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(LEAD) Seoul shares end over 1 pct higher ahead of key U.S. data

South Korean stocks ended higher Wednesday as investors closely awaited key data from the United States later this week. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 27.24 points, or …

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Institutions’ foreign securities holdings rise in 2023

South Korean institutions’ investment in foreign securities increased last year as they boosted investments in overseas stocks amid robust earnings from an artificial intelligence and chip-related stock rally and the U.S. economy’s sound growth, cent…

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(LEAD) Yoon visits birthplace of former first lady Yook Young-su

President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the birthplace of former first lady Yook Young-su, the assassinated wife of former conservative President Park Chung-hee, on Wednesday, his office said.

Yoon was greeted by a large number of local residents at the hou…

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Fertility rate in S. Korea hits another record low of 0.65

South Korea’s total fertility rate fell to a fresh record quarterly low of 0.65 in the fourth quarter of 2023, data showed Wednesday, deepening demographic woes in the country struggling with rapid aging and a fast declining birthrate.

The average n…

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Emergency text alerts to include key disaster information in English

Emergency text alerts warning of disasters like earthquakes and security risks will include English texts to help inform foreigners of potential danger, the interior ministry said Wednesday.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said it will upgra…

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Population mobility rises by most in 3 years in Jan.

The number of South Koreans who moved to different residences in the country rose by the most in three years last month amid rising home transactions, data showed Wednesday.

Around 597,000 people changed residences last month, up 18 percent from a y…

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N. Korea deletes commemorative stamps of inter-Korean summits from issuer’s website

North Korea has erased commemorative stamps with unification references from the website of its state-run stamp company, including those of inter-Korean summits, after its leader Kim Jong-un defined South Korea as the nation’s “primary foe.”

As of T…

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Facebook founder likely to meet with S. Korean tech leaders: sources

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg will likely meet with business officials from leading South Korean tech companies and startups, including Samsung Electronics Co., during his visit to Seoul, industry sources said Wednesday.

The CEO of Meta Platforms…

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Tenant protection law ruled constitutional

The Constitutional Court on Wednesday upheld the constitutionality of a law enacted in 2020 to better protect tenants in lease contracts amid the then runaway rents and housing prices.

Led by the then ruling Democratic Party, the National Assembly p…

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S. Korea cuts over 10,000 employees at state-run institutions in 2023

The government cut more than 10,000 workers from state-run companies in 2023 as part of efforts to reform and innovate the management of public firms, the finance ministry said Wednesday.

Public companies let go of a combined 11,374 workers last yea…

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