Most Popular
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Medical profs at top hospitals suspend surgeries, clinics
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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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Shinsegae faces showdown with investors over SSG.com's delayed IPO
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[Music in drama] Rekindle a love that slipped through your fingers
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Hopes rise for possible Gaza truce deal
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Ex-pro baseball player who killed debtor appeals sentence
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S. Korea discussed possible participation in AUKUS Pillar 2 with Australia: defense minister
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[New faces of Assembly] Architect behind ‘audacious initiative’ believes in denuclearized North Korea
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DP shows no sign of FTA compromise
Lee to visit Assembly today for talks with opposition leadersLiberal political parties on Monday showed little sign of compromise in their opposition to the free trade agreement with the U.S., ahead of President Lee Myung-bak’s planned visit to the National Assembly. “If the president comes empty-handed, he will return empty-handed,” said Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the Democratic Party. “If that’s the case, I think it is best for him not to come at all.”He made the remarks to Yim Tae-hee, Le
Nov. 14, 2011
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S. Korea to continue push to sell stake in Incheon airport
South Korea will keep pushing to sell a stake in the state-run Incheon International Airport to private investors in a bid to enhance its efficiency and global competitiveness, the nation's top economic policymaker said Monday.The Lee Myung-bak administration announced a plan in 2008 to sell up to a
Nov. 14, 2011
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North Korea 'opens luxury goods store'
SEOUL, Nov 14, 2011 (AFP) - North Korea has opened a department store in its capital offering luxury goods for the ruling elite to try to bolster loyalty before a second dynastic succession, officials and reports said Monday.The store named Potongkang opened in February, selling imported high-end br
Nov. 14, 2011
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GNP seeks budget increase for child care
The ruling Grand National Party is pushing for state coverage of child care costs for all newborn babies starting next year through a budget hike of between 800 and 900 billion won.Generous childcare support is part of a policy package GNP plans to unveil this week for those in their 20s through 40s, who shunned the ruling party in the Seoul mayoral by-election last month. “We plan to expand the provision of child care costs and child endowments for children below the age of two to all families
Nov. 13, 2011
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S. Korea to join UN atomic radiation committee in 2012
South Korea will become a full-fledged member of a UN atomic radiation committee next year that can allow the country to play a greater role in enhancing nuclear safety, the government said Saturday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Seoul will join the United Nations
Nov. 12, 2011
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Lee arrives in Hawaii for APEC summit
HONOLULU (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak arrived in Hawaii Friday to attend a summit of Pacific Rim economies aimed at discussing ways to spur the global economy, create jobs, reform regulations and improve energy efficiency and security. The summit of the 21-member Asi
Nov. 12, 2011
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Lee heads to Hawaii for APEC summit
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak left for Hawaii on Saturday to attend a summit of Pacific Rim economies aimed at discussing ways to spur the global economy, create jobs, reform regulations and improve energy efficiency and security. The summit of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic
Nov. 12, 2011
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Lee to pay visit to Assembly for U.S. FTA bill
President hopes to build momentum for ratification as opposition defiance persistsPresident Lee Myung-bak will visit the National Assembly on Tuesday to ask parliamentarians to ratify the pending free trade agreement with the U.S., his aides said Friday. “The president is strongly committed to getting the FTA ratified, so much so that he is willing to persuade opposition lawmakers in person,” Kim Hyo-jae, Lee’s senior secretary for political affairs, told reporters. Lee had initially wanted to
Nov. 11, 2011
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Registration kicks off for overseas voters
Voter registration for next year’s general elections will kick off Sunday for Koreans living abroad, the National Election Commission said Friday. Registration will end on Feb. 11.Overseas residents with Korean nationality or those living abroad temporarily though they have registered resident addresses in Korea, aged 19 and older, are eligible to register by visiting local designated diplomatic offices.Based on information supplied, the commission will confirm the list of voters in March next y
Nov. 11, 2011
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Panel holds first concert on Dokdo
