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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Human rights commission urges Korea to raise awareness of LGBTQ rights
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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
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Seoul’s Line 4 suspended in rush hour by power outage
Seoul Subway Line 4 was partially suspended by a power outage during rush hour on Monday morning, the first day of the subway’s full operation since the union’s longest strike ended.The power supply was suddenly cut on the northbound tracks between Geumjeong Station and Gwacheon Government Complex Station in Gyeonggi Province at 5:30 a.m., affecting the northbound route to Sadang Station in Seoul for nearly two hours. Line 4, jointly operated by Seoul Metro and the Korea Railroad Corp., connects
Jan. 6, 2014
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Record number of earthquakes hit Korean Peninsula last year
Ninety-three earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or above hit the Korean Peninsula last year, the most since seismic monitoring began in 1978, the weather office said Monday.The figure is also more than double the annual average of 44.5 recorded since 1999 when the observation system was first digitalized.Also last year, 17 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or above struck the peninsula, with 15 of them felt by people, the Korea Meteorological Administration said.By region, there were 52 quakes in the West
Jan. 6, 2014
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Rumor spreads about death of N.K. leader’s aunt
The whereabouts of Kim Kyong-hui, aunt of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and wife of the recently purged No. 2 man Jang Song-thaek, have been unknown for weeks, spawning speculation that she might have died.According to a local media outlet, the North Korean leader’s only aunt is believed to have either committed suicide or died. “It is possible that Kim Kyong-hui committed suicide right after the purge of Jang Song-thaek, or died of a heart attack. We are keeping close tabs on the situation in
Jan. 6, 2014
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Textbook publisher claims schools' refusal to use its material a result of 'witch hunt'
A local publisher of a history textbook that is accused of containing right-leaning ideological biases claimed Sunday that progressive civic groups and politicians are engaging in a "witch hunt" to prevent its material from being taught in classrooms.Kyohak Publishing told Yonhap News Agency that its textbooks passed the inspections system set up by the education ministry and could be taught in schools.It said efforts by certain progressive groups can only be seen as an attempt to paint the book
Jan. 5, 2014
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Seoul to improve disabled bus access
The Seoul Metropolitan Government will expand the operation of low-floor buses to provide better transportation accessibility for the disabled, the elderly and mothers with children, officials said Friday.A low-floor bus has no steps by the doors, allowing easier access for disabled passengers and those with children. The city currently has 2,225 low-floor buses, accounting for 30 percent of the total. The city plans to increase this proportion to 55 percent by 2017. The city also plans to opera
Jan. 3, 2014
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Controversial history text roils schools
Conflicts escalated over a controversial history textbook on Friday as a string of schools withdrew their decision to select the book amid fierce opposition from students and parents.Bundang Youngduk Girls’ High School said it overturned its earlier decision to use the textbook from Kyohak Publishing Co., which had come under fire for supposedly containing wording that was in favor of Japanese colonialism and the junta dictatorship.Earlier in the week, it was reported that 15 of some 800 high sc
Jan. 3, 2014
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Court accepts UPP cabal tape-recording as evidence
Court officials on Friday accepted tape-recorded conversations of the so-called Revolutionary Organization as evidence in the trial of group members for intent to destroy important government buildings in case of a North Korean invasion.Justices at the Suwon District Court chose to admit 32 of the 47 tape recordings presented as evidence by the prosecution. The tape recordings reportedly documented RO members vehemently proposing the destruction of government buildings under the leadership of th
Jan. 3, 2014
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Carpenter’s office raided in Sungnyemun scandal
Police raided the offices and residence of a veteran carpenter suspected of supplying wood imported from Russia for the Sungnyemun Gate restoration project, officials said Friday.Speculations have grown over the materials used in the restoration of the ancient gate in Seoul that some craftsmen allegedly brought wood imported Russia and other regions, instead of using homegrown wood, called geumgang-song.An intellectual crime unit at Korean National Police Agency has been investigating the allega
Jan. 3, 2014
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[Photo News] Moon pays tribute to self-immolator
