Most Popular
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Medical profs at top hospitals suspend surgeries, clinics
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Samsung chip business back on track, logs W1.9tr operating profit in Q1
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Exports to US reach all-time high, widen gap with China
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Trump rekindles criticism: US forces defending 'wealthy' S. Korea 'free of charge'
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Shinsegae faces showdown with investors over SSG.com's delayed IPO
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Hopes rise for possible Gaza truce deal
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Ex-pro baseball player who killed debtor appeals sentence
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S. Korea discussed possible participation in AUKUS Pillar 2 with Australia: defense minister
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S. Korea to issue travel ban on Haiti amid intensifying gang violence
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Leaders of S. Korea, Angola agree to boost economic, trade cooperation
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Lawmaker to face ethics committee over tear gas bomb in Assembly chamber
An opposition lawmaker, who detonated a tear gas bomb in the National Assembly's main chamber in protest at the free trade agreement with the U.S., will be sent before a parliamentary ethics committee over his use of violence during a vote, a conservative minor lawmaker said Thursday. &n
Dec. 1, 2011
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Ahn says will not create new party
Popular potential presidential candidate also rules out running for parliamentary seatEntrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo on Thursday denied speculation that he would create a political party and run in the general election next year.Ahn has yet to confirm whether he will enter politics. But he has received media attention as a formidable potential presidential runner who enjoys popularity among the public disenchanted with established politicians.“There have been rumors about me creatin
Dec. 1, 2011
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Assembly set to miss deadline for budget approval
The National Assembly is set to miss the Dec. 2 deadline for handling next year’s budget, although legislators of the ruling Grand National Party on Thursday resumed deliberations without liberal opposition members. The Constitution obliges the National Assembly to pass the national budget bill by Dec. 2 to allow 30 days of preparation for its execution. The parliament has failed to meet the deadline for the past eight years. “We’re resuming deliberations of the budget bill today, without lawmak
Dec. 1, 2011
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Liberal parties yet to overcome internal feud
The left-wing consolidation project seemed to take a step forward as the main opposition Democratic Party’s leading figures reached a general compromise but it continues to face obstacles within.DP chairman Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu and former floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won met on Wednesday and agreed to kick off a negotiation body which will lead the liberal camp’s unity talks after the party’s upcoming convention.They, however, failed to come to a full agreement on how to confirm the rules on electing
Dec. 1, 2011
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Ahn stays at the center of political talk
Rise of political novice makes veteran politicians scramble ahead of major electionsAlthough he has yet to officially enter politics, entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo has recently drawn more of the political spotlight than any established politician thanks to his wide public backing.Although he on Thursday denied speculation that he would create a new party and run in the parliamentary elections next year, observers said that Ahn still might be seriously considering stepping into real
Dec. 1, 2011
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Ahn denies rumors of new party
Entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo on Thursday denied speculation that he would create a political party and run in the general elections next year.Ahn has yet to confirm whether he will enter politics. But he has received media attention as a formidable potential presidential runner who en
Dec. 1, 2011
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GNP’s Hong may stay leader, despite dissent
The ruling Grand National Party is expected to keep its leadership, despite heated arguments during the party’s renewal forum Tuesday.Chairman Rep. Hong Joon-pyo urged the party to focus on policy reforms and unity ahead of next year’s elections, but reform-inclined members blasted him for dismissing the possibility of resignation.The pro-Park Geun-hye group remained cautious. If Hong steps down it could bring the former chairwoman back to her post, regardless of her presidential plans.“We are i
Nov. 30, 2011
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DP pressured to end Assembly boycott
Heading into the final month of the year, the main opposition Democratic Party is under increasing pressure to end its boycott of the National Assembly and finish its homework ― next year’s state budget bill. On the surface, leaders of the liberal party are resisting the pressure, calling on their lawmakers to focus on a campaign to nullify the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. “We should focus all our resources on the ongoing campaign against the Korea-U.S. FTA,” Rep. Kim Jin-pyo, the party’s wh
Nov. 30, 2011
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Lee signs bills to implement KORUS FTA
President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday signed a package of bills needed to implement the Korea-U.S. free trade pact, finalizing the ratification procedures and bringing the deal closer to effectuation early next year.During a Cabinet meeting he presided over, Lee put his signatures on 14 related bills concerning copyrights, patents, customs, trade secret protection and other domestic rules to ensure the smooth implementation of the pact.The signing came a week after the National Assembly passed the
Nov. 29, 2011
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GNP’s Hong hints at resignation
