Most Popular
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Korean labor force to shrink by 10 million by 2044: report
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[AtoZ Korean Mind] Does your job define who you are? Should it?
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Allegations surrounding BTS resurface, enraged fans demand apology
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Students with history of violence will be barred from becoming teachers
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Probe of first lady on Dior bag allegations set to begin
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'Super Rich in Korea' will leave viewers appreciating Korea more: producers
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Top prosecutor pledges 'speedy, strict' probe into first lady's luxury bag allegations
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Medical feud leaves hospitals in financial crisis
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'Queen of Tears' riding high on Netflix chart
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Chip up cycle won’t stay long: SK chief
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Australia smashes Korean spy ring: newspaper
SYDNEY (AFP) ― A South Korean spy ring has been uncovered in Australia trying to cultivate public servants to obtain trade secrets, a report said Thursday, but officials insisted relations with Seoul remained robust.The Sydney Morning Herald said previously suppressed information revealed that South Korea’s National Intelligence Service had sought “to obtain sensitive information” on trade negotiations between Canberra and Seoul.It reported that the Australian Security Intelligence Organization
May 2, 2013
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Japanese envoy counters criticism of Tokyo's history view
A top Japanese envoy sought Wednesday to calm negative sentiment in the U.S. against the Shinzo Abe government's controversial take on history.In an op-ed piece in the Washington Post, Ambassador to Washington Kenichiro Sasae said his country has already expressed its "feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology" for wartime atrocities."The (Japanese) government believes that it is always important to face history head-on and with humility," he said. "It is also desirable that efforts to do s
May 2, 2013
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‘Budget woes may create hitches in Korea-U.S. alliance’
WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― Overall relations between South Korea and the United States are expected to remain healthy in the coming years but budget constraints on both sides may strain the alliance, a recent U.S. congressional report said.A new approach toward North Korea by South Korea’s Park Geun-hye administration is also a potential source of friction, according to the Congressional Research Service.“Considered by most analysts to be a strong supporter of the alliance, Park is expected to c
May 1, 2013
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Budget woes may create hitches in Seoul-Washington alliance: CRS
Overall relations between South Korea and the United States are expected to remain healthy in the coming years but budget constraints on both sides may strain the alliance, a recent U.S. congressional report said.A new approach toward North Korea by South Korea's Park Geun-hye administration is also a potential source of friction, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS)."Considered by most analysts to be a strong supporter of the alliance, Park is expected to continue close defense
May 1, 2013
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Korea to attend international meeting on Somali pirates
A South Korean delegation plans to attend an international conference this week on how to tackle piracy problems in waters off the coast of Somalia, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Tuesday.The 14th plenary session of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, set for Wednesday at the U.N. headquarters in New York, is aimed at strengthening international cooperation and drawing up viable means to tackle piracy in Somalia and neighboring nations, the ministry said in a statement.The CGPCS
April 30, 2013
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Local group claims 113 war prisoners alive in N. Korea
About 113 South Korean prisoners of war have been confirmed to be alive in coal-mining regions in North Korea’s border with China, a local group claimed Monday.Dream Makers for North Korea, which campaigns for the release of South Koreans abducted by the North, disclosed the list of the names and North Korean addresses of the 113 war prisoners. The prisoners, formerly South Korean soldiers who could not escape the North following the 1950-53 Korean War, are currently living in several coal-minin
April 29, 2013
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Expert on N.K. to head state diplomatic academy
An academic with extensive knowledge of North Korean and Asian security affairs has been named as the new head of South Korea’s elite, state-run diplomatic academy, a government official said Monday. Yun Duk-min, who serves as a professor of international relations at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, was recently tapped as new chancellor of the academy, succeeding Kim Byung-kook who tendered his resignation in February before the new government of President Park Geun-hye was launched, the
April 29, 2013
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Mexican Embassy offers help for Spanish-Korean translators
The Mexican Embassy is extending financial support for Korean translations of Spanish-language Mexican literature and other publications, the Mexican Embassy in Korea said in a statement on Thursday.The Mexican Embassy will provide $15,000 for the translation and publication of specialized books in literature and the humanities that can be completed in 12 months, $15-20,000 for art books, and $30-50,000 for translation/publication series to be completed in two years or less.The support for trans
April 28, 2013
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UNESCO Korea puts on concert for International Jazz Day
The Korean National Commission for UNESCO organized a special jazz concert as part of celebrations for International Jazz Day at Olympus Hall in Samseong-dong, Seoul, on Friday.The concert featured well-known local jazz musicians including renowned jazz vocalist Na Yoon-sun, who is also the KNCU’s International Jazz Day ambassador.The 1st Generation Korean Jazz Band and the Yun Seok Cheol Trio also performed in the concert, which streamed live online Friday night on the KNCU’s website and on Ust
