Most Popular
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Opposition-led Assembly unilaterally passes bill to probe Marine's death
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Golden chance to liquidate babies’ gold rings?
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Inflation eases in April, continues bumpy ride
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Russia sent more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum to N. Korea in March: White House
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Seoul to more than double military drones by 2026 to counter NK threats
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Key suspects grilled over alleged abuse of power in Marine death inquiry
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Seoul alerts overseas missions to NK terror threats
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Over 60% of S. Koreans support W100m childbirth incentive: survey
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‘Inside Out 2’ adds four new emotions, explores teenage life
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Questions raised over fair promotion of RM, NewJeans
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[Newsmaker] China’s legislature faces familiar problems
BEIJING (AFP) ― China’s annual show of political theater, the National People’s Congress, opens this week ― the first under a new Communist Party leadership facing intractable problems including endemic corruption, slowing economic growth and tensions with neighboring countries.The rubber-stamp NPC, which begins Wednesday at the imposing Great Hall of the People on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, serves as a show of unity in the nation and the ruling party.The event kicks off amid much fanfare, wit
World NewsMarch 3, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Chung leads Saenuri big guns in Seoul polls
Rep. Chung Mong-joon, who announced his candidacy in the Saenuri Party’s primary for Seoul mayor, is a veteran politician with a career only a few can match. Chung has had a very successful political career despite criticism that he lacks common touch, a claim that is backed up by comments such as that regarding Seoul’s bus fares. The seven-term lawmaker has been quoted estimating bus fares to be about 70 won, when the actual figures stand at more than 1,000 won. Regardless, Chung has served as
PoliticsMarch 2, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Pollution Beijing’s biggest challenge
Chinese President Xi Jinping said pollution was Beijing’s biggest challenge as thick smog blanketing northern China cleared after seven straight days at hazardous levels.Xi called preventing air pollution the “most prominent” problem Beijing faces, according to a report on China National Radio, as pollution dropped to “very unhealthy” levels from “hazardous,” according to a U.S. Embassy monitor.The lingering pollution in China’s capital renewed questions about the government’s determination to
World NewsFeb. 27, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Fake evidence scandal hits prosecution, NIS
Hamstrung by allegations of evidence fabrication, the prosecutors’ office is facing a major crisis. The developments that threaten to undermine not only the prosecutors’ office but also cast doubt on the integrity of South Korea’s entire legal system began to play out last year when a former Seoul city official was tried on charges of espionage. Although the defendant, Yoo Woo-seong, a North Korean of Chinese descent who came to the South in 2004, was initially acquitted, the prosecution appeale
PoliticsFeb. 26, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Stunning growth of messaging apps
NEW YORK (AFP) ― The astonishingly high price paid for the messaging service WhatsApp underscores how mobile apps are transforming the way we communicate, shaking up the global telecom sector.Facebook’s deal to pay up to $19 billion for WhatsApp comes on the heels of a $900 million purchase of another messaging service, Viber, by Japanese Internet giant Rakuten.And the California-based messaging firm Snapchat, known for its disappearing messages, reportedly turned down a $3 billion offer from Fa
TechnologyFeb. 25, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Freed Ukrainian icon coy on next steps
Thrust to centre stage in Ukraine’s fast-moving political drama, the hugely charismatic but equally divisive Yulia Tymoshenko has remained coy about her political future after being set free by parliament.The fiery 53-year-old, who was jailed after losing to Viktor Yanukovych by a razor-thin margin in a 2010 presidential poll, walked free on Saturday in the latest dramatic twist to antigovernment unrest that had swept Ukraine for more than three months and left scores dead.The former pro-Western
World NewsFeb. 24, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Kiev in flames as world warns of sanctions
Thousands of helmeted protesters steeled themselves Wednesday for new clashes with riot police on Kiev’s flame-engulfed main square after the deadliest night of violence in Ukraine’s post-Soviet history.U.S. President Barack Obama warned starkly of “consequences” after apocalyptic scenes on Tuesday in which 26 officers and civilians died as battles broke out across central Kiev.Obama said he held President Viktor Yanukovych’s pro-Russian government responsible for ensuring that Ukrainians could
World NewsFeb. 20, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Brainwashing, surveillance, fear in N.K.
Brainwashed from birth, under constant surveillance, cowed by the all-embracing state and facing the specter of disappearing forever in its vast network of camps if they step out of line.The cruel lot of North Koreans was spotlighted Monday in a landmark report by a U.N.-mandated human rights panel, which said it was time for regime officials to face international justice.Its 400 pages were filled with shocking testimony from North Koreans who have managed to escape the clutches of the totalitar
World NewsFeb. 18, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Italy’s Renzi enjoys popular support
Aged just 39, Italy’s brash center-left leader Matteo Renzi could be in line to be the next prime minister with a wave of support from Italians who seem to like his brand of plain-speaking and web-savvy politics.Elected leader of the Democratic Party in December, the photogenic former Boy Scout is liked because he has never been in government or parliament on a national political scene tainted by corruption scandals.But his critics accuse him of being arrogant and supporters of Prime Minister En
World NewsFeb. 16, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Viktor Ahn calls defection 'right choice'
With his first Olympic gold medal for his adopted Russia around his neck, Viktor Ahn, the short track star born as Ahn Hyun-soo in South Korea, said he made "the right choice" in switching allegiances.Ahn captured the men's 1,000m gold medal on Saturday at Iceberg Skating Palace. It was Russia's first Olympic gold in short track. Earlier, Ahn had won the bronze in the 1,500m.The 1,000m title was Ahn's fourth career gold medal, making him the most decorated male short tracker in Olympic history."
