Politics gets uglier as lawmakers on all sides face harassment claims

It has been harassment after harassment this week, with an opposition lawmaker using a “royal concubine” reference as she disparaged another female legislator, just a day after a progressive party leader was sacked for sexual misconduct against a fellow lawmaker. Adding to the series of disclosures, criminal actions, apologies and ensuing uproar was the accusation that the main opposition party leader made inappropriate physical contact on a reporter’s body as he pushed her ou

Jan. 28, 2021

New justice minister begins term with visit to detention center

New Justice Minister Park Beom-kye began his term Thursday by visiting a correctional facility at the center of a recent COVID-19 outbreak. During the visit to Dongbu Detention Center in southeastern Seoul, Park told reporters that he chose the facility as his first stop because the public's welfare depends on controlling the coronavirus pandemic. "I'm worried that the virus situation is getting worse again after getting better," he said. "I plan to focus judicial administration

Jan. 28, 2021

PM: COVID-19 situation turns unstable again, new distancing levels to be fixed with prudence

The government will "prudently" determine whether to lower social distancing levels this week against the backdrop of the still unstable COVID-19 situation, as well as the approach of the traditional Lunar New Year holiday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Thursday. The prime minister's remarks were made during an interagency meeting on the COVID-19 response held at the government complex in Seoul. The government will announce new social distancing levels over the weekend ahead of

Jan. 28, 2021

Court upholds constitutionality of new anti-corruption probe body

The Constitutional Court said Thursday that the establishment of a powerful anti-corruption investigation agency is constitutional, clearing the way for the new body's full operation. The court said the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) essentially belongs to the executive branch and thus a law governing its status does not violate the principle of separation of powers stipulated in the Constitution. It noted that running the agency independently from the execut

Jan. 28, 2021

Moon appoints new justice minister

President Moon Jae-in appointed Park Beom-kye, a ruling Democratic Party lawmaker, as his new justice minister Wednesday, Cheong Wa Dae said. Park's tenure is to begin the following day, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok. Hours earlier, a parliamentary committee adopted a confirmation report on Park amid a boycott by members of the main opposition People Power Party. The party has argued that Park, who used to a judge, is not qualified for the ministerial post, citing multip

Jan. 27, 2021

Moon briefs global leaders on S. Korea's inclusive policy amid pandemic

President Moon Jae-in introduced global political and business leaders Wednesday to South Korea's policy measures designed to promote inclusive growth in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was delivering a special speech at an online meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) as part of its Davos Agenda Week event. He enumerated Seoul's policy measures to help households and businesses that have suffered a heavy blow from the virus spread, including three batches of emergency cash handouts

Jan. 27, 2021

[News Focus] Bill to assist self-employed faces budgetary, political hurdles

The South Korean government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea are pushing for a legislation to compensate the self-employed and small-business owners for losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the move faces budgetary constraints and criticism from opposition parties, which say the ruling camp is using the plan to boost its ratings ahead of the April 7 mayoral by-elections. The Democratic Party is internally discussing a bill that it hopes will pass during the provisional ses

Jan. 27, 2021

Sexually harassed lawmaker says civic group’s criminal complaint ‘regrettable’

Rep. Jang Hye-young of minor progressive opposition Justice Party has expressed her “regret” that a civic group filed a criminal complaint against former party leader who had sexually harassed her. She says recalling the damage again during an unwanted investigation “is a hindrance to her return to daily life.” Jang’s remarks on her social media comes after conservative civic group Hwalbindan said Tuesday it would file a complaint with the Seoul Southern District

Jan. 27, 2021

Constitutional petition filed against alternative military service law

A conscientious objector, now carrying out his alternative military service as a prison staff member under the current law after refusing to enlist for religious reasons, has filed a constitutional appeal contending that the alternative military service law is unconstitutional due to its punitive nature, judicial officials said Wednesday. By law, all able-bodied South Korean men must carry out military service for 18 to 22 months. But the National Assembly passed the Act on the Assignment and P

Jan. 27, 2021

PM urges vigilance as missionary training school outbreaks crop up in multiple regions

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Wednesday urged health authorities to remain vigilant against new virus outbreaks linked to unregistered regional schools operated by a Christian missionary group with a vast national network. "The number of daily cases has risen back to above 500. We've confirmed a mass outbreak at an unauthorized school owned by the Gwangju branch of IM missionary society," Chung said during an interagency meeting on the COVID-19 response held at the government compl

Jan. 27, 2021

Xi expresses hope for early visit to S. Korea in phone talks with Moon: Cheong Wa Dae

