• Samsung operating profit falls 4.3%

    Samsung Electronics is expected to record an operating profit of 8.4 trillion won ($7.9 billion) in the first quarter, down 4.33 percent from a year ago, as the result of slow smartphone sales growth. That is up 1.08 percent from the previous quarter. According to a preliminary estimate released Tuesday,…

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  • KT starts big workforce cut

    KT said Tuesday that it will cut the number of employees drastically under its new CEO Hwang Chang-gyu’s downsizing and cost-cutting initiatives. The firm will conduct “voluntary” retirement programs for those who’ve worked 15 years or longer. A KT official said the plan is “radical and unprecedented,” with the firm…

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  • Rep. Ahn loses magic

    NPAD leader concedes on signature pledge Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo has lost another piece of his political soul by conceding his signature political initiative. In a news conference, Ahn, now co-chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), announced that he would not insist on the abolition of parties’ nomination…

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  • East Asia

    Dancing to the top

    Son enjoys breakthrough in Lisbon World Cup Rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae, 19, wrapped up her most successful international competition on Sunday with four gold medals at the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Lisbon. After winning Korea’s first title ever in the individual all-around with 71.2 points on Saturday, she…

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  • Throwing new light on old treasures

    National museum’s latest acquisitions highlight traditional Asian art The National Museum of Korea (NMK) has been ambitious in purchasing of Asian artworks since moving into its massive complex in Yongsan, downtown Seoul, in 2005. The museum’s new exhibition, “New Acquisitions of Asian Art,” provides the first glimpse into this expanding…

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  • Park’s ‘Dresden Doctrine’ faces tough test

    North Korea reacts to peace initiative with provocations Barely 10 days after President Park Geun-hye came up with a package of proposals for the future unification of the two Koreas during her visit to the German city of Dresden last month, her so-called “Dresden Doctrine” has generated a great deal…

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  • Korea bets on casinos to boost economy

    Experts say locals should be allowed to ensure success Provincial governments are betting on the construction of casinos to boost their economies in accordance with the Park Geun-hye administration’s creativity based economic paradigm. However, experts forecast that the casinos might not be able to compete against rivals in Macau, Singapore,…

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  • Dongbu Group gets ultimatum

    Chairman Kim pressed to speed up restructuring Dongbu Group Chairman Kim Jun-ki has received a virtual ultimatum from financial regulators to carry out the group’s self-restructuring actions promptly. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) and creditor banks criticized Kim’s reluctance in selling the group’s key affiliates, warning that Dongbu may collapse…

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  • The Casey Lartigue Show with YeonMi Park!

    Greetings! You are tuned to the “Casey Lartigue Show with YeonMi Park,” a new TV talk show online at JKJ TV. I am delighted to welcome you to our lovely bi-weekly show that will focus on North Korea and North Korean refugee issues. My name is Casey Lartigue and I…

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  • Human rights body’s fall

    Seoul must take swift steps to avoid further disgrace Korea’s human rights organization, once the object of envoy among new democracies, has become a disgrace to the nation. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRC), which barely limped along during the past seven years under successive conservative governments, is…

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