No plans for Cabinet shake-up: Cheong Wa Dae

President Moon Jae-in has no plans to carry out a Cabinet reshuffle in the near future, Cheong Wa Dae emphasized Wednesday, in response to a news report that foreign and defense ministers will likely be replaced next month. "Currently, a Cabinet shake-up is not being considered at all," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok told reporters in an unusually quick and clear reaction to media speculation on the sensitive issue. A Cheong Wa Dae official later said there is no chance that

May 6, 2020

Moon hails opening of pro sports as meaningful step toward normal life

President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that South Korea is setting a precedent for how to enjoy professional sports in the coronavirus era, a day after the opening of the country's new baseball season. Games began on Children's Day following a monthlong delay, though fans were not allowed into ballparks over concerns of COVID-19. Players were even prohibited from spitting on field. It demonstrated South Koreans' cautious return to normalcy, as COVID-19 infections have slowed remarkably in recen

May 6, 2020

[News Focus] NK-born lawmakers-elect in hot water after Kim Jong-un’s return

Two North Korea-born lawmakers-elect in South Korea are in hot water after the North’s leader Kim Jong-un resurfaced in the public eye Saturday, contrary to their previous comments. On Monday, Thae Gu-min apologized for his inaccurate assessment of Kim’s health, two days after North Korean media released images of the leader appearing healthy. Thae, along with fellow North Korea-born lawmaker-elect Ji Sung-ho, claimed that Kim was either dead or in serious condition, citing unna

May 4, 2020

Lawmakers to vote on bill to permit voters to propose constitutional revision Friday

The National Assembly will hold a plenary meeting this week to vote on a bill to permit a million voters to propose a constitutional revision, as the ongoing extra session is set to end in mid-May, lawmakers said Monday. In March, nearly 150 ruling and opposition lawmakers submitted to the parliament a motion to amend a constitutional clause in a bid to allow voters to propose a constitutional revision, along with a majority of lawmakers and the president. Rival political parties agreed to ho

May 4, 2020

KAIST professor tapped as presidential science policy adviser

President Moon Jae-in has picked a female scientist and professor as his new adviser for science and technology, Cheong Wa Dae announced Monday. Park Su-kyung, who teaches mechanical engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), is to assume the vice ministerial position, becoming the youngest member of Moon's senior Cheong Wa Dae aide team. Born in 1973, she studied mechanical engineering at KAIST and earned a master's degree from the school in Daejeon, 160 k

May 4, 2020

Parties gear up to choose new floor leaders

South Korea’s ruling and main opposition parties are set to elect new floor leaders this week, individuals who will play vital roles in the country’s newly elected National Assembly. As soon as they take the helm, the new floor leaders are expected to convene the last plenary session for the outgoing Assembly and prepare to deliberate on a third supplementary budget, drawn up with the aim of minimizing the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. The main opposition Unite

May 3, 2020

S. Korea to give cash payouts to 2.8m households this week amid pandemic

The government plans to start giving cash payouts to around 2.8 million virus-hit households starting this week, the interior ministry said Sunday. Under the measure, eligible households -- including those under the government's low-income support or disabled pension scheme -- will receive up to 1 million won ($817) in cash on Monday without going through a separate application process. In order to receive the payout in cash, all members of the household must be a recipient of the government'

May 3, 2020

Cabinet approves details to allocate extra budget over coronavirus

The government approved details in a Cabinet meeting Friday to allocate a 12.2 trillion-won ($10 billion) extra budget to fund emergency handouts for households over the new coronavirus. The move is a follow-up to the National Assembly's passage of the supplementary budget designed to provide emergency aid to all households to help them cope with the economic impact of COVID-19. At a provisional Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun ordered government officials to take steps for the

May 1, 2020

Moon gives credit to public after daily internal virus infection cases come to zero

Celebrating the zero local cases of coronavirus reported Thursday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in gave credit to the collective power of South Koreans. "Zero locally confirmed COVID-19 patients (for the first time) in 72 days. Zero infections in the 14 days since the general elections," the president said on Twitter. "This is the power of the Republic of Korea and the South Korean people," he said. The celebratory message followed another sharp dive in the daily numb

April 30, 2020

Moon orders officials to look into fire safety measures after deadly warehouse blaze

President Moon Jae-in has ordered officials to look into why enhanced fire safety measures did not work, his spokesman said, a day after a warehouse fire killed at least 38 people and injured 10 others. Moon made the remarks while presiding over an emergency meeting with his chief of staff and other senior secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae's crisis management center to discuss Wednesday's warehouse fire in Icheon, about 50 kilometers south of Seoul. "Fire safety measures have been strengthened

