Ex-prosecutor chief Yoon's spokesperson resigns for 'personal reasons'

The spokesperson of Yoon Seok-youl, a former prosecutor general and leading presidential hopeful, resigned for "personal reasons" Sunday, just 10 days after his appointment. The resignation of Lee Dong-hoon, a former journalist, came after Yoon and Lee issued conflicting messages over the issue of whether the former top prosecutor would join the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) as an official member. "Of course, I made the decision after talks with Yoon," Lee told Y

June 20, 2021

PPP's approval rises to new high since 2016 presidential corruption scandal: poll

The approval rating of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) reached a fresh high since the 2016 corruption scandal of former conservative President Park Geun-hye, a new poll showed Friday. According to the Gallup Korea poll that surveyed 1,001 people aged over 18 from Tuesday to Wednesday, public approval for the ruling Democratic Party was recorded at 31 percent, unchanged from a week ago, while that of the PPP climbed 3 percentage points to 30 percent. The latest poll number comes as

June 18, 2021

Ruling party pushes for heavy financial penalties for fake news

The Democratic Party will push to stamp out fake news by legislating a new law that obliges media to pay punitive damages for the spread of malicious disinformation and misinformation, officials said Friday. The new law the ruling party aims to pass through the National Assembly by the end of this month calls for the payment of compensation three to five times the calculated amount of damage caused by false information in news, they said. The imposition of extraordinary financial penalties was

June 18, 2021

Moon wraps up Europe visit highlighted by G-7 summit, upgraded ties with Austria, Spain

South Korean President Moon Jae-in headed back to Seoul on Thursday after a weeklong trip to Europe, during which he focused on making clear Seoul's commitment to playing a bigger role in global issues and improving strategic ties with Austria and Spain. He joined a Group of Seven summit in Cornwall, Britain, last weekend as a guest. Moon received an invitation to take part in last year's G-7 summit, scheduled to be hosted by the U.S., as well but it was called off due to the pandemic. Cheong

June 17, 2021

18th-century Spain map links Dokdo to Korea: Moon

MADRID/SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that he believes an 18th-century map he was shown by Spain’s Senate library demonstrates Dokdo has always been a part of Korea, Cheong Wa Dae said. Moon, who flew to Spain after a summit in Austria, is wrapping up his three-day state visit Thursday. He began his Europe trip last week with the G-7 summit in England. The map, which was produced in 1737 and is believed to be the oldest one drawn by a European, shows the Dokdo islets as p

June 17, 2021

Former PM Chung announces run for president

Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Thursday announced his intention to run for president next year, promising to become a leader to build a strong economy and stamp out inequality. Chung launched his bid for the nomination of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) under the slogan of "Strong Korea, Economic President." "I will be an economic president of a strong Republic of Korea, who fights all inequalities," he said during an event in Seoul to kick off his candidacy. &qu

June 17, 2021

Moon says ancient map in Spain shows Dokdo as part of Korean territory

MADRID/SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said a "very valuable" ancient map he witnessed in Madrid on Wednesday shows Dokdo is part of Korean territory. Moon, now on a state visit to Spain, made the remarks after looking at the "Map of Joseon Kingdom" at the Spanish Senate Library, according to presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee. Moon's mention of Dokdo, the easternmost South Korean islets, came amid rising diplomatic conflict between South Korea and Japan o

June 17, 2021

[Newsmaker] PPP sees influx of young members following new leader's sensational election

The conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has seen an influx of new members, especially those in their 20s and 30s, in the wake of the sensational ascent of young new party leader Lee Jun-seok. According to party officials, some 23,000 people nationwide have joined the PPP as new members since May 12, including 10,000 who joined through online processes. The figure marks about a tenfold increase from the same period a year earlier, which came amid Lee's surprise ascent to the p

June 17, 2021

Small modular reactors can help supply energy to NK: DP chief

Small modular reactors currently under development can help supply energy to North Korea which suffers from chronic power shortage, ruling Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil said on Wednesday. “With the North’s denuclearization as a precondition, SMRs can be a useful way to supply energy to North Korea which is mountainous and has a weak power grid,” Song said in his first speech as the representative of a parliamentary negotiating group since taking office as DP chairman

June 16, 2021

DP pushing to include cashback for credit card spending in upcoming extra budget: chief

The ruling Democratic Party (DP) will push to include not only universal COVID-19 stimulus checks and support schemes for small businesses but also special cashback rewards for credit card spending in the upcoming extra budget aimed at fighting the aftermath of the pandemic, the party's chairman said Wednesday. "The DP and the government will draw up the extra budget based on a package of three measures -- additional aid for small businesses hit by (antivirus measures), disaster relief pay

