Yoon slams premature announcement of police reshuffle

President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed outrage Thursday that a reshuffle of senior police officials was announced prematurely before receiving his approval, saying it amounted to a "disturbance of national discipline." Police released the names of new senior superintendents general on Tuesday evening, only to reverse seven of them two hours later. The flip-flopping led to suspicions that the interior ministry, which oversees the police, was exerting undue control over the law enforcement ag

June 23, 2022

PM returns home after trip to Paris

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo returned home on Thursday after a five-day trip to Paris where he appealed for international support for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in the southern port city of Busan. During his first overseas trip since taking office last month, Han attended a general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), an intergovernmental body in charge of overseeing World Expos. Han delivered a presentation on South Korea's bid to bring the e

June 23, 2022

PPP ethics committee defers decision over possible discipline of party chief

The ethics committee of the ruling People Power Party has deferred a decision until next month on whether to take disciplinary action against party chairman Lee Jun-seok over allegations he received sexual services as a bribe about 10 years ago and attempted to cover up the case. The committee, however, decided at Wednesday's meeting to begin the process of reprimanding Kim Cheol-geun, a key aide to Lee, over allegations that he met with Lee's accuser earlier this year and attempted to

June 23, 2022

Democratic Party divided over six-month suspension on Rep. Choe

South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party’s internal strife continues, with members polarized on the internal ethics panel’s proposal to suspend Rep. Choe Kang-wook’s party membership over sexual misconduct allegation. The ethics panel ruled Monday to suspend Choe’s party membership for six months after he allegedly made questionable comments in an online meeting of party officials held in April. He reportedly used a slur that could be used to refer to masturb

June 22, 2022

PM calls for drastic reform of KEPCO

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has called for drastic reform of the loss-making Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), saying that the state-run electricity firm's self-rescue plans are insufficient. Han made the remarks at a meeting with Korean reporters on Tuesday after delivering a presentation on South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo at a general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which is an intergovernmental body in charge of overseeing World Expos. &qu

June 22, 2022

PPP ethics panel set to look into sexual bribery allegations against party chief

The ethics committee of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Wednesday was scheduled to look into allegations that party Chairman Lee Jun-seok tried to destroy evidence related to an alleged sexual bribery case. The PPP ethics committee will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. at the National Assembly to decide whether to seek disciplinary action against Lee. Lee has been facing allegations that he received sexual services paid for by a businessperson in 2013. While a police investigation is ongoing, the

June 22, 2022

Fates of Lee Jun-seok, People Power Party soon to be decided

The ruling People Power Party could see a possible shift in power dynamics Wednesday as Chairman Lee Jun-seok could be penalized by the internal ethics panel over sexual bribery allegations. The ethics panel is scheduled to convene at 7 p.m. Wednesday to continue discussions on whether to penalize Lee for “failing to maintain dignity” and “coercing to destroy evidence” in relation to a sexual bribery case that is also under police investigation. The panel may reach a de

June 21, 2022

National Assembly remains stalled for 23 days

South Korea’s legislative branch has been stalled for weeks as the ruling and main opposition parties have failed to come to a compromise on which party should take over key legislative posts. With the key posts remaining empty for 23 days, the legislative branch has failed to vet bills and party negotiations have not made much progress, primarily on which party would take certain chair posts for the latter half of the 21st National Assembly. The ruling People Power Party has asked for t

June 21, 2022

Yoon calls for public institution reform

President Yoon Suk-yeol called Tuesday for bold measures to reform public institutions and cut back their growing debts. Yoon issued the call during a Cabinet meeting, saying the debts of public institutions have soared over the past five years to reach 583 trillion won ($452 billion) as of the end of 2021. "Public institution reform is a task that cannot be delayed any further," he said, lamenting that public institutions have grown in size and personnel despite their debts. "Pub

June 21, 2022

BTS to continue to support S. Korea's bid to host 2030 World Expo: PM

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said K-pop superband BTS will continue to serve as a public relations ambassador for South Korea's bid to host the World Expo in 2030 in the southern port city of Busan, despite the septet's decision to suspend group activities. Han is on a visit to Paris to attend a general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which is an intergovernmental body in charge of overseeing World Expos. BTS accepted the Busan city government's request