Former opposition presidential candidate Moon Jae-in pays tribute to Lee Nam-jong, who burned himself to death on New Year‘s Day near Seoul Station to protest government policy, in a visit to Lee’s funeral altar on Thursday. Lee called for the launch of an independent probe into alleged election meddling by the nation’s spy agency. By Ock Hyun-ju, Intern reporter (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)
Jan. 3, 2014
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Court upholds prison term of father for raping daughter
The nation's top court on Friday confirmed a 10-year prison term for a 44-year-old man for raping his own teenage daughter and coercing her to provide false testimony.The father, only identified as his surname Kim, was found guilty of raping and brutally assaulting his underage daughter on multiple occasions in 2012 in his house.The Supreme Court also found Kim guilty of fabricating a key piece of evidence during the course of the trials by forcing the daughter to recant earlier testimony. Kim o
Jan. 3, 2014
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Commission approves restart of three reactors in fake parts scandal
South Korea's nuclear commission on Thursday approved the restart of three nuclear reactors that were suspended after being found to have used substandard parts approved under fabricated quality certificates.The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission said it has approved the restart of the Shin Kori Reactor 1 and 2, and Shin Wolsong Reactor 1, effective immediately, as all problematic parts have been replaced. The three reactors had been undergoing a special inspection since late May when an in
Jan. 2, 2014
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[Photo News] Kicking off new year
Jan. 2, 2014
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Hike in Dokdo budget misses original target
The South Korean parliament failed to raise this year’s budget for promoting the country’s ownership of the easternmost islets of Dokdo as originally planned, despite Japan’s growing attempts to lay claim to the territory, the foreign ministry said Thursday.The National Assembly approved a 4.84 billion won ($4.63 million) budget bill for the government’s efforts in 2014 to globally promote the country‘s ownership of a cluster of rocky outcroppings lying in the East Sea and to counter Japan’s fal
Jan. 2, 2014
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Court rules against cadet’s expulsion
An appellate court in Seoul said Wednesday it has upheld a lower court’s decision that the Korea Military Academy went too far in expelling a cadet for having sex with his girlfriend.The Seoul High Court said it has ordered the expulsion revoked.It said the academy’s regulation banning sex should be construed as banning sex acts that go beyond moral limitations, and excessive application of the regulation could lead to a violation of Constitutional rights.The cadet was kicked out of the academy
Jan. 2, 2014
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Seoul City still faces child care deficit despite subsidy increase
Seoul City is likely to continue its budget deficit for the free child care program this year, despite the increase in subsidies from the central government.The city said Thursday that 60 billion won ($57 million) more was still needed to pay for the child care services, according to the new national budget plan. The National Assembly on Wednesday passed the national budget plan, which increased the public subsidy for child care provision from 20 percent of the cost to 35 percent for Seoul and f
Jan. 2, 2014
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Union leaders continue defying police summons
Leaders of the state-run rail operator's labor union have no plans to appear before police to face questioning over a recently-ended strike by thousands of its members, the union spokesman said Thursday.The longest-ever rail strike in South Korea ended on Monday when rival parties cut a deal with the labor union of state-run Korea Railroad Corp. to form a parliamentary subcommittee on preventing the privatization of rail services.Despite the dramatic closure, police vowed to continue with execut
Jan. 2, 2014
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[Uniquely Korean] Early English education thrives amid concerns
The Korea Herald is launching a new weekly series titled “Uniquely Korean” on Page 3 every Thursday. This series will explore many aspects of Korea that can be classified as “unique” for readers, such as customs, practices, institutions, hot spots and social trends. The column will help guide both Korean and non-Korean readers to the hidden and intriguing gems of Korean culture. ― Ed.Song Joo-hee (not her real name) regularly takes her 3-year-old son to a private English school in Seoul as publi
Jan. 1, 2014
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Health care sector in turmoil as doctors threaten strike
The longest-ever railway workers’ walkout ended early this week, but the nation is likely to face another major disruption in its medical sector as doctors are threatening to stage strikes protesting the government’s latest plans to overhaul medical services.The Korea Medical Association, a lobby group of physicians, said last week that it would finalize a walkout plan on Jan. 11, saying it would not “tolerate” the government’s plan to allow telemedicine and for-profit hospital subsidiaries. A s
Jan. 1, 2014