Most Popular
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Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
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[Exclusive] Korean adoptee sisters meet for the first time in 39 years
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Rose's 'Apt.' redefines K-pop's global appeal
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Two years on, thousands mourn Itaewon tragedy, calling for accountability
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[Herald Interview] Love for K-drama, food defines 'Secret Ingredient'
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Hanwha, HD Hyundai vie for Poland’s $2.7b submarine program
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First lady’s controversies to top agenda at meeting of party leaders
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[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+
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4 in 10 young South Koreans take up 'irregular' jobs: data
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SM founder Lee Soo-man is back with A2O Entertainment
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With wife in custody, ex-justice minister to face questioning
Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk will likely face the prosecution in the coming weeks for questioning over corruption allegations involving his family. His wife, Chung Kyung-shim, was arrested early Thursday morning. Prosecutors suspect Cho was complicit in his wife’s alleged crimes, or at least was aware of them. But they are unlikely to file an arrest warrant for Cho, since the court’s usual practice is to allow only one member of an accused couple to be detained. Meanwhile,
Oct. 24, 2019
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74th United Nations Day celebrated in Busan by Korean War veterans
In celebration of the 74th United Nations Day, which falls on Thursday, a large ceremony was held in Busan, South Korea's biggest port city, with the attendance of international Korean War veterans and diplomats from the participating nations in the 1950-53 war. The ceremony has been held annually in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to commemorate the founding of the United Nations in 1945 and remember UN soldiers killed in the Korean War. October 24 has been celebrated as UN Day s
Oct. 24, 2019
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Ex-justice minister’s wife faces court hearing on arrest warrant
Chung Kyung-shim, former Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s wife, appeared at the Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday for a hearing on her arrest. She attended the hearing with her attorney. Chung faces 11 charges, including fabricating a document to support her daughter’s university application, obstructing business, insider trading, embezzlement and withholding evidence. She has denied them. Chung submitted what appeared to be a medical diagnosis to the prosecution during the previ
Oct. 23, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Opposition party leader denies involvement in alleged martial law plan
Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn on Tuesday denied allegations made by a civic group that he took part in planning to impose martial law to quell monthslong candlelight protests if the impeachment of then President Park Geun-hye failed. Hwang’s party filed a complaint to the prosecutors’ office against Lim Tae-hoon, the chief of the Military Human Rights Center for Korea, who raised the suspicions. On Monday, Lim, testifying as a witness at the parliamentary audit of
Oct. 22, 2019
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Moon urges parliament to pass budget bill
President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday called for the National Assembly’s cooperation on next year’s budget, stressing the need to inject funds to promote innovation and peace, and to create a fairer society. In his policy speech at the National Assembly, Moon also urged the parliament to pass bills concerning prosecutorial reform, saying they would help create a fairer and more transparent society. “Public finances must lead the way to resolve structural problems of our society such
Oct. 22, 2019
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Moon vows strong education, prosecution reform for fairness in aftermath of Cho Kuk case
President Moon Jae-in pledged a strong push Tuesday for the far-reaching reform of South Korea's education and prosecution systems amid no let-up in public criticism over his short-lived justice minister and calls for curbing prosecutorial power abuse.In his budget speech at the National Assembly, Moon stressed the importance of promoting fairness to achieve the key policy goals of innovative, inclusive and peace-based growth."'Fairness' should be established anew in not just the economy bu
Oct. 22, 2019
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Moon asks religious leaders to help heal social conflicts
President Moon Jae-in expressed concern Monday about unrelenting social and ideological rifts in South Korea, requesting that the religious community help address the problem.He highlighted the political wrangling over some key policy goals supported by many people, including prosecution reform, and the ensuing conflict among citizens.As a specific example, the president cited a controversial plan to create an independent unit to investigate corruption by high-ranking government officials."
