Yoon says people want scientific, compulsory probe into Itaewon tragedy

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Thursday he believes the people want to see a "scientific" and "compulsory" investigation into the Itaewon crowd crush, effectively dismissing the opposition's push for a parliamentary probe. The main opposition Democratic Party and two minor parties jointly submitted a request for a parliamentary probe into the tragedy Wednesday. The request is expected to be handled during a plenary parliamentary session scheduled for later Thursday. "

Nov. 10, 2022

Democratic Party spokesman apologizes for misquoting EU ambassador

The spokesman of the main opposition Democratic Party has apologized for misquoting European Union Ambassador Maria Castillo Fernandez during her meeting with party leader Lee Jae-myung earlier this week. The EU envoy met with the opposition leader in a closed-door meeting Tuesday and discussed issues ranging from North Korea's intensifying military threats to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Following their meeting, Democratic Party spokesperson Rep. Kim Eui-kum told reporters that the ambassad

Nov. 10, 2022

MBC reporters barred from presidential jet for ASEAN trip

The presidential office on Wednesday night told MBC reporters that they would not be allowed to board the presidential plane, two days before President Yoon Seok-yeol's trip to the summits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Group of 20, sparking intense criticism from media and opposition parties. “The boarding of the presidential plane has been providing convenience for reporting on diplomatic and security issues,” read a text message released by MBC late Wedne

Nov. 10, 2022

Opposition parties submit request for parliamentary probe into Itaewon tragedy

The main opposition Democratic Party and two minor progressive parties submitted a joint request Wednesday for a parliamentary investigation into the Itaewon crowd crush despite opposition from the ruling party. The DP, the Justice Party (JP) and the Basic Income Party submitted the request to the National Assembly's Bills Division on Wednesday afternoon, with an aim to have the request reported at a parliamentary plenary session scheduled for Thursday. "We should clearly determi

Nov. 9, 2022

Democratic Party bid to post identities of Itaewon victims fuels backlash

A fresh row has erupted following a recent expose of the Democratic Party of Korea’s apparent bid to publish the identities of the victims of the fatal Halloween crowd crush in Itaewon, Seoul.  While the Democratic Party argued that the victims needed to be remembered publicly, critics said respect for privacy should come before the public’s right to know. In a text message conversation that was leaked to the press, the deputy head of the Democratic Party-run think tank told

Nov. 9, 2022

Prosecution raids Democratic Party headquarters

The prosecution on Wednesday searched the headquarters of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea in its probe into allegations surrounding a land development project in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. With the latest search and seizure, the prosecution appears to be accelerating the investigation that many watchers expect to ultimately hone in on Democratic Party leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office raided the home and office of Jeong Jin-sang, vice

Nov. 9, 2022

Yoon to attend ASEAN, G20, mulls summits with US, Japan

President Yoon Suk-yeol will attend the upcoming ASEAN and G20 summits to strengthen economic and security ties with the region and present the nation’s new Indo-Pacific and ASEAN strategies. During the six-day journey, he could have multilateral talks with the US and Japan, but the chance of bilateral meetings with Japan and China appears low. The president will depart for Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Friday to attend the ASEAN summit and then leave for Bali, Indonesia on Monday to join the

Nov. 9, 2022

Ministry to check 35 mines over recent collapse case

South Korea will carry out special inspections into 35 mines across the country that are deemed to have relatively high chances of accidents by the end of this year in the wake of a recent collapse case, the industry ministry said Wednesday. The plan came as two miners had been trapped for about 10 days in a collapsed zinc mine in the county of Bonghwa, 244 kilometers southeast of Seoul. They were safely rescued on Friday and have been recovering quickly, according to their families and official

Nov. 9, 2022

Home of close aide to opposition leader raided over bribery allegations

Prosecutors raided the home of one of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung's closest confidants Wednesday over suspicions that he received bribes from real estate developers, officials said. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office sent investigators to the house of Jeong Jin-sang, a vice chief of staff to Lee, to seize evidence related to the allegations, the officials said. Jeong, nicknamed Lee's "right-hand man," is known to be one of the party leader's two closest aides, along with

Nov. 9, 2022

[Graphic News] Yoon’s approval rating little changed after crowd crush

　President Yoon Suk-yeol saw his approval rating dip slightly at the end of last week, a survey showed, in the aftermath of the Halloween crowd crush. 　In a poll of 2,521 Korean adults conducted by Realmeter from Monday to Friday last week, 34.2 percent positively assessed Yoon's job performance, down 1.5 percentage points from the previous week. 　Yoon’s disapproval rating was 62.4 percent, up 0.7 percentage point. 　In terms of daily rating, support for Yoon dropped from 35.7 percent T

