Justice ministry acknowledges rights violation at detention center for illegal immigrants

The justice ministry acknowledged Monday that human rights violations occurred at a detention center for illegal immigrants in June after an investigation into allegations that an inmate suffered torture-like treatment. The investigation came after the inmate from Morocco in his 30s filed a petition with the national human rights watchdog, claiming he was maltreated while being detained in June at an immigration processing center in Hwaseong, about 40 kilometers south of Seoul. He accused offi

PoliticsNov. 1, 2021

Nuke envoys of S. Korea, China discuss end-of-war declaration for NK dialogue

The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and China held a videoconference Monday to discuss measures for an early resumption of the Korean peace process, including the proposed declaration of a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Noh Kyu-duk, the special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, held the virtual talks with his Chinese counterpart Liu Xiaoming to explain Seoul's efforts to revive stalled dialogue with North Korea and requested

Foreign AffairsNov. 1, 2021

Moon urges solidarity to tackle global supply chain crisis

President Moon Jae-in on Sunday attended a global supply chain summit that was convened by US President Joe Biden in an apparent move to rally allies in reshaping the global supply ecosystem less dependent on China. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the gathering of the G-20 leaders in Rome. A total of 14 countries, mostly the US’ key allies like Italy, Germany, Canada, India and Australia, attended the meeting, with China being absent.  Biden stressed the urgent need for a

Foreign AffairsNov. 1, 2021

Military monitors NK for signs of missile test

South Korean and US intelligence are closely monitoring for signs of North Korea’s next missile test, the military said Monday in response to satellite images showing preparations to launch a submarine-launched ballistic missile for the second time since October. The images -- made public last week by 38 North, which monitors North Korea -- showed activity involving a mobile crane and a submerged barge at Sinpo, a port city along the east coast where North Korea runs a major submarine shi

DefenseNov. 1, 2021

S. Korea's defense minister holds talks with Australian Army chief

South Korea's Defense Minister Suh Wook held talks with the visiting Australian Army chief in Seoul on Monday to discuss defense industry cooperation and regional security, his office said. During the talks with Australian Chief of Army Lt. Gen. Rick Burr, Suh noted that a South Korean company has been chosen as the preferred bidder to supply self-propelled howitzers to the Australian military, and called for deeper bilateral cooperation in the artillery sector. The two sides also agreed to de

DefenseNov. 1, 2021

Prosecutors seek arrest warrants for 3 key figures in Seongnam development scandal

Prosecutors sought arrest warrants Monday for three key figures in an urban development scandal on charges of breach of trust and bribery in connection with a lucrative project in Seongnam, south of Seoul. Prosecutors have been looking into suspicions over how a previously unheard-of asset management company, Hwacheon Daeyu, and its seven affiliates reaped astronomical profits from a 2015 project to develop the Daejang-dong district in Seongnam into an apartment complex. The Seoul Central Dist

PoliticsNov. 1, 2021

Office workers, students struggle to return to in-person life as 'living with COVID-19' kicks off

City centers in Seoul welcomed back the return of rush hour crowds Monday morning as office workers and students resumed their in-person lives under the government's "living with COVID-19" scheme aimed at bringing the nation gradually back to pre-pandemic normalcy. South Korea activated on Monday the first of the three-stage scheme to gradually phase out coronavirus restrictions as more than 70 percent of the population have been fully vaccinated. Under the latest measure effective

Social AffairsNov. 1, 2021

Ahn declares third bid for presidency, vows to create a technology-oriented Korea

Ahn Cheol-soo, head of the minor opposition People’s Party, officially declared his third bid for presidency on Monday, vowing to transform South Korea into a science and technology-oriented state. Whether Ahn will unify with the main opposition People Power Party candidate will be a major variable in the upcoming election. Announcing his candidacy at the National Assembly in Seoul, Ahn said, “I will become a president who pursues national growth engines with the power of advance

PoliticsNov. 1, 2021

Unification ministry to discuss resuming Panmunjom tours with UNC

The unification ministry said Monday it will begin discussions with the US-led United Nations Command (UNC) to resume tours to the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom as South Korea began its "living with COVID-19" scheme meant to phase out coronavirus restrictions amid a rising vaccination rate. Tours to Panmunjom, or the Joint Security Area (JSA), were suspended in July after health authorities imposed the toughest virus curbs in the greater Seoul area, home to half of the coun

North KoreaNov. 1, 2021

Almost half of Koreans say lifting business hour limits is timely: poll

Almost half of Koreans think that lifting business hour limits is a timely decision, as the country takes its first steps in the direction of “living with COVID-19” this week, a poll showed Monday. According to Realmeter’s poll of 500 people aged 18 and older nationwide, 47.5 percent of respondents said health authorities’ decision to ease restrictions on operating hours comes at the right time, whereas 26.1 percent said it is still too early and 21.8 percent said it is

Social AffairsNov. 1, 2021

[Us and Them] Are all jobs equally respected?

