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Society
Gambling episode gives bad name to Buddhism
The recent scandal involving gambling Buddhist monks could not have erupted at a worse time for the proponents of spreading Korean Buddhism globally. Modern Korea is not a predominantly Buddhist country, but the nation has practiced and nurtured its own brand for more than 1,700 years after adopting it from…
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Society
French digital economy minister is adopted Korean
Her birth of was a series of misfortunes. Fleur Pellerin, 39, new French minister for digital economy, was thrown out on the streets of Seoul right after she was born on Aug. 29, 1973, spending her first days in an orphanage. Her adopted father was a nuclear physicist and her…
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Society
Park Ji-sung hopes to retire at Manchester United
Park Ji-sung made it clear Thursday that he has no plans to leave Manchester United, despite his uncertain future at Old Trafford. “It is true I want to retire at Manchester United,” the 31-year-old told reporters on his arrival in Korea. “But what I want does not always translate to…
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More foreigners seek medical services
Three year-old Trepova Malika from Kazakhstan is in Korea to receive treatment for cancer from a hospital in Seoul. Treatment in her own country to remove the tumor near her hip was ineffective and her condition showed no improvement. With no other options, she checked into Yonsei Severance Hospital, one…
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Society
Blind dates going instant, shallow
Young adults flock to ‘booking bars’ in search of dateing partners Dozens of young people in their early 20s were standing in line outside a bar on Friday night. Although there was a two to three hour wait for those toward the back to enter the bar in the Hongdae…
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Society
Yonsei to compete with Ivy League
Local universities have adopted ambitious globalization programs, creating more all-English classes and attracting students and professors from abroad. The education ministry has backed such moves under a long-term plan to nurture world-class universities and meet the growing needs of students and parents for a globalized education. Some private colleges, however,…
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Society
Is taxing religion an act of blasphemy?
Gambling monks scandal raises old issue anew The gambling scandal shadowing the country’s largest Buddhist order has triggered debate on whether the government should collect taxes from temples, churches and religious organizations. For decades, there has been an argument over taxing monks and clergymen, but little progress has been made…
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Society
Korea pursues ‘hallyu’ initiatives
30 language institutes will be set up around world every year As part of efforts to boost the staying power of “hallyu” or the Korean wave, the government plans to set up language institutes around the world — 30 or more every year. Plus, the current Romanization system, already 10…
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Society
Power struggle hits Jogye Order
The largest Buddhist order, Jogye, is in turmoil following last week’s release of a video clip showing eight monks gambling with hundreds of millions of won at a hotel room in late April. Jogye Order President Ven. Jaseung is under growing pressure to resign amid rumors that his opponents are…
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Society
Real face of adoption shames 8th Adoption Day
On May 11, 2006, National Adoption Day was established to achieve a healthy adoption culture and to encourage domestic adoptions. However, real change seems to have been slow. Even now, adoptees are still exposed to illegal trades or violence. Lately, an unidentified person uploaded a posting that she said she…
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