Loading... Government News Culture Travel People Expats' Lounge Kor-respondents Issues   Home > Today's Korea > Issues Issues 60 Years of Modernization and Democratization    The Republic of Korea, for the past 60 years, has made great strides in industrialization and democratization. It has achieved modernization in politics, economic growth and social progress.   The Road to Free Trade    Ending more than 14 months of tough negotiations, Korea and the United States reached a free trade agreement on April 2 2007 that would drastically boost their exports. Korean President Roh Moo-hyun hailed the deal as a "stepping stone for another economic leap forward in the nation's push to join the ranks of advanced countries." Overall, the agreement will eliminate nearly 85 percent of each side's tariffs on industrial goods immediately, with the remaining tariffs to be phased out over three to 15 years.   Dokdo    Dokdo is and has for centuries been an integral part of Korean territory. And the Dokdo issue is a living testament to Korea's history and stands as a symbol of our restored sovereignty. Given that our restored sovereignty lies at the heart of the Dokdo issue, the government will deal with it in calm, yet stern manner.   History & Truth    Japan’s history distortion attempts continue to provoke the international community. The new Japanese history textbook, introduced in 2006, justifies and glorifies Japan’s past atrocities, including its annexation of Korea. Many countries urge Tokyo to acknowledge the past wrongdoing and make a frank apology as Japan denied in March 2007 that neither its military nor government had forced women to serve as sex slaves in military brothels during World War II.   East Sea    Korea first used the term, "East Sea" in 59 BC; China also called it "East Sea" in the 10th century. "Sea of Korea" or "Eastern Ocean" was commonly used on European maps before the 20th century. So, why is the East Sea called the "Sea of Japan?"   Dynamic Korea    This new design is a contemporary rendition of the traditional Korean taegeuk (yin and yang) pattern and seeks to express new waves of change and innovation. It also envisions a dynamic future as well as self-confident and high-tech images of the nation.   Goguryeo (Koguryo) in Korean History    Goguryeo was an ancient Korean kingdom with a brilliant history that flourished across a vast expanse of land in East Asia. This special section reviews Goguryeo's history and culture. Prominent history scholars also provide more details.      Hongdae club scene to op...  2008 Sees Korean Stars S...  Go for a swim at riversi...  E-culture event to celeb...  Korea's cold summer tast...  Learn about Sambok and b...  Yanghwajin, a small pilg...  Two Koreas to unite at T...  Learn about Sambok and b...  Korea's cold summer tast...  "Kimchi Western&quo...  Explore Korea's hidden w...  Go for a swim at riversi...  Art festival to reinstat...  Korea's first-half IT ex...  Yanghwajin, a small pilg...