Assembly rejects 6 bills vetoed by Yoon in revote

All six contentious bills vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol were automatically scrapped Thursday, failing to pass a parliamentary revote. The National Assembly voted down four broadcasting bills, aimed at reducing the government's clout over public broadcasters, as well as a bill on providing cash handouts to the entire population and the so-called "yellow envelope" pro-labor bill, during a plenary session. The bills were ultimately scrapped as they failed to gain the two-thirds s

Sept. 26, 2024

Assembly passes bills to toughen punishment for deepfake sex crimes

The National Assembly on Thursday passed a total of 70 bipartisan bills, including legislation that imposes stricter punishments on people who possess and view deepfake pornography knowingly. The revision to the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment, Etc. of Sexual Crimes, seeks to penalize those who possess, purchase, store or view deepfake porn content with up to three years in jail or a fine of up to 30 million won ($22,500). After debate, lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party

Sept. 26, 2024

North Korea unveiling uranium enrichment site a US election-conscious move: NIS

South Korea’s spy agency considers North Korea publicizing leader Kim Jong-un’s visit to a previously undeclared uranium enrichment facility earlier this month to be a “US election-conscious move,” Rep. Lee Seong-kweon of the National Assembly intelligence committee said Thursday. “Kim’s visits to facilities related to North Korea’s nuclear weapons program are rarely ever disclosed this way. The spy agency said the US presidential election was likely the

Sept. 26, 2024

Korea Inc. to invest W65tr in AI in 4 years

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday pledged to ramp up his administration's push to enhance the country's artificial intelligence capabilities through the creation of Presidential Committee on AI, as South Korea's private-sector tech companies also vowed to invest 65 trillion won ($49 billion) in AI-related projects through 2027. Companies investing in the upcoming AI projects will likely get tax benefits in return, according to Yoon's office. South Korea will also work to se

Sept. 26, 2024

Korea to offer W5m stipend to 1,000 science masters

To support the growth and development of science and technology talent, the South Korean government and the ruling party announced Thursday that it will launch a new program to provide 5 million won ($3,800) a year to 1,000 masters in science and engineering. The government and the People Power Party held a consultation meeting at the National Assembly to discuss the “Strategy for the Growth and Development of Science and Technology Talents.” According to the plan, the party will pro

Sept. 26, 2024

[Contribution] Turkmenistan celebrates the 33rd anniversary of its Independence

This year Turkmenistan celebrates the 33rd anniversary of its Independence and marks the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Korea. Thirty-three years ago, the Constitutional Act on the independence and state structure of Turkmenistan was adopted, according to which Turkmenistan was proclaimed as an independent democratic state. From the date of its independence, under the wise leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Turkmenistan has confiden

Sept. 26, 2024

Ex-lawmaker Cho, honorary SNU professor Jung picked as final candidates for Seoul's education chief

Cho Jun-hyuk, a former lawmaker of the predecessor of the ruling People Power Party, was chosen Wednesday as the conservative bloc's single candidate for the Oct. 16 by-election for Seoul's education chief. The conservative bloc's candidacy merger committee said Cho defeated two other right-leaning candidates in a public opinion poll conducted last Saturday. Educator Ahn Yang-ok and Korea University professor Hong Hoo-jo previously raised objections to the method of electing a sin

Sept. 25, 2024

Yoon declines to respond to query on alleged remarks over Marine's death

The presidential office has declined to respond to a court-approved query on whether President Yoon Suk Yeol had made remarks last year accused of interfering with a probe over a young Marine's death. Earlier this month, the court martial in central Seoul accepted Col. Park Jung-hun's request to inquire whether Yoon had made remarks opposing the booking of Maj. Gen. Im Sung-keun over the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who served in Im's unit, during a search mission for victims of he

Sept. 25, 2024

Panel decision put prosecution in dilemma over Dior bag case

South Korea's prosecution is facing a dilemma over the high-profile luxury Dior bag case involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, as the investigation review committee for the nation's top prosecution body gave the upper hand to the pastor who wishes to be indicted in the graft case in hopes of bringing the first lady to the court. A 15-member independent review committee for the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Tuesday night recommended that Korean-American pastor Choi Jae-young be indicted for his allege

Sept. 25, 2024

Yoon, ruling party leadership take flak over ‘meaningless’ dinner

Tuesday's dinner between President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling party leadership, including Chair Han Dong-hoon, sparked criticism from both sides of the partisan divide on Wednesday, with critics pointing to the absence of meaningful discussions at the event. There was no fixed agenda for the dinner meeting, but they were widely expected to discuss issues such as the country's deepening medical crisis, caused by the monthslong walkout of thousands of junior doctors protesting the gove

