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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Official campaigning kicks off for April 10 elections
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Yellow dust engulfs S. Korea, advisory alert issued
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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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Ruling party committee to recommend amnesty for ex-leader Lee
The innovation committee of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) decided Friday to recommend the lifting of a membership suspension imposed on former party leader Lee Jun-seok and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo as part of efforts to bring the party together. The committee reached the decision to recommend a "grand amnesty" for the two and former three-term lawmaker Kim Jae-won during its inaugural meeting presided over by Chairman Ihn Yohan, according to committee member Kim Kyung-jin. The t
Oct. 27, 2023
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Opposition lawmakers allege celebrity drug scandals are part of government coverup
While South Korean celebrities’ drug allegations continue to dominate headlines, the main opposition party claimed on Friday that the ongoing investigation into such drug scandals may have been premeditated to divert public attention from current political issues that are unfavorable to the ruling party and the government. In a radio interview with the news channel YTN on Thursday, Rep. An Min-suk of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said a series of drug scandals involving big
Oct. 27, 2023
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‘NIS meddling in politics with claims of election hacking’: Democratic Party of Korea
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Thursday downplayed the National Intelligence Service findings that the country’s election infrastructure is vulnerable to cyberattacks, claiming that the spy agency was trying to get involved in politics. The Democratic Party linked the accusations of cybersecurity vulnerabilities by the NIS with the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s “attack on democracy.” The party also alleged that the spy agency was seeking access to the e
Oct. 26, 2023
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Yoon meets Park, honors father in gesture of conservative unity
President Yoon Suk Yeol met former President Park Geun-hye on Thursday at an event commemorating the anniversary of Park's father's death, in an apparent move to unite a conservative bloc reeling from low support ahead of the general elections in April. Yoon is the first Korean president to attend the memorial service to honor Park Chung-hee, who was assassinated in 1979 after a dictatorship spanning nearly two decades. The ceremony was held at 11 a.m. at the Seoul National Cemetery, where the f
Oct. 26, 2023
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Ruling party to appoint innovation committee members
The ruling People Power Party is set to appoint members of its innovation committee Thursday, four days after the surprise appointment of doctor Ihn Yohan of American descent as its chair. Political watchers expect the committee to consist of members representing voters less favorable to the People Power Party, such as those from capital areas or young moderate voters, to reflect Ihn's pledge to promote national unity and change within the People Power Party. The People Power Party began th
Oct. 26, 2023
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Yoon attends opening of Korean pavilion at Horticultural Expo in Qatar
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the opening of the Korean pavilion at the 2023 International Horticultural Exposition in Doha on Tuesday. Titled "Green Desert, Better Environment," the expo is the first such event to be held in a desert area, with the participation of more than 80 countries, including the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Japan, according to the presidential office. South Korea's pavilion features an outdoor garden with Korean themes and a smart farming
Oct. 25, 2023
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Yoon pitches S. Korea's investment appeal to Middle East
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday pitched his country's appeal as an investment and business partner for the Middle East. In a speech during the Future Investment Initiative forum in Riyadh, dubbed "Davos in the Desert," Yoon said South Korea can be trusted, has cutting-edge industries, and aims for mutual growth through solidarity. In particular, he cited the hard work of South Korean companies and workers during the construction of a highway in Saudi Arabia in the 1970s
Oct. 25, 2023
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Saudi crown prince gives Yoon a ride to investment forum
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol a ride to a high-profile investment conference in Riyadh on Tuesday, saying he hopes the two will be able to ride in a locally produced Hyundai car next time, according to Yoon's office. Yoon was on a four-day state visit to Riyadh from Saturday to Tuesday and was set to head to the annual Future Investment Initiative forum to deliver a speech. The crown prince made a surprise visit to Yoon's guest house a
Oct. 25, 2023
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Touting historic ties with Saudi Arabia, Yoon calls for new partnership for growth
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- President Yoon Suk Yeol said South Korea and Saudi Arabia could contribute to sustainable global growth by forging a future-oriented partnership that encompasses the fields of energy, digital technology, biology and space, underscoring a history of cooperation between the two countries. On his third day of a state visit to Saudi Arabia, Yoon stressed the importance of the special partnership between the two countries that began in the 1970s, serving as the foundation fo
Oct. 24, 2023
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US missionary descendant picked to rescue troubled ruling party
The ruling People Power Party on Monday announced an unusual pick to lead the reform of the party -- a descendant of an American missionary and a physician who contributed to the establishment of democracy in South Korea in the 1980s. John Linton, a professor of family medicine at Severance Hospital in Seoul, was chosen as the chief of the party’s reform committee on Monday. The 64-year-old, who became a naturalized South Korean citizen in 2012, was born and raised in the North and South J
