SEOUL, Jan. 20 (Yonhap) -- The ethics committee of the ruling Saenuri Party on Friday suspended the membership of key loyalists to President Park Geun-hye as part of a sweeping reform drive led by its new chief.Rep. Suh Chung-won and Rep. Choi kyoung-hwan had their memberships put on hold for three
SEOUL, Jan. 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Friday repeated its threat to test-fire an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at any time and place ahead of the imminent launch of the Donald Trump administration.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un claimed in his New Year's address that his country
PAJU, South Korea, Jan. 20 (Yonhap) -- Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Friday pledged to increase daycare centers to support working mothers as part of efforts to tackle the nation's low fertility rate.During a visit to a joint daycare center in the Paju Book City, some 30 k
SEOUL, Jan. 20 (Yonhap) -- Former U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday visited parliamentary leaders as he revved up a politically-tinged campaign to build public support and chart his path towards the country's top elected office.A day after his courtesy call to former President Lee Myung-bak, Ban
SEOUL, Jan. 20 (Yonhap) --A South Korean court held a hearing on Friday to decide whether to issue warrants to arrest the country's culture minister and a former presidential chief of staff over their suspected involvement in the blacklisting of cultural figures deemed critical of the conservati
SEOUL, Jan. 20 (Yonhap) -- Rep. Yoo Seong-min, a potential presidential contender from the conservative Bareun Party, said South Korea should adopt a law to maintain the present the service period for conscripts on Friday, as liberal rivals are calling to reduce it to win votes.As South Korea is sti
SEOUL, Jan. 20 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition Democratic Party on Friday said it will push for a motion to demand the dismissal of Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun amid suspicions that she played a key role in blacklisting cultural figures critical of the conservative government.Cho and former preside
SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) - South Korea's producer prices rose slightly last month from a year earlier due to hikes in the prices of manufactured goods and agricultural and fisheries products, the central bank said Thursday.The producer price index came to 100.79 in December, up from 99.02 a year
SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) - A Seoul court on Thursday rejected an arrest warrant sought for Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Group's de facto leader, dealing a blow to investigators who have been accelerating the probe into an influence-peddling scandal centered on President Park Geun-hye and her friend.On M
SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) - Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Group's de facto leader, on Wednesday attended a court hearing that would decide the legality of his arrest over allegations he bribed President Park Geun-hye's close friend in return for business favors.After a nearly four-hour review at the S
SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) - Moon Jae-in, former head of the Democratic Party, on Wednesday vowed to create 1.31 million jobs when he becomes South Korea's president, claiming the goal is viable if employers keep working hours."The government will first create more jobs in the public sector," Moo
SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) - South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party on Wednesday summoned key loyalists to President Park Geun-hye, amid its interim head's vow to purge them to regain the public's support after her impeachment. The party's ethics committee summoned Rep. Suh Chung-wo
SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) - Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se asked Iraq to step up efforts to better protect South Korean companies and nationals residing in the Middle East country, his ministry said Wednesday.During a meeting with Iraq's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari held on Tuesday in Seoul,
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