Most Popular
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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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Lee Jong-sup resigns as envoy to Australia
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Yellow dust engulfs S. Korea, advisory alert issued
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Official campaigning kicks off for April 10 elections
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S. Korea to boost support for single-parent families
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Court upholds jail term for man who attempted to murder ex-girlfriend
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Kia EV9 wins world car of year
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Korea misses out on global bond index boost
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S. Korea asks older drivers to give up their licenses
Regional governments across South Korea have been expanding benefits for senior citizens who forfeit their driving privileges, as the number of car accidents across the country involving older drivers has been on the rise. Jisan-gun in Busan said earlier this month that it has implemented a policy of giving 100,000 won ($75) in gift certificates to be used in traditional markets for anyone aged 65 and above who gives up their driver's license. The district became the first to introduce bene
Feb. 19, 2024
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Online post urges trainee doctors to 'delete hospital files'
South Korean police on Monday commenced an investigation into an anonymous online post urging trainee doctors to delete hospital files before resigning, as part of collective action by local physicians in protest of the government plan to increase the enrollment quota for medical schools. Seoul Gangnam Police Station said it was trying to track down the person who wrote the post, based on a tip-off it received around 1:30 a.m. this morning. The post is believed to have first been uploaded on Med
Feb. 19, 2024
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Preserving Cultural Heritage: Korea and Aboriginal Australia
Imagine France without baguettes. It is not surprising that baguettes were recognized as World Cultural Heritage, considering how French they are. Every community holds a distinctive cultural heritage akin to a big treasure trove of unique things passed down to future generations. Both Korean and Aboriginal Australians are striving to protect and advance their cultural heritage. Before Hangeul, Koreans had to use complex Chinese characters. Under King Sejong's reign, a revolutionary writing
Feb. 19, 2024
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Legacy and Evolution: Uniting Past and Present in Cultural Preservation
Both South Korea and Australia share a commitment to safeguarding their cultural heritage, a commitment rooted in making these treasures accessible and inclusive. This dedication fosters a greater understanding and appreciation of their histories and identities among individuals and communities worldwide. In South Korea, the preservation of Hangeul and Hanbok stands out as a testament to this commitment. Hangeul, the unique Korean alphabet, is celebrated annually on Hangeul Day (Oc. 9). This d
Feb. 19, 2024
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Collaborative endeavors between South Korea and Australia build security, prosperity, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region
The alliance between South Korea and Australia has flourished since its initiation during the Korean War, with its roots tracing back to the military aid Australia provided during Korea’s darkest times. Additionally, Australia was a signatory state of the Korean War Armistice on July 27, 1953, which not only brought an end to the war but also ushered in an era of prosperity for South Korea. Australia, standing firm as a member of the Military Armistice Commission, continues to be a steadfa
Feb. 19, 2024
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Korea’s Hangeul and Hanbok, Australia’s Aboriginal Custodians: Celebrating Cultural Heritage
South Korea and Australia are actively preserving and promoting their cultural and historical heritage in various ways. In Korea, Hangeul, Hanbok, traditional architecture, pottery, and books stand as iconic cultural treasures, while Australia boasts world-famous gems like Kakadu National Park, Uluru, the largest monolith on Earth, and the Great Barrier Reef, the planet’s largest coral reef system. How are the two countries working to preserve and enhance their cultural and historical heri
Feb. 19, 2024
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'4-day workweek, great opportunity for Gangwon': governor
Gangwon Province is making moves to implement a four-day workweek, as Governor Kim Jin-tae aims to prepare relevant policy alternatives. "The recently discussed four-day workweek will be a significant opportunity for the state," said Kim at the plenary session of the Gangwon State Council last Wednesday. "With a four-day workweek in the future, the state will garner the attention and interest of the entire nation," Kim added. Major companies such as Samsung Electronics, Posco
Feb. 19, 2024
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Treasuring Korean, Aboriginal Australian Cultural Heritage
Every two weeks, a language fades into silence, erasing with it a unique cultural identity and heritage. Many people have lost their connection to their ancestral roots, and have adopted the mainstream culture of their society. The loss of ancestral roots leads to a loss of identity, as well as a loss of cultural heritage and knowledge. Thankfully, many countries are actively seeking to regain their roots and take back their forgotten culture. Australia and South Korea are two of the few countri
Feb. 19, 2024
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The Matildas’ Incredible World Cup
In 2023, for the first time ever, the Australian women’s national soccer team placed fourth at a FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Matildas’ highest finish ever was an astonishing achievement, especially considering their history. During the first two decades of their existence, the Australian women’s national soccer team received little to no support from their national soccer federation. The Matildas did not have official uniforms at the time and were forced to wear kits that
Feb. 19, 2024
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1 in 4 over-70s still working in S. Korea
