Recently, conservative political leaders, opinion makers and mass media have been passionately debating “welfare populism” and warning of its political demagoguery and devastating effect on the national economy. The nationwide debate focuses on free meals for primary and secondary school students, a 50 percent reduction in college tuition fees and free medical services. They cite the political and

With recent scandals highlighting prevalent ethical problems among its officials, the South Korean Foreign Ministry has been drawing up tougher surveillance and disciplinary measures.Also important, however, is simultaneously carrying out a system encouraging officials to not only “avoid the wrong, but also actively do the right,” Seoul’s first ambassador for performance evaluation of diplomats sa

Firms met regularly to fix cheese prices, antitrust watchdog saysThe nation’s four major dairy companies were fined a combined 10.6 billion won ($9.8 million) for fixing prices of their cheese products, the antitrust agency said on Sunday. Seoul Milk, Maeil Dairies Co., Namyang Dairy Products Co. and Dongwon Dairy Foods were subject to the penalties, the Fair Trade Commission said. Seoul Milk was

Press members from countries that joined South Korean forces during the Korean War (1950-1953) visited here last week to cover the nation’s economic and cultural growth so far. In commemoration of the 61st anniversary of the Korean War, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Korean Culture and Information Service invited nine journalists from six countries including U.K., U.S., Australia, I

GABORONE (AP) ― Michelle Obama wielded a brush Friday and helped paint a mural at a children’s HIV/AIDS clinic here as she opened the second leg of a weeklong visit to southern Africa.The disease is a major public health challenge in Botswana, a country as big as Texas with about 2 million people. That includes an estimated 300,000 HIV/AIDS carriers.The first lady has promoted health and wellness

Children of multicultural families pose with 2006 Olympic Gold Medalists for women’s short track skating, Jeon Da-hye (left in the center) Kang Yun-mi (right to Jeon), at an event to experience Korea’s Olympic spirit and send well wishes for the PyeongChang 2018 bid at Seoul Olympic Parktel, Saturday.About 100 members of multicultural families in Korea participated in an event to learn about Korea

Color photographs donated by former U.S. dental officer show unknown side of Korean WarKids are playing with water, men and women sing and dance, and markets are filled with people and energy.These color photographs, taken by former U.S. dental officer Charles J. Burstone in Busan during the Korean War, are rather hard to believe. Filled with ordinary joys and peaceful moments, these photographs s

British alternative rock band to play for first tims in Korea since reunionAs the U.K. rock group Suede had a strong presence in the Britpop movement in the 1990s, the disbanding of the act in 2003 was quite disappointing to alternative rock fans around the world.However, the band was reunited last year and is coming to Korea to hold their first here since the reunion. The act is to be on the fina

From panda to shuttle to ping pong to even Facebook diplomacy, there are many different kinds of diplomatic practices that aim to inform, entertain and bring two nations closer together. There is now a new form of diplomacy straight from the Indonesian island of Java; one which is so heavily entrenched in their culture that even their president, government officials and sultans wear it on official

In the language of free trade agreements, the phrase “comprehensive deals” usually means long and complicated sections that take many hours to find out how they apply to a given industry.The European Delegation last week invited representatives of EU companies, embassies of EU member states and local importers of EU products to join in a one-day seminar that covered all aspects related to making t