Most Popular
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AI textbook bubble could burst, expert warns
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Samsung tightens its belt amid crisis winds
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Food tycoon Paik Jong-won's Theborn Korea pushes toward IPO
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North Korean trash balloons cross border day after Seoul military parade
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Prosecution closes 'Dior bag' case amid opposition uproar
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Ex-presidential official’s leaked phone call rattles conservative bloc
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Court confirms sentence for rapper who attempted to evade national service
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N. Korea may revoke 1991 Inter-Korean Basic Agreement in parliament: Seoul
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[Kim Seong-kon] Understanding uniquely American things
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Ministry confirms irregularities in national soccer coach hiring
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[Editorial] Oversight on e-commerce
The liquidity crisis that has slammed embattled e-commerce platforms Tmon and WeMakePrice, affiliated with Singapore-based Qoo10 Group, has taken a distressing turn that raises questions about the failed oversight of authorities and the lack of proper regulations over irresponsible online trade. The major e-commerce debacle in South Korea, which hit both vendors and customers, is now snowballing in scale and depth over how the two e-commerce players have failed to pay vendors and used up custome
Aug. 2, 2024
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[Editorial] Speed up construction
The government on Tuesday announced 14 candidate sites for dams to be built or redeveloped. Four are in the Han River area, six in the Nakdong River area, one in the Geum River area, and three in the Yeongsan and Seomjin Rivers area. The decision has overturned the declaration by the Moon Jae-in administration six years ago that it would no longer build government-initiated large dams. Three of the 14 envisioned dams are multipurpose dams, seven are for flood control and four are for water suppl
Aug. 1, 2024
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[Editorial] Aging population
South Korea’s total population bounced back in 2023 after falling for two years in a row, but a closer look at the details in the latest data reveals that the government faces deepening demographic challenges on multiple fronts, especially the rapidly aging population. The country’s total population -- which compiles data on childbirth, death and cross-border movements -- reached 51.77 million as of Nov. 1 last year, up 0.2 percent, or 82,000, from a year earlier, the 2023 census by
July 31, 2024
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[Editorial] Intelligence crisis
Military authorities are reportedly investigating the circumstances in which personal data on overseas South Korean agents was handed over to the North. About a month ago, the Defense Counterintelligence Command found a leak of classified personal information on overseas agents belonging to the Korea Defense Intelligence Command. The leaked data is said to concern not only agents acting publicly as diplomats stationed at embassies but also undercover agents doing spy work with their identities c
July 30, 2024
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[Editorial] E-commerce troubles
Last week, South Korea’s e-commerce industry plunged into turmoil as two well-known platforms affiliated with Singapore-based Qoo10 Group failed to make payments to sellers, reportedly due to liquidity issues, amid mounting concerns over an industrywide impact. As the crisis deepened over deferred payments, retail vendors and travel agents suspended services or terminated contracts with Tmon and WeMakePrice. Thousands of customers rushed to the two companies’ headquarters to demand r
July 29, 2024
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[Editorial] Kakao’s woes
Kakao Corp., South Korea’s biggest messenger operator, is confronting a major crisis after founder Kim Beom-su’s arrest Tuesday for alleged stock price manipulation related to last year’s takeover of K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment. The incident opens up the potential of a leadership vacuum at Kakao, raising concerns about the impact on its sprawling affiliates as well as its restructuring and growth plans in the tech sector amid intensifying competition in artificial intelli
July 26, 2024
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[Editorial] Challenges ahead of Han
Han Dong-hoon won a fierce fight to be elected as the new leader of the People Power Party, but he faces another tough challenge. He has to fight the gigantic opposition forces which dominate the National Assembly. He also has to resolve internal party conflict with loyalists of President Yoon Suk Yeol who are critical of him. Above all, it is important to restore trust from those who are disappointed with the current performance of the Yoon government and the governing party. Expectations for s
July 25, 2024
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[Editorial] Deepening ‘NEET’ problem
Governments around the world are trying to boost their economically active populations to drive growth in a sustainable way. But they face deepening labor problems, especially regarding rising youth unemployment, as well as more young people who are not in employment, education or training, known as NEET. South Korea is no exception. The government has taken measures to reduce its NEET ratio and boost overall economic participation. But the latest data shows that the country confronts an increas
July 24, 2024
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[Editorial] Probe transparently
First lady Kim Keon Hee was questioned face-to-face by prosecutors over the weekend. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office is investigating allegations of her involvement in a stock price manipulation case and her acceptance of a Christian Dior handbag and other luxury gifts in exchange for favors. So far, two former first ladies have been investigated by the prosecution. Kim has become the first to be directly questioned by the prosecution while still holding the position. It is an emba
July 23, 2024
