Plan to abolish Gender Ministry involves merger into larger ministry, lawmakers told

The government is speeding up the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, a pledge made by President Yoon Suk-yeol when he was a presidential candidate. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said Wednesday that it is preparing a reform plan of the government organization law, focusing on abolishing the Gender Ministry. If approved, the plans will see the Gender Ministry become a division under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Vice Minister Han Chang-seob reported the govern

Oct. 5, 2022

Clear violation of press freedom in Korea over Yoon hot-mic dispute: IFJ

The International Federation of Journalists has condemned the ruling People Power Party in Korea over its criticism and filing of a defamation suit against public broadcaster Munhwa Broadcasting Corp. which reported on President Yoon Suk-yeol’s alleged use of foul language in New York last month. In a statement Tuesday, the IFJ said the "censuring of MBC and other Korean media" was a “clear violation of press freedom.” MBC has been sued by the conservative party for d

Oct. 5, 2022

PM calls for sense of urgency to cope with economic difficulties

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Wednesday called for a sense of urgency to cope with economic difficulties at home and abroad, as the economy is grappling with soaring inflation and recession fears over rising interest rates. "The government will continue to achieve growth and development of our economy by overcoming this internal and external environment with the attitude of strictly responding 24 hours a day," Han told a Cabinet meeting. Consumer prices grew at a slower pace on-year f

Oct. 5, 2022

Starbucks Korea had prior knowledge of toxic substance in giveaway bags: lawmaker

An opposition lawmaker claimed Tuesday that Starbucks Korea had prior knowledge that its recent giveaway merchandise contained a toxic substance for over a week before the information was made public. The company came under fire in July after formaldehyde, a carcinogen, was detected in its "summer carry bags," which it provided to customers who purchased 17 drinks between May and early July. According to Rep. Lee Su-jin of the main opposition Democratic Party, Song Ho-seop, CEO of St

Oct. 4, 2022

Yoon appoints former finance ministry official as health minister

President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday appointed a former senior finance ministry official as health minister, his office said. The appointment came after the National Assembly adopted a confirmation hearing report on Health Minister nominee Cho Kyoo-hong, after two previous nominees withdrew their nominations over allegations of various irregularities. The parliamentary committee on health and welfare unanimously approved Cho's nomination following last week's hearing, saying he is qual

Oct. 4, 2022

Did Yoon insult the US Congress?

President Yoon Suk-yeol was caught on a hot mic uttering the Korean word “saeki” as he was leaving a conference attended by world leaders in New York last month. According to the South Korean broadcaster that was first to release the video footage, Yoon apparently told his aides, “Wouldn’t (inaudible) lose face if these ‘saeki’ do not pass it in the legislature?” Many have speculated that the president was alluding to members of the US Congress, which

Oct. 4, 2022

Parties put reprisals before scrutiny as feuding engulfs Assembly audit

The Yoon Suk-yeol administration's first parliamentary audit kicked off Tuesday, with the ruling and opposition parties clashing head-on over controversies and allegations as people’s livelihoods were put on the back burner. The ruling People Power Party focused on examining various allegations raised during the former Moon Jae-in administration, and the judicial risks of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea’s leader Lee Jae-myung. The Democratic Party brought up mu

Oct. 4, 2022

Ruling party presses Moon to comply with probe over 2020 death of fisheries official

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Tuesday urged former President Moon Jae-in to comply with an investigation by the state auditor into the death of a South Korean fisheries official killed by North Korea near the western sea border in 2020. The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has asked Moon to answer questions in writing in connection with the case, but Moon rejected the request as "very disrespectful," according to Rep. Youn Kun-young of the main opposition Democratic Party (

Oct. 4, 2022

Yoon declines to comment on Moon's objection to audit of slain fisheries official case

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Tuesday it was "inappropriate" for him to comment on reports that his predecessor Moon Jae-in objected to the state auditor's questioning of him over North Korea's 2020 slaying of a South Korean fisheries official. Yoon was responding to reports that Moon balked at a written questionnaire sent by the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) to seek clarification on the circumstances that led to the official's death and the then government's c

Oct. 4, 2022

Yoon warns of 'resolute' response after N. Korea's IRBM launch

President Yoon Suk-yeol warned of a "resolute" response after North Korea fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that he said flew about 4,000 kilometers on Tuesday. Yoon made the remark to reporters shortly after South Korea's military said it detected one IRBM launched eastward past Japan. "North Korea again launched an intermediate range ballistic missile of around 4,000 kilometers over the Japanese archipelago," he said, offering details the military ha

