Once neglected, young women emerge as an important voting bloc

“What do you think is feminism?” This question, put to conservative candidate Yoon Suk-yeol by his rival Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea, was one of the highlights of the final TV debate on Wednesday. “I think feminism is a kind of humanism, respecting women as human,” Yoon answered as Lee pushed back, “It’s a movement that accepts the gender discrimination and inequality that women face as reality and seeks to tackle them.” Their ex

PoliticsMarch 6, 2022

Moon visits wildfire-hit eastern coastal area

President Moon Jae-in on Sunday consoled residents in the eastern coastal area that has been ravaged by a massive wildfire and vowed swift government support for the victims, his office said. He met some of the displaced people at a makeshift shelter in Uljin, 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, as authorities mobilized 44 helicopters and 4,000 personnel to contain the blaze that began Friday. Among some 7,400 people who evacuated due to the fire, 1,000 are staying in temporary shelters set up at

PoliticsMarch 6, 2022

Finance Minister tests positive for COVID-19

Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki tested positive for COVID-19 in a rapid antigen test, his office said Sunday. He took a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result on Saturday and will receive treatment at his official residence in Seoul for seven days from Sunday, the office said. The minister cast his ballot in early voting ahead of the presidential election day on March 9. On March 3, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum tested positive for COVID-19 and is undergoing at-home treatment for seven days at h

Social AffairsMarch 6, 2022

S. Korea's daily COVID-19 cases exceed 240,000 for 3rd day

South Korea's daily coronavirus cases stayed above 240,000 for the third consecutive day Sunday amid the fast spread of the highly transmissible omicron variant. The country reported 243,628 new COVID-19 infections, including 243,540 local cases, raising the total caseload to 4,456,264, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The daily tally fell from 254,327 cases Saturday and a record-high 266,853 cases Friday. Daily cases surpassed 200,000 for the first time Wed

Social AffairsMarch 6, 2022

Lee, Yoon to converge on Seoul in homestretch of campaign

Ruling party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung and main opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol are set to converge on Seoul in the homestretch of their campaigns Sunday. With the election three days away, Lee of the liberal Democratic Party will crisscross the capital for campaign rallies in the districts of Dobong, Seongbuk, Eunpyeong, Seodaemun, Gwanak and Yongsan. Yoon of the conservative People Power Party, meanwhile, will start the day in Seoul's eastern district of Gangdong before stumping

PoliticsMarch 6, 2022

[Election 2022] Wives of presidential frontrunners emerge as variable in election

The wives of the two leading presidential candidates emerged as a key variable in this year's election as both were hit with embarrassing scandals that negatively impacted their husbands' campaigns. Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of ruling Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, was often seen accompanying her husband on the campaign trail before a major scandal broke over the Lunar New Year holiday from late January to early February. The scandal centered on allegations that an aide to Kim bullied a

PoliticsMarch 6, 2022

[Election 2022] Key election promises and policy views of two leading presidential candidates

The following are key election pledges of South Korea's two leading candidates for the March 9 presidential election -- Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party. While many of the pledges have been officially announced by the candidates and their election camps, some are based on earlier remarks and known views. 〈Foreign Relations〉 -- North Korea and nuclear talks Lee says he will take a conciliatory approach toward North Korea if e

PoliticsMarch 6, 2022

[Election 2022] Yoon embraces dramatic turn from top prosecutor to hope of conservatives

Yoon Suk-yeol has undergone a dramatic transformation from a prosecutor general serving President Moon Jae-in to an opposition presidential contender vowing to investigate the administration's "deep-rooted evils" if elected on March 9. Yoon, 61, rose to prominence as a prosecutor investigating high-profile cases under the previous conservative administration of President Park Geun-hye, including the massive corruption scandal that led to her impeachment and imprisonment. His status ear

PoliticsMarch 6, 2022

[Election 2022] S. Koreans to elect new president this week after tight race

South Koreans will elect a new president this week, capping off a neck-and-neck race between two leading contenders whose promises of improved livelihoods and a fairer society were largely overshadowed by scandals and feuds. Wednesday's election has shaped up to be a two-way race between former Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party and former prosecutor-general Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party. Lee, the liberal candidate, has used his back

PoliticsMarch 6, 2022

N. Korea says it conducted another 'important test' for 'reconnaissance satellite' development

North Korea said Sunday it has conducted another "important test" for developing a "reconnaissance satellite." "The DPRK National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) and the Academy of Defence Science conducted another important test on Saturday under the plan of developing a reconnaissance satellite," the Korean Central News Agency said in an English-language report. The DPRK is the acronym for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of

