Yoon commits to safer Korea on anniversary of Itaewon tragedy

  Marking the first anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush, President Yoon Suk Yeol solemnly vowed to bolster national safety, expressing his condolences and making a commitment for change during a ceremony at Yeongam Church in Seoul on Sunday. Yoon expressed his sympathies to the victims of the disaster and their families, describing the day of the tragedy as “one of the most sorrowful moments" of his life, which is a sentiment he believes is shared by the entire nation. In his

Oct. 29, 2023

North Korean hackers tricking users with ‘copycat apps’ disguised as South Korean: NIS

North Korean hackers are hiding malware in “copycat applications” that look like they are South Korean to steal personal information of users and other sensitive data, the national spy agency said Friday. The National Intelligence Service busted the apps, which were made and distributed by a North Korean hacker ring and “nearly identical” in designs and features to a popular South Korean site. The spy agency only identified the site imitated in the North Korean phishing a

Oct. 27, 2023

Yoon seeks to promote local regions on visit to Andong

President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the southeastern city of Andong on Friday as part of an effort to promote the economies and sustainability of local regions. Yoon traveled to the city, 192 kilometers southeast of Seoul, for a visit that some viewed as aimed at rallying the support of conservatives ahead of next April's parliamentary elections, as the southeastern Gyeongsang provinces, where Andong is located, have traditionally been a conservative stronghold. The speculation was backed by Yo

Oct. 27, 2023

Ruling party committee to recommend amnesty for ex-leader Lee

The innovation committee of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) decided Friday to recommend the lifting of a membership suspension imposed on former party leader Lee Jun-seok and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo as part of efforts to bring the party together. The committee reached the decision to recommend a "grand amnesty" for the two and former three-term lawmaker Kim Jae-won during its inaugural meeting presided over by Chairman Ihn Yohan, according to committee member Kim Kyung-jin. The t

Oct. 27, 2023

Opposition lawmakers allege celebrity drug scandals are part of government coverup

While South Korean celebrities’ drug allegations continue to dominate headlines, the main opposition party claimed on Friday that the ongoing investigation into such drug scandals may have been premeditated to divert public attention from current political issues that are unfavorable to the ruling party and the government. In a radio interview with the news channel YTN on Thursday, Rep. An Min-suk of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said a series of drug scandals involving big

Oct. 27, 2023

‘NIS meddling in politics with claims of election hacking’: Democratic Party of Korea

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Thursday downplayed the National Intelligence Service findings that the country’s election infrastructure is vulnerable to cyberattacks, claiming that the spy agency was trying to get involved in politics. The Democratic Party linked the accusations of cybersecurity vulnerabilities by the NIS with the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s “attack on democracy.” The party also alleged that the spy agency was seeking access to the e

Oct. 26, 2023

Yoon meets Park, honors father in gesture of conservative unity

President Yoon Suk Yeol met former President Park Geun-hye on Thursday at an event commemorating the anniversary of Park's father's death, in an apparent move to unite a conservative bloc reeling from low support ahead of the general elections in April. Yoon is the first Korean president to attend the memorial service to honor Park Chung-hee, who was assassinated in 1979 after a dictatorship spanning nearly two decades. The ceremony was held at 11 a.m. at the Seoul National Cemetery, where the f

Oct. 26, 2023

Ruling party to appoint innovation committee members

The ruling People Power Party is set to appoint members of its innovation committee Thursday, four days after the surprise appointment of doctor Ihn Yohan of American descent as its chair. Political watchers expect the committee to consist of members representing voters less favorable to the People Power Party, such as those from capital areas or young moderate voters, to reflect Ihn's pledge to promote national unity and change within the People Power Party. The People Power Party began th

Oct. 26, 2023

Yoon attends opening of Korean pavilion at Horticultural Expo in Qatar

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the opening of the Korean pavilion at the 2023 International Horticultural Exposition in Doha on Tuesday. Titled "Green Desert, Better Environment," the expo is the first such event to be held in a desert area, with the participation of more than 80 countries, including the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Japan, according to the presidential office. South Korea's pavilion features an outdoor garden with Korean themes and a smart farming

Oct. 25, 2023

Yoon pitches S. Korea's investment appeal to Middle East

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday pitched his country's appeal as an investment and business partner for the Middle East. In a speech during the Future Investment Initiative forum in Riyadh, dubbed "Davos in the Desert," Yoon said South Korea can be trusted, has cutting-edge industries, and aims for mutual growth through solidarity. In particular, he cited the hard work of South Korean companies and workers during the construction of a highway in Saudi Arabia in the 1970s

