Most Popular
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Yoon calls for dialogue, trust from medical community
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NK leader guides firing drills involving super-large multiple rocket launchers
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Dyson founder visits Seoul for global debut of new hair dryer
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Leaders call for action against threats to democracy posed by AI
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Asiana Airlines wins data transfer certification in China
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Dispute heats up over dispatch of scandal-ridden envoy to Australia
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Dodgers beat S. Korea in final exhibition before MLB opener in Seoul
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Disgraced ex-K-pop star released after serving time for sex crimes
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Koreans more open to foreigners in society than LGBTQ+: data
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Trump unlikely to unravel IRA: experts
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The New Year brings hopes with a little worry
A new year brings a sense of hope and a hint of worry, and the same goes for Koreans and expatriates facing 2012. For most, the topic of family comes up when thinking about their hopes and worries about the future, whether it be starting a new one, or adding to the old.For Jang Sou-ie, a recent graduate student, starting her own family next year is a hope she wants to realize.“Every year my New Year’s resolution is to get married,” said 28-year-old Jang.“I don’t have to get married next year, as
Dec. 30, 2011
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Wedding and baby boom expected for ‘black dragon year’
Many couples-to-be and mothers-to-be believe 2012 will be lucky Planning to wed sometime next winter, 27-year-old Jeon Hye-seong said that she would choose December 2012 rather than wait until 2013. “I heard that 2012 is supposed to be lucky, being the black dragon year. Given that I get to ch
Dec. 30, 2011
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Four people killed in shipyard explosion
ULSAN, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- An explosion occurred at a shipyard in the southeastern industrial city of Ulsan on Friday, killing four workers, police said.The explosion is believed to have been set off by an oxygen cutting machine and took place at a small-size shipmaker, Sejin Heavy Industries, based
Dec. 30, 2011
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Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Gangnam
Gangnam, one of the most bustling spots in southern Seoul, will sparkle on New Year’s Eve with special events to be held for the first time by its district office. A festive mood prevails during the last week of 2011, with citizens writing their New Year’s hopes on “Wish Balls” set up along the 1 km Gangnam Boulevard from the Kyobo book store to Gangnam subway station. “I promised myself that I will become a better person,” said 23-year-old Yoo Kyung-min, who visited there with her friend on Tue
Dec. 29, 2011
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Warrant issued for SK vice chief
A Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for SK Group’s vice chairman on Thursday on charges of embezzling a massive amount of group funds, possibly in collusion with his elder brother. The Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant to arrest Chey Jae-won, 48, on charges of misappropriating about 100 billion won ($87 million) from SK affiliates to make up for futures investment losses incurred by his elder brother and group chairman Chey Tae-won.Eighteen affiliates of SK Group, whose key busi
Dec. 29, 2011
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GNP lawmaker summoned over cyber attack probe
Prosecutors said Wednesday they have summoned ruling Grand National Party (GNP) lawmaker Choi Gu-sik as part of their ongoing probe over the controversial hacking of the country‘s election watchdog in October.The two-hour attack paralyzed the web sites of the National Election Commission and Park Won-soon, a leading Seoul mayoral candidate, during the Oct. 26 by-election for the mayoralty and other governmental posts. Park was elected mayor despite the attacks.Choi, a two-term GNP lawmaker, was
Dec. 29, 2011
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Drinking waning at year-end parties
Binge drinking fades, culture and volunteering gaining popularityForA 28-year-old elementary school teacher surnamed Bae recently enjoyed a rather “culturally advanced” year-end party with her colleagues. They had a quick bite for dinner, watched the musical “Cats” and finished with a cup of coffee. “No one was forced to join and no alcohol was involved. We were sober, shared laughter and went home,” she said. The teachers chipped in their own money to pay for the musical, which even made everyo
Dec. 29, 2011
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City offers free immunizations
The capital will offer recommended immunizations for free from next year, city officials said Thursday.According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the city will cover the 5,000 won ($4) co-payment for citizens receiving vaccinations in 2012. The government covers 10,000 won of the cost of immunization, but the capital decided to help cover the entire cost to help those struggling with the cost of childrearing here.The capital is also planning to set up agreements with local governments surro
Dec. 29, 2011
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Quota for foreign laborers raised for 2012: ministry
The government decided to increase next year’s quota for foreign workers by 19 percent, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said Thursday. According to the plan, approved by the Cabinet, the Ministry will give work permits to 57,000 foreigners in 2012, up from 48,000 in 2011. The quota is only for those applying for E-9 visas. The increase comes as nearly 67,000 migrant workers under the employment permit system are expected to leave the country next year due to expiration of their visa. That n
Dec. 29, 2011
