Most Popular
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Hyundai Motor eyes 80,000 jobs, W68tr investment at home by 2026
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Korea enters full election mode
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Seoul bus drivers go on general strike, cause morning rush hour delays
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Immigrant woman stabbed to death by Korean husband
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Official campaigning kicks off for April 10 elections
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Court upholds jail term for man who attempted to murder ex-girlfriend
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S. Korea to boost support for single-parent families
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Kia EV9 wins world car of year
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Yellow dust engulfs S. Korea, advisory alert issued
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Korea misses out on global bond index boost
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South Korea, Saudi Arabia agree to boost cooperation in defense industries
South Korea's public agency for defense acquisition and its Saudi counterpart agreed to expand cooperation between the two countries' defense industries Sunday. According to South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on developing partnerships between the defense industries of South Korea and Saudi Arabia. Under the MOU, South Korea and Saudi Arabia will form a working group for jointly developing and manufacturing
PoliticsFeb. 5, 2024
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Home prices drive Seoulites out of town
More than 5.47 million Seoulites have moved to a different metro area in the last 10 years, government data showed Monday, as home prices and uncertainties in the real estate market drive many to relocate to cities with more affordable housing. Of the total, some 1.74 million people said their main reason for leaving the city between 2014 and 2023 was housing, according to the Korean Statistical Information Service data on the number of people who relocated from Seoul to other cities and provinc
Social AffairsFeb. 5, 2024
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Speculation grows over disgraced ex-President Park Geun-hye's possible return
Ex-President Park Geun-hye held a book event for her autobiography in Daegu on Monday afternoon, fueling speculations that the disgraced former leader of South Korea is seeking to make a comeback as an influential figure in the country's politics. Park addressed the public during the event's Q&A at a hotel in Suyeong-gu in the city of Daegu -- her birthplace, where she still has sizeable support despite having been impeached and convicted on 16 charges of corruption in 2018. She ta
PoliticsFeb. 5, 2024
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[Bills in Focus] 'Shrinkflation' warnings, tax benefits for tech investment
Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods Proposed by Rep. Park Dae-chul (People Power Party) ● Food manufacturing companies have begun to reduce product volume or alter ingredient content in response to rising prices. To ensure consumers are informed of such changes, this amendment requires companies to indicate changes in product volumes or content on the packaging. Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Act on Restriction on Special Cases Concerning T
PoliticsFeb. 5, 2024
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20 taxis called to presidential residence before dawn
Some 20 taxis were called to the official residence of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in the early hours of Monday by an unidentified caller, local police said, as officials are conducting an investigation for possible "obstruction of business." According to Yongsan Police Station, the score of taxis were stopped by police stationed at Yoon’s residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, while attempting to enter the premises between 2:30 a.m. and 4:20 a.m. Monday. It was fo
Social AffairsFeb. 5, 2024
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[Photo news] Seoul's biggest blessing is you
The new quote "Seoul's biggest blessing is you" is seen on the signboard on the front side of the Seoul Metropolitan Library building in central Seoul. Seoul Metropolitan Government put up the quote in celebration of Seollal, Korea’s traditional New Year's day, which falls on Saturday, the city announced Monday. The city government has displayed quotes collected from citizens since 2013 on the signboard hung at the former Seoul City Hall main building.
Social AffairsFeb. 5, 2024
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N. Korea slams Seoul defense chief's anti-Pyongyang warning as 'catalyst' for clash
North Korea on Monday denounced South Korea's defense minister over his latest warning that Pyongyang will face the end of its regime in the event it wages war, calling his remark a "catalyst" for a physical clash. Minister Shin Won-sik warned on Jan. 24 that Pyongyang will face the end of its regime in the event it wages a war, hours after North Korea fired several cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea. During his visit to the 17th Fighter Wing at Cheongju Air Base, 112 kilometers
DefenseFeb. 5, 2024
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Yoon records New Year's interview with KBS amid first lady controversy
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday recorded a New Year's interview with public broadcaster KBS, his office said, as all eyes are on what he will say regarding allegations his wife accepted a luxury handbag as a gift in 2022. The filming took place at the presidential office in Seoul, the office said in a notice to reporters, without elaborating. The interview will reportedly air on KBS on Wednesday, two days before the start of the Lunar New Year holiday. Pressure has mounted on Yoon to addr
PoliticsFeb. 4, 2024
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Court jails man for draft-dodging 'because he played Battlegrounds'
The Supreme Court recently confirmed a sentence of one year and six months in prison for a South Korean man who refused his mandatory military service, after the court dismissed his claims of "being against all war and violence," partly based on his avid playing of the battle royale game "PUBG: Battlegrounds." The defendant was indicted in November of 2018 on a charge of violating the Military Service Act, which stipulates that all able-bodied South Korean men are mandated to
Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024
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Half of female elementary school teachers think of quitting