Oct. 25, 2023

Saudi crown prince gives Yoon a ride to investment forum

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gave South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol a ride to a high-profile investment conference in Riyadh on Tuesday, saying he hopes the two will be able to ride in a locally produced Hyundai car next time, according to Yoon's office. Yoon was on a four-day state visit to Riyadh from Saturday to Tuesday and was set to head to the annual Future Investment Initiative forum to deliver a speech. The crown prince made a surprise visit to Yoon's guest house a

Oct. 25, 2023

Touting historic ties with Saudi Arabia, Yoon calls for new partnership for growth

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- President Yoon Suk Yeol said South Korea and Saudi Arabia could contribute to sustainable global growth by forging a future-oriented partnership that encompasses the fields of energy, digital technology, biology and space, underscoring a history of cooperation between the two countries. On his third day of a state visit to Saudi Arabia, Yoon stressed the importance of the special partnership between the two countries that began in the 1970s, serving as the foundation fo

Oct. 24, 2023

US missionary descendant picked to rescue troubled ruling party

The ruling People Power Party on Monday announced an unusual pick to lead the reform of the party -- a descendant of an American missionary and a physician who contributed to the establishment of democracy in South Korea in the 1980s. John Linton, a professor of family medicine at Severance Hospital in Seoul, was chosen as the chief of the party’s reform committee on Monday. The 64-year-old, who became a naturalized South Korean citizen in 2012, was born and raised in the North and South J

Oct. 23, 2023

Yoon's office denies hasty secretary sacking to hide truth

South Korea's presidential office on Monday denied the notion that President Yoon Suk Yeol had sacked Kim Seung-hee, secretary to the president for protocol, in a hurried and preemptive manner to impede further truth-seeking. Yoon's office said in a written statement the presidential office was unaware of the accusation involving Kim's daughter and his alleged intervention until it was revealed in a parliamentary probe on Friday. According to reports, Kim's 9-year-old daughte

Oct. 23, 2023

[Herald Interview] 'All countries responsible' for victim support in Gaza Strip, says Iranian envoy

Iranian Ambassador to Korea Saeed Koozechi expressed deep concern over the Israel-Palestine conflict and its devastating impact on civilian populations, calling for the international community to support victims of the crisis in the Gaza Strip. “All countries are officially responsible for supporting the victims of these conflicts,” said Koozechi in an interview with The Korea Herald. With the rising number of casualties, Koozechi stressed that the global community should to play an

Oct. 23, 2023

Opposition leader returns to party duties, calls for Cabinet overhaul

Main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung officially resumed his party duties Monday and once again called on President Yoon Suk Yeol to conduct a complete overhaul of the Cabinet. Lee, the chairman of the Democratic Party, made the remarks while attending a party meeting after several weeks of hospital treatment to recover from his 24-day hunger strike, protesting what he described as a slew of government policy failures. "President Yoon Suk Yeol should thoroughly revamp the way he handles gove

Oct. 23, 2023

Looming election has Yoon advocating harder for everyday South Koreans

With next year’s general election for the National Assembly looming, President Yoon Suk Yeol and his People Power Party are pledging to do more to make lives better for everyday South Koreans. In the latest briefing from the presidential office, Yoon was quoted by his press secretary as telling his staff to focus policy agendas to build economy that puts middle class and low-income earners first. “The South Korean people are always the priority,” the president said, asking his

Oct. 22, 2023

[Herald Interview] Israel will fight Hamas with every effort to protect civilians: envoy

Israel will be guided by NATO standards that uphold protection of civilians in armed conflicts as it fights Hamas -- the Islamist militant movement that controls Gaza --, Jerusalem’s top envoy in Seoul said Thursday. “Israel will respect the human rights, the history and the presence of Palestinians in the region. It is Hamas we are in a war against,” Akiva Tor, the Israeli ambassador, said in an interview with The Korea Herald. And in the war against Hamas Israel was “go

Oct. 19, 2023

PM says he raised S. Korea's concern over China's repatriation of N.K. defectors in meeting with Xi

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday that he conveyed Seoul's concerns regarding China's forced repatriation of North Korean defectors to their repressive home country during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping last month. The discussion took place during Han's meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the Asian Games' opening ceremony in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 23. "We consider this to be important and concerning, so I brought up the issue (of repatriation o

Oct. 18, 2023

Yoon urges police reform focusing on public security

In response to a surge in violent incidents, President Yoon Suk Yeol urged the police to prioritize public security in its reform efforts and to strengthen on-site response capabilities, stressing zero tolerance for crimes against vulnerable groups. In an opening speech at the 78th National Police Day ceremony on Wednesday, Yoon stressed the need to "break the cycle of heinous crimes" and create a country where people can live in peace. “Crimes against the weak, including sexua

Oct. 18, 2023