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
103 autumn foliage paths in Seoul
-
6
Hanwha, HD Hyundai vie for Poland’s $2.7b submarine program
-
7
Seoul aims to halve current suicide rate by 2030
-
8
First lady’s controversies to top agenda at meeting of party leaders
-
9
When two worlds collab: K-pop flexes power with global stars
-
10
Bipartisan panel formed to address livelihood issues amid tension over first lady probe
-
Parliament approves Constitutional Court chief nominee
South Korea's parliament on Friday approved President Moon Jae-in's pick for Constitutional Court chief in a vote that will end a 10-month leadership void at the top of the judiciary.The National Assembly endorsed the confirmation motion for Lee Jin-sung more than two months after it voted down Moon's first choice for the chief justice position amid disputes over the earlier nominee's ideological orientation.Of the 276 lawmakers present for the poll, 254 voted for him and 18 against, with one ab
Nov. 24, 2017
-
Moon's approval rating inches down
President Moon Jae-in's approval rating dropped slightly from a week earlier this week, a poll showed Friday, amid a corruption scandal involving his former political secretary.Moon's approval rating came to 72 percent in a Gallup Korea survey conducted Tuesday through Thursday on 1,001 adults throughout the country. (Yonhap)The reading marked a 1 percentage point drop from the same period last week. It also marked the second consecutive week of drop.The local pollster did not offer reasons for
Nov. 24, 2017
-
Opposition lawmaker to be grilled over bribery involving state spy
Rep. Choi Kyung-kwan of the Liberty Korea Party will be questioned by prosecutors next week as a suspect in a graft case in connection with the state spy agency, Seoul prosecutor's office said Thursday.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said he will appear for interrogation next Tuesday.(Yonhap)The four-term lawmaker is suspected of taking 100 million won(US$92,000) in kickbacks from the National Intelligence Service(NIS) when he was finance minister under the previous Park Geun-hye
Nov. 23, 2017
-
Leaders of minor parties spur integration talk
The leaders of the two minor parties stepped up their drive for integration on Thursday, as they seek to firm up their parliamentary footholds in the fluid political landscape ahead of next year's local elections.During a forum, Reps. Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoo Seong-min, the heads of the center-left People's Party and the conservative Bareun Party, called for "earnest and swift" discussions over a possible tie-up, though Ahn faced stiff resistance from his party colleagues."We have to show our polic
Nov. 23, 2017
-
Government denies postponing military drills for Olympics
South Korea’s presidential office on Thursday denied reports it is considering halting joint military drills with US Armed Forces during the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. President Moon Jae-in gives a speech at an event promoting the Pyeongchang Winter Games held in New York on Sept. 20. During his trip to the US, Moon said that his administration will do all it can to facilitate North Korea`s participation in the games. Cheong Wa DaeOn Thursday, a number of local media outlets
Nov. 23, 2017
-
Ruling party reaffirms resolve for conglomerate reform in wake of chaebol scion's assault
The ruling Democratic Party on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to reforming family-run conglomerates and promoting fair market competition amid public uproar over an assault case involving a tycoon's son.Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon, the party's policy chief, stressed the ruling bloc will strive to prevent any abuse of power by conglomerate owner families and will seek to improve corporate governance.On Wednesday, prosecutors launched a probe into the allegations that Kim Dong-seon, a son of Hanwha Gro
Nov. 23, 2017
-
Constitutional Court chief grilled at confirmation hearing
Constitutional Court chief nominee Lee Jin-sung took the stand at a parliamentary confirmation hearing Wednesday, with opposition parties honing in on his views on national security and a controversy surrounding the term of the chief of the court. Lee is the second Constitutional Court nominee to undergo the confirmation hearing process since President Moon Jae-in took office in May. Moon had initially nominated Constitutional Court Justice Kim Yi-su, who was rejected by the parliament, resultin
Nov. 22, 2017
-
Uzbek leader begins 4-day state visit
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan arrives in Seoul on Wednesday for a four-day state visit.The Uzbek president is set to hold his first summit with Korean President Moon Jae-in.The plans for Mirziyoyev to address the National Assembly, however, has been cancelled on request from Uzbekistan. The visit -- Mirziyoyev’s first to Korea -- marks the latest step in the Moon administration’s efforts to expand Seoul’s diplomatic horizons. (Yonhap)Moon will host a welcome event Thursday, which wi
Nov. 22, 2017
-
Cheong Wa Dae unveils new, detailed criteria for ranking officials
The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae announced new and more detailed guidelines Wednesday for its nominations of new government and public officials that would exclude persons convicted or suspected of what it called the seven most serious and immoral crimes and misdeeds, including plagiarism.The list also included evading tax and mandatory military service, as well as false registration of address, which were included in the original list of misdeeds announced by President Moon Jae-in, who too
Nov. 22, 2017
-
President of Sri Lanka to visit Korea on state visit
The president of Sri Lanka will come to South Korea next week on a visit that will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.President Maithripala Sirisena will arrive here Tuesday on a three-day visit that will include a summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in."The two leaders will discuss ways to increase the countries' practical cooperation in various areas, including in the inte
