• East Asia

    3 actors to show off talent in ‘Sinsegae’

    The casting of the three mega stars Choi Min-sik, Lee Jung-jae and Hwang Jung-min doesn’t happen often. But the three have come together for the first time for director Park Hoon-jeong’s second film. Choi, Lee and Hwang are ready to show off their impeccable acting talent once again to viewers…

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  • East Asia

    HSBC expects Korean tourism to expand further

    Tourism is likely to remain one of the few bright spots in the Korean economy, saddled by an aging workforce, sliding industrial competiveness and hefty household debt. Korea will continue to benefit from an influx of travelers from China and other Asian countries and improved global awareness, according to a…

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  • East Asia

    Desperate scratching

    Lottery sales set record in downturn, invite new concerns Surpassing 3.19 trillion won (about $2.95 billion), lottery ticket sales in Korea set a record last year despite a dismal economy, or perhaps because of it. While this supported the old belief that a lottery is a recession-proof business, there are…

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  • East Asia

    Algerian PM Says In Algiers That 37 Hostages Killed And Another Five Remain Missing

    In this image made from television Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Minoru Kiuchi, right, and Koichi Kawana, president of Japanese engineering firm JGC Corporation, bow towards the Ain Amenas gas facility a day after special forces stormed the plant to end a four-day siege, in Algeria, Sunday, Jan.…

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  • East Asia

    Rule of law in China

    China’s new leader Xi Jinping gave a major address recently in which he pledged to curtail power and investigate violations of the law so as to protect the rights of Chinese citizens. “No organization or individual has the special rights to overstep the constitution and law, any violation of the…

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  • Dying alone

    Last week, the skeleton of a man was found in the southeastern port city of Busan about six years after he apparently committed suicide. The man, identified only as Kim, was 49 when he hung himself at a rented house in 2006. Kim, an unmarried manual laborer, had lived alone…

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  • East Asia

    Park’s inaugural will draw record 60,000

    A record 60,000 people will be invited to Park Geun-hye’s presidential inauguration ceremony at the Nation Assembly square in Yeouido on Feb. 25, a top aide said, Sunday. About 3.1 billion won has been allocated for the ceremony, with the amount reflecting yearly inflation from the incumbent President Lee Myung-bak’s…

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  • East Asia

    Pororo hits big screens

    A 3D film version of animated TV series “Pororo the Little Penguin” will open in theaters nationwide Thursday. Ahead of the official release of “Pororo: the Racing Adventure,” a press preview was held at a movie theater in eastern Seoul on Wednesday. The big screen debut of the inquisitive penguin,…

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  • East Asia

    Chinese Military Leader Arrives In Myanmar For Strategic Security Consultation

    Speaker of the House of Representatives of Myanmar U Shwe Mann (R) meets with visiting Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Qi Jianguo in Nay Pyi Taw, capital of Myanmar, on Jan. 20, 2013. Qi jianguo arrived here Saturday for the first China-Myanmar strategic security…

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  • East Asia

    Ethnic Mongolians In Traditional Costume Attend Winter Nadam Fair In Xilingol, China’s Inner Mongolia

    Women and children of the Mongolian ethnic group in traditional ethnic costume attends the winter Nadam fair in Xilingol, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jan. 20, 2013. Nadam, meaning entertainment and playing in Mongolian language, is a folk festival of the Mongolian ethnic group. During the event, local residents…

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