Oct. 21, 2019
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Arrest warrant sought for Cho’s wife
Prosecutors on Monday filed an arrest warrant hearing for former Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s wife, Chung Kyung-shim, on charges of forging a document used to support a university application for their daughter. She also faces charges of obstructing official business, insider trading, embezzlement and withholding evidence. Two months ago, prosecutors raided multiple organizations connected with the family’s alleged malfeasance. Chung submitted what appeared to be a medical
Oct. 21, 2019
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Moon's approval rating rebounds after Cho Kuk resigns: Realmeter
President Moon Jae-in's approval rating has bounced back to 45 percent after Cho Kuk's resignation as justice minister, a weekly poll showed Monday.According to Realmeter, the rating gained 3.6 percentage points on-week to 45 percent. It conducted the phone survey of 2,505 people nationwide, aged 19 or older, for the five business days last week. The margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points. It marked Realmeter's first weekly poll of Moon's approval rating since Cho stepped down last
Oct. 21, 2019
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Ruling party proposes partisan negotiation over bill to set up separate probe unit
The ruling Democratic Party proposed Sunday that political parties prioritize negotiation of a bill to set up an independent unit to probe allegations of corruption by ranking public officials.The bill is part of judiciary reform proposals that include a bill to give more investigative power to police. Both were placed on the fast-track in late April, along with an election reform bill.With regard to a drive to reform the prosecution, the ball is now passed to the National Assembly following the
Oct. 20, 2019
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[News Focus] President’s detractors cite economy as No. 1 reason
SEJONG -- Over the past year or more, South Koreans who told pollsters they did not support President Moon Jae-in most often pointed to the economy as the main reason. A large portion of those dissatisfied with the incumbent administration have said it is incapable of dealing with economic issues and improving ordinary people’s livelihoods.To some extent, their disappointment is backed up by sagging indices in areas such as employment, GDP growth, exports, labor costs, the value of the cur
Oct. 20, 2019
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‘Cho Kuk’s resignation did not douse ideological flames’
As controversies surrounding his family peaked, Cho Kuk resigned as justice minister on Monday, but protests continued, both for and against President Moon Jae-in’s key aide.A pro-Cho group called Gaegukbon -- a Korean acronym for People’s Brawl Movement Headquarters -- kicked off its 10th demonstration at 5 p.m. Saturday, this time in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido. Its former gatherings took place at the prosecution office district in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul.Two days
Oct. 19, 2019
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[Newsmaker] Trial begins for ex-justice minister's wife
Court proceedings for recently resigned Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s family began Friday. The trial preparation hearing for Cho’s wife, Chung Kyung-shim, 57, was held at the Seoul Central District Court at 11 a.m.The pretrial hearing is intended to allow defendants to clarify their positions on the charges pressed against them. As defendants are not obliged to attend, Chung did not appear. Chung, a professor at a private university, was indicted on Sept. 6 over charges of fabricat
Oct. 18, 2019
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Prosecution was independent under ex-President Lee: top prosecutor
At a parliamentary audit Thursday, Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl said the prosecution was independent under former President Lee Myung-bak. Asked to pick one president that best favored an independent prosecution, Yoon chose Lee among the three recent presidents including former President Park Geun-hye, Lee’s successor who was removed from office over corruption charges, and incumbent President Moon Jae-in, who replaced Park. “When Lee was president, I serve
Oct. 18, 2019
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Top prosecutor Yoon promises bold in-house reforms at audit
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl pledged to drastically reform his agency at a parliamentary audit Thursday. “All of us are aware that the people are demanding prosecution reforms more strongly than ever,” he said. “We respect their voices and the parliament’s decisions and will come up with our own reforms.” He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to reform, three days after former Justice Minister Cho Kuk resigned from his post. The audit session
Oct. 17, 2019
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PM Lee likely to hold talks with Abe next week: Seoul official
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon is likely to meet one-on-one with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his trip to Tokyo next week, though the plan has yet to be finalized, a Seoul official said Wednesday. Lee plans to visit Tokyo to attend Japanese Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony, slated for next Tuesday, in a trip that observers say could create momentum for a thaw in the countries' ties frayed over Tokyo's export restrictions and wartime forced labor. "It
Oct. 16, 2019
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Moon urges swift prosecution reform, strengthened audit of prosecution
President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday ordered the interim chief of the Ministry of Justice to complete processes related to prosecutorial reform within the ministry’s authority within the month. In a meeting with Vice Justice Minister Kim O-su, Moon urged the vice minister to ensure that the absence of the minister is not felt, saying that it would take some time to appoint the new minister. Kim is currently heading the Justice Ministry following Cho Kuk’s resignation Monday, after anno
Oct. 16, 2019
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Rival parties meet over bills to reform prosecution
Political parties launched a meeting Wednesday to discuss how to handle key bills designed to reform the prosecution amid partisan wrangling over the timing of their passage at parliament.The controversial bills that were placed on the fast track in late April refer to proposals to set up an independent unit to probe corruption allegations by high-ranking public officials and to give more investigative authority to police.The meeting brought together the floor leaders of the ruling Democratic Pa
Oct. 16, 2019
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[Newsmaker] KBS reporters slam sexual harassment on Rhyu’s show
KBS reporters on Wednesday called on former liberal politician Rhyu Si-min to take responsibility for inappropriate remarks made by a guest on Rhyu’s YouTube show.During the live broadcast of the show “Alileo” on Tuesday, a reporter said prosecutors had leaked information about the investigation into former Justice Minister Cho Kuk’s family to a KBS reporter because they liked her.“Prosecutors spilled out everything because they liked the KBS reporter. … They
Oct. 16, 2019
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Moon calls for 'better democracy,' alluding to prosecution reform
President Moon Jae-in stressed Wednesday that South Korean people are still eager for "better democracy" and urged "powerful government institutions" to care about the public's demands.He was attending a national ceremony to commemorate a historic incident in the annals of the country's democracy: the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests of 1979."Now, the people are calling for more democracy and better democracy," the president said in his speech at the ceremony to mark
Oct. 16, 2019