The first-ever classical music concert was held on Dokdo on Friday, under the sponsorship of the parliamentary Dokdo Guardians, a group of lawmakers devoted to advocating Korea’s sovereignty over the disputed islet.Rep. Park Sun-young, lawmaker of the Liberty Forward Party and co-chairperson of the panel, together with other members, attended the concert held on the dock of the islet located in the East Sea neighboring Japan.The afternoon event started with a performance by the Heart Blind Chamb
Nov. 11, 2011
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Lee postpones visit to parliament over U.S. FTA
President Lee Myung-bak postponed a visit to the National Assembly over the free trade agreement with the United States until next week after a last-minute request from the main opposition party, officials said.Lee rescheduled his visit until next Tuesday after the opposition Democratic Party said i
Nov. 11, 2011
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Voter registration to begin for S. Koreans overseas
Voter registration will begin Sunday for South Koreans living abroad in preparation for the April general elections, the first poll in which overseas citizens will be allowed to cast ballots, the National Election Commission said. South Korea enacted a law in 2009 that grants citizens in foreign cou
Nov. 11, 2011
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Lee to make rare visit to parliament over U.S. FTA
President Lee Myung-bak plans to make a rare visit to the National Assembly on Friday to call for quick approval of the long-pending free trade agreement with the United States, a senior presidential official said.The unusual move reflects the urgency that Lee feels on the need to break the parliame
Nov. 11, 2011
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Sohn and Moon move to form united left-wing party
Main opposition Democratic Party leader Sohn Hak-kyu and the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation chairman Moon Jae-in reached consensus on creating an integrated liberal party on Wednesday.They agreed to hold a national convention to consolidate liberal parties and select a new leader, but the idea was slammed by DP lawmakers who had their eye on the party’s leadership.In the Wednesday meeting, Sohn suggested a consolidated national convention be held on Dec. 17 to embrace the entire liberal bloc.The date i
Nov. 10, 2011
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Park pushes envelope in management style
Civic activist-turned-mayor touts ‘change’ to meet expectations of his supportersMicro-blogging and an unconventional approach have been the epitome of civic activist-turned-Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon’s first two weeks in office.Having gained fame by successfully nudging businesses and individuals to donate to his charity venture, Park vowed to raise 300 billion won ($265 million) in social investment funds over the next three years to create more jobs and support young venture entrepreneurs. Hal
Nov. 10, 2011
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Lee travels to Hawaii for APEC summit
President Lee Myung-bak will travel to Hawaii this weekend to discuss ways to spur the global economy, create jobs and reform regulations with other leaders of major Pacific Rim economies, the presidential office announced Thursday,The summit of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, set for Sunday, comes as the world economy struggles to stave off the negative impact of the eurozone debt crisis that has battered Greece and shows signs of spreading.Lee, who will leave for Hawaii
Nov. 10, 2011
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Lee revs up push for FTA ratification
President meets minor opposition leader as parliament plenary session called off againPresident Lee Myung-bak on Thursday stepped up efforts to secure parliamentary ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, as rival parties struggle to find common ground on a key sticking point in the deal. At the National Assembly, a plenary session was called off with the consent of the Grand National Party and the largest opposition Democratic Party. The two parties have been locked in a standoff o
Nov. 10, 2011
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GNP agrees with Park’s policy reform
A group of Grand National Party lawmakers demanding drastic change in the party and the government toned down its complaints to stand in line with former chairwoman Park Geun-hye. “Policy reforms should come first,” they said during a luncheon on Wednesday. They thus expressed support for Park, who gave positive assessment on Tuesday to the group’s reform efforts.“Reform should above all be about getting in touch with the people,” she told reporters. “The reformative members’ claim is worth list
Nov. 10, 2011
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Ruling party seeks to expand child care subsidies for all families
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- The ruling Grand National Party (GNP) is considering expanding state child care subsidies to all households with children under 2 years old to encourage more couples to have children and boost the country's low birthrate, a senior policymaker said Thursday.The proposal cal
Nov. 10, 2011
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South’s groups blast ministry’s N.K. aid monitoring request
Aid groups have criticized the Unification Ministry’s request that they monitor how their aid is being distributed in North Korea, saying it hampers their humanitarian efforts.The ministry has asked the aid groups to gain consent from the North to monitor activities as part of its efforts to enhance “transparency” in the distribution process and prevent the aid being passed to the North’s military.The groups have submitted to the ministry photos or video clips that show their aid has reached the
Nov. 9, 2011