All eyes were on Seoul's presidential Blue House Saturday as South Koreans awaited ex-president Park Geun-Hye's reaction to her impeachment and preparations to move into her private residence.Election authorities expressed concern over growing tensions in the lead-up to polls to elect a new president, while newspaper editorials called for an end to ongoing street protests.A third person died Saturday in hospital after he lost consciousness the day before in a clash between pro-Park supporters an

North Korea is continuing to excavate a tunnel at its nuclear test site, which may support an explosion up to 14 times more powerful than its last test, according to US analysts Saturday. Satellite imagery of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in the northeast shows that substantial tunnel excavation is continuing at the North Portal, where the last four of the five underground nuclear tests by the North were conducted, according to the analysis posted at 38 North, a website run by the US-Korea In

The political scandal of former President Park Geun-hye, rooted in her decades-long relationship with her confidante Choi Soon-sil, is one of the biggest, if not strangest, in modern Korean history. It's also too good a topic for TV networks to just pass up.But it's one thing for network executives to order new shows that deal with the latest politics. It's another for showrunners to take the inside minutia of politics and actually make it interesting and engaging, not just for political junkies

South Korea's exports jumped 19.3 percent on-year in the first 10 days of this month led by petrochemical goods, semiconductors and automobiles, government data showed Saturday.Overseas shipments from March 1-10 were estimated at US$1.43 million after hitting a five-year high in the previous month, the Korea Customs Service said in a statement."Rising oil prices in recent months have boosted local exporters who had been suffering from slumping oil prices and slowing demand in global markets," a

South Korea's financial authorities agreed Saturday to tighten real-time monitoring of banks' foreign exchange liquidity and other market risks, as the country earnestly prepares for a presidential election far earlier than originally scheduled.The decision was made at an emergency meeting of senior officials at the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service, the Korea Exchange and the Financial Security Institute, a day after the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of impe

Even if the US designates South Korea a currency manipulator, it won't lead to a significant appreciation of the won's value, a private think tank here said Saturday.The Woori Finance Research Institute questioned the effectiveness of the possible measure by the Donald Trump administration eager to reduce the US trade deficit.The Treasury Department included South Korea, a key US ally and trade partner, on the currency watch list last year, along with China, Japan, Germany, Taiwan and Switzerlan

South Korean shares are expected to face increased volatility next week as the US Federal Reserve is set to decide interest rates and a set of other major events are in store, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index closed at 2,097.35 points on Friday, up 0.89 percent from a week ago.This week, the local stock market started a tad higher on continued foreign investors' buying binge, and top market cap Samsung Electronics extended gains on a rosy outlook for its ear

Funds that have invested in domestic bonds have suffered massive cash outflows as investors pulled part of their money out of the funds amid concerns over a rate hike in the US, industry data showed Saturday.According to the data compiled by industry tracker FNGuide, domestic funds have logged an outflow of some 1.1 trillion won ($945 million) so far this year through Thursday, as concerns over rate hikes in the US have emerged.Bond yields have been on a steady rise since the second half of last

The United States is closely monitoring developments in South Korea, including its upcoming presidential election, the White House said Friday as it reaffirmed the alliance with Seoul in the wake of the ouster of President Park Geun-hye from office."I believe they have to have an election within 60 days. There is an acting president who we have strong relationships with. We will continue to work with South Korea. They're both an ally and a friend in the region," White House press secretary Sean

The United States will continue to ship to South Korea the remaining elements of a THAAD missile defense battery regardless of the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye, the Department of Defense said Friday."Leaders change over time, that's not new," Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters after South Korea's Constitutional Court upheld Park's impeachment and removed her from office, according to Reuters.(Yonhap)"We made an agreement with the Republic of Korea that this was a

South Korea's opposition parties on Saturday urged former President Park Geun-hye to publicly accept the Constitutional Court's decision to dismiss her. Park has remained silent in the presidential house since the ruling was delivered on Friday morning. Former President Park Geun-hye (Yonhap)"Park has not issued any statement as if she is discontent and disobedient," Rep. Youn Kwan-suk, the spokesman of the Democratic Party said. Youn said she should deliver a message showing that she respects t

South Korea's election watchdog chief vowed Saturday to administer the upcoming presidential by-election "transparently and fairly," and called on the nation to turn it into an opportunity to restore national unity.Kim Yong-deok, the chairperson of the National Election Commission, made the remarks a day after the Constitutional Court ruled to dismiss President Park Geun-hye and set the stage for the election two months later.NEC chairman Kim Yong-deok reads a public statement on the presidentia

Two political bigwigs met Saturday to discuss the ramifications of the Constitutional Court's decision to oust President Park Geun-hye and other issues, as the parties quicken preparations for a presidential by-election expected in May.In Myung-jin, the interim head of the Liberty Korea Party, and Kim Chong-in, the former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, held a close-door session just a day after the historic ruling to uphold Park's impeachment over a corruption scandal. In Myung-

A KTX bullet train bound for Incheon International Airport broke down on Saturday morning, causing the Airport Express to temporary stop its service on the busy weekend morning.A KTX train waits for repair after being suddenly stopped at Yeongjong Bridge in Incheon. (Yonhap)The train, which departed Daejeon at 7:51 a.m. for the airport, suddenly stopped at Yeongjong Bridge. Due to the breakdown, the Airport Express that runs between Seoul Station and the airport stopped for nearly two hours. The

A local court on Saturday upheld the decision to ban the jailed confidante of former President Park Geun-hye from meeting acquaintances, claiming the inmate may seek to destroy evidence related to the influence-peddling scandal.The Seoul High Court said it has decided to reject the appeal made by Choi to allow her more leeway in having visitors. Choi Soon-sil, a confidante of former President Park Geun-hye (Yonhap)Choi, who is in custody, is currently banned from having visitors other than legal

South Korean police on Saturday braced for more violence between opponents and supporters of ousted President Park Geun-hye, who was stripped of her powers by the Constitutional Court over a corruption scandal that has plunged the country into a political turmoil.Three people died and dozens were injured in clashes between police and Park's supporters after the ruling Friday, according to police, which detained seven protesters for questioning. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency was planning t

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Friday apologized for the leadership vacuum that has resulted from President Park Geun-hye’s ouster, calling for an end to monthslong rival rallies that have deepened the political divide and intensified confrontation across society.The former prosecutor urged the people to respect the Constitutional Court’s decision as the citizens of a “free democratic nation built upon constitutionalism.” “We face the situation for the first time in our con

Following President Park Geun-hye’s ouster, Washington and Japan expressed respect toward the court’s ruling Friday, boosting hopes of greater cooperation with the next government here, while China called for political stability. “It is up to the Korean people and their democratic institutions to determine the future of their country, and we respect their decisions,” US State Department acting spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement. Washington looks forward to a “productive relationship with w

When Park Geun-hye won a grueling presidential election in December 2012 in defiance of most exit polls, the outside world extolled her as East Asia’s first-ever female leader.At home, however, expectations had not been high for her role in such tasks as empowering women and improving gender equality. Many South Koreans instead questioned whether she would manage to embrace not only her foes, but also the marginalized, as the daughter of a president whose 18-year dictatorial rule and subsequent

A video has emerged in which a man claims to be the son of Kim Jong-nam, the recently assassinated half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, triggering speculation over his possible relocation out of Asia and current whereabouts. “My name is Kim Han-sol, from North Korea, part of the Kim family,” the man says in the clip. “My father was killed a few days ago. I’m currently with my mother and my sister.” He went on to say he was “very grateful to” an organization or person before the audio