North Korea is currently purging the descendants of prominent guerrillas who fought against Japanese colonialists, a former North Korean embassy minister in London who defected to Seoul last year said Friday.During a meeting with officials from the Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation, former North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-ho claimed Kim Jong-un is currently purging the descendants from key posts in Pyongyang.The remark is significant as the descendants played a crucial role in th

North Korea Jan. 27, 2017

Despite the rhetoric, the Trump administration is unlikely to make a drastic change to its relations with North Korea in the long term, as its deep economic ties with China, the North’s primary backer, would limit its policy options, said Choi Jong-kun, a renowned scholar on Northeast Asian security in Seoul. He stressed South Korea badly needs strategic thinking in its relations with allies and neighbors, and the country should avoid getting involved in unnecessary disputes to maintain peace an

National Jan. 22, 2017

South Korean investigators on Wednesday sought warrants to formally arrest the country‘s culture minister and a former presidential chief of staff over allegations the Park Geun-hye administration blacklisted cultural figures deemed critical of the government.Minister Cho Yoon-sun and former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon are being charged for abusing their authority, said the probe team looking into an influence-peddling scandal that led to the president’s impeachment last month.Cho s

Social Affairs Jan. 18, 2017

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Monday renewed his calls for political parties' support in normalizing state affairs that have been hamstrung by a corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime friend.Hwang also reiterated his commitment to maintaining close communication with political circles during a dinner gathering with the leaders of the ruling Saenuri Party, where participants vowed to work together for party-government unity.The event marked Hw

Politics Jan. 16, 2017

A request by South Korean prosecutors to arrest Lee Jae-yong, the 48-year-old vice chairman and de facto leader of Samsung Electronics, has added to the troubles for the country's most valuable company after a spate of recalls last year. Lee faces allegations he offered $36 million in bribes to a friend of President Park Geun-hye, who has been impeached. Prosecutors say they also suspect him of embezzlement and lying under oath. A Seoul court will review the request for his arrest Wednesday and

Jan. 16, 2017

The chief of Kumho Asiana Group, parent of Asiana Airlines Co., said Tuesday that he will exercise his right to buy back a tire-making unit from its creditors currently up for sale.The creditors of Kumho Tire Co., led by the state-run Korea Development Bank, are set to announce this week a preferred bidder for a 42.1 percent stake in South Korea's No. 2 tire maker, with a Chinese tire maker reportedly picked as the prime bidder."It is right to exercise the right to buy back (Kumho Tire)," Kumho

Jan. 16, 2017

-런던 위치한 영국 고등법원에서 1월 16일 재판 시작-삼성 승소시 휴미라 바이오시밀러 유럽 출시 전망 밝아져-애브비, 중복특허 ‘시간끌기’로 휴미라 경쟁제품 출시 막아-영국 법원, ‘애브비 특허 보호전략 본격 테스트 올린다’　　삼성바이오에피스와 바이오젠이 지난해 영국에서 다국적제약사 애브비를 대상으로 냈던 ‘휴미라’ 특허 무효소송의 첫 공식 재판이 16일(현지시간) 영국 고등법원에서 열린다.　　일본 제약사 후지필름 교와 기린 바이오로직스도 삼성과 함께 원고 측으로서 법정에 서게 될 예정이다.　본 재판은 런던에 위치한 영국 고등법원 (UK High Court of Justice) 산하 특허법원 (Patents Court) 에서 열릴 예정이다. 해당 정보는 코리아헤럴드가 British and Irish Legal Information Institute를 통해 입수한 특허법원의 헨리 카르 (Justice Henry Carr) 판사의 공식 문건을 통해 확인되었다.　　삼성바이오에피스는 파트

한국어판 Jan. 15, 2017

The mobile Internet is found to be the most frequently used medium among South Korean teenagers outstripping TVs, newspapers and other traditional media, according to a survey released Tuesday. The study, conducted from June 23 to July 29, also showed that one in four teens have experience using one-person broadcasting on online platforms such as YouTube and South Korea‘s AfreecaTV.The Korea Press Foundation unveiled the results of their “2016 Media Usage by Teenagers” survey based on one-on-one

Social Affairs Jan. 3, 2017

The past three Januaries, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called President Park Geun-hye to exchange New Year’s greetings and express his hopes for progress in her key foreign policy initiatives.This year, however, Ban, long bandied about as a powerful presidential contender, has yet to make a call to the impeached president, reinforcing speculation that he is distancing himself from the unpopular leader mired in a highly charged corruption scandal.Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Politics Jan. 3, 2017