Remake of spy agency
NIS chief must step down for his boss, nation Since its birth in the early 1960s, Korea’s national intelligence agency has kept changing its name and image in keeping with the times. What has remained unchanged in the past half-century has been the public’s view of the agency as an organ that works harder for […]
Autobiography of woman of Joseon literati family
This is the eighth of a 20-part of Jangseogak series in collaboration with the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS). Jangseogak houses Joseon Kingdom’s documents. — ED. In the Confucius Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), life was not easy for women. They were confined to domestic life, with many restrictions placed upon them. Yet, within the household, they […]
Reality programs focus on singles
‘Share House,’ ‘Roommate’ start this week One of the reasons that Korean “reality” programs are enjoying a heyday is that they reflect what’s in demand or what’s lacking in Korean society today. In graying Korea, the television audience is highly attuned to celebrities traveling with their children as in “Where Are We Going Dad?” and […]
NK’s call for joint drone investigation spurned
Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday spurned North Korea’s call to conduct a joint investigation into three aerial drones that crashed near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) which the South claims were sent by the North for surveillance purposes. “In no crime case would a suspect be allowed to investigate the evidence of his own crime,” a […]
Planned papal visit to Kkottongnae prompts protest
A society of Catholic priests is opposing a planned visit by Pope Francis to Kkottongnae, a community for disabled people, claiming that the pontiff should not associate with the “mafia.” Some 50 members of Little Jesus Society’s House of Joseph, and nuns and monks from the society staged a protest Tuesday at Kkottongnae in Gapyeong […]
Call to lower age limit for boys in public baths
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Tuesday it is considering lowering the age that boys can accompany their mothers to gender segregated areas in public bath houses. The current law bans boys over the age of five from entering areas used by the opposite sex in public bathhouses. It was reduced from seven in […]
Korea – hackers’ safe haven
One in five data theft cases in the world occur here This is the first in a series of articles highlighting the recent massive breach of cyber security. ― ED. Around 35 million of Korea’s population of 52 million population use mobile devices. But with this rising connectedness comes increased vulnerability to hacking; but so […]
Obama will return royal seals to Korea
U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to return nine stolen Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) seals to Korea during his Asian trip next week, a source familiar with the situation said Tuesday. They are three state seals, which kings used on diplomatic and other significant documents, and six ceremonial ones, which royal families used in rituals. The […]
Park makes apology to save spy master
President Park Geun-hye apologized Tuesday for the spy agency forging evidence in an attempt to convict a former Seoul city employee of spying for North Korea. Park’s remarks came on the heels of the apology from National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Nam Jae-joon after Seoul prosecutors indicted two NIS officers, Monday. Nam is one of […]
Female botanist to head UN agency
Yim Kyu-ok, a researcher at the state-run Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, has been elected to lead a UN agency overseeing guidelines on the control of disease and pest insects affecting plants. She was elected as the first Asian chair of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), affiliated with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture […]
Media in Tie-up with The AsiaN 
Trump, Kim, and the Three P’s of Summit Diplomacy: 
