Cash payments fell to less than half of all payments at a major convenience store chain in 2016 as a growing number of people used credit, debit and other cards, the chain said Sunday.It is the first time that card payments have exceeded 50 percent of the total at any convenience store chain, CU sai
South Korea's major business lobby Sunday urged presidential hopefuls to observe market economy principles to create an atmosphere favorable to businesses that leads to more investments in facilities and jobs, which it said is the top priority of any presidential hopeful. The Kore
Senior diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan will meet this week seeking to chart new ways to rein in North Korea as the communist country appears to be on the verge of another nuclear provocation.The meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Tokyo will bring together chief negotiators on the
A former top diplomat on Friday disclosed a document to back up his claim that Seoul officials consulted North Korea before a key U.N. vote in 2007. It added fuel to a political fire that has engulfed presidential front-runner Moon Jae-in, who was then a chief presidential aide.In October, Song Min-
Presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo of the conservative Liberty Korea Party is in hot water after controversy erupted over his suspected involvement in a potential sex crime about four decades ago.Hong initially wrote about his role in the crime that took place while he was in university in an auto
Presidential front-runner Moon Jae-in widened his lead in a new opinion poll released Friday as runner-up Ahn Cheol-soo's numbers plummeted.Moon, a former leader of the liberal Democratic Party, garnered an approval rating of 41 percent, up 1 percentage point from last week, while Ahn, co-founde
The first court hearing on a corruption case involving former President Park Geun-hye will be held early next month. according to sources Friday.The sources said that the Seoul Central District Court plans to hold the preparatory session on May 2, one week before the presidential election. P
The U.N. Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a press statement strongly condemning North Korea's latest missile launch."The members of the Security Council expressed their utmost concern over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's highly destabilizing behavior and flag
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that "some very unusual moves" have been made with regard to North Korea as he praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for trying hard to rein in the communist neighbor."I think he's working very hard. I can say that all of the pundits out there saying t
A probe to shed light on the exact cause of the tragic sinking of the Sewol ferry will begin late next month, a special fact-finding body said Thursday.The eight-member panel set up last month by special law aims to allow maritime experts and lawyers to determine why the 6,800 ton ship capsized in w
South Korea's foreign ministry said Thursday that it is working to confirm reports that Chinese leader Xi Jinping told U.S. President Donald Trump that Korea "used to be a part of China." "We are working to confirm the reports through diverse diplomatic channels including the United S
North Korea's propaganda website on Thursday reviled U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in its first response to his recent warning to Pyongyang not to test U.S. resolve and military strength.Pence issued the warning during a joint news conference Monday after his meeting with South Korean Acting Pr
The top five presidential nominees will square off in their second televised debate Wednesday night as the competition is shaping up to be a two-way race between two liberal candidates, Moon Jae-in and Ahn Cheol-soo.Hosted by the Korea Broadcasting System, the two-hour debate will feature Moon of th
South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Tuesday held talks with a visiting Angolan minister over bilateral cooperation on an array of issues, including North Korean provocations, Seoul officials said.During his meeting with Angola's Foreign Minister Georges Rebelo
Presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo claimed Tuesday that the North Korean regime of Kim Jong-un is "afraid" he will take power because of his strong commitment to national defense.The nominee of the center-left People's Party made the claim in response to a North Korean media report that disp
Presidential front-runner Moon Jae-in and the close second Ahn Cheol-soo continued to exchange vicious attacks Tuesday as the upcoming election has apparently become a two-way race.In most recent polls on the May 9 election, the two liberal candidates together garnered more than 80 percent of all vo
U.S. President Donald Trump has no "red line" in dealing with North Korea, but he is ready to take "decisive" action when it is deemed appropriate, the White House said Monday.In a regular press briefing, White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters that China is playing an active role
A U.S. State Department official said Monday there is no hiccup in the ongoing deployment of a cutting-edge missile defense system in South Korea, dismissing concern about a political setback."There hasn't been any change, and there hasn't certainly been anything about the decision-making p
South Korea's former President Park Geun-hye was indicted Monday on multiple charges, including bribery, as prosecutors wrapped up their probe into the influence-peddling scandal that brought her down last month.The former president is accused of abuse of power, coercion, bribery and leaking gov
Around 1,000 U.S. airmen and fighter jets have teamed up with South Korea's Air Force in a joint combat training to ensure their readiness against North Korea's provocations, the Pacific Command (PACOM) announced Monday.The two-week Max Thunder exercise, one of the largest military flying ex