DP, government discuss post-jail rehab facility for violent criminals

The ruling Democratic Party and the government on Thursday discussed legislation to isolate violent criminals in a rehabilitation facility for a while after their release from prison. DP floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon said in a meeting Thursday morning that over 120,000 South Koreans have agreed to making a so-called “Cho Doo-soon isolation law” in an online petition as the country’s most notorious child rapist is set to be freed from jail next month. “In order to prevent r

Nov. 26, 2020

Seoul city seeks to toughen antivirus measures amid surge in cases

The Seoul city government plans to toughen antivirus measures following consultations with experts amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the capital, an official said Thursday. Park Yoo-mi, a disease control official at the city government, made the remark during a virtual press briefing shortly after the city reported a new high of 213 cases on Wednesday. "There appear to be blind spots that require further attention in the recent (coronavirus transmission) trend," Park said. "W

Nov. 26, 2020

Ruling party, govt. to seek up to 10 years of additional post-prison segregation of brutal criminals

The ruling party and the government on Thursday agreed to push to introduce a 10-year maximum post-prison segregation program for criminals convicted of brutal crimes, amid mounting public concerns ahead of the release of a notorious child sex offender. The agreement reached during a policy discussion meeting held at the National Assembly comes amid the nearing release of Cho Doo-soon, 69, one of the country's most notorious child rapists, from prison on Dec. 13. He has been serving a 12-year t

Nov. 26, 2020

Choo-Yoon proxy war plays out in politics

If there were ever any chance of a “cooperative parliament,” as President Moon Jae-in once hoped, the latest clash of two judicial titans -- Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl -- appears to have just blown it. In her battle to reform the country’s powerful prosecution, or tame it as some would say, on Tuesday, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae suspended Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl from duty over alleged wrongdoing. The unprecedented move sent s

Nov. 25, 2020

Moon says COVID-19 crisis highlighting significance of AI sector

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday reviewed South Korea's campaign for the past year to develop its artificial intelligence (AI) sector and reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting relevant industries. "First, (the government) will accelerate AI technology innovation," he said during an event, joined by representatives from some local firms engaging in AI businesses, held at the KINTEX exhibition center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. They included Naver, Kakao, KT, SK Telec

Nov. 25, 2020

PM urges labor union to cancel nationwide strike amid rising virus concerns

The prime minister on Wednesday urged a major labor union to immediately cancel its plan to stage a large-scale strike, amid fears that walkouts could potentially exacerbate the COVID-19 situation ahead of next month's nationwide college entrance exam. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the country's largest umbrella trade union, will hold a nationwide one-day walkout later in the day to oppose the government's plan to revise the law to ratify key International Labor Organization

Nov. 25, 2020

Choo orders suspension of top prosecutor from duty

Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on Tuesday suspended Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl from his duty, in an unprecedented move amid a feud over prosecution reforms and various investigations involving Yoon‘s aide and family members, according to Yonhap News. “The ministry has been investigating various allegations against the top prosecutor and found out some serious misconduct,” the justice minister said during a briefing. As reasons to bar him from his duty and seek disciplinar

Nov. 24, 2020

Moon requests public support for antivirus campaign, says sorry for fallout from social distancing rules

President Moon Jae-in appealed to the public Tuesday to continue supporting the government's fight against the rapid spread of COVID-19. He posted the message on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, as tougher social distancing restrictions took effect at the start of the day in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, where around half of South Korea's 52-million population reside. "I am very sorry for the increased inconvenience again in daily life and difficulties in the people's livelihood

Nov. 24, 2020

Main opposition to push for third round of emergency virus handouts

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) will push to include funds for an additional third round of coronavirus-related emergency handouts in next year's state budget, a senior party official said Tuesday. "To help out the damaged sectors of taxi services, indoor gyms, private learning institutes and PC cafes hit by the third wave of COVID-19 and provide emergency livelihood support to households, we will provide emergency funds worth some 3.6 trillion won ($3.23 billion) to places in

Nov. 24, 2020

PM warns of tough disciplinary measures against public servants ignoring distancing rules

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Tuesday urged public servants to maintain the utmost level of readiness against COVID-19, warning those who contract the virus by not complying with distancing rules will face grave disciplinary measures. "In cases of slack discipline in the public sector, such as cases where public office workers test positive by not complying with antivirus measures, we will gravely seek disciplinary measures," Chung said during a Cabinet meeting at the government co