A well-known Korean saying goes, “There is no superiority or inferiority in a job.” That means all jobs are equally valuable and honorable, so no one should be treated differently based on how they make their living. In today’s South Korea, however, the saying appears to hold little weight. According to a 2016 survey conducted by job-searching website Saramin, more than half of all respondents said they thought there were superior and inferior jobs. When asked why, the majori

Social AffairsNov. 1, 2021

S. Korea, US kick off joint air exercise

South Korea and the United States kicked off a combined annual air exercise Monday, a source said, in a low-key manner apparently to back ongoing diplomacy to resume dialogue with North Korea. For the five-day exercise, the allies mobilized some 100 air assets each, including F-15K and KF-16 jets from South Korea and F-16s from the US, the source said, noting no military assets were deployed from the US mainland this time. The allies have regularly held the air exercise in a scaled-down, low-k

DefenseNov. 1, 2021

Seoul urges Pyongyang to accept proposed visit by pope

The South Korean government on Monday urged North Korea to respond positively to a suggestion that the pope visit there, expressing hope for progress in efforts to promote regional peace. The unification ministry's statement came after Pope Francis reaffirmed his willingness to visit the North during his meeting with President Moon Jae-in at the Vatican last week. Moon and the pope met Friday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Rome, during which Moon said a papal visit to North Kor

North KoreaNov. 1, 2021

Main opposition party enters final stretch of presidential primary with polling

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) kicked off the final week of its presidential primary Monday as the two front-runners appeared to be locked in a tight race for the nomination. The party's standard-bearer is scheduled to be determined and announced at a national convention Friday after four days of polling party members and the general public on their most favored candidate. The four candidates are former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, PPP Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, former Rep. Yoo Se

PoliticsNov. 1, 2021

New infections fall below 2,000, eased virus curbs begin

South Korea's new coronavirus cases fell below 2,000 for the first time in five days on Monday as the country began its "living with COVID-19" scheme meant to phase out coronavirus restrictions amid the rising rate of vaccinations. On Monday, the government relaxed the social distancing rules as part of a broader plan to gradually lift the virus restrictions by the end of February. South Korea reported 1,686 new COVID-19 cases, including 1,666 local infections, raising the total case

Social AffairsNov. 1, 2021

S. Korean theaters brace for normalcy after protracted COVID-19 pandemic

South Korean multiplex operators have braced for a long-awaited comeback of the audience to movie theaters as a gradual return to normalcy from the COVID-19 pandemic started Monday. The local health authorities earlier announced plans to go ahead with the "living with COVID-19" scheme from the first day of November, phasing out coronavirus restrictions such as nighttime curfews on cafes, restaurants, theaters and other multiuse facilities. Leading multiplex chains CJ CGV and Lotte Ci

Social AffairsNov. 1, 2021

Moon says Pope Francis stated intent to visit N. Korea

President Moon Jae-in said Monday that Pope Francis stated his intention to visit North Korea during their meeting at the Vatican last week. Moon and the pope met Friday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Rome. Moon said at the meeting that a papal visit to North Korea would foster peace on the Korean Peninsula and the pope responded positively, according to Cheong Wa Dae. "Pope Francis prayed as always for peace on the Korean Peninsula and stated his intention to visit North K

PoliticsNov. 1, 2021

Moon arrives in Glasgow for UN summit on climate change

GLASGOW, Scotland -- President Moon Jae-in arrived in Britain on Sunday for a UN summit on climate change where he is expected to urge the world to urgently tackle the climate crisis and highlight South Korea's role in combating climate change. The UN summit, also known as the COP26 summit, is set to bring together more than 100 heads of state, including Moon, US. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city.  World leaders are expec

PoliticsNov. 1, 2021

Moon asks Merkel to pay attention to peace on Korean Peninsula, bilateral ties

ROME -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in asked the outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel to pay attention to peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula and bilateral relations between the two countries after she steps down. Moon and Merkel, who will soon step down after 16 years in office, met one-on-one on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in the Italian capital. Moon thanked Merkel for her efforts to improve bilateral relations since 2005, saying that bilateral ties between South Korea and Ge

PoliticsNov. 1, 2021

At G-20, Moon pledges to complete phaseout of coal power plants by 2050

President Moon Jae-in on Sunday pledged that South Korea will compete the phaseout of coal-fired power generation by 2050 and contribute to achieving carbon neutrality on a global level.  Moon made the remarks as the leaders of the Group of 20 countries gathered for the second day of the Rome summit, their first in-person gathering since the COVID-19 pandemic, with attention focused on whether they will reach a meaningful agreement on how to fight global warming.  "In line with

Foreign AffairsOct. 31, 2021