Cabinet, opposition clash at Assembly

Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s first interpellation began on Monday afternoon at the National Assembly, with the ruling and opposition parties clashing over multiple pending issues ranging from the economy to national security. Pending issues, such as the launch of a new “police bureau” under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the repatriation of North Korean fishermen and Yoon’s controversial personnel appointments were put on the table. The first part of the p

July 25, 2022

Yoon's approval rating slightly falls to 33.3%: Realmeter

The slide in President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating has slowed, a survey showed Monday, with 33.3 percent of people giving a positive assessment of his performance, only 0.1 percentage point down from a week earlier. The disapproval rating also rose only 0.1 percentage point in the Realmeter survey of 2,527 voters from Monday to Friday last week. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. It marked the eighth consecutive week Yoon�

July 25, 2022

Yoon says he expects 'necessary steps' against police protest

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Monday he expects the interior ministry and the National Police Agency to take "necessary steps" to deal with police officers taking collective action to protest the planned establishment of a police bureau under the ministry. The remark came after a senior superintendent based in the southeastern port city of Busan was put on "standby" in a preliminary disciplinary action for organizing a general meeting of senior superintendents from across the

July 25, 2022

Ministry seeks early counter-rocket system rollout with plan to resume major allied field training

South Korea's defense ministry vowed Friday to push for an early deployment of a counter-rocket system to fend off threats from a possible North Korean salvo mixing missiles and long-range artillery that put the greater Seoul area within range. During a policy briefing to President Yoon Suk-yeol, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup outlined the plan and other defense priorities, including resuming larger-scale South Korea-US field training and accelerating efforts to build the "three-axis" s

July 22, 2022

Rival parties end 53-day feud over parliamentary committees

The ruling and main opposition parties on Friday reached an agreement on the parliamentary committee formations, finally allowing the National Assembly to restart operations after 53 days of hiatus. The ruling People Party Party floor leader and acting chair Rep. Kweon Seong-dong and Rep. Park Hong-keun, floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, agreed on the allocation of committee chiefs’ posts at a meeting presided over by National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo. A

July 22, 2022

Govt. to create new military unit against chemical, nuclear incidents

The office of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Friday the government approved a plan for the creation of a new military unit to bolster its defenses against chemical, nuclear and biological incidents. The approval was made at a regular interagency anti-terrorism meeting presided over by Han earlier in the day, the office said in a statement. Under the approval, two battalions of the Chemical, Biological and Radiological Defense Command will be merged to become a new military unit in November, it

July 22, 2022

Yoon says N. Korea is ready to conduct nuclear test at any time

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Friday that North Korea is ready to conduct a nuclear test at any time it decides. Yoon was responding to a reporter's question about the U.S. Department of Defense's assessment that the North has completed preparations to carry out a nuclear test as early as within the month. "We believe that not only at the end of this month, but ever since my inauguration, it's fully ready and able to do it whenever it decides," he told reporters as he arrived for work.

July 22, 2022

Yoon calls for end to DSME disruption

President Yoon Suk-yeol again called for an end to “illegal activities” related to the prolonged strike by unionized Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering’s subcontractors on Thursday. Although Yoon’s tone was more cautious than his earlier remarks that hinted at the use of force two days ago, he still reiterated suspending the occupation of the company’s shipyard in Okpo, South Gyeongsang Province, by seven striking workers. “Resolving and normali

July 21, 2022

Will secretaries be replaced to rebound Yoon’s approval rating?

As President Yoon Suk-yeol’s approval rating continues to decline, critics -- and even some within the ruling bloc, although cautiously -- say reshuffling the presidential office is needed for a rebound in the rating. It has been little more than two months since Yoon took office. But his support ratings have continued to decline, spurred by multiple controversies, including in personnel appointments, Yoon’s occasional gaffes and continuing to put blame on the previous government,

July 21, 2022

Ruling party faults Moon administration for ongoing troubles

South Korea’s ruling People Power Party got to work on the second half of the 21st National Assembly on Thursday, dedicating much of its first publicly delivered speech to blaming the previous Moon Jae-in administration for ongoing socioeconomic troubles. Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, floor leader and acting chairman of the People Power Party, said in a speech Thursday morning that the party will spearhead recovering the country’s economic standing and resolve ongoing debacles by launching

July 21, 2022

Yoon postpones policy briefing from unification ministry

President Yoon Suk-yeol postponed receiving a policy briefing from the unification ministry Thursday due to a scheduling conflict, officials said. The briefing had been scheduled for 4 p.m. at the presidential office but is currently being rescheduled, presidential spokesperson Kang In-sun told reporters. A presidential official said there were "various circumstances" that led to the postponement, including scheduling conflicts and work related to the National Assembly. The postponemen

July 21, 2022

DP lawmaker says PPP's claim against Moon's handling of NK fishermen 'ridiculous'

A lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Thursday refuted the ruling People Power Party's claim that the preceding Moon Jae-in administration falsely accused two North Korean fishermen of killing 16 fellow crew members before repatriating them in 2019. The alleged killings were the main reason behind the Moon administration's decision to send the North Koreans back to their homeland, where they could face harsh punishment, even though they had expressed a desire to de

July 21, 2022

Yoon says quickly ending DSME strike is in everyone's interest

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Thursday the people wish to see a quick end to a strike at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (DSME) and enabling that will be helpful to everyone. Subcontract workers at DSME have been striking since June 2, occupying a shipyard on Geoje Island on the south coast and causing up to trillions of won in losses for the company. Wage negotiations between the workers and management have yielded no breakthrough. "Quickly resolving the illegal action and norm

July 21, 2022

Democratic Party slams Yoon administration for early missteps

The National Assembly’s official proceedings kicked off Wednesday, with the familiar sound of the two main parties accusing each other of failing the people. South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party of Korea heavily criticized the Yoon Suk-yeol administration for its controversial personnel decisions while denouncing the government for abusing its power for political purposes. Rep. Park Hong-keun, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said Wednesday that the Yoon administrat

July 20, 2022

[Newsmaker] After elections, young politicians struggle to find their place

Earlier this year, South Korea had two young figures sitting atop rival political parties as the living embodiment of their commitment to introducing new blood. A few months and two major elections later, their place in the country‘s partisan politics seems increasingly tempestuous. Lee Jun-seok, the chairman of the ruling People Power Party, saw his membership suspended by the party’s ethics committee earlier this month after allegations surrounding sexual bribery emerged. Ove

July 20, 2022

Spy chief visits US, expected to discuss NK nuclear tests

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service Director Kim Kyou-hyun is in the US for an unofficial visit, amid the possibility of North Korea’s seventh nuclear test. He is expected to discuss issues related to Pyongyang’s provocations and recent controversies over the repatriation of North Korean fishermen with US top intelligence officials. Kim was seen by the media entering the country on Tuesday morning (local time) through Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC.

July 20, 2022

Natl. Assembly to launch special committee on people's livelihoods

The National Assembly held a plenary session Wednesday and passed a motion to launch a special parliamentary committee designed to help stabilize the economy of ordinary citizens. The special committee, set to operate until Oct. 31, will be dealing with various economic issues concerning people's livelihoods from real estate and tax policies to oil prices. The committee will comprise 13 lawmakers, including six from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and six from the main opposition Democr

July 20, 2022

Acting PPP chief apologizes over presidential office hiring blunder

Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, acting chairman and floor leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), apologized on Wednesday over the hiring of a presidential office employee after his remarks on the issue angered young voters who value fairness. Kweon came under fire after he said he "pressured" PPP Rep. Chang Je-won to have a person from his constituency in the eastern city of Gangneung hired at the presidential office when Chang was chief of staff for then President-elect Yoon. Kweon had

July 20, 2022

Yoon declines to comment on possible pardon of Samsung heir Lee

President Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday declined to comment on whether he would grant a presidential amnesty for Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong, who is currently on parole after serving time for bribery and embezzlement. Yoon made the remarks upon arrival at his office in response to a question about speculation he is mulling wide-ranging pardons on the occasion of the Aug. 15 anniversary of Liberation Day marking the 1945 end of Japan's colonial rule of Korea, and the Samsung chief could be one of the

July 20, 2022

Yoon hints at hardline response to workers’ DSME shipyard occupation

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday demanded strong response from law enforcement and government agencies to collective action by unionists at shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. Yoon said in a Cabinet meeting Tuesday that his administration would sternly respond “illegal and threatening” action by subcontracted workers at DSME, as its impact on the shipbuilding industry and greater economy is “tremendous.” Striking subcontractors have

July 19, 2022