Sept. 25, 2024

S. Korean science ministry opens joint AI research lab with NYU

South Korea's science ministry said Tuesday it has opened a joint artificial intelligence research lab in collaboration with New York University as part of efforts to lead global-level AI research projects. The new Global AI Frontier Lab at NYU aims to become a global AI joint research hub for researchers from South Korea and the United States, as well as many other countries, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. The lab will be co-led by two distinguished computer scientists -- Ch

Sept. 24, 2024

Yoon hosts dinner with PPP leadership amid tensions with Han

President Yoon Suk Yeol hosted a dinner meeting with the leadership of the ruling People Power Party on Tuesday, which will be a test of how he decides to manage relations with PPP chief Han Dong-hoon and address pending issues. Yoon met with Han, PPP floor leader Rep. Choo Kyung-ho and Supreme Council members at the presidential office, the second such gathering following Han's election in July. The gathering was initially planned for late August but was postponed after Han diverged from Y

Sept. 24, 2024

S. Korea reviews emergency evacuation plan in Middle East

South Korea is reviewing an emergency evacuation plan to ensure the safety of South Korean citizens in the Middle East as the region on Monday suffered the deadliest conflict in almost two decades with Israel's airstrike in Lebanon targeting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. The measure was discussed at the emergency meeting on Tuesday to monitor the situation in the Middle East in terms of national security and economy, presided over by President Yoon Suk Yeol's aides, National Se

Sept. 24, 2024

KFA Chair denies unfair hiring of national coach

Korea Football Association chief Chung Mong-gyu on Tuesday denied any attempts to plot a “scheme or cover up the truth,” in the hiring of men’s national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo, which has been under suspicion of irregularities. He was summoned to testify before the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee on the allegations that the KFA hired the 55-year-old star football player-turned-coach in July as the head coach of the men’s squ

Sept. 24, 2024

Yoon denounces 'two Koreas' suggestion as unconstitutional

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday criticized liberal politicians, including his predecessor Moon Jae-in, for advocating the recognition of North and South Korea as separate states, denouncing the proposal as "unconstitutional." "North Korea is now threatening a nuclear attack while recognizing its relationship with South Korea as belligerent. In this context, how can someone dare to bring up the concept of the peaceful coexistence of the two Koreas?" Yoon said at a Cabinet m

Sept. 24, 2024

[Exclusive] Democratic Party of Korea forms US election task force

The Democratic Party of Korea has launched a task force to brace for the US presidential election that takes place in six weeks to “prepare for potential challenges after the next administration takes office,” lawmakers told The Korea Herald on Tuesday. The Democratic Party think tank, the Institute for Democracy, gathered a team of experts and lawmakers on the National Assembly’s relevant committees to kick-start discussions on the party’s approach to the US presidential

Sept. 24, 2024

Presidential office rejects possibility of Yoon's solo meeting with PPP leader this week

The presidential office said Monday that President Yoon Suk Yeol's possible solo meeting with ruling People Power Party (PPP) chief Han Dong-hoon needs a separate consultation, after Han requested it on the occasion of Yoon's dinner meeting with the PPP leadership this week. Yoon will hold a dinner meeting with Han and other PPP leaders Tuesday to discuss the government's medical reform plan. Separately from the group dinner, Han requested a solo meeting with Yoon on the same day.

Sept. 23, 2024

Yoon's office says 3 bills, including on first lady, violate Constitution

Three recently passed bills, including one targeting first lady Kim Keon Hee, violate the Constitution, the presidential office said Monday, suggesting they will be vetoed by President Yoon Suk Yeol. The bills were unilaterally passed by the main opposition Democratic Party on Thursday despite fierce objections from the ruling People Power Party. One calls for an independent probe into Kim's stock manipulation allegations, as well as her receipt of a luxury bag and her alleged interference

Sept. 23, 2024

Governor of North Korean province in US to promote Yoon’s unification vision

Ji Seong-ho, the governor of North Hamgyong Province, is on a trip to Washington to discuss President Yoon Suk Yeol’s “doctrine” on Korean reunification with US government officials, senators and think tanks. The North Korean defector and former lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party told The Korea Herald on Monday that over his trip he is scheduled to meet with Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty; Amb. Julie Turner, special envoy on North Korean human rights; and shadow Sen. Paul

Sept. 23, 2024

What will Yoon, Han talk about at dinner?

President Yoon Suk Yeol and ruling People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon are scheduled to hold a dinner meeting Tuesday, as several impending issues, such as the country's deepening medical crisis, loom over their heads. Besides Yoon and Han, the dinner will be attended by 14 officials from the ruling party leadership and the presidential office. Han recently requested a separate, private one-on-one meeting between him and Yoon on the sidelines of the dinner meeting, but the presidential o

Sept. 23, 2024