June 16, 2021

Ruling party chief proposes small modular reactors as way of energy aid to nuke-free N. Korea

The head of South Korea's ruling party on Wednesday proposed the installation of small modular reactors (SMRs) in North Korea, calling it a useful way to supply energy to the country when it is free from nuclear weapons. "Under the precondition of resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, SMRs could be a useful way to supply energy to North Korea that has many mountainous regions and a shortage of power transmission and distribution networks," Rep. Song Young-gil, chairman of the ruli

June 16, 2021

S. Korea to work toward improving relations with Japan with open mindset: Cheong Wa Dae official

South Korea will work toward advancing its relationship with Japan frayed by common history issues, a key presidential official said Wednesday, amid news that Japan canceled agreed-upon talks between the leaders of the two nations during the recent Group of Seven (G-7) summit. According to a Seoul foreign ministry official, Japan canceled a tentative agreement to hold a "pull-aside" meeting between their leaders on the sidelines of the recent G-7 summit held in Cornwall, Britain, taki

June 16, 2021

Under young leader, PPP sets out to choose spokesmen through debate tournament

Under the leadership of young new leader Lee Jun-seok, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) will set out this week to pick its new team of spokespeople through a rare debate tournament, party officials said Wednesday. The party will conduct a three-week-long public audition to recruit two chief and two other deputy spokespersons, starting with an official notification of the audition Friday, according to the officials. It is part of a series of sensational campaign promises Lee made r

June 16, 2021

Moon given 'golden key' in Spain visit

MADRID -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in received a "golden key" from Spain on Tuesday, as he expressed hope that it would bring big luck to the Korean Peninsula. He also said that he would open the door of overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic with the key. The president was given the gift by the mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Mart?nez-Almeida, during a visit to City Hall in accordance with a longtime tradition for a foreign state guest in Spain. The mayor said the key means that the do

June 16, 2021

Ex-prosecutor general to announce his presidential bid soon: aide

A former South Korean top prosecutor plans to officially announce his presidential bid later this month, his spokesman said Tuesday. Yoon Seok-youl, who has been a front-runner in opinion polls, will publicly “show the result” of his contemplation later in June or early July, Yoon‘s spokesman Lee Dong-hoon told Yonhap News Agency. Lee said Yoon will decide whether to join the main opposition People Power Party after meeting various officials. In the latest poll conducted by

June 15, 2021

[Newsmaker] Opposition leader says ex-chief prosecutor must show ability to run state affairs

The new leader of the main opposition party said Tuesday that former chief prosecutor Yoon Seok-youl, who has topped polls on presidential preference, should start talking about his ability to run state affairs. “Other than his image of resistance against the Moon Jae-in administration, (Yoon) must answer people’s questions on whether he can run state affairs,” Lee Jun-seok, the newly elected chief of the People Power Party, said in a YTN radio interview Tuesday morning. &ldq

June 15, 2021

DP seeks to pass this month legislation on expanding alternative holidays

The ruling Democratic Party (DP) said Tuesday it will seek to pass legislation this month to expand alternative statutory holidays. The legislative initiative, if approved, will enable the designation of official alternative holidays for a broader range of national holidays that fall on weekends, according to party officials. Currently, alternative statutory holidays are allowed only for Chuseok, Korea's autumn harvest celebration, Lunar New Year's Day and Children's Day in May in the case th

June 15, 2021

Moon hopes for closer parliamentary ties between S. Korea, Austria

VIENNA -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in met Monday with the leader of Austria's parliament and expressed hope for closer cooperation between the two countries' lawmakers. Moon and Wolfgang Sobotka, president of the Austrian National Council, had discussions on such issues as relations between the countries and their parliamentary-level exchanges, according to Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office. Sobotka hailed a decision by the governments of the two countries to upgrade bilateral ties

June 15, 2021

Moon meets mayor of Vienna, hopes for its ties with S. Korean cities

VIENNA -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited the city hall of Vienna on Monday and met with the mayor of the Austrian capital. Upon arriving at the city hall, Moon signed a guest book, in accordance with a long tradition for visiting foreign dignitaries, Cheong Wa Dae said. Speaking to Mayor Michael Ludwig, Moon expressed hope that Vienna, known for creative and sustainable urban development, will promote cooperative ties with South Korea's local governments, especially on smart city p

June 15, 2021

Ex-President Chun again avoids attendance of appellate court hearing on defamation case

Former President Chun Doo-hwan again failed to attend an appellate court hearing held Monday to deal with his defamation case related to a late Catholic priest's testimony about the military's brutal crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in the southeastern city in 1980. Last November, the Gwangju District Court sentenced Chun to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, on charges of defaming the late Catholic Priest Cho Pius, who testified to having witnessed Chun's troops shooting

June 14, 2021