Residents of two central South Korean towns, formally picked Wednesday to house South Korean nationals evacuated from Wuhan, China, this week, are strongly protesting the government's decision as a threat to their health.The government said it will send about 700 South Korean nationals arriving from

President Moon Jae-in conferred "samjeonggeom" swords on a total of 77 newly appointed brigadier generals Wednesday, ordering them to do their best to ensure South Korea's firm defense posture."Security is very important in our society. Therefore, assuming the post of generals, who command troops, m

Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho was indicted Wednesday on charges of violating election law, as the prosecution's probe into a 2018 election-meddling scandal involving Cheong Wa Dae is apparently drawing to a close.Several former Cheong Wa Dae officials were also indicted for their alleged involvement in

The military authorities have isolated around 90 soldiers who recently visited China as part of efforts to prevent the spread of a new type of coronavirus to the barracks, the defense ministry said Tuesday.The move came amid growing concerns over the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus across the glo

More than half of elementary schools in South Korea operated after-school English classes for first and second graders last year, following the government's partial deregulation at the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Education said Tuesday.The ministry said 3,409, or 55.3 percent, of the 6,16

Despite enhanced quarantine efforts, concerns are rising here that the Wuhan coronavirus may spread across the country as some patients confirmed to be infected with the virus have not been adequately screened at airports and have been in contact with citizens here.According to the Korea Centers for

President Moon Jae-in ordered his government Monday to attempt to trace all people who have flown into the country recently from the Chinese city of Wuhan as part of "preemptive" measures against the spread of a new coronavirus, Cheong Wa Dae said.The government is also moving to send a chartered pl

A majority of South Koreans support the government's decision to dispatch troops to the Strait of Hormuz for a maritime security operation, a poll showed Thursday.Earlier this week, the Ministry of National Defense announced that the country's anti-piracy Cheonghae Unit, operating in the Gulf of Ade

President Moon Jae-in has received an emergency briefing on a new type of Chinese coronavirus and instructed the relevant local authorities to take all-out efforts to prevent its spread in South Korea, his office said Wednesday.He called for full quarantine and preventive measures and ordered a comp

The Army will make a decision Wednesday on whether to allow a noncommissioned officer who underwent sex reassignment surgery to continue to serve in the military, officials said.The decision on the unprecedented case is expected to have ripple effects on the overall rights of transgender South Korea

South Korea's quarantine authorities said they are ratcheting up efforts to contain a new type of Chinese coronavirus amid reports that it could possibly spread among humans, after the country reported the first confirmed case of the SARS-like disease early this week.Multiple media reports showed th

Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Wednesday that 62 percent of the state budget will be implemented in the first half of this year as South Korea seeks to revitalize the economy through large-scale investment projects.In particular, the government will spend 37 percent of the budget for job creation

The defense cost-sharing talks between South Korea and the United States stand "at a crossroads" of a possible deadlock or major compromise, a Seoul official said Wednesday, ahead of the next round of their negotiations as early as next week.His remarks came a day after U.S. Ambassador to South Kore

President Moon Jae-in proposed Tuesday that the two Koreas make concerted efforts to create the conditions for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to visit South Korea as agreed.In his New Year's address, he also reaffirmed his administration's commitment to pushing for the resumption of two major inter

An interview with the spouse of the ambassador of Egypt in SeoulBy Publisher Lee Kyung-sik with Vice Chairperson Cho Kyung-heeEgypt is known in Korea as one of the most famous countries in the world for the brilliant culture and history. By happy coincidence, Amal Nosseir (spouse of the ambassador o

A new conservative party was launched Sunday, spearheaded by eight lawmakers who defected from the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party (BP) to build a right-wing party pursuing reforms.Rep. Yoo Seong-min and seven other lawmakers officially announced the launch of the party, tentatively named the New

President Moon Jae-in held out hope Thursday for the role of his new justice minister, Choo Mi-ae, conferring a letter of appointment on her and filling the post that had been vacant for more than two months."I hope you will spearhead prosecution reform works well," Moon told Choo during a Cheong

A Seoul court on Thursday rejected a request for a warrant to arrest a conservative pastor for his alleged role in a violent anti-government rally.Following a hearing that lasted over two hours, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed the prosecution's request to arrest Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon.

U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Thursday urged North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to exercise "restraint" after the communist nation threatened to reveal a "new strategic weapon" in protest over stalled nuclear talks.Kim made the remark in a New Year's message that expressed his frustratio

President Moon Jae-in appointed Choo Mi-ae, a judge-turned-politician, as justice minister Thursday, Cheong Wa Dae announced.Accordingly, the post has been filled after more than two months of vacancy from Cho Kuk's resignation.Moon nominated Choo, a five-term lawmaker who led the ruling Democratic