Maduro's opponents brave tear gas in push to deliver aid

A U.S.-backed campaign to force President Nicolas Maduro from power met strong resistance Saturday from security forces who fired tear gas on protesters trying to deliver humanitarian aid from Colombia and Brazil, leaving two people dead and some 300 injured. Throughout the turbulent day, as police and protesters squared off on two bridges connecting Venezuela to Colombia, opposition leader Juan Guaido made repeated calls for the military to join him in the fight against Maduro's ``dictatorship.'' Colombian authorities said more than 60 soldiers answered his call, deserting their posts in often-gripping fashion, though most were lower in rank and didn't appear to dent the higher command's loyalty to Maduro's socialist government.

The culture of crowd: How Seoul's crowded environment misrepresents the character of Koreans

When my brother and I were young, we bought a pair of Mus musculus domesticus, otherwise known as pet mice. Our endearing and furry little rodent friends were given a very large mouse house in which to play and make more little mice. To our excitement, they did both. In fact, they continued to do both, until we had to partition off the wee furry bairns from their big furry kin.

All Koreans look the same?

I had not long put down my copy of Daniel Tudor and James Pearson's insightful “North Korea Confidential” with its many explorations of life above the 38, notably the descriptions of rebellious citizens in Chongjin defying state-dictated sartorial codes and wearing things such as black skirts, blue jeans and stockings (though not all at the same time, I don't think) when I then came across Alek Sigley's detailed and contemporary accounts of DPRK fashion on social media.

Regulator hit for intervention, populist policies

A series of market interventions through regulations and policies is undermining both trust and confidence in the economy, according to analysts and industry sources. The regulators' recent measures aimed at cancelling some portion of debts held by low and middle-class households are raising concerns that such a move will create moral hazards. Also, the state-enforced reductions in credit card transaction fees will create side effects.

Trump says troop withdrawal not on summit agenda

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday (local time) that withdrawing troops from South Korea will not be discussed during his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Trump and Kim are set to meet in Hanoi, Vietnam, Feb. 27 and 28, to discuss the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program. There had been concerns that the U.S. president would agree to draw down American troops in South Korea as part of a deal with the North.

Chinese military plane enters South Korea's air defense zone

A Chinese military jet entered South Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) without notice three times Saturday, according to defense officials the same day. The aircraft entered the KADIZ, at around 8:03 a.m. near Ieo Island and exited at 8:27 a.m. the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. It re-entered the KADIZ at 9:34 a.m. near the southeastern city of Pohang, and flew between Ulleung and the easternmost islets of Dokdo, eventually leaving the air defense zone at 12:51 p.m.

[VIEW] On the second Trump-Kim summit: China hopes for solid progress

How time flies. And how different a year can be. This time last year the world was still very much unsure what would unfold amid Kim Jong-un's Olympic charm offensive after the “fire and fury” of 2017. But now we are on the cusp of witnessing a second summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump.

South Korea's average foodstuff price rises sharply in Q4 on summer heat

The average price of food in South Korea increased sharply in the fourth quarter of 2018 compared with other major advanced countries, data showed Saturday, apparently due to last year's scorching summer. According to data compiled by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and Statistics Korea, the average price of food in South Korea rose 5.1 percent year-on-year in the October to December.

Speculation abound as Hanoi summit approaches

U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are likely to hold their second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam, for just one day on Feb. 28, according to U.S. and South Korean foreign ...

Ruling on physical labor age limit to have huge ripple effects

The top court's Thursday decision to raise the expected legal maximum age for physical work from 60 to 65 is likely to affect many sectors of the rapidly aging society, fueling debates on age adjustment for retirement, insurance, elderly benefits and others.

Korea, India to strengthen defense cooperation

President Moon Jae-in and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed Friday to tighten bilateral defense and economic ties. By holding a summit at Cheong Wa Dae, President Moon pledged to make concerted efforts to build a future-oriented relationship with India, which he said will help the peoples of the two countries live better lives.

'Ridiculous' 1970s

Author Pyo Hak-ryul cites the government's crackdown on men with long hair and women wearing short skirts as two cases showing how ridiculous the Park Chung-hee era was. In 1973, the Park government introduced the Minor Offenses Act that mandated limits on men's hair length and women's miniskirt length.

[INTERVIEW] Are we utilizing political rights effectively?

Lee Hyung-seung is the CEO of Policy Bridge and Polbox and has been devising methods to bridge politics and the public.

Police zero in on cozy ties between police and Burning Sun

Police have confirmed several police officers received money from the managers of Burning Sun, the nightclub that is currently under investigation regarding drug use and sexual violence there, indicating the suspected corrupt ties between the club and officers in charge of the district might be true.

First album from BTS agency's new boy band exceeds 100,000 in presales

The debut album from a new boy group under BTS's management agency has already scored 104,385 pre-orders ahead of its release next month, distributor Iriver said Friday. Tomorrow X Together's album, "The Dream Chapter: Star," achieved the milestone only two days after it became available for pre-orders Wednesday, Iriver added.

Student transferred to Korea 52 days after Grand Canyon fall

Park Joon-hyuk, who was hospitalized in the U.S. after falling off a cliff at the Grand Canyon in December, was transferred to Korea on Friday.

ITZY tops major music chart 10 days after debut [VIDEO]

Girl band ITZY has taken K-pop fans by surprise by reaching the summit of one of the nation's major music charts only 10 days after its debut. Korea's music-only cable network Mnet said Thursday the five-member band had conquered its “M COUNTDOWN” chart with “Dalla Dalla.” Such a quick rise to the top is unusual and the band's ranking on other charts will be announced in coming days.

Court recognizes regular bonuses as part of ordinary wages

The Seoul High Court has upheld a lower court ruling that Kia Motors needs to include regular bonuses in ordinary wages, dismissing the company's claim that providing overdue payments would undermine the carmaker's financial health.

Exhibition commemorates 5 Canadians who helped Korea's independence movement

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will hold an exhibition highlighting five Canadians who helped Koreans' independence activities during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement.

'Romance Is A Bonus Book' popular on online platforms

Cable network tvN's “Romance Is A Bonus Book,” which depicts the story of a 37-year-old divorced woman starting over with a new job at a publisher, is enjoying rising popularity.According to recent statistics from online platform distributor Smart Media Rep, tvN's weekend drama recorded about 2.28 million views an episode on multiple platforms, including Naver TV, Kakao TV, POOQ and others.