Most Popular
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Marine Corps commander summoned by CIO for questioning on alleged influence-peddling case
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Debate rages over ‘overly fatty’ samgyeopsal
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40 flights canceled on Jeju Island due to bad weather
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[Weekender] Korean psyche untangled: Musok
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N. Korea slams US, other countries for seeking alternative to UN sanctions monitoring panel
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Pandemic left Korea more depressed than before: report
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Gov't appears to shelve punitive measures against mass walkout by doctors
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[Eye Interview] 'If you live to 100, you might as well be happy,' says 88-year-old bestselling essayist
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From fake prostitution ring to nonexistent robber, prank calls hamper police
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Missing S. Korean traveler in Paris found safe after 2 weeks
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Cabinet approves changes in police powers
Police chief calls meeting to discuss stance and degree of protestThe controversial presidential decree on the enforcement of the Criminal Procedure Act, which defines investigative rights of the police and the prosecution was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday.The decree, drawn up by the Prime Minister’s Office in November, has been strongly criticized by members of the police force. Following the cabinet’s decision, National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Hyun-oh called a meeting of hi
Dec. 27, 2011
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Ministry to expand incentives to firms with peak salary system
The government plans to expand cash incentives for companies that extend their retirement age as part of measures to cope with the looming mass retirement of baby boomers, and more broadly, the rapidly aging workforce, officials said Tuesday. The Ministry of Employment and Labor unveiled its five-year master plan, which includes more incentives to encourage employers to adopt a peak salary system, defer the retirement age and hire more senior workers. The 2012-2016 plan, which was approved by th
Dec. 27, 2011
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Kindergartens to be subject to rules on environmental safety
The government plans to check the environmental safety of all kindergartens and other facilities for children by 2016 and set guidelines on the use of phthalates and four other materials in infant feeding bottles and other baby products. Also it will require builders to notify of any use of housing materials that contain atopy-causing substances. These are the highlights of the Ministry of Environment’s 2012 plans reported to President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday. “In order to minimize potential he
Dec. 27, 2011
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Suicides draw attention to school bullying
A recent spate of student suicides has drawn attention to school bullying, with some cases hushed up to save schools’ reputations, leading victims to distrust their schools and teachers. Reported cases of bullying at schools sharply increased last year from 5,606 in 2009 to 7,823 last year, although the number had fallen by about 3,000 between 2008 and 2009, according to a national survey. According to the Teenage Violence Prevention Center, 14,939 students have asked for help with bullying this
Dec. 27, 2011
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South to crack down on Kim Jong-il mourners
South Korea said Monday it will crack down on those who set up memorial altars for the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and an activist who flew to Pyongyang to attend his funeral without the government’s permission. Three students of Seoul National University set up a makeshift memorial for Kim on campus on Monday afternoon, which was removed by university staff about 10 minutes later. A different group, made up of ex-convicts who have broken the National Security Law, which bans anti-state
Dec. 26, 2011
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Bully suicides highlight school failures
Ministry measures call for dispatch of counselors, strengthening monitorsThe recent suicides of school bullying victims in Daegu have shocked the nation, especially since their parents and teachers didn’t even know what they had been going through. Criticism has mounted over schools’ negligence, and parents and education experts have called for measures to prevent school violence. A 14-year-old, who leapt to his death last week, left a suicide note detailing the abuse he suffered. The boy surnam
Dec. 26, 2011
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Baby births drop for 2nd month in Oct.
The number of babies born in South Korea fell for the second straight month in October despite the government‘s efforts to boost the nation’s chronic low birthrate, a report showed Monday.According to the report by Statistics Korea, 38,600 babies were born in October, down 5,000 or 11.5 percent from a year earlier.That followed a 7.1 percent on-year drop in September.From a month earlier, baby births also shrank for the second consecutive month.“The decline is attributable to relatively high bab
Dec. 26, 2011
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4 out of 10 adults single in Seoul
Four out of 10 adult Seoul residents were unmarried last year, and the trend of marrying later in life has led to more single-member households.According to statistics compiled by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the number of singles aged 25 to 49 in the capital has surged seven-fold from 215,184 in 1970 to 1,586,569 in 2010. The proportion of singles in the age group increased from 11.9 percent to 37.9 percent over the cited period.As more adults get married later in life, the average age fo
Dec. 26, 2011
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Seoul toughens on illegal fishing by Chinese boats
The government on Monday eased regulations on the use of firearms by the Coast Guard against fishermen engaged in illegal fishing in Korean waters.The measures were included in the 932.4 billion won ($803 million) plan for boosting the country’s ability to deal with Chinese vessels illegally fishing in Korean waters. The new measures allow Coast Guard officers dispatched to crack down on illegal fishing vessels to use firearms in circumstances deemed to be life-threatening or when other means ar