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[Editorial] Global IT failure
A global IT failure, caused by a flawed software update, paralyzed several Microsoft Windows PCs used by airlines, hospitals and retailers around the world Friday, sending alarms over the growing vulnerability of closely and extensively interconnected technology systems. The software update that wreaked unprecedented IT havoc has been traced to US-based cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which provides software to companies to protect against hackers and cyberattacks. Microsoft and CrowdStrike have
July 22, 2024
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[Editorial] ‘Cyber wrecker’ YouTubers
South Korean public opinion is turning in favor of stricter regulations on YouTube after extreme and violent YouTubers disrupted a ruling party’s political event on Monday and so-called “cyber wreckers” were revealed last week to have exploited a popular YouTuber over her past. Another shocking incident -- a YouTuber who posted a controversial video of her allegedly undergoing an abortion at 36 weeks of pregnancy last month -- prompted a police investigation Monday, sparking di
July 19, 2024
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[Editorial] Focus on livelihoods
The main opposition party is turning up the heat on President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling party over impeachment and special counsel issues. Democratic Party lawmakers on the legislation and judiciary committee of the Assembly on Monday filed a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials about Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk and nine others who refused to attend the committee hearings on presidential impeachment as witnesses. In spite of the complaint
July 18, 2024
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[Editorial] Trump’s reelection odds
The attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump on Saturday sent shock waves throughout the world, generating a torrent of reactions, analyses and predictions about its political impacts in the US and elsewhere. The powerful photograph capturing Trump with his fist in the air and blood streaking down his cheek, surrounded by Secret Service agents with an American flag hanging at an odd angle set in the background immediately stole the first page of newspapers and hit social media
July 17, 2024
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[Editorial] Longer working life
The number of Korean people still working at 70 and above increased by 150,000 in the first half of this year from a year earlier. It was the largest increase since related statistics began to be compiled in 2018, according to Statistics Korea. The population of employees aged 15 years and over expanded by 220,000, largely led by senior workers. Workers in their 60s and above increased by 282,000, posting the sharpest increase among age groups. Considering Korea’s working-age population is
July 16, 2024
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[Editorial] Reform wage commission
South Korea has finalized the minimum wage for 2025 at 10,030 won ($7.3) per hour, marking the first time the compulsory hourly minimum wage has surpassed 10,000 won. The tripartite Minimum Wage Commission, which is composed of nine members each from labor, business and the public sector, opted for an increase of 170 won, or 1.7 percent, from last year’s rate of 9,860 won. It is the second-lowest increase on record, in percentage terms. The new rate translates as 2.1 million won per month,
July 15, 2024
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[Editorial] Health insurance deficit
South Korea’s public health system is still mired in a protracted dispute between the government and doctors over the medical school enrollment quota. On top of the current debacle, there is a potentially devastating problem that needs more attention from policymakers: the growth of the country’s health insurance deficit. According to research submitted to the Korean Association of Health Economics and Policy, the accumulated deficit of Korea’s health insurance will top 563 tri
July 12, 2024
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[Editorial] Watch CIO probe
President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday vetoed a bill mandating a special counsel investigation into alleged external pressure on the military response to a Marine’s death. It is a reasonable veto. A bill for a special counsel probe of the case was first proposed by the main opposition party and passed the previous National Assembly, but Yoon sent it back to the Assembly on May 21. It failed to pass an Assembly re-vote on May 28. The Democratic Party of Korea proposed a modified version of the
July 11, 2024
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[Editorial] Tighten loan conditions
South Korea’s household loans surged at an embarrassing pace last week, ringing alarm bells for financial authorities over local home buyers rushing to take out mortgage loans from banks, often beyond their repayment capacity, in a bid to ride a recovery period in the housing market. The combined household loans from the country's five major banks -- KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, Hana Bank, Woori Bank and NongHyup Bank -- climbed by around 2.2 trillion won ($1.6 billion) in the first
July 10, 2024
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[Editorial] Impeachment right abuse
The main opposition party’s recent move to impeach prosecutors is hard to accept from a common-sense point of view. It seems ill-founded and threatens to undermine the rule of law. The Democratic Party of Korea proposed a motion last week to impeach four prosecutors, three of whom either investigated or commanded investigations of allegations linked to its former leader, Rep. Lee Jae-myung. The complaints include concerns about development projects and Ssangbangwool Group’s illegal c
July 9, 2024
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[Editorial] Samsung’s surprise earnings
Samsung Electronics, the indisputable market bellwether in South Korea, tends to affect investor sentiment strongly. This fact was well demonstrated Friday when its better-than-expected second-quarter earnings prompted investors to cheer, which in turn helped the Kospi close higher. Samsung said in a regulatory filing Friday that it expects operating profit for the April-June period to reach 10.4 trillion won ($7.5 billion), up 1,452 percent from 670 billion won a year ago, helped by the recover
July 8, 2024