North KoreaMarch 6, 2022

[Weekender] Unity and coalition stand as key challenges for the next president

Whoever wins the 20th presidential election on March 9, the winner faces the complex task of bringing unity among South Koreans -- a pledge repeated by almost all recent presidents -- and measure out policies to bring naysayers to the table for the next five years. The race so far has largely been centered on mudslinging and denunciations, especially between ruling party candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea and his main opposition rival Yoon Suk-yeol of the People Power Part

PoliticsMarch 5, 2022

Wildfire quickly spreads to about 21,000 acres as thousands evacuate

More than 6,000 people have evacuated their homes as firefighters battle a massive wildfire in eastern coastal areas Saturday. The fire burned an estimated 21,179 acres (8,571 hectares) of woodland in Uljin, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and its neighboring city of Samcheok as of 1 p.m., according to forest and firefighting authorities. That is more than double the size of woodland reported to have been affected the previous day. The blaze began on Friday morning on a road near a m

Social AffairsMarch 5, 2022

Top S. Korean, US nuclear envoys discuss N. Korea's missile launch

The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States condemned Saturday North Korea's latest missile test and vowed to boost coordination during phone consultations, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Earlier in the day, the North test-fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea from around the Sunan area in Pyongyang, less than a week after a ballistic missile launch, according to the South's military. Noh Kyu-duk, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, a

North KoreaMarch 5, 2022

US condemns N. Korea's latest missile launch as threat to neighbors

A US state department spokesperson condemned North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch Friday, calling it a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The spokesperson also urged North Korea to refrain from further provocations and engage in sustained diplomacy. "The United States condemns the DPRK's ballistic missile launch," the spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency in an email, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. &

North KoreaMarch 5, 2022

NSC condemns N. Korea's launch of ballistic missile

The presidential National Security Council on Saturday condemned North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile and called for Pyongyang to immediately stop acts that raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula. National security adviser Suh Hoon presided over the meeting, shortly after North Korea fired an unidentified projectile, which was later described by the South's military as a ballistic missile, toward the East Sea. NSC members said that North Korea's repeated firing of ballistic missile

North KoreaMarch 5, 2022

N. Korea fires 1 ballistic missile toward East Sea: S. Korean military

North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Saturday, South Korea's military said, just four days ahead of the presidential election here. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch from around the Sunan area in Pyongyang at 8:48 a.m. and that the missile flew around 270 kilometers at a top altitude of 560 km. The latest launch, the North's ninth show of force this year, came less than a week after it claimed to have conducted a "reconnaissance satellite&q

North KoreaMarch 5, 2022

New COVID-19 cases over 250,000 for 2nd day; deaths at all-time high

South Korea's daily COVID-19 cases stayed above 250,000 for the second consecutive day Saturday, and the daily death count reached another high amid the fast spread of the omicron variant. The country reported 254,327 new COVID-19 infections, including 254,250 local cases, raising the total caseload to 4,212,652, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The daily tally went down slightly from the previous day's 266,853, when the figure hit a record high two days after dail

Social AffairsMarch 5, 2022

'This struggle must be won’: Burmese writer talks about her book ‘Spring Revolution’

For Ei Pencilo, the bestselling author of “Spring Revolution,” bringing change to her home country of Myanmar is always on her mind. “From Feb. 1, 2021, to this moment, I never lost contact with Myanmar except when I sleep, because I think it’s my responsibility, during this time I have to do my best and use all my abilities to fight. One day, when the Spring of Myanmar comes, I want to be proud of my efforts without feeling guilty,” the 31-year-old said. A Korea

Diplomatic CircuitMarch 4, 2022

JCS chairman makes first visit to Saudi to enhance military cooperation

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman will make his first visit to Saudi Arabia on Saturday to boost military exchange and defense industrial cooperation and attend the country’s inaugural international defense exhibition. JCS chairman Gen. Won In-choul was invited by Saudi Arabia’s Chief of the General Staff Gen. Fayyadh bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili for the four-day trip, the South Korean military said in a statement. This marks the first time that a South Korean JCS chairma

DefenseMarch 4, 2022

Lee Jun-seok dismisses possibility of co-chairing party with Ahn Cheol-soo

People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok on Friday dismissed rumors of a co-chairmanship with Ahn Cheol-soo as various rumors about Ahn‘s next steps arose since his stepping out of the race. Ahn, the chairman of the minor opposition People’s Party, conceded his candidacy to the People Power Party’s Yoon Suk-yeol on Thursday. There were rumors about Ahn‘s next moves, including one about him possibly becoming a co-chairman of the main opposition once the two parties merg

PoliticsMarch 4, 2022