June 21, 2022

Yoon suggests possible probe into 2019 repatriation of NK sailors

President Yoon Suk-yeol suggested Tuesday his administration could investigate the 2019 repatriation of two North Korean sailors, saying many people have questions about the then government's decision to send them back. Yoon was referring to the repatriation of two North Korean sailors who tried to defect to South Korea after allegedly killing 16 fellow crew members on a fishing boat, which happened under the previous administration of Moon Jae-in. "We're still looking into it, bu

June 21, 2022

Yoon tells parties to focus on easing cost-of-living crisis

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Monday that the government was doing all it could to help overcome the economic difficulties faced by the public, calling for bipartisan efforts from lawmakers who are bogged down in wrangling over committee chairmanships. “There is no fundamental way to deal with the problems that arise because money supply is high, and because high interest rates are being used around the world to curb high inflation and high prices,” Yoon replied when asked by report

June 20, 2022

Internal turmoil brews at major political parties in power struggle

Internal strife is continuing within South Korea’s ruling and main opposition parties as factions jockey for power. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea is set to elect its new chairperson at the national convention scheduled in August and finally conclude the battle between supporters of Rep. Lee Jae-myung and those with close ties to former President Moon Jae-in. From the pro-Moon circle, Rep. Sul Hoon expressed his intent to run for the chair, and Rep. Hong Young-pyo is also

June 20, 2022

Yoon hosts 'housewarming' event in front yard of new presidential office

President Yoon Suk-yeol hosted a "housewarming" event in the front yard of the presidential office in central Seoul on Sunday, inviting some 400 neighbors and others to celebrate the relocation of the office. Living up to his campaign pledge, Yoon has moved the presidential office to the former defense ministry building in Yongsan from Cheong Wa Dae in line with his campaign pledge to connect better with people.  About 400 residents of Yongsan, young Afghan refugees and small b

June 19, 2022

Main opposition accuses ruling party of framing Moon administration as ‘pro-North’

South Korea’s main opposition party’s interim chief Rep. Woo Sang-ho on Sunday accused conservative ruling party of strategically framing the previous liberal Moon Jae-in administration as “pro-North Korea,” following a decision overturning the initial conclusion regarding a civil servant killed by North Korea. “Instead of taking care of people’s livelihoods, (the incumbent Yoon Suk-yeol administration) is trying to create an image (of his predecessor) as h

June 19, 2022

Yoon says UN Security Council should resolutely respond to NK provocations

President Yoon Suk-yeol told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that the UN Security Council should respond in a resolute and united manner to North Korea's provocations. Yoon made the remarks in a phone call with Guterres, saying North Korean provocations pose a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula and the international community, an official at Yoon's office said. Last month, the Security Council failed to adopt a new sanctions resolution on North Korea, which launched a series o

June 17, 2022

Yoon refutes criticism by main opposition party over probes into officials of former govt.

President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday refuted criticism from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) that investigations into officials of the previous administration are politically motivated. "It is not desirable to politically debate about the normal justice system," Yoon said when asked to comment on the DP's contention with probes into officials of the former Moon Jae-in administration and Rep. Lee Jae-myung, who was defeated by Yoon in March's presidential election. Yoon

June 17, 2022

Yoon says cutting corporate tax could help raise competitiveness

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Friday that the government's plan to cut the corporate tax will help companies raise their competitiveness. Yoon made the remarks as he arrived for work, a day after the finance ministry proposed lowering the maximum corporate tax rate to 22 percent, the average rate in countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), from 25 percent. If the government lowers the corporate tax rate to the average of the OECD nations, it would "

June 17, 2022

First lady’s first activity fans controversy

President Yoon Suk-yeol’s wife, Kim Keon-hee, has begun official activities, and so have the controversies. Kim, who has been targeted by the opposition since Yoon first entered politics, came under renewed attack after paying tribute to late President Roh Moo-hyun while being accompanied by acquaintances, prompting speculations that Yoon may revive the office in charge of first lady affairs that he removed. When Kim visited Roh’s grave in Bongha Village, South Gyeongsang Province

June 15, 2022

Finance minister says stabilizing prices, people's livelihoods top priority

Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho said Wednesday that the government will use every possible policy measure to stabilize prices and people's livelihoods amid rising concerns of economic slowdown and higher inflation. Choo made the remark at a ruling party-government consultative meeting on economic policy, asking for parliamentary support for efforts to overcome the economic crisis. "We are in a difficult situation in many ways, but the government will use every possible policy measure to

June 15, 2022