Most Popular
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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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[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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Hopes rise for possible Gaza truce deal
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[New faces of Assembly] Architect behind ‘audacious initiative’ believes in denuclearized North Korea
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On May Day, labor unions blast Yoon's foreign nanny proposal
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Seoul Metro to seek legal action against malicious complaints
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Natl. Assembly to pass bill mandating new probe into Itaewon tragedy
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GNP chief resists pressure to resign
Three party leaders quit posts, demanding leadership shakeup Grand National Party chief Hong Joon-pyo said on Wednesday he would lead efforts to rebuild the embattled party, resisting mounting pressure for him to step down and allow Park Geun-hye, the party’s strongest presidential candidate, to take charge. “This is not that I want to keep my post. I want to act responsibly,” he told a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul. As head of a ruling party, he should work to have next yea
Dec. 7, 2011
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GNP in leadership turmoil as senior members quit key posts
Three of the five top ruling Grand National Party leaders quit their party posts Wednesday, bursting into the open pent-up anxieties over the lack of progress in efforts to revamp the unpopular party plagued by election defeats and a hacking scandal.The collective resignations by Reps. Yoo Seong-min
Dec. 7, 2011
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Minor party files charges against president, first lady
A minor progressive party filed legal changes against President Lee Myung-bak and the first lady on Monday for violating the country’s real estate transaction law.The Democratic Labor Party claimed that the decision by Lee and his wife to buy land in southern Seoul for their retirement effectively caused monetary losses for the presidential office.The president bought the plot of land in Naegok-dong for 1.12 billion won ($9.3 million), but the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae had to buy more
Dec. 6, 2011
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Cyber attack adds pressure on GNP leaders
Ten lawmakers demand party be disbanded and replaced by new partyThe ruling Grand National Party’s decision-making body is once again being pressed to resign en masse, amid mounting criticism over a cyber attack on the national election watchdog by an aide to one of its lawmakers.Even members of the Supreme Council suggested that the party should rebuild itself from scratch if it is to stand a chance in the upcoming elections.Council member Rep. Won Hee-ryong and nine other lawmakers issued a st
Dec. 6, 2011
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Mayor Park advised Ahn against new party
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and professor Ahn Cheol-soo held a closed-door meeting late last month, according to officials Tuesday.“I met with Ahn on Nov. 27 in Yeouido,” the mayor said Tuesday over a luncheon with the city council members.“I told him that it may not be wise to create a new political party.”Their one-on-one meeting came shortly before Ahn announced last Thursday that he had no plans to establish a political party.The meeting was requested by Park, who wished to express his gratitu
Dec. 6, 2011
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Labor party files charges against president, first lady
A minor progressive party filed legal changes against President Lee Myung-bak and the first lady on Monday for violating the country's real estate transaction law.The Democratic Labor Party claimed that the decision by Lee and his wife to buy land in southern Seoul for their retirement effectively c
Dec. 6, 2011
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Election cyber attack perplexes ruling party
Opposition drives home DDoS attack involving aide of GNP lawmakerThe Grand National Party was in turmoil Monday following earlier allegations that an aide to one of its lawmakers was involved in a cyber attack against the national election watchdog during the election for Seoul mayor.Last week, the National Police Agency’s cyber investigation unit arrested a former assistant of GNP Rep. Choi Ku-shik, surnamed Gong, and three others for allegedly directing a cyber attack against the National Elec
Dec. 5, 2011
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Cho Seok tapped as second vice minister of knowledge economy
Korea Industrial Complex Corp. President Cho Seok was tapped as the second vice minister of knowledge economy in a small-scale reshuffle, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.The presidential office said that Cho, 54, is fit for the job given his leadership and expertise in energy and resources.Small & Medium Business Corp. President Song Jong-ho was named to lead the Small & Medium Business Administration. Song, 53, was chosen in consideration of his specialty in promoting business activities for SMEs. Pa
Dec. 5, 2011
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Minor left-wing parties unite for election
Three minor left-wing parties have merged to form a new progressive party to increase their chance of winning more seats in next year’s general election.The leaders of the Democratic Labor Party, the People’s Participation Party and an offshoot of the New Progressive Party resolved to create the new Unified Progressive Party on Monday.The group officially separated itself from mainstream consolidation efforts led by the main opposition Democratic Party and the political activists’ group Integrat
