Families of people allegedly snatched by North Korea on Wednesday called on the international community to push Pyongyang to release their missing loved ones."Please put pressure on the government of North Korea to release the abductees," pleaded Teruaki Masumoto, who heads the Japanese Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea."Imagine the pain of the victims who are suffering in that country,"  Masumoto, whose sister Rumiko was abducted in 1978, told a conference hosted b

일반적으로 사람들은 인정하기 싫은 현실을 벗어나고자 때로는 불편한 진실은 못 본 척 할 때도 있다. 그렇게 하는 편이 자신을 더 행복하게 만드는 법이란 걸 알기 때문이다. 지난달 “쿠오라”라는 온라인커뮤니티에서는 “누구도 인정하고 싶지 않은 사실엔 뭐가 있을까”라는 주제로 열띤 토론이 이뤄졌다.미국 뉴스 매체 비즈니스인사이더는 이를 바탕으로 “사람들이 인정하기 싫어하는 삶에 대한 진실 7가지”를 공개했다. 1. 외모는 중요하다좋은 일이 좋은 사람들에게 일어난다면 얼마나 좋을까. 현실을 들여다보면 좋은 일은 잘생긴 사람들에게 일어나는 경향이 있다고 다이애나 파루퀴는 지적한다. 그녀는 “우리는 매력적인 사람이 그렇지 않은 사람보다 모든 면에서 유리하다는 사실을 언제나 부정하곤 한다”고 말한다. 실제로 한 조사에 따르면 매력적인 사람들이 그렇지 않은 사람들보다 더 똑똑하고 신뢰할 수 있는 사람으로 인지되며 돈도 더 많이 번다고 밝혀진 바 있다. 2. 그 누구도 이타적이지 않다 수라 아가르

A fresh round of negotiations for a three-way free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea, China and Japan ended Friday without a clear breakthrough although the South Korean side said the talks were productive."There were active discussions on the scope of market liberalization at this round of talks under a consensus between the three countries that the proposed South Korea-China-Japan FTA should be a comprehensive free trade deal for the establishment of the framework for a regional bloc,"

North Korea said Friday it would repatriate a South Korean man next week who entered the communist nation "illegally."The man with the surname of Kim was arrested by the North's authorities after having trespassed into the North via a third country, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim is a resident of Anseong, a city about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, it said without revealing his age.The KCNA did not provide details of when and where he was arrested.  It quoted Kim

A South Korean court on Friday acquitted a North Korean defector of carrying out espionage activities for the communist regime.The Seoul Central District Court delivered the not-guilty verdict to the 40-year-old defendant, only identified by his surname Hong, citing a lack of credibility in the evidence.Upon receiving the verdict, Hong was immediately released.The court said Hong was questioned by investigators led by the National Intelligence Service without a lawyer present, which is in violat

A parcel containing a knife, suspicious powder and a threatening letter has been sent to South Korea's defense chief, prompting authorities to launch a probe, the ministry said Friday.The package addressed to Defense Minister Han Min-koo contained a 32.8-centimeter kitchen knife and some 20 grams of white powder with a two-page letter, according to the ministry, noting that the suspicious powder was later found to be flour.The letter sent by the "International Peace Action Corps" reads, "Why are

South Korea and Australia have agreed to step up efforts to expedite the domestic process for the early ratification and implementation of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday.Seoul and Canberra signed the free trade deal in April, but the legislatures of both countries have yet to ratify it.The agreement came as Lee Kyung-soo, deputy minister for political affairs, held a strategic dialogue with his Australian counterpart, Gillian Bird, in Australia, the

North Korea announced a decision Friday to convene another major meeting of its parliament later this month, which may herald the introduction of an important policy or Cabinet reshuffle.The second session of the 13th Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) will take place in Pyongyang on Sept. 25, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)."A relevant decision of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly was promulgated on Sept. 4," it said in a brief English-language report.It st

Former German national team player Uli Stielike has been named the new head coach of the South Korean men's football team, officials said Friday.The Korea Football Association (KFA) said the 59-year-old is signed through the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.Stielike fills the vacancy at the football coaching position here left by Hong Myung-bo, who resigned in early July after South Korea crashed out of the World Cup in Brazil with one draw and two losses.The KFA said Stielike will arrive in South

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry issued a best-wishes message to South Korea on Thursday ahead of the ally's traditional Chuseok holiday next week."Chuseok is a time to remember the importance of family, the strength of our values, and the blessings that we are fortunate to share," Kerry said. "As Koreans come together to celebrate this harvest season, my thoughts are with you as I reflect on the warmth of your culture that I remember so fondly from my recent visit to Seoul."Kerry said the str

