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East Asia
President-elect to set new records
Whoever wins Wednesday’s election, he or she will rewrite Korean history as the two major candidates’ unique political and personal backgrounds will make them set new records in many ways. If ruling Saenuri Party’s Park Geun-hye is elected, the 60-year-old will be the first female president in Korean history, which…
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East Asia
‘Abenomics’ unnerves Korean exporters
Korean companies are expected to experience another hurdle in their exports as Shinzo Abe’s expected return to power in Japan is highly likely to appreciate the Korean won against the Japanese yen. Conservative ex-premier Abe has pledged to ease credit in an unlimited manner to boost the Japanese economy, which…
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Fear of Japan’s regression
LDP’s return to power must not undermine peace Dark clouds are gathering in Northeast Asia as Japan’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) returned to power Sunday. The party’s hawkish former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will get a second chance to lead Japan after his one-year stint from 2006 to 2007.…
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East Asia
Japanese election and Korea
The results of the general election in Japan on Dec. 16th have left Koreans uneasy. The establishment Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) that ruled Japan almost unbroken from 1955 to 2009 returned to power in a landslide victory. The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which took power in a landslide win…
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East Asia
Nostalgia of traditional tavern
Whenever I take a trip abroad, I make time to taste various traditional drinks from the countries I visit. During my lifetime, I have experienced and enjoyed a lot of luxurious entertainment. However, I still get great pleasure from sharing memories with my colleagues at traditional style venues and bars…
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Park, Moon fight on for undecided
Conservative ruling party candidate Park Geun-hye and opposition challenger Moon Jae-in were in the thick of frantic campaigning, Monday, making closing arguments to a closely divided Korean electorate ahead of Wednesday’s vote. Park, the daughter of the late military strongman Park Chung-hee and representing the Saenuri Party’s hopes of retaining…
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East Asia
Which color will shine?
Presidential candidates seek to polish image, appeal to voters with colors At 11:20 p.m. on Nov. 6, the Empire State Building in New York was bathed in blue light. American citizens immediately noted Barack Obama’s victory for a second term. CNN used color and the skyscraper to project election results…
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Seoul-Tokyo ties under pressure
Seoul-Tokyo relations will be further tested under Japan’s next administration following a landslide victory by that nation’s conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Sunday after three years in opposition. In the past, the LDP sounded a nationalist note that rubbed Koreans the wrong way, when it pledged to revise its…
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East Asia
From shy boy to party planner
Not all people are born to do their jobs. Kim Hong-jin surely wasn’t born to be a “party animal” or a planner who takes charge of arranging large-sized gatherings. “I didn’t have a single female friend due to my lack of fashion sense, habit of saying the wrong thing, fat…
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East Asia
Similar but unique wedding rituals of 5 countries
Modern weddings in Korea are quick and simple: a speedy ceremony and then rushing to the meal afterwards. But in the past weddings were days-long festivals among families and friends that embraced cultural elements. The diversity and uniqueness of wedding rituals from Korea, China, Japan, Nepal and Vietnam can be…
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