S. Korea to airlift more nationals from virus-hit Iraq next week

South Korea will airlift more Korean workers next week from Iraq where new coronavirus infection cases are spiking, the prime minister said Friday as the country is on alert over imported virus cases from the Arab country. South Korea has confirmed 34 infection cases among the about 100 Korean construction workers who returned from Iraq on a chartered flight earlier this week. Health authorities warned that infection cases from the group could rise further, given COVID-19's incubation period,

July 17, 2020

Moon urges prudent approach on levying more capital gains taxes on stock investors

President Moon Jae-in on Friday stressed the need to keep encouraging retail stock investors here with a focus on boosting South Korea's equity market, Cheong Wa Dae said. The statement came in response to a strong backlash against the government's taxation law revision plan to expand capital gains taxes for retail investors. "It should not be (implemented in) a way to shrink the stock market or discourage retail investors," the president was quoted as saying by Cheong Wa Dae spokes

July 17, 2020

Moon vows bold investment in offshore wind power industry

President Moon Jae-in pledged Friday to expand South Korea's offshore wind power capacity hundredfold by 2030 as a key engine for the nation's transition to renewable energy and environmentally-friendly growth. Moon visited a wind power plant and a turbine research center on the southwestern coast in his first field inspection since unveiling a "New Deal" policy Tuesday to recover from the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus crisis. "The government's goal is clear and

July 17, 2020

Opposition lawmakers criticize Supreme Court ruling on Gyeonggi governor

The Supreme Court has become the target of more criticism since it ruled Thursday in favor of Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung, saying he had not violated the election law. The highest court overturned a lower court’s decision and found Lee not guilty of spreading false information during a TV debate in the run-up to the gubernatorial election. The ruling Democratic Party welcomed the judgment, calling it a brave and historic decision that protected freedom of expression. The deci

July 17, 2020

8 world leaders call for equal access to COVID-19 vaccine

President Moon Jae-in and seven other heads of state on Wednesday called for equal access to an eventual vaccine against the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19. In an opinion piece published in the Washington Post, the leaders said ensuring equal access to any potential vaccine was just as important as developing an effective vaccine. “What happens next is equally important. This cannot be a race with one winner. When one or more vaccines are successful, it must be a win for a

July 16, 2020

Moon urges National Assembly to support ‘Korean New Deal,’ peace drive

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday urged the National Assembly to realize “politics of cooperation” and called on political parties to support his administration’s social and economic reforms, and peace drive. The 21st National Assembly held a ceremony officially marking the start of parliamentary proceedings, 48 days after its term began on May 30, due to discord between the ruling and main opposition parties. Addressing the parliament at the opening ceremony, Moon said th

July 16, 2020

[News Focus] On Moon’s apartment policy, disapproval outstrips approval for 30 months

SEJONG -- Opponents of the Moon Jae-in administration’s real estate policy have outnumbered its supporters for the past 2 1/2 years, a poll showed. According to Gallup Korea, opposition to the administration’s real estate policy overtook support in January 2018, within months of President Moon taking office in May 2017. In January 2018, the gap between the two sides was 10 percentage points, with 24 percent looking favorably on the policy vs. 34 percent unhappy with it. Based on

July 16, 2020

Gyeonggi Gov. keeps his post on top court’s ruling

The highest court on Thursday ruled in favor of Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung in an election law violation trial, effectively saving his governorship as well as ambitions to contend in the race for the presidency. 　 The Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s decision that found him guilty of spreading false information during a TV debate in the runup to the 2018 gubernatorial election. The Suwon High Court had levied a fine of 3 million won ($2,500) on Lee, which, if finalized, w

July 16, 2020

Moon’s approval ratings lowest in 9 months

President Moon Jae-in’s approval ratings fell to their lowest point in nine months, a poll suggested. The latest dip in ratings comes days after the mayor of Seoul killed himself amid allegations of sexual misconduct. At the same time, property tax hikes and a policy to grant permanent job status to irregular workers at state-funded companies drew backlash from homeowners and from those studying for tests in hopes of landing stable public sector jobs. The ruling Democratic Party’

July 16, 2020

National Assembly proceedings to kick off Thursday, Moon to address parliament

The 21st National Assembly is set to begin its official proceedings Thursday, 48 days after the newly elected lawmakers’ terms began on May 30. President Moon Jae-in will address the parliament at the opening ceremony. “President Moon Jae-in will address the parliament at the opening ceremony that will be held at 2 p.m.,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok said, adding that Moon’s original schedule for Thursday concerned the Korean New Deal. The Korean New Deal is t

July 15, 2020

Fate of yet another progressive heavyweight hangs in balance

The political life of yet another progressive heavyweight will be decided Thursday, with the Supreme Court set to make the final ruling on Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung’s case. Lee is on trial on charges of abuse of power and violating the Public Official Election Act for spreading false information. The charge of abuse of power concerns allegations that he used his authority as the mayor of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, to institutionalize his brother against his will in 2012.