Some 50.1 percent of the female teachers at elementary schools in 2022 said they intend to quit before reaching retirement age, a report by the Korean Educational Development Institute showed Sunday. The state-run institute surveyed 2,803 elementary school teachers across the country in 2021 and 2022. The research found that 50.1 percent of the female respondents in 2022 said they will not continue to teach until retirement, up from 40.5 percent the year before. The percentage of female teache
Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024
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Major parties compete with populist pledges, proposals
The rival parties in recent weeks have fired off a flurry of competing pledges and proposals as they head into a general election in April, but critics denounced several of those promises for being populist. The ruling People Power Party interim Chair Han Dong-hoon on Thursday indirectly proposed to slash lawmakers' salaries to almost half of what they are now. During a meeting with other decision-makers in the party, Han suggested to "level the amount of tax the lawmakers pay to the amount
PoliticsFeb. 4, 2024
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Seoul's "Haechi" gets a makeover
Seoul Metropolitan Government recently unveiled the new design for its mascot Haechi, the character's first design change since its designation as the capital city’s official symbol in 2009. The new design of Haechi, whose design is based on the mythical haetae from Korean folklore, has a pink body with blue-green stripes. Seoul City Hall said it took the colors from Korea’s traditional colorwork for wooden buildings, known as “dancheong,” The colors replace the prev
Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024
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Korea to push for ‘fundamental shifts’ in health insurance for sustainability
South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare on Sunday rolled out a five-year plan to push for “fundamental shifts” in the national health insurance system to ensure sustainability in the face of a health care supply crisis and rapid population downsizing. The 2024-28 comprehensive plan aims at better compensating essential but undervalued medical services to tackle the shortage of medical professionals in certain sectors, as well as target the issues of overtreatment and overs
Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024
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4 in 10 fire officials have mental health concerns: report
Four out of 10 fire officials were found to have suffered from mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep disorder, according to survey results released by the National Fire Agency on Sunday. The survey underscores the urgent necessity to address the mental health concerns of fire officials, particularly in light of the recent tragic loss of two firefighters, shedding light on the challenging working environments they face. The two were trapped while responding to a fire a
Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024
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Bereaved families protest president's veto of Itaewon tragedy probe
Bereaved family members of those who lost their lives in the Itaewon Halloween tragedy marched in the streets of Seoul on Saturday in protest of President Yoon Suk Yeol's decision to shoot down a special bill authorizing a new probe into the deadly crowd crush in October 2022. The family group and civic groups from across the country held a joint press conference in front of a memorial for Itaewon victims in Jung-gu, central Seoul, decrying the president for his decision Tuesday to send the
Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024
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3 serious accidents in SMEs reported a week after law expansion
Three serious accidents were reported by enterprises with fewer than 50 employees in the first week since the enforcement of workplace safety laws was expanded, South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor said Sunday. The ministry reported deaths at work at SMEs in Busan, Gangwon Province and Gyeonggi Province since the laws subjecting employers to penalties for fatal accidents were expanded to smaller businesses on Jan. 27. For instance, a male worker in his 50s died after being crushed
Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024
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Seoul aims to revamp street vendors, boost aesthetic appeal
Seoul plans to overhaul its street stands, city officials said Sunday, saying the existing ones were aging and poorly managed. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the city will conduct monthly inspections on street sales facilities and shops for enhanced safety and design management. As of 2022, the city hosted 613 street newsstands and 830 shoe repair stands, most of which have been in operation for over a decade. There are a total of 5,443 other street vendor stalls, such as thos
Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024
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3 in 10 staff at Seoul council have seen sexual harassment
Some 28.3 percent of employees at the Seoul Metropolitan Council said they have either witnessed or experienced sexual harassment in some way at the workplace, a report by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family showed Sunday. The council was recently notified the results of the assessment on its overall culture by the ministry, officials said, which showed that its members reported authoritative attitudes, nepotism and negative perceptions toward victims of sexual harassment within the org
Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024
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Church elder embezzles funds for 16 years, gets jail term
A church elder accused of embezzling some 420 million won ($310,000) of the congregation's funds was sentenced to two years in prison, the Chuncheon District Court said Sunday. The appellate division of the court upheld an earlier ruling that found the 73-year-old defendant guilty of violating Article 356 of the Criminal Act, which states that occupational embezzlement shall be punished by up to 10 years in prison or a 30 million won fine. The defendant, an elder at a church in Hoengseong-g
Social AffairsFeb. 4, 2024
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Govt. expected to announce medical school quota hikes this week
The government is likely to announce an increase in the medical school enrollment quota this week to address the shortage of doctors in remote areas and essential medicine despite strong opposition from the medical circle, officials said Sunday. If decided, it will be the first hike of the medical school enrollment quota in 19 years. The current limit stood at 3,058. The government has reportedly been looking to raise the annual enrollment quota at medical schools by as much as 2,000 from the cu
PoliticsFeb. 4, 2024