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U.S. base probe finds no Agent Orange
Trace amounts of chemicals in Camp Carroll do not indicate defoliant’s presenceA joint Korea-U.S. investigation team found no definitive evidence that a toxic defoliant was buried at one of the U.S. military camps in Korea, officials said Thursday.According to the official results of the investigation, the team has “found no definitive evidence that confirms the burial of Agent Orange at Camp Carroll at any time in the past.The investigation took place to verify a claim by U.S. veteran Steve Hou
Dec. 29, 2011
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One in three Koreans to get cancer in lifetime
One out of three Koreans are likely to be diagnosed with cancer once in their lifetime mainly due to changes in diet and increased longevity the National Cancer Center said Thursday. According to its annual report on cancer, 192,561 people were newly registered as cancer patients in 2009, up about 90.6 percent from 101,032 in 1999. The growth of cancer prevalence was greater among women, marking annual growth rate of 5.5 percent, much higher than 1.6 percent for males. The total number of people
Dec. 29, 2011
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‘36 universities poorly manage foreign students’
The Education Ministry on Thursday listed 36 universities to face sanctions for poor management of international students. The move aims to clamp down on increases in foreign student enrollment for financial benefit and lax management, which has led to more illegal immigrant students here. The ministry conducted a four-month inquiry into 347 schools ― 201 four-year universities and 146 vocational colleges ― to assess how well they manage foreign students. Of the 36 schools, 17 will face restrict
Dec. 29, 2011
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Court rules against ban on SNS in elections
The Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that banning social networking services in election campaigns was in limited violation of the constitution.In March last year Rep. Chung Dong-young of the then Democratic Party and a group of civilians filed an appeal to the Constitutional Court saying that
Dec. 29, 2011
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State to revise controversial online identification law
The Korea Communications Commission said Thursday that it will consider putting a stop to the system that checks Internet users’ private information and also prohibit the collection of resident registration numbers online. In a briefing on next year’s policies to President Lee Myung-bak, the st
Dec. 29, 2011
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Busan judge suspected of taking lawyer bribes
Special prosecutors investigating a former prosecutor’s bribery case said on Wednesday that a Busan judge accepted 1.7 million won ($1,470) worth of entertainment and bribes from a local lawyer in return for favorable rulings.However, he failed to find structural corruption in the court and an inappropriate relationship between lawyers and judges. Special prosecutor Lee Chang-jae, who was assigned to investigate if a lawyer surnamed Choi bribed local judges and prosecutors in the form of enterta
Dec. 28, 2011
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Ruling finds parents and school liable in bullying
A Supreme Court ruling Wednesday found the perpetrators of school violence, their guardians and the school all liable in a high school bullying case from 2008.The top court upheld a lower court ruling in which seven students, their parents and the local government in charge of the school where the bullying took place were ordered to compensate the victim.The previous ruling ordered those involved to compensate 22-year-old Kim, who is disabled, the combined sum of 57 million won ($49,000).The lat
Dec. 28, 2011
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Court slammed in case of disabled girl
A local court has come under fire for showing leniency to a group of high school students charged with gang-raping a girl with a mental disability. Civic groups said the court went against the public calls for stricter rulings on those who commit sexual assault against the disabled.On Tuesday, the Daejeon District Court’s Family Division handed down 40 hours of community service and probation to 16 high school students who were accused of raping a 16-year-old girl who is grade 3 mentally disable
Dec. 28, 2011
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Suicides draw attention to bullying at school
A recent spate of student suicides has drawn attention to school bullying, with some cases hushed up to save schools’ reputations, leading victims to distrust their schools and teachers. Reported cases of bullying at schools sharply increased last year from 5,606 in 2009 to 7,823 last year, although the number had fallen by about 3,000 between 2008 and 2009, according to a national survey. According to the Teenage Violence Prevention Center, 14,939 students have asked for help with bullying this
Dec. 27, 2011
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Cabinet OKs changes to police authority
Police chief calls meeting to discuss stance and degree of protestThe controversial presidential decree on the enforcement of the Criminal Procedure Act, which defines investigative rights of the police and the prosecution was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday.The decree, drawn up by the Prime Minister’s Office in November, has been strongly criticized by members of the police force. Following the cabinet’s decision, National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Hyun-oh called a meeting of hi
Dec. 27, 2011
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Foreign patients to buy drugs at clinics
From as early as next year, foreign patients visiting Korea for medical services will be able to buy prescription drugs at hospitals or clinics, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said. A relevant bill revision draft was approved at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Currently, all prescriptions written by doctors and can only be filled at pharmacies. Medical institutions are banned from selling drugs to individual patients.“Foreigners have a hard time understanding the system. Furthermore, because
Dec. 27, 2011