Dec. 5, 2011
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Cheong Wa Dae reorganizes to reach young
Cheong Wa Dae will be reorganized to enhance communication with the public and effectiveness in the management of state affairs during the last year of the president’s five-year term, the presidential office said Monday.In a bid to reach out to people in their 20s-40s, Cheong Wa Dae will institute a regular meeting to reflect their needs in crafting or implementing government policies. It will also create a senior-level post in charge of it.The reorganization was finalized during a meeting of se
Dec. 5, 2011
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Election cyber attack perplexes ruling party
Opposition on offensive over cyber attack involving aide of GNP lawmaker The Grand National Party was in turmoil Monday following earlier allegations that an aide to one of its lawmakers was involved in a cyber attack against the national election watchdog during the election for Seoul mayor.Last week, the National Police Agency’s cyber investigation unit arrested a former assistant of GNP Rep. Choi Ku-shik, surnamed Gong, and three others for allegedly directing a cyber attack against the Natio
Dec. 5, 2011
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Former female prosecutor arrested over corruption suspicion
A former female prosecutor embroiled in a corruption scandal was arrested on Monday to be questioned over allegations that she received a luxury sedan and a designer handbag in return for peddling her influence, prosecutors dealing with the case said.(Yonhap News)The Busan prosecutors took the
Dec. 5, 2011
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GNP mulls rise in capital gains tax
Ruling party considers task force on tax increase for ultra-richThe ruling Grand National Party’s attention has been drawn to the possibility of a hike in capital gains taxes after its strongest presidential hopeful Rep. Park Geun-hye stressed the need for it Thursday.Former GNP chairwoman Park said raising taxes on major shareholders’ capital gains and investment returns could help redress economic inequality.Her comments came as the conservative party has been discussing heavier income taxes f
Dec. 4, 2011
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More flocking to Korea for medical services, tourism
The number of foreigners seeking medical service in Korea has grown dramatically in recent years as domestic medical institutions actively promote the quality of their staff and equipment.As many as 81,789 foreigners visited medical centers in the country last year for checkups, surgery or other medical services, up 36 percent from a year earlier, industry sources said Sunday.This year will likely bring a further surge of more than 30 percent, the sources said, noting the popularity of Korean po
Dec. 4, 2011
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GNP mulls open primary system
Experts say number of issues remain to ensure smooth implementationThe ruling Grand National Party is considering introducing an “open primary” system that would allow citizens to participate in nominating its candidates for next April’s parliamentary elections.The party believes that by allowing citizens to play a crucial role in the process, the system could help bring back public interest and shore up voter support.The idea has been raised as the GNP is accelerating reform efforts to regain p
Dec. 4, 2011
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Opposition party launches investigation into election site hacking
The main opposition Democratic Party on Saturday launched a committee to investigate the possible involvement of a ruling party lawmaker in the hacking of the national election watchdog's Web site. The move came after the National Police Agency said Friday it is seeking arrest warra
Dec. 3, 2011
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GNP lawmaker denies cyber attack involvement
A lawmaker of the ruling Grand National Party denied opposition allegations Friday that he was behind an alleged cyber attack on the national election watchdog’s website during the recent by-elections.Earlier in the day, police sought an arrest warrant for a chauffeur and secretary of Rep. Choi Koo-sik of the GNP on charges of attacking the website of the National Election Commission on Oct. 26.“I don’t know anything about it. I feel like I’ve been struck by a bolt of lightning out of the blue,”
Dec. 2, 2011
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Park stresses fair nomination rules
Park Geun-hye, the leading presidential hopeful for the ruling Grand National Party, stressed the need for a fair and transparent nomination system for next year’s general elections Thursday.She also said that the most pressing issue facing the party is its transformation through integration and harmony.The former GNP chairwoman made clear her intention to run for president in interviews with the new general programming cable channels launched on Thursday.“I basically think a couple of powerful
Dec. 2, 2011
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Lawmaker's aide suspected of hacking into election Web site
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- Police said Friday that they are seeking arrest warrants for an incumbent lawmaker's aide and three other Web site administrators on suspicion of orchestrating massive cyber attacks on the national election watchdog's Web site on the day of the October by-elections. The Nat
Dec. 2, 2011
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Deadlocked National Assembly misses 2012 budget deadline
The National Assembly missed the deadline for next year's budget bill on Friday, as widely expected, with the protracted standoff between rival parties continuing following the ruling party-led parliament's ratification of the free trade deal with the U.S. late last month.South Korean law obliges th
Dec. 2, 2011