Oct. 4, 2022

Govt. planning math fellowship inspired by Fields Medal winner Huh

The government is planning to set up a math fellowship program inspired by Korean American mathematician June Huh, officials said Tuesday. The program is aimed at nurturing young mathematicians under 40 through an annual stipend of around 120 million won ($84,000) for up to 10 years, according to officials at the presidential office. The fellowship, which will be run by the Ministry of Science and ICT, will ensure research freedom by having only one progress evaluation in the fifth year. The min

Oct. 4, 2022

Rival parties clash as probe into slain official zeroes in on Moon

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea has strongly opposed the state inspection agency’s attempt to investigate former President Moon Jae-in, calling it “political retaliation." In September 2020, a South Korean official was shot dead by North Korean soldiers. At the time, the Moon administration defined him as a South Korean defector to North Korea. But in June 2022, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration reversed the decision, saying there was no evidence to prove that the

Oct. 3, 2022

Yoon's approval rating drops after hot mic incident: poll

President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating fell for the first time in four weeks after his remarks caught on a hot mic in New York caused an uproar here, a survey showed Monday. In the poll of 2,522 voters conducted by Realmeter from Monday to Friday last week, 31.2 percent positively assessed Yoon's job performance, down 3.4 percentage points from the previous week. Yoon's disapproval rating was 66 percent, up 3.8 percentage points. The drop could be attributable to the hot mic co

Oct. 3, 2022

Ex-CEO of construction firm indicted over donation to football club formerly headed by DP leader

Prosecutors on Friday indicted a former CEO of Doosan Engineering & Construction Co. and an official of Seongnam City in connection with alleged corruption involving opposition leader Lee Jae-myung. The case centers on allegations that the city government of Seongnam, just south of Seoul, had attracted about 16 billion won (US$11.14 million) in donations from six corporations, including Doosan Engineering, to its pro-football club in return for business favors between 2016 and 2018. Lee,

Sept. 30, 2022

Ruling party sends resolution demanding assembly speaker‘s resignation

The ruling People Power Party on Friday submitted a resolution asking National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo to step down, in an apparent retaliation against the main opposition party’s passing of a motion calling for the dismissal of the foreign minister at the National Assembly on Thursday. The motion for the dismissal of Foreign Minister Park Jin was approved in a 168-1 vote boycotted by the ruling People Power Party on Thursday evening. It was put to a vote at a delayed plenary sessio

Sept. 30, 2022

DP claims relocation of presidential office will cost about W1tr

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said Friday the relocation cost of the presidential office will be far greater than expected, surpassing 1 trillion won (US$698 million). The envisioned cost far exceeds the 49.6 billion won announced by President Yoon Suk-yeol as the expected cost for the relocation project, Rep. Han Byung-do, who leads the DP's fact-finding mission on alleged irregularities involving the presidential office, said. Han said there could be more unidentified expenses

Sept. 30, 2022

Opposition party passes motion to dismiss FM

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Thursday passed a motion to formally request that President Yoon Suk-yeol replace Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin over diplomatic gaffes during Yoon’s overseas trip last week. The motion was put to a vote in a National Assembly plenary session, which resumed at 6 p.m. The motion it was passed with 168 votes, mainly from the main opposition party, which holds a majority -- 169 out of 299 seats -- in the National Ass

Sept. 29, 2022

Ruling party calls for end to PCR tests for arrivals

PCR tests for those arriving in Korea and the current indoor mask mandate could go under review following calls from the ruling People Power Party for disease control measures that “minimize inconvenience and restrictions.” Speaking at a ruling party-government meeting on Thursday, top People Power Party officials called for ending PCR tests for overseas arrivals, and to review the negative impact that wearing face masks may have on young children. “Currently, Korea and China

Sept. 29, 2022

Harris says US will take measures to address Korea's IRA concerns

President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed concerns on Thursday to US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is in Seoul, about the Inflation Reduction Act that could damage Korean automakers. Harris replied that she would come up with measures to address Korean worries in the process of enforcing the act. It is the first time in 4 1/2 years for a sitting US vice president to visit Korea since the PyeongChang Olympics in February 2018, when former Vice President Mike Pence came here. In the 85-minute closed

Sept. 29, 2022

Yoon touts FM as opposition set to pass no-confidence motion

President Yoon Suk-yeol touted Foreign Minister Park Jin on Thursday as a capable diplomat working so hard at a level causing concern about his health as the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) was set to pass a no-confidence motion against him. The remark suggests that Yoon will not comply even if the DP passes the motion calling for Park's dismissal to hold him responsible for what it portrays as Yoon's disastrous trip to Britain, the United States and Canada last week. The motion

Sept. 29, 2022