Oct. 23, 2023
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Yoon's office denies hasty secretary sacking to hide truth
South Korea's presidential office on Monday denied the notion that President Yoon Suk Yeol had sacked Kim Seung-hee, secretary to the president for protocol, in a hurried and preemptive manner to impede further truth-seeking. Yoon's office said in a written statement the presidential office was unaware of the accusation involving Kim's daughter and his alleged intervention until it was revealed in a parliamentary probe on Friday. According to reports, Kim's 9-year-old daughte
Oct. 23, 2023
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[Herald Interview] 'All countries responsible' for victim support in Gaza Strip, says Iranian envoy
Iranian Ambassador to Korea Saeed Koozechi expressed deep concern over the Israel-Palestine conflict and its devastating impact on civilian populations, calling for the international community to support victims of the crisis in the Gaza Strip. “All countries are officially responsible for supporting the victims of these conflicts,” said Koozechi in an interview with The Korea Herald. With the rising number of casualties, Koozechi stressed that the global community should to play an
Oct. 23, 2023
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Opposition leader returns to party duties, calls for Cabinet overhaul
Main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung officially resumed his party duties Monday and once again called on President Yoon Suk Yeol to conduct a complete overhaul of the Cabinet. Lee, the chairman of the Democratic Party, made the remarks while attending a party meeting after several weeks of hospital treatment to recover from his 24-day hunger strike, protesting what he described as a slew of government policy failures. "President Yoon Suk Yeol should thoroughly revamp the way he handles gove
Oct. 23, 2023
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Looming election has Yoon advocating harder for everyday South Koreans
With next year’s general election for the National Assembly looming, President Yoon Suk Yeol and his People Power Party are pledging to do more to make lives better for everyday South Koreans. In the latest briefing from the presidential office, Yoon was quoted by his press secretary as telling his staff to focus policy agendas to build economy that puts middle class and low-income earners first. “The South Korean people are always the priority,” the president said, asking his
Oct. 22, 2023
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[Herald Interview] Israel will fight Hamas with every effort to protect civilians: envoy
Israel will be guided by NATO standards that uphold protection of civilians in armed conflicts as it fights Hamas -- the Islamist militant movement that controls Gaza --, Jerusalem’s top envoy in Seoul said Thursday. “Israel will respect the human rights, the history and the presence of Palestinians in the region. It is Hamas we are in a war against,” Akiva Tor, the Israeli ambassador, said in an interview with The Korea Herald. And in the war against Hamas Israel was “go
Oct. 19, 2023
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PM says he raised S. Korea's concern over China's repatriation of N.K. defectors in meeting with Xi
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday that he conveyed Seoul's concerns regarding China's forced repatriation of North Korean defectors to their repressive home country during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last month. The discussion took place during Han's meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the Asian Games' opening ceremony in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 23. "We consider this to be important and concerning, so I brought up the issue (of repatriation o
Oct. 18, 2023
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Yoon urges police reform focusing on public security
In response to a surge in violent incidents, President Yoon Suk Yeol urged the police to prioritize public security in its reform efforts and to strengthen on-site response capabilities, stressing zero tolerance for crimes against vulnerable groups. In an opening speech at the 78th National Police Day ceremony on Wednesday, Yoon stressed the need to "break the cycle of heinous crimes" and create a country where people can live in peace. “Crimes against the weak, including sexua
Oct. 18, 2023
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Ruling party to launch innovation committee after crushing by-election defeat
The ruling People Power Party plans to appoint the leader of its innovation committee set to be launched next week, the party's chief spokesperson said Wednesday. Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, the party's leader, delivered the plan during a meeting with members, as its leadership scrambles to come up with measures to regain people's trust after its crushing defeat in last week's by-election in Seoul. The election was widely seen as a test of voter sentiment before the April general elec
Oct. 18, 2023
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Opposition leader away in court with critics calling for his departure from party
The Democratic Party of Korea leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung spent the entire day away from the National Assembly on Tuesday, attending Seoul court where he faces a criminal trial into real estate corruption scandals from his days as the mayor of Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province. Appearing at a Seoul court in the morning, Lee shunned questions from reporters. While defendant attendance is mandatory for criminal cases, the Democratic Party chair failed to attend the last trial held on Oct. 13, citing Ass
Oct. 17, 2023
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Defector-lawmakers call out China for deporting North Korean escapees
Two defector-turned-lawmakers in South Korea on Tuesday launched a series of efforts to condemn China over the recent deportation of escapees from North Korea, and to prevent a repetition. Ruling People Power Party Rep. Ji Seong-ho said he raised the issue of human rights violations by China over his meeting with Julie Turner, the US special envoy for North Korean human rights who is visiting Seoul for the first time since her appointment in July. Ji told The Korea Herald that over the hourlong
Oct. 17, 2023