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed hope for an "early visit" to South Korea, as soon as conditions are created, during his phone talks with President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday night, Cheong Wa Dae said. Moon told Xi that he expects the two countries to continue communication for the Chinese leader's trip here once the COVID-19 situation is stabilized. Xi responded positively, saying he is looking forward to traveling to South Korea and meeting with Moon at an early date as soon as c

Jan. 27, 2021

Seoul city apologizes over ex-mayor's sexual harassment

The Seoul city government apologized Tuesday after the state human rights watchdog deemed the sexual harassment allegations against former Mayor Park Won-soon to be true. In a statement, acting Mayor Seo Jeong-hyup said the city government "humbly accepts" the results of the National Human Rights Commission's investigation into Park's alleged abuse of a secretary, which lasted several years until his death in an apparent suicide in July. "We sincerely apologize to the victim and

Jan. 26, 2021

PM calls for careful preparation of compensation measures for virus-hit businesses

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Tuesday instructed the finance minister to carefully devise measures to compensate small businesses for their losses incurred by the country's strict social distancing measures against COVID-19. In a meeting held with Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki and Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae, Chung told Hong to "carefully prepare for the measures by studying the opinions of on-site (merchants) experiencing difficulties." Chung also directed Hong to "review

Jan. 26, 2021

Moon requests parliamentary hearing report on justice minister nominee

President Moon Jae-in has requested that the National Assembly send a report on its confirmation hearing on the nominee to become justice minister, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday. Lawmakers had the hearing on Park Beom-kye on Monday but failed to adopt a formal report on its results amid disputes over whether he is qualified to assume the post. Moon earlier tapped Park, a three-term ruling Democratic Party lawmaker, to lead the ministry. The parliament was supposed to finish all procedures relate

Jan. 26, 2021

[Newsmaker] Belligerence of pro-Moon extremists

A cohort of President Moon Jae-in’s unwavering loyalists who are most active on the internet has long been criticized or even abhorred for going to extreme lengths to attack anyone they think is berating Moon or his administration. For years, members of the pro-Moon legion have threatened to lynch reporters or anyone who appears “disrespectful” of the administration, going after their personal information and hurling verbal abuse on internet forums. Most recently, a pro-Moon

Jan. 26, 2021

Moon shares finance minister's online message on S. Korea's economic performance

President Moon Jae-in shared Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki's social media message Tuesday on South Korea's latest gross domestic product (GDP) data, a rare move seen as meant to encourage Hong publicly. Moon was also apparently seeking to highlight that the country's economy has fared relatively well despite the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier in the day, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said the economy is projected to have contracted 1 percent in 2020 compared with the previous year. Hong wrote

Jan. 26, 2021

[News Focus] Korea attains higher percentage of female ministers than US, Japan

SEJONG -- President Moon Jae-in was active in appointing women to his Cabinet during the early part of his term, though the percentage relative to the total has dropped since then. On the back of the current administration’s policy since 2017 favoring greater gender balance among ministers, South Korea overtook the US and some other developed countries in terms of the percentage of women occupying ministerial posts, according to the latest comparison from the Organization for Economic Co

Jan. 26, 2021

Former SMEs minister runs for Seoul mayor

Park Young-sun, former minister of SMEs and Startups, announced her bid to run for Seoul mayor Tuesday, revealing a new compact city plan to improve the life of Seoulites. “In order to overcome the hardships and difficulties of COVID-19, we need a mayor to make Seoul a G-7 global digital economy city after the pandemic,” Park said at an online meeting at 11 a.m. in Yeouido, vowing to create a safe, fair and warm Seoul through the great transformation. The ruling bloc heavyweig

Jan. 26, 2021

Prosecution questions ex-industry minister over reactor shutdown controversy

The prosecution questioned former Industry Minister Paik Un-gyu on Monday as part of its probe into the controversial closure of South Korea's second-oldest nuclear reactor. The Daejeon District Prosecutors Office grilled Paik over allegations that he abused his authority in the process of assessing the economic viability of the Wolsong-1 nuclear reactor ahead of its closure. In October 2020, state auditors said the economic viability of the nuclear reactor was unreasonably undervalued in det

Jan. 25, 2021

Moon checks readiness for COVID-19 vaccination

President Moon Jae-in on Monday called for thorough readiness among government offices as the nation prepares to start COVID-19 vaccinations with the imminent arrival of the first batch of vaccines, possibly early next month. “The coronavirus response is entering a new phase. If the past year was a time when we protected ourselves from the virus through social distancing measures, now is a time to fight the virus with vaccines and treatments,” Moon said before receiving a policy br

Jan. 25, 2021