Most Popular
-
1
Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
-
2
Rose's 'Apt.' redefines K-pop's global appeal
-
3
Two years on, thousands mourn Itaewon tragedy, calling for accountability
-
4
[Herald Interview] Love for K-drama, food defines 'Secret Ingredient'
-
5
Hanwha, HD Hyundai vie for Poland’s $2.7b submarine program
-
6
First lady’s controversies to top agenda at meeting of party leaders
-
7
[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+
-
8
4 in 10 young South Koreans take up 'irregular' jobs: data
-
9
SM founder Lee Soo-man is back with A2O Entertainment
-
10
'1 million' Christians join anti-LGBTQ+ marriage rally
-
Officials to introduce police reform measures aimed at preventing power abuse
Officials of South Korea’s legislative and executive branches as well as Cheong Wa Dae on Monday agreed on the need to prevent abuse of power by police, who will be given greater authority under a political reform bill being fast-tracked through the National Assembly.To increase checks and balances, the officials agreed to establish a head office to separate police tasked with investigative assignments from general police. They also talked about amendments to punish police intelligence officers
May 20, 2019
-
Moon to meet former US President Bush this week
South Korean President Moon Jae-in will greet former US President George W. Bush at Cheong Wa Dae later this week, Moon's office announced Sunday.Moon is scheduled to meet Bush on Thursday morning, as the former president plans to attend a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of former President Roh Moo-hyun's death. It's to be held at Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 2 p.m. that day.Roh served as South Korea's president from 2003 to 200
May 19, 2019
-
Ruling, opposition parties to discuss normalizing parliament over beer
Floor leaders of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party and the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party are expected to convene Monday over beer to discuss ways to resume stalled parliamentary talks. Amid a parliamentary deadlock, all eyes are on whether a consensus will be reached on the extraordinary parliamentary session in May, alongside the 6.7 trillion-won ($5.6 billion) extra budget that awaits parliamentary vote.“I am counting on detailing ways to normal
May 19, 2019
-
Parties pay tribute to victims of crackdown on 1980 pro-democracy uprising
The ruling and opposition parties paid tribute on Saturday to the victims of a bloody crackdown on a pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju in 1980 in a rare show of bipartisanship. The nation marked the 39th anniversary of the landmark movement that the then military-backed government of Chun Doo-hwan clamped down on with the use of force that resulted in hundreds of deaths. Some civic group members protest the arrival of Hwang Kyo-ahn, the leader of the main opposition Libe
May 18, 2019
-
Moon urges end to ideological rift over 1980 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising
President Moon Jae-in called Saturday for the cessation of wasteful political strife over the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju, saying South Korea still owes a huge debt to people there.Attending the 39th anniversary of the bloody movement against the then military junta led by Chun Doo-hwan, he again offered an apology, as the country's sitting president, for the homicides. President Moon Jae-in holds the hands of a participant in the 1980 pro-democracy uprising during an anniversary cer
May 18, 2019
-
[Newsmaker] Minor opposition party picks new floor leader amid internal strife
Rep. Oh Shin-hwan was elected floor leader of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party Wednesday, facing the task of resolving an internal strife over whether to place key reform bills on a fast-track.Oh, a two-term lawmaker, beat Rep. Kim Song-sik in a vote by party members. He will replace Rep. Kim Kwan-young and serve a one-year term.Kim expressed his intent to step down from the post last week, about 40 days before his term was set to end in late June. (Yonhap)The minor party has been embroile
May 15, 2019
-
Moon may meet ex-US President George Bush during his Seoul visit
President Moon Jae-in may meet with former US President George W. Bush during his planned visit to South Korea later this month to attend a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of former President Roh Moo-hyun's death, an official at Seoul's presidential office said Tuesday."We are reviewing every possibility for a meeting between Moon and Bush after such suggestions by officials here," the official at Cheong Wa Dae said on condition of anonymity.Bush will reportedly visit Seoul for affairs rel
May 14, 2019
-
Moon urges political parties to change with times
President Moon Jae-in on Monday emphasized the importance of change, and urged political parties to move with the times. Speaking at the weekly meeting with senior aides, Moon said that the country has undergone dramatic changes since he took office, but political parties have changed little. President Moon Jae-in speaks at a meeting with senior aides on Monday. Yonhap“It is regrettable that the political arena remains in the past, despite the changing world. There seems to be little difference
May 13, 2019
-
[Exclusive] Former Peace Corps member Courtright recollects Gwangju Uprising
It has been 39 years since the May 18, 1980, Gwangju Democratization Movement -- or Gwangju Uprising -- where hundreds of citizens in the city, located some 330 kilometers south of Seoul, were killed in a deadly military crackdown during the authoritarian regime of Chun Doo-hwan, who came to power in a military coup in 1979.While the official figures put the number of deaths at 165 over a 10-day period, it is thought that the actual number of those killed could be three times higher.Even the bas
May 12, 2019
-
Presidential office eyes Moon's meeting with rival parties' chiefs this month
