing for court receivership of its five affiliates last October, inflicting heavy losses on investors and firms.From July to S
Jan. 7, 2014
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Dispute over textbook heating up
Sangsan High School, one of the two remaining high school to have adopted the history textbook by Kyohak Publishing Co., came under fire on Monday from its students, alumni and civic groups who demanded that it withdraw its selection of the controversial book.Earlier in the day, some 20 graduates of Sangsan High School issued a joint statement denouncing the school for choosing what they called “a textbook that distorts history.” The book had been criticized, mainly by lawmakers from the main op
Jan. 6, 2014