The ruling Grand National Party, seeking renewal ahead of general and presidential elections next year, faced a possible shift in leadership from the current chairman Rep. Hong Joon-pyo to presidential potential Rep. Park Geun-hye.If the power shift takes place, the ruling party is expected to undergo a fundamental restructuring, which may also affect next year’s big political races.“I am ready to step down from the chairman post, should it be the will of the party members,” said the party leade
Nov. 29, 2011
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A monk with political pull
A Buddhist monk has recently been at the center of political discourse, with his words eagerly listened to by politicians and journalists.Ven. Beopryun is known to have led entrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo to make lectures around the country to give comfort and encouragement to young people anxious about their future.The program, called “Youth Concert,” ran for several months starting in May and drew a large audience. It helped build a broad support base for Ahn, who has been touted a
Nov. 29, 2011
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Political realignment back in season
Regrouping attempts more diversified than ever ahead of two key elections in 2012In a recent meeting with reporters, former presidential candidate Lee Hoi-chang was active in addressing a range of issues that have recently gripped political circles.Lee said Ahn Cheol-soo, an entrepreneur-turned-professor rising as a potential presidential runner, should show more of his hand, and that a Buddhist monk considered one of Ahn’s mentors should stop talking about politics and return to the sanctuary
Nov. 29, 2011
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Medical PR expert to speak for LFP
The conservative minority Liberty Forward Party on Tuesday appointed a rehabilitation medicine professor and former medical communication expert as its new spokesperson.Moon Jeong-lim, rehabilitation medicine professor in the Catholic University of Korea, offered her resignation to the school before taking her new post, officials said.Moon currently chairs the Korean Society of Pediatric Rehabilitation and Development Medicine and holds directorial-level posts in the Korean Academy of Medical Sc
Nov. 29, 2011
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Lee signs off on bills for U.S. FTA implementation
President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday signed off on a package of bills needed to implement South Korea's free trade agreement with the United States, moving a step closer to putting the landmark pact into effect.The signing came a week after the trade pact and 14 related bills passed through parliament
Nov. 29, 2011
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Korea agrees to help Ethiopia’s textile, leather industries
President Lee Myung-bak agreed Monday to help Ethiopia develop its textile and leather industry through sharing South Korea’s development experience and know-how, the presidential office said.The agreement came at a summit with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who arrived in Seoul earlier in the day. The four-day trip also includes his attendance at a major international conference on official development assistance in the southern port city of Busan.The two sides also signed a memorandum o
Nov. 28, 2011
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P.M. gains presence with communication and moderation
Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik’s presence in the political arena is expanding as he gains public attention.For the public, Kim’s image improved significantly during the memorial service for the two marines who died in last year’s shelling of Yeonpyeongdo, held at the Daejeon National Cemetery on Nov. 23. With such events having only upgraded to a national ceremony in 2008, the presence of a prime minister at a memorial was a rare enough occurrence, but his demeanor and actions during the event put
Nov. 28, 2011
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Sohn, Park agree to two-step DP convention
The Democratic Party’s internal strife over left-wing consolidation was temporarily settled as leading figures reached a last-minute compromise to split the national party convention into two stages. The party will hold a national convention on achieving unity first and select the new leadership in a separate process.The party’s chairman Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu met former floor leader and aspiring chairman Rep. Park Jie-won late Sunday in a bid to narrow their differences on the creation of a unified
Nov. 28, 2011
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GNP requests increased budget for ordinary citizens, heavier taxes for rich
Ruling Grand National Party leader Rep. Hong Joon-pyo has requested that President Lee Myung-bak consider increasing the welfare budget for ordinary citizens and levying heavier taxes for those in the top income brackets.Hong made the request on Sunday as his party has been striving to come up with measures to support mid- and low-income citizens in efforts to win back their support and shake off its “wealthy, elitist image.”The government, ruling party and presidential office are expected to ho
Nov. 28, 2011
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Nonhyeon-dong still most likely site for Lee’s retirement
President Lee Myung-bak’s private residence in Nonhyeong-dong, southern Seoul, is still the most likely site for his retirement home, but he could move to a different place should the plan fail, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.As an alternative option, the presidential office is considering a site in northern Seoul or Gyeonggi Province as the plan to move back to the Nonhyeon-dong residence in the affluent Seoul district of Gangnam faces problems including the high cost of establishing security facili
Nov. 28, 2011
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Controversy flares up over assault on police officer
Conservatives slam illegal protests; liberals say incident no justification for crackdown Controversy has flared over an assault of a ranking police officer by angry protesters during a weekend street rally against the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement attended by opposition party leaders.While the conservative ruling camp on Monday vowed stern enforcement of the law on illegal protests, denouncing the incident as a threat to the law enforcement authority, some raised questions that the police off
Nov. 28, 2011