April 28, 2013
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Czech Embassy launches new cultural center
The Czech Republic launches its new cultural center in an opening ceremony at the Castle Praha Building near the trendy Hongdae district of Seoul on Monday.The Czech Centre Seoul aims to “promote bilateral cultural and people-to-people exchanges” between Korea and the Czech Republic, according to a statement from the center. It is part of the central European country’s efforts to promote Czech culture on the international stage and enforce an image of the country as a modern and creative country
April 28, 2013
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Israeli envoy points to innovation in nation’s history
Israeli Ambassador to Korea Tuvia Israeli highlighted the role of innovation in his nation’s history during a reception for the 65th anniversary of Israeli national independence in Seoul on Thursday.A book about innovation in Israel’s national development, which is being promoted by the Park Geun-hye government, was highlighted during the reception.“We are willing to share our experience in innovation and entrepreneurship,” he said. “We will encourage and welcome cooperation and partnership in f
April 28, 2013
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Slovak Night at Seoul Club
Slovakia regaled guests with the music of the Slovak Chamber Orchestra and star violinist Dalibor Karvay, national fruit liqueurs, signature caviar and an informative video presentation at the Seoul Club on Tuesday. Seoul Club members and foreign envoys and their families enjoyed the cultural program organized by the Slovak Embassy that also included the photo exhibition “Love Song To Slovakia” of work by Yuri Dojc.“I received an offer from the Seoul Club to introduce Slovakia to members here an
April 28, 2013
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In Africa, democracy spurs growth
The African Union’s role in spreading democracy should be credited in making Africa the fastest growing region in the world, said South Africa’s chief diplomatic representative here a week before commemorating his country’s first post-Apartheid elections in 1994.“The African Union has championed spreading democracy. Twenty years ago there might have been five countries that could be called democratic. Out of the 54 countries in Africa today, it would be fair to say that 95 percent are democratic
April 28, 2013
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Seoul, Moscow fail to reach 4th deal on fishing quota
MOSCOW (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Russia have failed to reach an agreement to determine the quota for Korean fishing boats operating in Russian waters, a source familiar with the matter said Saturday.After the fourth round of bilateral negotiations held between Tuesday and Thursday in Moscow came to an end, the two sides agreed to resume the discussion on May 13 in the same city."During the talks, both sides narrowed significantly their differences on the quota for Korean fishing boats, but Rus
April 27, 2013
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China cancels top finance meet amid tensions: Japan
Japan's finance ministry said Friday that China has cancelled a top annual finance meeting with Japan and South Korea, as diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing soar.An official with the ministry told AFP that "China has informed us that the meeting won't be held" on the sidelines of an Asian Development Bank meeting in Delhi next month.Finance ministers and central bankers from the three countries have been meeting once a year in the lead up to separate talks with their Association of So
April 26, 2013
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Park urges N.K. to learn from Kazakhstan’s denuclearization
President Park Geun-hye said Friday North Korea should follow in Kazakhstan’s footsteps, give up its nuclear programs and rebuild its broken economy for the sake of better lives of its people.Park made the remark during a meeting with a group of foreign ambassadors after Kazakhstan’s envoy explained how the Central Asian nation gave up a large stockpile of nuclear-capable missiles and pushed its economy forward, the presidential office said in a statement. Park said, “(She) hopes North Korea wil
April 26, 2013
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P.M. vows thorough probe into river project
Prime Minister Chung Hong-won vowed Friday to conduct a thorough investigation into the previous government’s highly controversial project to refurbish the country’s four major rivers.The administration of then President Lee Myung-bak carried out the project in an attempt to prevent floods and promote tourism along the rivers, but environmental activists and the opposition party have long accused it of causing irreversible environmental damage.There are also allegations that several local constr
April 26, 2013
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‘Japan impedes Seoul’s efforts to mend ties’
Recent remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that appeared to revisit Tokyo’s wartime history have thrown “cold water” on efforts by South Korea to improve bilateral ties, Seoul’s top diplomat said Friday. The relations between Seoul and Tokyo have come under fresh strain since late last week when Japanese ministers paid homage to a controversial war shrine that glorifies Japan’s military past and Abe raised doubts over whether Tokyo’s World War II occupation of nations, including Korea,
April 26, 2013
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Seoul proposes Gaeseong talks
South Korea on Thursday proposed formal talks with North Korea to normalize the Gaeseong industrial park with a warning that it would take “grave action” unless the North accepted its offer by Friday morning. North Korea suspended the joint industrial park north of the border amid heightening military tension in early April, “We cannot let the Gaeseong industrial complex be in the current situation for the long haul,” Unification Ministry spokesman Kim Hyung-suk told a news conference. “Accordin
April 25, 2013
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China sounds positive note on 3-way talks with Korea, U.S.
China has been “positively” considering holding a trilateral, but informal, dialogue with South Korea and the United States for effective policy consultations on North Korea, a Seoul official said Thursday. The idea of holding a so-called 1.5-track security dialogue, in which government officials and academics from South Korea, the U.S. and China participate in their individual capacity, has been floated by South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se with the aim of stepping up their joint policy
April 25, 2013