(ATTN: UPDATES with departure, quote in first four paras; ADDS photo; AMENDS headline)

SEOUL (Yonhap) - The government will improve and increase the number of its programs to teach the Korean language to foreigners next year as the recent boom of Korean pop culture has helped push up

(ATTN: UPDATES with lawmakers' adopting resolution in 5th para)

SEOUL (Yonhap) - With a high court ruling imminent on the long-debated ownership of Korea Exchange Bank (KEB), unionized workers voiced their intent to hold massive protests against the lender's po

SEOUL (Yonhap) - China is set to deport a group of alleged North Korean defectors back to their home country later in the day, a lawmaker said Thursday, adding urgency to Seoul's efforts to block t

By Chang Jae-soon

SEOUL (Yonhap) - South Korea is facing growing economic uncertainties stemming from the general global slowdown and inflationary pressure at home, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said Thursday

SEOUL (Yonhap) - Samsung Electronics Co. expressed Thursday its condolences over the death of Steve Jobs, describing the late Apple Inc.

SEOUL (Yonhap) - South Korean stocks traded 3.86 percent higher late Thursday morning as investor sentiment was boosted by rallies in U.S. and European stocks.

SEOUL (Yonhap) - South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan was to hold talks with his Japanese counterpart Thursday, focusing on ways to deal with North Korea's nuclear issue and bilateral relati