April 30, 2020

All Koreans to get COVID-19 relief money

The National Assembly on Thursday passed a 12.2-trillion-won extra budget bill to offer disaster relief money to all Koreans to help them tackle the economic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak. The second supplementary budget to be approved this year was increased from the government’s earlier proposal of 7.6 trillion won as the scope of recipients was expanded from the bottom 70 percent of the income bracket to all households. The government will provide 1 million won in emergency disa

April 30, 2020

Ex-PM Lee's popularity tops 40% in presidential hopeful poll

Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon's favorability rating as a potential presidential contender has climbed to above 40 percent, further strengthening his front-runner position, according to a survey Thursday. The journalist-turned-politician's favorability rating stood at 40.2 percent, according to a Realmeter survey of 2,522 voting-eligible adults nationwide. The poll, commissioned by media outlet OhmyNews, was conducted from April 20-24. The latest figure represents a 10.5 percentage point i

April 30, 2020

Moon notes Buddhist spirit over virus crisis, deadly blaze

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday mourned the victims of a warehouse fire that left at least 38 people dead and 10 others injured the previous day, saying the disaster has added woes to the coronavirus crisis. "Many people were killed. It is so sad that this unfortunate accident has happened when everybody is working hard to overcome COVID-19," Moon said in a message marking Buddha's Birthday. "I deeply mourn the victims and wish those injured a quick recovery." South Kore

April 30, 2020

National Assembly approves bills on sex crimes, internet-only banks

  The National Assembly on Wednesday passed a set of bills designed to strengthen punishment for digital sex crimes, amid a public outcry over a recent high-profile online sex abuse case involving minors. The package includes a revision to the sex crime act, under which people who possess, buy, store or watch illegally filmed obscene materials can face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (US$24,610). Under current laws, possession of illegally filmed sexual foo

April 29, 2020

Opposition party in disarray over new leadership

The main opposition United Future Party has found itself in a state of confusion after the veteran politician who was picked to head its interim leadership committee turned down the job. On Tuesday, the conservative group voted for Kim Chong-in, who joined the party to lead its April 15 election campaign, to take the helm as emergency leader for about four months until the next national convention. But Kim rejected the offer, complaining about the short tenure. Previously, Kim has said he

April 29, 2020

W14tr extra budget bill moves closer to passage

The National Assembly moved closer on Tuesday to a final vote on the second extra budget bill, which would provide 14 trillion won to help the country deal with COVID-19, including 4.6 trillion more for coronavirus relief for households. Several parliamentary subcommittees conducted legislative reviews of the government’s plan, with Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki in attendance. Rival parties earlier agreed to vote on the bill at a plenary session schedul

April 28, 2020

Politician rejects opposition party's pick as caretaker head in tenure dispute

South Korea's main opposition party on Tuesday picked its former campaign chief, Kim Chong-in, as its caretaker leader, but the veteran politician virtually rejected the decision, taking issue with its failure to guarantee an extensive term. The United Future Party (UFP), reeling from the shock of a crushing parliamentary election defeat, convened its National Committee and approved the nomination of Kim as head of the party's interim leadership committee. But the party failed to hold the S

April 28, 2020

Boosting domestic demand start of economic measures: Moon

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday stressed the importance of the third supplementary budget in shoring up the economy, saying that the novel coronavirus-triggered economic crisis will begin in earnest. “The third supplementary budget bill will include comprehensive measures for rebounding domestic demand. The economic crisis will unfold in earnest. The third supplementary budget must not miss the timing,” Moon said at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, stressing that measures must be

April 28, 2020

Lee widens lead, Hwang plummets in presidential poll

Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon has consolidated his lead among potential presidential candidates, posting an overwhelming lead of 40.2 percent in the latest poll conducted by Realmeter. Lee, who served as prime minister under President Moon Jae-in and won a parliamentary seat in the April 15 general elections, saw his popularity climb by 10.5 percentage points from a month earlier, the local pollster said. He held the lead for the 11th consecutive month and exceeded the 40 percent mark for

April 28, 2020

Moon joins Thank You Challenge campaign for medical workers

President Moon Jae-in took a trendy way Monday to express his gratitude to medical workers nationwide for their dedicated services in the monthslong fight against the coronavirus: the Thanks to (You) Challenge. He joined the campaign using sign language, also known as the Thank You Challenge, along with his senior Cheong Wa Dae secretaries just ahead of their meeting at the presidential compound. They showed the gesture briefly in front of pool reporters and camera crew, shouting "Thanks

April 27, 2020