About 1.55 million people aged 70 and above were still in work as of January 2024, accounting for 24.5 percent of South Koreans in that age group. The number of over-70s working rose by 11.4 percent compared to the 1.39 million the year before, according to the Korean Statistical Information Service operated by Statistics Korea. The group made up 5.6 percent of the overall working population of the country this year, up from 5.1 percent in January of 2023. Roughly half of those who still work be
Feb. 19, 2024
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Health ministry orders all trainee doctors to keep providing medical treatment
The health ministry on Monday ordered all trainee doctors to keep providing medical treatment, as they moved to submit their letters of collective resignation in protest against the government's plan to boost the number of medical students. "From now on, the government issues an order for the provision of medical treatment to be maintained by the trainee doctors at all 221 training hospitals nationwide," Second Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo told reporters. Park strongly criticized
Feb. 19, 2024
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Govt. to fully allow telemedicine services in case of doctors' collective action: PM
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Monday that the government will fully expand telemedicine services if doctors walk off their jobs in protest of the government's plan to increase medical school admissions. Thousands of trainee doctors, such as residents at Seoul's five major general hospitals, were poised to submit their resignations en masse later Monday, raising concerns it would cripple hospital operations and patient care. The envisioned collective action is part of a protest again
Feb. 19, 2024
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Trainee doctors set to resign en masse in protest of plan to increase medical student enrollment
Trainee doctors at major general hospitals in Seoul were set to submit their letters of collective resignation Monday, in an escalation of their protest against the government's plan to boost the number of medical students. Concerns have been brewing as doctors warn of a large-scale strike and other responses in opposition to the government's decision to add 2,000 to the country's medical school enrollment quota next year, marking a sharp rise from the current 3,058 seats. The trainee doctors at
Feb. 19, 2024
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[Graphic News] Cigarette sales fall for 1st time in 4 years in 2023
Sales of cigarettes in South Korea inched down in 2023 for the first time in four years, but demand for electronic cigarettes logged a marked growth, the Finance Ministry said. South Koreans purchased 3.61 billion 20-cigarette packs last year, down 0.6 percent from the previous year’s 3.63 billion packs, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It was the first on-year fall since 2019, when sales lost 0.7 percent on-year. But sales of duty-free cigarettes surged 60.7 percent on-ye
Feb. 19, 2024
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Govt. asks doctors to remain by patients amid looming collective action
South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Sunday called for doctors to refrain from taking collective action amid their looming strike in protest of the government's decision to raise medical school enrollment seats. Doctors have warned of a massive strike and other responses in opposition to the government's decision announced earlier this month to add 2,000 to the country's medical school freshmen quota next year, marking a sharp rise from the current 3,058 seats. "If d
Feb. 18, 2024
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South Korea, NASA launch air quality research across Asia
South Korea's National Institute of Environmental Research and NASA will conduct joint research in Korean territory to identify sources behind winter air pollution across Asia, the Ministry of Environment in South Korea announced Sunday. The joint research is scheduled to commence in South Korea on Monday and will extend to Malaysia and Thailand until Mar. 25. This year's air quality study, scheduled for February to March, coincides with a period of heightened air pollution levels comp
Feb. 18, 2024
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Govt. urges restraint as junior doctors plan joint action
The Korean government on Sunday issued a public plea urging doctors to abstain from joint action that could disrupt nationwide medical services. The statement comes as interns and residents prepare to stage a walkout this week in protest against the government’s decision to increase medical school enrollment quotas by over 60 percent. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo urged junior doctors to reconsider taking their gowns off, saying that citizens would have to bear the brunt of collective action
Feb. 18, 2024
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Ex-police officers, teachers selected as school violence investigators in Seoul
Nearly 190 school violence investigators consisting mainly of retired police officers and teachers have been selected to investigate fights and bullying cases that arise between students starting from the upcoming March semester, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said Sunday. School violence investigators were first introduced in December 2023 to lessen the burden of teachers who were previously responsible for handling and investigating fights between students while being exposed to co
Feb. 18, 2024
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Seoul touts economic potential of S. Korea-Cuba ties
The South Korean presidential office said Sunday that the establishment of diplomatic ties with Cuba would create new economic opportunities for Korean companies, though it conceded it would take time. “The establishment of diplomatic relations and the future opening of a permanent mission in each country will lay the groundwork for expanded economic cooperation in a gradual manner," the presidential office touted the anticipated impacts of forging of ties announced on Wednesday. The
Feb. 18, 2024
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Where does Korea stand on assisted death?
Lee Myung-shik, 63, is paralyzed from the waist down as a result of acute myelitis, a condition he developed after retiring from his public service job in 2019. Unable to perform basic bodily functions independently, he requires the constant use of a urinary catheter and the assistance of his daughter to manually remove stool from his rectum. “Usually, when a person’s lower body is paralyzed, they normally do not have any sensation from the affected parts, but it’s different in
Feb. 18, 2024