Nov. 22, 2017
-
Moon calls for integration, unity as keys to successful democracy
President Moon Jae-in urged national integration and unity Wednesday, calling them keys to a successful democracy.The call came in a ceremony marking the second anniversary of the death of former President Kim Young-sam."Today, I look on the instructions left by the president, which are integration and unity," Moon said in the ceremony held at the national cemetery in Seoul. President Moon Jae-in (Yonhap)"As the president said, I will not forget the fact that what drives the Republic of Korea to
Nov. 22, 2017
-
Main opposition fires back in NIS fund scandal
The main opposition Liberty Korea Party will demand a parliamentary probe into allegations that the spy agency and prosecution used funds improperly during past liberal governments, a party official said Wednesday.Rep. Kim Seon-dong, the vice LKP floor leader, said that the conservative party will submit a written request this week to call for the probe.The move is seen as a counteroffensive to the ongoing prosecutorial investigations into suspicions that the National Intelligence Service provid
Nov. 22, 2017
-
Ruling party steps up efforts for new anti-corruption agency
The ruling Democratic Party on Wednesday ratcheted up its push to institute an agency in charge of probing corruption involving senior officials and their families, amid objections from the main opposition party.The independent investigation agency is one of President Moon Jae-in's key campaign pledges to diffuse investigative power concentrated in the prosecution and to curb irregularities among high-level officials from the government, parliament and judiciary.But top brass at the Liberty Kore
Nov. 22, 2017
-
Moon appoints SME minister, completes Cabinet lineup
President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday appointed Hong Jong-haak as the chief of the new Ministry of SMEs and Startups, completing his Cabinet more than six months into his five-year term.Hong, Moon’s second choice to lead the SME Ministry, was appointed without parliamentary approval. Although nominees for Cabinet posts are required to undergo parliamentary confirmation hearings, the president does not require the approval of political parties to appoint ministers. Minister of SMEs and Startups Hong
Nov. 21, 2017
-
[PyeongChang 2018] President urges measures to minimize earthquake damage in future
President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday stressed the need to prepare for additional earthquakes in the future, saying the country can no longer be considered safe from the natural disaster."We have once again clearly confirmed the fact that our country is no longer a safe zone from earthquakes," the president said in a Cabinet meeting held at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.The reamrks came about a week after a magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck the southeastern city of Pohang, the second-most-power
Nov. 21, 2017
-
Opposition parties slam Moon for appointing controversial minister
Opposition parties lashed out at President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday for appointing his pick for venture minister despite their objections, saying the decision contradicts his mantra of "cooperative politics."Earlier in the day, Moon formally appointed Hong Jong-haak to lead the newly minted SMEs and startups ministry despite lingering criticism of his family's property inheritance and controversial past remarks."The appointment, despite strong opposition from the opposition parties as well as the
Nov. 21, 2017
-
Ruling camp agrees to secure more funds for quake recovery in 2018 budget
The ruling Democratic Party and government agreed Tuesday to seek more funds in next year's budget plan to support recovery efforts in the earthquake-hit city of Pohang, a party spokeswoman said.During their high-level policy coordination meeting, they also agreed to take a series of measures to help residents in the affected areas, such as reducing their fees for health insurance, electricity and communications services. To support more than 1,000 displaced citizens, they stressed the need to m
Nov. 21, 2017
-
Moon appoints new venture minister despite objections
President Moon Jae-in pushed ahead with the appointment of a new startups minister Tuesday despite vehement objections from opposition parties.Hong Jong-haak was appointed the chief of the newly minted Ministry of SMEs and Startups shortly before a weekly Cabinet meeting, according to the presidential office.The progressive economist and former lawmaker was nominated on Oct. 23 but faced criticism over controversial inheritance of family wealth. The National Assembly failed to issue a report on
Nov. 21, 2017
-
Parliament fails to adopt hearing report on SMEs minister nominee
A parliamentary committee failed Monday to adopt a report on the outcome of its confirmation hearing on the venture minister nominee due to opposition parties' objections, thereby passing the decision on his fate to President Moon Jae-in.Under a related law, the committee on industry and trade affairs had to adopt the report by the Monday deadline, but rival parties failed to reach any agreement on the publication for SMEs and Startups Minister designate Hong Jong-haak.The publication is a key p
Nov. 20, 2017
-
North Korea likely to launch ballistic missile before year-end: spy agency
North Korea is highly likely to launch different types of ballistic missiles before the end of this year to underline its nuclear threats, South Korea’s spy agency said Monday. Active movements are continuously being spotted around the missile development institutes in North Korea and it has also conducted engine tests for missiles, the National Intelligence Service told lawmakers in a closed-door parliamentary meeting. Hwang Pyong-so (left) and Kim Won-hong (Yonhap)“While there has not been any
Nov. 20, 2017