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East Asia
Liberation Day Celebrated In South Korea
A woman watches national flags displayed on trees ahead of a celebration day of Korea’s liberation from Japan’s colonial rule, in front of Songpa-Gu Office or an old capitol of Korea in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2102. Liberation day falls on Aug. 15. <AP/NEWSis> news@theasian.asia
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East Asia
Japanese women”We Apologize for the Sexual Slavery Issue”
Japanese members of Unification Church gather at a rally ahead of an anniversary celebration of Korea’s liberation from Japan’s colonial rule, in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. 500 Japanese residing in South Korea took part in the rally to promote good mutual relationship between the two countries amid…
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Society
Japanese band to perform for former sex slaves
A Japanese rock band will perform at a concert organized to call for Tokyo to apologize from for atrocities committed during World War II, including sex slavery. Kopchangjeongol, an indie band performing in Korea, will play two songs at the Peace Concert to be held at Cheonggye Square in central…
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Culture
Oh Ji-ho: shrewd actor hidden behind dimples
Ask any Korean entertainment fan about heartthrob actor Oh Ji-ho and you would most likely receive an answer related to his signature smile. The singular focus on his facial expression — as well as his even more famous dimple — has been a mixed blessing. His good-guy image led him…
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Column
IOC, Dokdo, PSY
A la Lex Column on the back page of The Financial Times, I tackle multiple subjects in today’s column. IOC The International Olympic Committee (IOC) barred Korean midfielder Park Jong-woo from the closing ceremony of the London Olympics for displaying a banner saying, “Dokdo is our territory.” The IOC cited…
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Society
Korea going all out for troubled footballer
Korea is trying to dissuade the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from slapping an additional penalty on Korean footballer Park Jong-woo, who was barred from the medal ceremony at the London Games for displaying a banner that read, “Dokdo is our territory.” “Considering the significance of the issue, we can fly…
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Business
Economics of hot weather
Scorching summer benefits some firms, burns others Koreans are experiencing one of the hottest summers in history with the mercury rising above 35 degrees Celsius. Workers have suffered through a hot and sticky purgatory in recent weeks, putting their work ethics and social tolerance to the ultimate test. It hasn’t…
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UN chief calls for ethical corporate management
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged business leaders in Korea to take a greater responsibility for eradicating poverty and ensuring sustainable, equitable development, Tuesday. “I expect corporations to proactively engage in social and economic issues, such as the eradication of poverty,” the U.N. chief said in a meeting hosted by…
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Politics
‘Akihito should make apologies first’
President Lee Myung-bak indirectly demanded Tuesday that Japan offer sincere apology for its 36-year-long brutal colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula and war crimes committed during World War II. Lee made the remarks amid a worsening Seoul-Tokyo diplomatic row after his surprise visit to Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo last…
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Business
Dokdo blow-up has Korean, Japanese firms lying low
President Lee Myung-bak’s surprise visit to Dokdo, a tiny Korean island which Japan argues it has historical claim to, has driven a wedge between the two regional neighbors both in diplomatic relations and public opinion. This has Korean and Japanese companies operating cross-borders trying hard to be invisible. Responding the…
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