July 14, 2020

Moon says his 'New Deal' plan aims to transform S. Korea into 'pacesetter'

President Moon Jae-in unveiled details of his ambitious "New Deal" plan Tuesday designed to transform South Korea into a global "pacesetter" with low-carbon economy. The president first came up with the idea of pursuing a Korean-version of the "New Deal" project during a government meeting on April 22. It was pursued as part of the government's efforts to overcome the COVID-19 crisis at an early date and prepare for the post-coronavirus era to be led by the fourth

July 14, 2020

Main opposition ups pressure to get to bottom of alleged sex abuse by late Seoul mayor

On the funeral day of late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Monday, the main opposition party launched what is likely to become an all-out campaign to press for a probe into allegations that the deceased sexually harassed his former secretary. The pressure by the United Future Party (UFP) highlights deepening political division over the death of the late Seoul mayor. Park was found dead at a mountain in Seoul after apparently taking his own life on Thursday. He was facing a criminal complaint on

July 13, 2020

USFK commander pays tribute to late war hero Paik

US Forces Korea commander Gen. Robert Abrams visited the funeral home for late Korean War hero Paik Sun-yup on Monday, saying he is deeply grateful for Paik's service. Abrams visited the funeral altar set up at Asan Medical Center in eastern Seoul, together with South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki, in a demonstration of the alliance between the two countries. Abrams and Park each placed a flower before the altar and saluted Paik's portrait. "We offer our d

July 13, 2020

Moon's approval rating dips to 4-month low on real estate, N. Korea policies

President Moon Jae-in's approval rating dipped to 48.7 percent, the lowest point in four months, a poll showed Monday amid growing controversies over his policies on the real estate market, irregular workers and North Korea. The result is based on Realmeter's survey of 2,515 eligible voters nationwide, conducted from July 6-10 at the request of the cable news-only channel YTN. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points at the confidence level is 95 percent. The latest fi

July 13, 2020

Moon to launch govt.-ruling party task force on his New Deal project

President Moon Jae-in plans to launch an inter-agency council this month for the so-called Korean-version New Deal project aimed at creating jobs and fostering economic growth against the impact of the new coronavirus, Cheong Wa Dae said Sunday. Moon earlier announced his administration's ambitious push for the massive digital infrastructure and green growth initiative, with detailed programs and budget plans scheduled to be unveiled Tuesday. "A pan-governmental strategic council will be

July 12, 2020

S. Korea court slashes ex-president's jail term by 10 years

A Seoul court on Friday slashed disgraced former president Park Geun-hye's prison terms by 10 years, in what should be the final ruling over the corruption scandal that brought her down. The country's first female president was impeached in 2017 after huge street protests against her rule. She had been serving a combined 30-year jail term for bribery, abuse of power and receiving money from the national spy agency. But on appeal the Seoul High Court sentenced Park to 15 years in prison

July 10, 2020

Political community expresses shock, condolences over Seoul mayor's death

The political community expressed shock and condolences over the death of Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, with the ruling Democratic Party, the political home of Park, cancelling most of its events for Friday. The three-term mayor was found dead on a path of Mount Bukak in Seoul shortly after the midnight by police. Park, 64, was reported missing by his daughter Thursday evening, who said he left a message that seemed like a will before he vanished. He is presumed to have died of suicide. News re

July 10, 2020

Seoul city to hold mayoral funeral for Park Won-soon

The Seoul city government said Friday it plans to hold a mayoral funeral for Park Won-soon and run on a contingency plan for the time being following the abrupt death of the liberal heavyweight and three-term mayor. Park, 64, was found dead in the woods of Mount Bugak near his official residence in central Seoul, shortly after midnight. Police said there were no signs of foul play, adding they plan to investigate the exact cause of his death. His body was found after an hourslong search invol

July 10, 2020

Ruling party likely to push for further hike of real estate tax

The ruling Democratic Party is leaning towards raising the highest gross real estate tax rate to 6 percent. According to reports citing ruling party officials, the new top tax rate will be included in the party’s latest real estate tax reform measures that could be announced as early as Friday. At present, the gross real estate tax is levied at rates ranging from 0.5 percent to 3.2 percent, depending on the number, value and location of properties. The government has proposed raising th

July 9, 2020