Nov. 9, 2022

Moon returns to state two dogs gifted by N. Korea's Kim

Former President Moon Jae-in returned to the state a pair of dogs that he had been in custody of since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gave them as a gift in 2018, Moon's side and Presidential Archives said on Tuesday. One male named Songkang and a female named Gomi, both indigenous North Korean Pungsan-breed, were delivered to officials of the Presidential Archives at a university veterinary hospital in Daegu, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul. After the handover, the Presidential Archiv

Nov. 8, 2022

‘President failed in his constitutional duty’

The opposition lawmakers on Tuesday blasted President Yoon Suk-yeol and his administration for failing in their duties with regard to the Itaewon tragedy. At the National Assembly interrogation of the presidential office, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea accused the president of “failing his constitutional mandate to protect South Koreans” in the Itaewon tragedy. “The Itaewon disaster showed a complete neglect of the obligations placed on the president by the Co

Nov. 8, 2022

How will US elections affect South Korea?

As the world watches the outcome of the US midterm elections, South Korean experts say the results will bring subtle changes for Korea. If the Republican Party prevails, President Joe Biden's economic policies with US allies may see subtle changes, but the US stance on North Korean issues is unlikely to change, experts say. South Korea is paying special attention to the US midterm elections over whether the result could affect some of the US’ economic policies such as the Inflatio

Nov. 8, 2022

Yoon moves into new official residence

Amid criticism over wasted budget and inappropriate use of manpower, President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Kun-hee moved into the new official residence located in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, Monday, six months after Yoon's inauguration. The presidential office said that Yoon and his wife moved from their private residence in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul, to the Hannam-dong residence on Monday. It took nearly 10 minutes for the president to travel from his home in Seocho-dong to the pre

Nov. 8, 2022

PM orders checks on emergency response system over N. Korea's provocations

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo ordered the interior ministry Tuesday to double-check the country's anti-missile evacuation and other emergency response systems amid heightened tension in the wake of a series of North Korean missile launches. Han issued the order during a Cabinet meeting, saying there has been criticism of the government's air raid alert system when a North Korean missile flew across the inter-Korean sea border toward Ulleung Island last week before crashing near South Kor

Nov. 8, 2022

Moon notifies government of intent to return three NK dogs

Former President Moon Jae-in has notified the South Korean government of his intent to return the dogs that were gifted to him by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un back to the state. Moon on Saturday relayed his decision to the Ministry of Interior and Safety that he wishes to return a pair of dogs and their puppy that he was taking care of since May, according to local reports on Monday. Of the three dogs, a pair, Gomi and Songang, were given to the former president by the North Korean leader dur

Nov. 7, 2022

With official mourning period over, Yoon vows to hold culprits to account

With the end of the national mourning period for the Itaewon disaster, President Yoon Suk-yeol is now grappling with who to hold accountable amid continued revelations regarding the nation’s poor response and growing calls to sack related high-ranking officials. At a national safety system inspection meeting held at the presidential office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Monday morning, Yoon said, “We will strictly hold the responsible people accountable according to the (investigation&rsq

Nov. 7, 2022

Yoon apologizes to nation over Itaewon crowd crush

President Yoon Suk-yeol apologized to the nation Monday for the deadly Itaewon crowd crush, saying he will ensure a thorough investigation into the tragedy and hold those responsible to account. Yoon issued the apology during a meeting held to review crowd control and other safety regulations in the wake of the tragedy that killed 156 people on Oct. 29. "I dare not compare myself to the parents who lost their sons and daughters, but as the president who should protect the people's lives and

Nov. 7, 2022

Politics encroaches on mourning for victims of Itaewon tragedy

Candlelight vigils honoring the 156 people killed in the Itaewon crowd surge were held across South Korea over the weekend, with some gathering thousands of people. While the events were to commemorate the dead, some participants held signs calling for President Yoon Suk-yeol to step down and appeared focused on delivering a rebuke to the current administration. On Saturday, thousands of people gathered in central Seoul, paying tribute to the Itaewon victims and clutching white candles. Contrast

Nov. 6, 2022

Yoon sends thank you letter to two surviving miners

President Yoon Suk-yeol sent a thank you letter and gifts to two miners who were rescued from a collapsed mine in southeastern South Korea after more than nine days, a presidential spokesman said Sunday. The two miners walked out alive after being trapped for 221 hours in the zinc mine in the county of Bonghwa, 244 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Friday. "A new hope was given to the Republic of Korea weighed down with sorrow. I wish you a quick recovery," Yoon was quoted as saying in

Nov. 6, 2022