Nov. 24, 2020

Moon pledges renewed drive for climate goals at G-20

President Moon Jae-in reiterated his commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions, and called for international cooperation on the issue at the G-20 summit, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday. In announcing Seoul’s carbon emission goals, Moon again emphasized his drive for an inclusive society, according to the presidential office. “(Achieving) carbon neutrality by 2050 is a bold challenge that will change the industrial and energy structure, and it is a task only possible through i

Nov. 23, 2020

Startups minister leads Seoul mayor poll

SMEs and Startups Minister Park Young-sun took the lead in a survey about potential Seoul mayoral candidates, with a handful of politicians announcing their bids for next year’s by-elections. In the poll conducted by the Korea Society Opinion Institute and CBS on Friday and Saturday, Park was the favorite with 18.3 percent of the votes from 1,019 Seoul citizens, closely followed by former conservative lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who garnered 17.9 percent. Park and Na haven’t declared

Nov. 23, 2020

Govt. in final stage of vaccine purchase negotiations with developers: PM

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Monday that the government was currently at the last stage in negotiations with COVID-19 vaccine developers to purchase coronavirus vaccines and will soon report the progress of the talks to the public. "Following recent news of breakthroughs in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials by global vaccine developing companies, the public's interest in the government's vaccine procurement readiness has gone up," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a vacc

Nov. 23, 2020

Moon names former lawmaker Kang Chang-il as new ambassador to Japan: Cheong Wa Dae

President Moon Jae-in has picked Kang Chang-il, a former four-term ruling Democratic Party lawmaker, as South Korea's new ambassador to Japan, Cheong Wa Dae announced Monday, expressing expectations for his role in improving relations between the neighboring countries. Moon's office took note of Kang's expertise in Tokyo-related affairs. Having earned a master's degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo, he has long conducted academic research on Japan, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-

Nov. 23, 2020

G-20 leaders to focus on inclusive, resilient future in second day of summit

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and leaders of 19 other major global economies plan to adopt a joint communique to sum up the results of their two-day virtual conference dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cheong Wa Dae said Sunday. In the Day 2 session of the Group of 20 (G-20) summit, they are scheduled to focus on ways for an "inclusive, sustainable and resilient" future of the world hit hard by the virus. The participating leaders will adopt a joint communique following the se

Nov. 22, 2020

National Assembly to double its vehicle charging stations by 2021

The National Assembly said Friday it plans to expand the number of its in-house electric vehicle charging stations by twofold by next year. The assembly complex, located in Seoul's western ward of Yeongdeungpo, will double the number of its electric vehicle stations from the current 11 to 22 by the end of 2021, according to the National Assembly Secretariat. The decision was made in line with the government policy on further developing infrastructure for eco-friendly automobiles, it noted.

Nov. 20, 2020

Memorial service for ex-President Kim Young-sam held in Seoul

A memorial service commemorating late former President Kim Young-sam, a pivotal icon in South Korea's tumultuous democratization, was held Friday afternoon in Seoul. High-profile politicians, including National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug and Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, attended the service, marking the fifth anniversary of his death, at Seoul National Cemetery in the southern Dongjak Ward. Also in attendance were leaders of rival parties, Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the r

Nov. 20, 2020

Prime minister asks public to avoid social gatherings amid coronavirus spread

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Friday asked the public to refrain from holding year-end social gatherings and nonessential outdoor activities, as South Korea braces for another potential wave of the pandemic, with rising sporadic cluster infections in a number of parts of the nation. In a televised statement, he said the country's antivirus fight is "facing a crisis." He appealed to the people to "refrain from holding any scheduled year-end gatherings as much as possible and s

Nov. 20, 2020

Int'l ocean forum opens in Incheon to discuss future of ocean shipping

INCHEON -- The first edition of the Incheon International Ocean Forum (IIOF) kicked off in Incheon, a Northeast Asian hub of marine and air transport just west of Seoul, on Thursday, bringing together a large number of maritime industry experts and entrepreneurs from home and abroad to chart the future of the ocean industry. IIOF 2020, hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Incheon metropolitan government and organized by the Incheon Port Authority and South Korea's key newswire

Nov. 19, 2020

Ruling party set to revise law for anti-corruption body launch

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea said Thursday it would push ahead with its plan to launch an envisioned anti-corruption agency within this year by revising a law to override vetoes from the opposition party. The revision procedures for the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, or CIO, will begin in earnest, Democratic Party Floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon said during the party’s policy meeting held at the National Assembly. “We can’t get dragged into

Nov. 19, 2020