South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun captured two prizes at the 9th Seoul International Drama Awards held in Seoul on Thursday. 　The hero of the megahit drama “My Love from the Star” was named the most-favored actor among netizens and the best actor. His drama won the top prize for Outstanding Hallyu TV Series.　In the drama, he played an alien who arrives in Korea by traveling through time from the Joseon era, 400 years ago, and ends up falling in love with a modern-day actress, played by Jun Ji-hyun

The South Korean drama “My Love from the Star” received the top prize for Outstanding Drama Series at the 9th Seoul International Drama Awards held in Seoul on Thursday. 　The smash hit TV series won the top honor in the hallyu drama segment, outshining a slew of other popular TV shows. The second prize went to “The Heirs.” 　“My Love from the Star” sparked a sensation in the first half of the year, garnering more than 2.5 billion views online in China and achieving an average viewership of 25 per

Celebrities flocked to the funeral home for EunB of Ladies’ Code to offer condolences on Thursday, a day after she died in an ill-fated car accident. K-pop stars including idol groups Apink, Dal Shabet, B1A4, sexy diva Ivy, singer-songwriter Kim ye-rim, and Jung Jae-eun visited the funeral home at Korea University Anan Hospital in Seoul. 　 (Twitter)Others left heartfelt messages online after the accident.　On Wednesday, Jaehyo of boy band Block B wrote on his Twitter, “I said hello to her a few h

RiSe of Ladies’ Code was still in critical condition on Thursday, a day after she was in an ill-fated car accident that killed her fellow group member EunB. “RiSe remains unconscious. There is no progress from yesterday. She is now receiving treatment in the intensive care unit,” said an official from Polaris Entertainment. 　 (OSEN)Her family, friends and colleagues are hoping for her recovery at the site, the agency said. 　On Wednesday, the van carrying Ladies’ Code skidded off the road and cra

 1. 자사고 폐지 논란　서울시교육청이 서울 내 자사고 14개교 중 8개교를 지정 취소하겠다고 밝힌 가운데, 교육부에서 서울시의 협의 요청을 반려하겠다고 밝혔다. 이로서 자사고를 둘러싼 진보교육감과 중앙정부간의 갈등이 점점 깊어지고 있다.　팟캐스트: https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2 팟빵: http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638　Round 2 begins in elite school row　[1] Seoul education authorities and the government dug their heels in further over the issue of autonomous private high schools, with the former pushing to cancel their independent status and the latter insis

GLAM member Dahee. (OSEN)Police requested an arrest warrant for the two women charged with blackmailing A-list actor Lee Byung-hun on Tuesday. Gangnam District Police Station said it took legal action against K-pop girl group GLAM’s Dahee, 20, and a 24-year-old woman only identified by her surname Lee, on charges of attempted threat. Dahee and Lee have been under investigation for alleged blackmailing of the actor to reveal a video clip of the three exchanging lewd jokes unless they were paid 5

One of the two women charged with blackmailing A-list actor Lee Byung-hun was found to be Dahee, a member of K-pop girl group GLAM, according to news reports.Earlier on Tuesday, Korean news outlets reported that two women were investigated by the police on charges of threatening Lee, but the pair‘s identity was not released. Later that day, it was found that Dahee, 20, was one of the alleged blackmailers under probe at the Gangnam District Police Station. Dahee and an unidentified woman in her 2

 Kim Hyun-joong is set to be questioned by police Tuesday over assault accusations, 12 days after the charges were filed against him. 　The Songpa District Police Station in southeastern Seoul will summon him later in the day to investigate whether he physically abused his then-girlfriend.  　Kim, 28, had charges filed against him on Aug. 22 by his girlfriend who claimed he beat her on multiple occasions.　The woman claimed that she had been assaulted several times between late May and mid-July whi

K-pop diva Lee Hyori and singer song-writer Lee Sang-soon marked their first wedding anniversary by their wearing wedding dress and tuxedo.　Lee posted the photos of the couple dressing up like the bride and groom on her blog on Monday.“We took the wedding dress and tuxedo out of our closet and wore them at home. We promised to take a picture wearing this dress at this spot every year,” Lee wrote alongside the pictures.　“We will grow old, gain weight and get ill, but we promised to get through ev

Organica, a Korean premium organic whole food company, slashed the prices of its signature juice products, which have guaranteed detoxification effects, from Sept. 1, the company announced Monday. 　The nation’s leading organic food company reduced the prices of the hit juice cleansing programs in celebration of drawing more than 10,000 customers since the launch of the products. (Organica)The three-day detox programs “Just Juice 3-Day Total Cleanse” and “Just Juice 3-Day Super Cleanse” are now p