Heated debate over a hike in the minimum wage for next year is expected in the coming months as the government looks to pressure businesses to accept wage raises as part of efforts to revive the economy, while labor groups have mixed reactions to the idea.A core issue is whether the business sector will respond to the calls from the Finance Ministry to drastically increase the minimum wage to boost the economy by vitalizing consumption in the private sector.The nation’s two largest labor groups

A Seoul court on Friday issued an arrest warrant for Kim Ki-jong, who committed a knife attack on U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert a day before, to take him into custody.Judges from the Seoul Central District Court admitted the suspect’s charges of attempted murder, violence against and obstruction of official duty. The court cited the necessity of investigators' further scrutiny into a variety of allegations after detaining him.  At around 7:40 a.m., Thursday, Kim ran toward the amba

After rejoining his former South Korean team following an unsuccessful U.S. minor league season in the Baltimore Orioles system, right-hander Yoon Suk-min put the blame squarely on himself for his failure to reach the majors.Yoon arrived at Incheon International Airport Friday, hours after the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization announced their signing of the pitcher to a four-year, 9 billion won ($8.2 million) contract. It's the largest contract ever handed out to a free agent in the

South Korea needs to think more carefully about how to "balance" its relations with the United States and China, the outgoing South Korean ambassador to China said Friday, warning that China's "assertive diplomacy" could put Seoul in a dilemma.While South Korea has repeatedly stressed the importance of Seoul-Washington ties, analysts say China's rise could put South Korea in a strategic dilemma amid possible conflicts of interests between the U.S. and China in Northeast Asia."Although Korea-Chin

BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraqi forces pressed their offensive against the Islamic State group Friday, expecting to reach the outskirts of the militant-held city of Tikrit, a day after the extremists reportedly “bulldozed” a famed archaeological site in the area.In Paris, the head of the U.N.'s cultural agency said the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage _ such as the latest rampage at Iraq's archaeological site of Nimrud _ amounts to a “war crime.'' The discovery of the treasures of Nimrud's royal

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The United Nations on Friday condemned as a "war crime" the bulldozing by the Islamic State group of the ancient city of Nimrud, the jihadists' latest demolition of Iraq's cultural treasures.After rampaging through Mosul's museum with sledgehammers and torching its library last month, IS on Thursday "bulldozed" the nearby ruins of Nimrud, according to the tourism and antiquities ministry.Antiquities officials said IS militants had moved trucks last week to the site, which overloo

The ruling party, government and Cheong Wa Dae have agreed to map out a revised motion on mandating CCTV installment at all day care centers next week, which was voted down on the last day of the National Assembly’s previous session.During a meeting of the trilateral parties in Seoul on Friday, senior officials said they would pass the bill on the surveillance cameras, aimed at preventing child abuse, in the April extraordinary session.The Assembly’s rejection of the bill earlier this week has c

The anticorruption bill, which passed the National Assembly Tuesday, continued to stoke questions over its efficacy and fairness despite expectations that it would curb hopes influence peddling.Under the bill, those who receive more than 1 million won ($900) in cash, gifts or services will be jailed for up to three years ― whether or not the money or gifts were related to their duties or positions and whether or not they were asked to offer favors in return.The anticorruption bill targets some n

Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo on Tuesday unveiled his personnel policy of stern disciplinary measures against high-profile officials who are negligent in their duties or implicated in irregularities. At his first Cabinet meeting as prime minister since he took office on Feb. 17, Lee said he would push for dismissal of both corruption-ridden and underperforming officials, stipulating that the targets involve ministers, vice ministers, chiefs of state-controlled agencies and other senior officials.“T

The Saenuri Party faces public criticism for its reported move to introduce cheap, low-quality tobacco products to soothe low earners’ discontent over January’s 80 percent hike in cigarrette prices.The ruling party, which has taken petitions from a group of low-income senior citizens, is considering holding talks with the Ministry of Health and Welfare on whether to release low-priced tobacco products.Rep. Yoo Seung-min, floor leader of the Saenuri Party, on Feb. 17 instructed the party’s policy