Netmarble Games, South Korea's top mobile game developer, on Wednesday rolled out its mega-hit title, "Lineage 2: Revolution," in Japan.The mobile role-playing game immediately became the most popular free app both in the Google Play Store and Apple's App Store.The game -- which has gained huge popularity after its release in 11 Asian countries earlier this year -- already received more than 1 million pre-registrations in Japan. (Yonhap)"It is very unusual for a mobile game to receive more than

South Korean stocks ended higher Wednesday as foreigners increased their stock purchases that offset sell-offs by institutions. The won traded higher against the dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 1.07 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 2,366.40. Trade volume was moderate at 225.09 million shares worth 3.918 trillion won ($3.3 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 479 to 306.Foreigners and individuals bought a combined 183 billion won ($162 million) worth of stoc

An appeals court on Wednesday upheld a penalty against an opposition lawmaker for illegal electioneering, which is heavy enough to cost him his National Assembly seat. The Seoul High Court confirmed a lower court's conviction of Rep. Choi Myung-gil of the minor opposition People's Party for hiring an unregistered election campaigner ahead of last year's parliamentary elections. (Yonhap)It maintained the sentence of 2 million won ($1,766) in fines. By law, lawmakers lose their parliamentary seats

The Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday observed a memorial service to enshrine the remains of 20 former South Korean commandos who were trained to infiltrate North Korea but instead killed themselves in revolt against the government decades ago.At the ceremony held at an Army facility in Byeokje near Seoul, the soldiers' families and military officials paid tribute in front of urns containing the remains of the 20 former agents and memorial tablets for two others whose remains have not be

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday called on his country's military and allied US forces here to be fully ready to counter any possible provocations from communist North Korea, partly reiterating the defensive nature of their ongoing joint exercise here."Thanks to you, all our people can live their daily lives, and we deeply trust and take pride in your sacrifice to the nation," the president said during a visit to the wartime command center earlier in the day, according to his spokesman Park So

The billionaire founder of Naver Corp., Lee Hae-jin, has cut his stock holdings in South Korea's dominant Internet portal operator by selling 110,000 shares, a regulatory filing showed Wednesday. Lee sold his 0.33 percent stake in a block deal worth 81.8 billion won ($72.3 million), or 743,990 won per share, on Tuesday, according to the filing.Lee's stock holding in Naver was lowered to 4.31 percent from 4.64 percent. It remains unclear why Lee sold the stock, but the transaction came as Naver i

Stocks of South Korean shipyards, led by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., rebounded Wednesday, ending their declines for the past few days, but uncertainties still lie ahead over whether they will be able to secure new orders, industry sources said Wednesday.Hyundai Heavy traded at 152,500 won ($135) on the Seoul bourse as of 2:15 p.m., up 1.67 percent from the previous session's close but the gain still marks a sharp drop from its yearly high of 187,500 won reached in mid-June.Samsung Heavy Indust

South Korea's national football team is trying to schedule friendly matches on the road in October if it qualifies for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, an official with the Korea Football Association said Wednesday.The KFA official told Yonhap News Agency that South Korea will have two friendly matches in Europe during FIFA's international match period in October. The official said the KFA is currently in search of opponents, who will likely be non-European nations."During the FIFA match day in October,

South Korea is speeding up its efforts to promote the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, a move that can help the country achieve this year's target of attracting some 20 million foreign visitors, tourism authorities here said Wednesday.The Korea Tourism Organization has teamed up with the Gangwon Provincial government to conduct global promotional events with the help of its 32 overseas branches, a KTO spokesman said over the phone. The winter sports games are scheduled to be held in the host ci

The number of newborn babies in South Korea dropped to a six-month low in June, government data showed Wednesday.About 28,900 babies were born in the month, down 12.2 percent, or 4,000, from 32,900 tallied a year earlier, according to the data from Statistics Korea.It is the second-lowest monthly figure after just 27,200 kids were born in December last year.Childbirths have been on the decline since a 3.4 percent on-year gain in November 2015, logging a double-digit on-year drop for seven straig

South Korea's household debt hit a record high in the second quarter, central bank data showed Wednesday, despite tighter lending rules meant to curb rapidly growing household debt.The country's overall debt incurred by households came to 1,388.3 trillion won ($1.22 trillion) as of end-June, up 10.4 percent from a year earlier, according to data compiled by the Bank of Korea.Household debt rose 2.1 percent in the second quarter from the previous three month period, it said. South Korea's househo

Prosecutors raided 30 locations Wednesday as they stepped up an investigation into allegations that the state intelligence agency secretly hired outside people to write Internet comments in an effort to sway voters ahead of the 2012 presidential election.An internal probe of the National Intelligence Service found that the agency ran 30 such "cyber teams" involving Internet-savvy civilians for election-meddling operations. The agency has referred the 30 team leaders to the prosecution for invest

The South Korean bourse shed some earlier gains late Wednesday morning as institutions sold off stocks. The won rose against the dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index was up 2.71 points, or 0.11 percent, to 2,368.04 as of 11:20 a.m.Institutions sold a net 74 billion won ($65 million), outweighing net buying worth 72 billion won by foreigners and individuals. Analysts didn't expect any strong rally in the KOSPI index as investors await cues from the US Federal Reserve's ann

South Korea's stock funds have chalked up net inflows for the second straight month, data showed Wednesday, as the local stock market is undergoing a period of correction.After touching a record high in late July, the Korea Composite Stock Price Index has been on the skids on foreign investors' massive profit-taking before regaining some ground in recent sessions. KOSPI closed up 0.44 percent at 2,365.33 on Tuesday.According to the data by fund researcher Zeroin, domestic stock funds, excluding