Dec. 26, 2011
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All foreigners to go through biometric scanning
All foreigners entering the country will undergo biometric scanning starting in the new year to combat terrorism and prevent threats to national security, said immigration officials.According to the Korea Immigration Service on Monday, foreigners aged 17 or older will undergo fingerprint and facial scanning upon entering the county starting Jan. 1.The program started scanning those from countries deemed high-risk by the KIS in September 2010, and has since expanded to include all foreigners choo
Dec. 26, 2011
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One dead, 10 missing after trawler sinks
A trawler carrying a crew of 14 sank off the southeastern coast near Ulsan early Monday, leaving one dead and 10 missing. According to the Coast Guard on Monday, the 139-ton “739 Geona” went underwater around 2:02 a.m. about 24 kilometers east of Cape Ganjeol. The vessel left Busan Port to go squid fishing at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.Three of the crew were rescued, but 53-year-old captain Kwon Jeong-seok was found dead and another 10 fishermen went missing. The Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force are search
Dec. 26, 2011
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City to fight diplomatic traffic ticket defaulters
The Foreign Ministry and the capital will join hands to stem the increasing number of unpaid traffic tickets for diplomatic vehicles, city officials said Monday.According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the capital will work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to develop a system that tracks diplomatic vehicles and helps collect any traffic fines they might have.City officials claim that one diplomatic official has some 4,300 tickets, with only 280 paid.One diplomatic official l
Dec. 26, 2011
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Far-left push to set up memorial for Kim in Seoul
A South Korean far-left group said Monday they would set up memorial altars in Seoul for the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, sparking strong criticism from conservatives. A group made up of ex-convicts of the National Security Law, which bans anti-state activities such as praising the communist country, said that they would set up a makeshift memorial at a Seoul street later in the afternoon to allow South Korean people to pay their respects to the North Korean leader who passed away earli
Dec. 26, 2011
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School bullying victims commit suicide
Ministry measures call for dispatch of counselors, strengthening monitorsThe recent suicides of school bullying victims in Daegu have shocked the nation, especially since their parents and teachers didn’t even notice what they had been going through. Criticism has mounted over schools’ negligence and prevention of school violence has been called for by parents and education experts. A 14-year-old, who leapt to his death last week, left a suicide note detailing the abuse he suffered. The boy, sur
Dec. 26, 2011
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Four out of 10 Seoulites aged 25-49 unmarried: report
The number of single Seoul residents aged 25 to 49 surged seven-fold over the past 40 years, with nearly four in 10 staying unmarried last year, data showed Monday.According to statistics compiled by the Seoul city government, 1.58 million people, or 37.9 percent, of that age group residing in Seoul
Dec. 26, 2011
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Trawler sinks off Ulsan, leaving one dead, 10 missing
ULSAN, Dec. 26 (Yonhap) -- A trawler carrying 14 crew members sank off South Korea's southeastern coast early Monday, leaving one dead and 10 others missing, the Coast Guard said. The 139-ton vessel went down at 2:02 a.m. in waters about 15 nautical miles off the coastal city of Ulsan, some 410 kilo
Dec. 26, 2011
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1,600 doctors caught in rebate crackdown
More than 1,600 doctors and nearly 400 pharmacists were found to have received rebates from pharmaceutical firms, a government investigation team said Sunday.The team, led by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, also indicted 25 medical professionals and pharmaceutical industry officials.The 25 people, of which 11 were indicted without detention and 14 were subjected to summary indictment, include six working at medical institutions five of which are doctors, 10 pharmaceutical industr
Dec. 25, 2011
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Nuclear experts to gather in S. Korea before March summit
Nuclear power experts and industry officials from around the world will gather in South Korea early next year to discuss nuclear security and safe use of nuclear energy ahead of a global nuclear summit, the foreign ministry said Saturday.They will attend the Nuclear Power Industry Summit which will be held on March 23 in Seoul, with around 100 people along with major global organizations participating, according to the ministry.The gathering will precede the 50-country Nuclear Security Summit, w
Dec. 25, 2011
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Seoul seeks German murderer extradition
The police are seeking the extradition of a man from Germany who confessed to murdering his wife in Seoul. The 48-year-old German is currently in police custody in Berlin after he confessed to murdering his Korean-German wife at about 4 a.m. on Dec. 22.The man left Korea soon after the murder and confessed to the German police upon arrival in Berlin.The German police have refused to hand over the suspect, citing principles of personal jurisdiction, but the Seoul agency plans to pursue the matter
Dec. 25, 2011
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Fishermen belatedly acquitted of spy charges
The court acquitted two deceased fishermen of their false charges of spying for North Korea and made official apologies for its faulty judgment 38 years ago.“There is insufficient evidence to prove that the defendants spied on state secrets under North Korean directions,” said the Gwangju High Court in its ruling.“It may be presumed that they made false confession under duress.”The two, surnamed Kim and Park, were kidnapped by North Korean ships while fishing in the West Sea near Yeonpyeong Isla
Dec. 25, 2011