SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) - A close aide to President Park Geun-hye admitted Wednesday that he leaked classified information to a woman at the center of a South Korean presidential scandal, but claimed he only intended to help the president. Jeong Ho-seong, a former presidential secretary, mad

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) - Labor Minister Lee Ki-kweon urged big businesses on Wednesday to employ more youth in the first half of the year as the sluggish economy is expected to further worsen youth unemployment.Lee made the call during a meeting with leaders of the country's top 30 conglomerate

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) - Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's aide on Wednesday denied reports that Ban's brother had inappropriately used the international organization's name to engage in mining projects in Myanmar.The aide called the reports groundless and warned that Ban woul

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap)-A Seoul court held a hearing Wednesday to decide whether to issue a writ to formally arrest Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Group's de facto leader, over allegations he bribed President Park Geun-hye's close friend in return for business favors.A team of special investigators l

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS details throughout)SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- A former North Korean embassy minister in London who defected to Seoul last year said Tuesday a large number of his fellow diplomats have recently fled to South Korea, even though such flights have not been made public

(ATTN: ADDS details throughhout, photo)SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- Moon Jae-in, a leading presidential candidate from the opposition bloc, on Tuesday published a book on his campaign pledges, taking further steps to generate support ahead of this year's election.The publisher said the book, title

SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Tuesday called for enhanced ties with the United States ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who expressed skepticism of Washington's alliances and trade deals with South Korea

SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) – There should be a policy review of South Korea's nuclear armament option in response to North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats, according to a professor at a Ministry of Foreign Affairs-run think tank on Tuesday."(South Korea) is required to carry

SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's culture minister and a former presidential chief of staff were questioned by a team of special investigators on Tuesday over allegations the Park Geun-hye administration blacklisted cultural figures deemed critical of the government.Minister Cho Yoon-sun

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- Special prosecutors on Monday requested an arrest warrant for Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Group's de facto leader, on charges of bribery in connection with an influence-peddling scandal that led to President Park Geun-hye's impeachment.Lee, vice chairman of Samsung Elect

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn is preparing to hold a press meeting next week to explain his direction for state management this year, his office said Monday."We are preparing (for a press meeting) to take place on Jan. 23, Monday," Hwang's aide to

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in paras 2-3; ADDS photo)SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- Choi Soon-sil, the woman accused of colluding with President Park Geun-hye for personal and business gains, appeared as a witness in the president's impeachment trial Monday.Choi, who has been jailed in connection wi

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- The interim head of South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party said Monday he will seek to conclude steps to clear-out loyalists of President Park Geun-hye and put an end to the prolonged factional feud."As the ethical committee starts to operate this week, we need to conclud

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- Choi Soon-sil, the woman accused of colluding with President Park Geun-hye for personal and business gains, appeared as a witness in the president's impeachment trial Monday.Choi, who is on trial in connection with the scandal, arrived at the Constitutional Court to te

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, a potential presidential hopeful from the main opposition Democratic Party, on Monday criticized fellow party member Moon Jae-in after he seemed to indicate a willingness to backtrack on the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system.M

SEJONG, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- Sales of the Korean lottery Lotto hit their highest last year, statistics from the operator showed Monday, a trend that comes during economic slumps, social analysts say.The statistics from the Korea Lottery Commission said Lotto sales reached 3.55 trillion won (US$3.02 b

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- A group of lawmakers from the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee headed to the United States on Monday to attend the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.The ruling and opposition lawmakers, headed by Rep. Sim Jae-kwon of the Dem

Former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is fast looming as a formidable Presidential candidate of Korea, said, “If Japan wants the statue of the Korean comfort woman removed because they had paid Korea 1 billion yen in compensation for the ill-fated Korean sex slaves for the Japanes

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with more quotes; CHANGES headline)WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- The nominee for CIA director Mike Pompeo on Thursday pointed to North Korea as one of the biggest threats to the United States, along with terrorism, China and Russia.Pompeo made the remark during his Senate

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- Outgoing U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has called for full implementation of sanctions on North Korea, warning the communist nation will pose one of the most significant challenges the next administration will face."As North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile