DP to propose bill mandating independent counsel probe of first lady

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) decided Wednesday to introduce a bill later in the day mandating an independent counsel probe of first lady Kim Keon-hee over allegations of stock manipulation and other irregularities, the party's floor leader said. The move is seen as a counterattack against the administration of President Yoon Suk-yeol conducting a prosecution investigation of DP leader Lee Jae-myung, which the party has denounced as "political revenge" against the form

Sept. 7, 2022

As criminal probe zeroes in on party chair, opposition takes aim at presidential couple

South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party of Korea has erupted over the escalating criminal investigation of its leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung, who decided not to show up for questioning by prosecutors on Tuesday. The Democratic Party’s chief spokesperson Rep. Ahn Ho-young said in a statement Tuesday that Lee was not going to appear at the Seoul prosecutors’ office for the questioning session and that he would opt to give written responses instead. Ahn then characterized th

Sept. 6, 2022

Budget to deal with Fukushima radioactive wastewater reduced

The 2023 budget allocated for dealing with the contaminated wastewater from Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant has been cut by 13 percent, compared to this year's allotment, data showed Tuesday. According to Rep. Kim Young-joo of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, the government has earmarked 2.6 billion won ($1.8 million) for the project, compared to 3 billion won for this year. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission had initially requested 3.8 billion won, but it was reduced

Sept. 6, 2022

Ex-PPP leader Lee to appear for police questioning next week

Lee Jun-seok, a former chairperson of the ruling People Power Party, has told police he will show up for questioning next week over sex bribery and other allegations, officials said Tuesday. The 37-year-old Lee has been accused of receiving sexual services paid for by Kim Sung-jin, CEO of the tech company I-kaist, in 2013 and attempting to cover it up by promising to pay off a whistleblower. Kim's side claimed Lee had promised to set up a meeting with then President Park Geun-hye in return.

Sept. 6, 2022

DP leader Lee decides not to comply with prosecution summons

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung decided not to comply with a prosecution summons because he has answered all questions in writing, a party spokesperson said Tuesday. Lee of the main opposition Democratic Party has been asked to come to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office by 10 a.m. Tuesday for questioning over allegations that he violated the election law by making false statements about land development projects pushed for in the city of Seongnam, just south of Seoul, when he wa

Sept. 6, 2022

Yoon holds meetings overnight to oversee response to Typhoon Hinnamnor

President Yoon Suk-yeol held multiple meetings between Monday night and Tuesday morning to oversee the government's response to the powerful Typhoon Hinnamnor, his spokesperson said. Yoon stayed at the presidential office overnight as the typhoon approached the Korean Peninsula and made landfall in the southeastern city of Geoje at 4:50 a.m. During meetings at 9:30 p.m. and 11:40 p.m. Monday, Yoon monitored images of the typhoon moving toward the southern island of Jeju on closed-circuit TV

Sept. 6, 2022

Democratic Party of Korea asks prosecutors to investigate Yoon

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea reported President Yoon Suk-yeol to Seoul prosecutors on Monday, claiming that his denial of criminal allegations surrounding first lady Kim Keon-hee during the election campaign amounted to promulgation of false information. The Democratic Party filed a report asking the prosecutors’ office to look into whether Yoon had lied while he was a presidential candidate by saying his wife, Kim, was not culpable in the Deutsch Motors stock price mani

Sept. 5, 2022

Opposition DP to file complaint against Yoon on charges of stating false information

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) decided Monday to file a complaint against President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges of violating the election law by stating false information, days after the prosecution summoned DP leader Lee Jae-myung for questioning over similar charges. The DP plans to file the complaint with the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on Monday afternoon in connection with Yoon's remarks about stock manipulation allegations involving first laday Kim Keon-h

Sept. 5, 2022

Police to drop academic falsification charges against first lady

Police are expected to wrap up an investigation into academic falsification charges against first lady Kim Keon-hee this week without sending the case to the prosecution for possible indictment, sources said Monday. Kim has been accused of fraud, obstruction of business and document forgery for falsifying some of her academic and career credentials on resumes she submitted to several universities between 2001 and 2014 while applying for a teaching job. A civic group and others filed complaints a

Sept. 5, 2022

Yoon's approval rating snaps 3-week rising streak amid party unrest

President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating fell slightly to 32.3 percent last week, ending a three-week rising streak, as ongoing leadership turmoil at the ruling People Power Party (PPP) disheartened conservative supporters, a poll showed Monday. The approval rating was down 1.3 percentage points from the previous week, while the disapproval rating rose 1.6 percentage points to 64.9 percent, according to the poll of 2,516 voters conducted by Realmeter from Monday to Friday. By political lea

Sept. 5, 2022

What’s all the fuss about first lady?

Stock price manipulation, luxury items omitted from personal assets disclosure, inviting a police officer involved in an ongoing investigation to an official event, allegations of plagiarism and calls for further investigations, falsification of credentials, suspicious developments in hiring at and construction contracts for government facilities. These are just some of the allegations that have been raised in the past few months against first lady Kim Keon-hee, which has prompted the main opp

Sept. 4, 2022

New DP leader slams back at prosecution for summoning him

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the new leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the prosecution as “inappropriate” for summoning him regarding the alleged violation of the election law on Friday. Lee met with reporters after the party leadership meeting held in Gwangju on Friday, where he expressed suspicions that the ongoing investigation into him is politically motivated, and that the current administration is behind the developments. "The power entrusted by th

Sept. 2, 2022

Yoon says he does not have time to closely follow news on opposition leader's summons

President Yoon Suk-yeol declined to comment on the prosecution's summons of main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Friday, saying he is focusing on the economy and does not have time to properly read the news. Yoon's comment came a day after the prosecution asked Lee of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) to appear for questioning by next Tuesday as part of an investigation into allegations he lied during the presidential campaign last year. "Well, as president, my current

Sept. 2, 2022

Legal peril looms over both parties as new National Assembly begins

South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties kicked off the first National Assembly regular session under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration on Thursday, feuding over the North Korea human rights agenda and criminal justice reforms.　 The ruling People Power Party will likely have a diminished influence over legislation and other political decisions as the majority of National Assembly is controlled by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. But important issues and policy discussion

Sept. 1, 2022

PM, new leader of main opposition party discuss legislative cooperation

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo held a meeting with new leader Lee Jae-myung of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Thursday and discussed legislative cooperation to improve people's livelihood issues. The meeting between Han and Lee marked their first since Lee was elected the DP's new chairman in a national convention Sunday. Han told Lee that the government "looks forward to managing state affairs through cooperation and politics of cooperation with the Democratic Party,&q

Sept. 1, 2022

Ex-prosecutors replace politicians in Yoon's staff

President Yoon Suk-yeol is seen as trying to reorganize his office centering on ex-prosecutors by distancing himself from politicians, with many of the aides recommended by politicians with close ties to the president resigning. This week alone, a dozen employees have resigned from their posts. Two secretaries under the senior secretary for political affairs resigned and the secretary of the senior secretary for civil society was also dismissed. Most have come from politics. More than 20 of the

Aug. 31, 2022

Yoon likely to move into new residence early next month

President Yoon Suk-yeol is likely to move into the new presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, early next month, several days later than initially planned, to allow for final preparation work, a source said Wednesday. Yoon had been expected to move into the new residence this week and begin commuting from there Thursday. But officials are still checking whether all the necessary systems are properly in place, including in the underground bunker that can be used as a crisis management cente

Aug. 31, 2022

PM vows to speed up push for digital city operations, public services

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday that the government would speed up the development of digital solutions for city operations and the delivery of public services. Han made the remarks at an international exhibition on "smart city" projects earlier in the day, according to the prime minister's office. "We will accelerate the innovation of city management and public services based on data," Han said. The delivery of public services will be significantly improved i

Aug. 31, 2022

Court denies arrest warrant for suspect in alleged credit card misuse involving opposition leader's wife

SUWON -- A court on Wednesday denied an arrest warrant request for a former Gyeonggi Province official accused of misusing corporate credit cards allegedly for personal purposes of the wife of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung. The prosecution in Suwon, 50 kilometers south of Seoul, had requested a court warrant to arrest the suspect, identified only by her surname Bae, on charges of occupational breach of trust and violation of election laws. The Suwon District Court refused to issue the warrant,

Aug. 31, 2022

Neighborhood of new presidential residence designated as military facility protection zone

The new residence of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in Hannam-dong, Seoul, and the nearby area has been designated as a military facility protection zone for higher level of security, the defense ministry said Tuesday. Yoon plans to move into the new residence this week and begin commuting from there Thursday, according to sources. Until now, he has been commuting from his private residence in southern Seoul. To be in effect from Wednesday, the designation applies to parts of Hannam-dong

Aug. 30, 2022