The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Friday it plans to seek a meeting between President Moon Jae-in and rival party leaders this month and is open to discussing the agenda with opposition parties.President Moon proposed a meeting with the leaders of political parties to discuss Seoul's potential plan to send food aid to North Korea during his special live interview with public broadcaster KBS on Thursday. President Moon Jae-in attends a luncheon meeting with his key aides at a restaurant
May 10, 2019
-
Parties offer mixed views on S. Korean response to NK projectile launches
Rival political parties gave differing opinions on how South Korea should respond to North Korea's launching of what are believed to be short-range missiles on Thursday.The ruling Democratic Party (DP) condemned North Korea's firing of two apparent missiles, which came only five days after the communist regime sent a barrage of projectiles into the East Sea."We're opposed to all types of military provocations that raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula," DP spokesman Hong Ik-pyo said in a statem
May 9, 2019
-
Moon warns NK against further provocations
President Moon Jae-in on Thursday warned North Korea against further provocative actions, saying that Pyongyang recent actions could damage dialogue. Speaking in his first television interview with a local broadcaster, Moon also said that North Korea is likely to be hoping to pressure Seoul and Washington, and that additional launches cannot be ruled out. (Yonhap)“(Seoul and Washington) preliminarily concluded that they are short range missile, as the range was long despite the low altitude,” M
May 9, 2019
-
Cheong Wa Dae 'very concerned' about N. Korea's rocket fire
South Korea's presidential office expressed serious concern Thursday about North Korea's firing of what are believed to be short-range missiles.In a statement, Cheong Wa Dae said such an act is "not helpful at all" to efforts to improve inter-Korean relations and ease military tensions on the peninsula.South Korea's military announced that North Korea shot the projectiles into the East Sea, hours before President Moon Jae-in's special interview with a local broadcaster, KBS, to mark the second a
May 9, 2019
-
Scores of presidential aides expected to run for parliament
Scores of people from the Blue House are expected to run in next April’s parliamentary elections.Seven assistant secretaries to the president recently resigned to prepare for the general election in their respective constituencies.A number of senior presidential aides who left Cheong Wa Dae late last year have been getting ready for elections as well. (Yonhap)President Moon Jae-in is expected to replace some of his secretaries and vice ministers next week, and this is believed to be groundwork b
May 9, 2019
-
[News Focus] Most Koreans back new entity to investigate prosecutors: poll
SEJONG -- In South Korea, police have no authority to investigate prosecutors who are suspected of malfeasance without getting approval from the prosecution that controls their investigation.In addition, there is no way for the courts to punish corrupt prosecutors if the prosecution eventually chooses not to indict the suspects even if some evidence is found to prove their allegations.The exclusive rights for controlling investigations and indictments, held by the prosecution, have caused a lot
May 9, 2019
-
[Newsmaker] Minor opposition party floor leader offers to step down amid fast-track row
The floor leader of a minor opposition party offered to step down Wednesday, apparently taking responsibility for internal strife over the push to "fast track" key reform bills. Rep. Kim Kwan-young of the Bareunmirae Party said he will serve his term as floor leader until his successor is elected next week. (Yonhap)"I decided to take all the responsibility for offending many lawmakers in the process of pushing for the 'fast-tracking' (of the bills) and other difficulties faced by the party," he
May 8, 2019
-
Democratic Party elects Rep. Lee In-young as new floor leader
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea on Wednesday elected Rep. Lee In-young as its new floor leader to navigate through the political impasse with main opposition Liberty Korea Parry and carry the party to victory in next year‘s general elections.Three-term lawmaker Lee, 55, received 76 votes out of 125 to clinch the floor leader’s position, vowing to win the upcoming general election in April next year.Lee’s rival Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon received 49 votes in the second round of voting.In his acceptance
May 8, 2019
-
More than half of S. Koreans back Moon’s N. Korea policy: poll
More than half of South Korean adults positively evaluate the Moon Jae-in government’s policy of making peace with North Korea, a poll showed Wednesday.Realmeter’s survey of 505 people older than 19 nationwide found that 52.2 percent gave a positive assessment of Moon’s peace policy for the Korean Peninsula.Among them, 28.5 percent offered a very positive assessment, it noted. (Yonhap)The percentage of respondents who negatively evaluated the president’s North Korea policy was 44.7 percent, incl
May 8, 2019
-
Democratic Party floor leader race heats up
The race to become the next floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party is heating up, with all eyes on who will be selected to lead the party through multiple tasks and next year’s general election.The party is slated to elect its next floor leader Wednesday from among three three-term lawmakers: Rep. Lee In-young, Rep. Noh Woong-rae and Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon.The election comes amid deepening conflict between the ruling party and the Liberty Korea Party due to the recent fast-tracking of key refor
May 7, 2019
-
Top prosecutor cuts short overseas trip amid stir over reform bills
Prosecutor-General Moon Moo-il called for thorough protection of the basic rights of the people on Saturday, reaffirming his clear opposition to government-led judiciary reform bills.He made the remarks upon arriving at Incheon International Airport after cutting short his four-country trip, as he caused controversy earlier this week by openly criticizing the bills that call for the expansion of the independent investigative authority of police."I also agree with voices for changes in the prosec
May 4, 2019