Olympic GamesFeb. 16, 2014
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[Newsmaker] ‘Happy’ skater closes door on career
SOCHI, Russia (Yonhap) ― The man who once shed tears over a fruitless Winter Games ended his love-and-hate relationship with the Olympics with a smile.South Korean speed skater Lee Kyou-hyuk finished the men’s 1,000 meters on Wednesday at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 21st place in a time of 1:10.049.It was Lee’s final race in his sixth Olympics. The flag bearer for South Korea at the opening ceremony here, Lee, 35, has competed in more Olympics, summer or winter, than any other South Korean.Lee
World NewsFeb. 13, 2014
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[Newsmaker] ‘Bolt on ice’ defends title
Speed skater Lee Sang-hwa was labeled “Usain Bolt of the ice track” on Tuesday as she successfully defended her Olympic title for the women’s 500 meters to earn Korea’s first gold in Sochi.Lee not only won the gold, but broke the Olympic record while doing so.The 25-year-old Korean skater displayed a true champion’s class and composure at Adler Arena, maintaining the lead during the entire race.Lee, who competed in the last and 18th pair, showed promise right from the get-go.She began the first
SportsFeb. 12, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Champ Kim Yu-na has Russian competition
Tension is building between Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yu-na and the much praised Russian prodigy Julia Lipnitskaia with the individual event just over one week away.The Vancouver Olympics gold medalist and record holder, also known as Queen Yu-na at home, is determined to defend her title against the younger Lipnitskaia, who was the driving force behind Russia’s first gold medal of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics in team figure skating.Born on June 5, 1998, in Yekaterinburg, Lipnitskaia
SportsFeb. 11, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Loan scandal slaps KT in the face
Incoming president Hwang Chang-gyu of the embattled telecom company KT Corp. faced his first test last week as chief executive after the discovery that a KT affiliate was involved in a loan scandal.KT ENS, a KT affiliate specializing in network integration, will be subject to an extensive probe this week on the allegation that one of its employees played a leading role in a large-scale loan fraud case involving hundreds of billions of won.The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Sunday arrested a
IndustryFeb. 10, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Conservatives push agenda at NHK
TOKYO (AP) ― Minutes of a recent governing board meeting of Japan’s public broadcaster NHK seem to back up suspicions that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, despite his denials, is trying to use Japan’s news giant to promote his nationalist agenda.The minutes, posted on NHK’s website but not widely reported, show conservatives appointed to the board by Abe voicing their opinion on coverage at the Jan. 14 meeting.One of the four new members favored by Abe proposed that NHK should do more to educate the
World NewsFeb. 9, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Questions hang over Park’s new spokesman
Selecting a talented, problem-free aide is not President Park Geun-hye’s strong suit. Take, for example, her former presidential spokespeople, one of whom she helplessly fired amid embarrassing sexual harassment allegations toward a female intern. Her latest choice for the post is also being put to the test. At the center of the disputes is Min Kyung-wook, former reporter at Korean Broadcasting System, who accepted the presidential spokesman post on Wednesday. Min, who raised his public profile
PoliticsFeb. 6, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Cloud computing chief to head Microsoft
LOS ANGELES (AP) ― As longtime Microsoft insider Satya Nadella becomes the company’s CEO, he is declaring a new focus on a “mobile-first, cloud-first world.” So far, he only has the latter half of the formula figured out.Microsoft is trying to catch rivals such as Apple, Google and Amazon, which are building a thriving ecosystem for mobile devices. At the same time, the company wants to expand its business as a provider of software and services over the Internet.Nadella, the Indian-born head of
World BusinessFeb. 5, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Limbo looms for Thailand after election
BANGKOK (AFP) ― Thailand’s protest-plagued elections have ushered in a new chapter of political uncertainty that experts say leaves the embattled government increasingly vulnerable to court intervention or a military coup.Millions were denied the opportunity to cast ballots on Sunday, with blockades by protesters seeking to prevent the reelection of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra causing the closure of some 10 percent of polling stations.Hundreds of antigovernment demonstrators took to the s
World NewsFeb. 4, 2014
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[Newsmaker] LG Uplus rises on LTE leadership
LG Uplus was always the smallest and branded the worst telecommunication service provider that stood in the shadows of SK Telecom and KT.Feature phones carried by LG Uplus did not work especially in provincial areas, and its fiber optic broadband was weak compared to its rivals, leading many a consumer to shun its services.Just when it was struggling to find the next big thing that could help the company surpass the formidable No. 2 KT, if not SKT, LG Uplus headed by CEO Lee Sang-chul pounced on
TechnologyFeb. 3, 2014
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[Newsmaker] Bernanke: Final chapter yet to be written
WASHINGTON (AP) ― Ben Bernanke on Friday closed the door on a precedent-breaking eight years as chairman of the Federal Reserve.Bernanke took office on Feb. 1, 2006, more the shy Princeton professor than a likely combatant in Washington’s knock-down political culture, though he had served on the Fed’s board and for eight months as head of President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers.On his watch, the U.S. economy and financial system fell into their gravest crisis since the Great Depr
World NewsFeb. 2, 2014