Korea
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East Asia
Why are Naver blogs and online cafes blocked in China?
Internet users in China have not been able to access Naver’s blogs and online cafes over the past week, raising speculation that the Chinese government may have intentionally blocked access as it had done previously to foreign online services. Access to Naver’s blogs has been blocked in China since Oct.…
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East Asia
Korea’s economic cul-de-sac
Korea is likely to be among the most vulnerable economies in Asia if the Sino-American trade war escalates. While Korea’s economic strength rests on exports, this also proves to be its biggest weakness when global trade slows. Although the country recently signed a revised free trade agreement with the U.S.,…
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East Asia
Fake News in South Korea
2 out of 5 Koreans cannot recognize fake news Two out of five Koreans cannot tell fake news apart from the real thing, a survey showed Wednesday. In a recent joint survey of online video consumption by Rep. Kim Sung-soo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the Green…
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East Asia
“Into The Light”: a Route From Art to Social Issues
This is a story of art, disabilities, diplomacy, and democracy. A story in which the feeling of guilt is intertwined with the spiritual searching of a soul. An adventure that started in Gwangju, South Korea reached New York in the United States. And this was possible thanks to a partnership…
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East Asia
Exploring the Andong Mask Festival
Mask dance is an elusive aspect of Korean culture. Many visitors to the peninsula are vaguely aware of it; they may have seen a yangban mask printed on a bus, or noticed the iconic character faces that line Yaksu Station. But in a country whose nation-brand is largely connected to…
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East Asia
PM declares war on fake news
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon ordered government officials Tuesday to sternly tackle the spread of fake news that he said is disturbing democracy in the name of free speech. At a Cabinet meeting, Lee raised the need to hold accountable those who produce fake news and spread it intentionally. “(Fake…
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East Asia
Unemployment of college graduates hits record high
The unemployment rate for college graduates rose to a record high in the second quarter as companies and small businesses grew more reluctant to hire new workers amid a consumption slump and other unfavorable business conditions. Due to worsening job market conditions, the number of unemployed university graduates as of…
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East Asia
Korea isolated in job recovery
Korea seems to be one of the very few countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) facing rising joblessness. Developed countries such as the United States, Japan and Germany, on the other hand, have reached virtually full employment. Korea’s unemployment rate stood at 4 percent in August,…
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East Asia
Euljiro provides window into Seoul’s industrial past
Euljiro industrial supply market, a sprawling web of sheet-roofed shelters nestled within high-rise buildings in downtown Seoul, has seen better days. “Business is bad. Export orders keep falling because other countries can now manufacture parts on their own,” Jeon Yong-sik, 67, a metal spinning craftsman with 50 years of…
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Politics
Kim: ‘I will visit Seoul soon’
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a surprise announcement Wednesday that he will visit Seoul soon. The announcement came at a joint press conference on day two of his summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in that also included the signing of a peace deal and a further commitment to…
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