Democratic Party contemplates Seoul mayoral election picks

The Democratic Party of Korea is struggling to find a candidate for Seoul mayor in the upcoming local elections, hinting at more difficulties for the party after its loss in the presidential election early this month. No Democratic Party figure has so far announced a bid for the post, possibly reflecting views that the current mayor has the upper hand. Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the conservative People Power Party is looking to extend his term. Oh is a central figure within the People Power Party in

March 30, 2022

[Hwang’s China and the World] Europe will not detract from US focus on Indo-Pacific

The White House in February announced its Indo-Pacific strategy in what seems to be its most inclusive and comprehensive report yet. The report makes no doubt that China’s presence is of utmost importance when it comes to the US’ Indo-Pacific strategy, which was initiated in the Trump administration. In the report, the US looks to seek ways to contain China’s rise, but also maintain a somewhat amicable and cooperative relationship with Beijing. The Indo-Pacific strategy i

March 30, 2022

Nearly 60% of people oppose granting pardons to ex-President Lee, ex-Gov. Kim: poll

Nearly 60 percent of South Koreans oppose granting pardons to former President Lee Myung-bak and former South Gyeongsang Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo, a survey showed Wednesday. According to the poll conducted by Data Research on 1,000 adults on Monday, 58.7 percent said they are against granting clemency to Lee and Kim, while 32.1 percent said they support pardoning the two. The issue of their pardons surfaced ahead of a meeting Monday between President Moon Jae-in and President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, wit

March 30, 2022

Ahn withdraws from consideration for prime minister

Transition Committee Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo has withdrawn from consideration for prime minister in the incoming government, political sources said Wednesday. Ahn has been considered a top candidate for the No. 2 political office after he dropped out of the presidential race to support the campaign of now President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol. On Tuesday, he met with Yoon and expressed his intent not to serve as prime minister, saying he would like to focus on the transition team, according to the source

March 30, 2022

Yoon proposes meeting with Zelenskyy at early date after war ends

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol proposed a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at an early date after the Ukraine-Russia war ends, his spokesperson said Wednesday. Yoon made the proposal during a phone call with Zelenskyy on Tuesday, Kim Eun-hye said during a press briefing when asked if she could disclose details of the conversation. Kim initially said Tuesday that details would not be revealed "as Ukraine is currently in a state of war." "Fruitful cooperation h

March 30, 2022

Yoon holds phone call with Ukraine president

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday evening spoke on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia. “President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol held a phone call with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at 5 p.m. on Tuesday,” Yoon’s spokesperson said in a written statement. “As Ukraine is currently in a war situation, please understand that it is difficult to disclose the details of the call,” the s

March 29, 2022

Cheong Wa Dae denies allegations related to first lady fashion expenses

Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday denied recent rumors regarding the first lady’s expenses over clothes and fashion items, saying that no state funds had been used. “The groundless assertions related to first lady Kim Jung-sook using special activity expenses for costumes to wear at official events are completely false,” Shin Hye-hyeon, deputy spokesperson for Cheong Wa Dae, said at a briefing Tuesday. “National budget, including special activity expenses, have not been drawn

March 29, 2022

[Newsmaker]Disabled advocacy group ends subway protest after meeting transition team

An advocacy group for the disabled said Tuesday it would halt its protests in the subway in response to a request by the presidential transition committee, which vowed to “make efforts” to meet their demands. The presidential transition committee met with the protest organizer, the Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, in the morning, listening to their concerns and asking them to halt the subway protests, which disrupted morning commutes and other travel. Hours after the m

March 29, 2022

Yoon to decide on prime minister nominee by early April

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to announce his nominee for prime minister by early April to make sure the entire appointment procedure is completed before the launch of the new government in May, his spokesperson said Tuesday. “Considering the schedule of the parliamentary hearing (for ministerial appointments), we expect to announce the prime minister nominee by early April to meet the launch of the new government,” Kim Eun-hye, Yoon’s spokesperson, said in a pres

March 29, 2022

State affairs to pet dogs, range of topics on Moon-Yoon dinner table

From impending state affairs and national security to their pet dogs, President Moon Jae-in and President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol discussed a wide range of issues in their belated meeting Monday, which came after weeks of tension. On Monday evening, Moon and Yoon first greeted each other in the front garden space of Sangchunje guest house at Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office. The meeting, which began at 6 p.m. and lasted for two and a half hours, was also attended by Moon’s Chief of St

March 29, 2022

Yoon to visit trade organization

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will soon visit a trade organization to encourage young entrepreneurs and listen to opinions of small- and mid-sized exporters, his spokesperson said Tuesday. Yoon will hold a meeting with young entrepreneurs during his planned visit to the Korea International Trade Association, one of the nation's biggest economic organizations, spokesperson Kim Eun-hye told reporters. During the meeting, Yoon is expected to show his willingness to create jobs for young people and

March 29, 2022

Moon says relocating presidential office is up to next government

President Moon Jae-in on Monday said he will cooperate with the relocation of the presidential office after closely reviewing the budget during the dinner meeting with President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, according to Yoon’s top official. The dinner meeting began at 6 p.m. and lasted about two and a half hours, attended by Moon’s Chief of Staff Yoo Young-min and Yoon’s Chief of Staff Jang Je-won. After the meeting ended, Jang held a press briefing at 9:30 p.m. and said the two ta

March 28, 2022

Yoon to review likely candidates for prime minister

With just over 40 days left to go to inauguration, President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will soon choose a candidate for the prime minister’s post for his administration, with a short list reportedly being compiled. On Monday, Yoon’s spokesperson said that the president-elect’s office plans to select the final candidates by early April, as it takes about a month to go through the appointment process. “When we choose the final nominee for prime minister, we would request for

March 28, 2022

Yoon’s approval rating on a slippery slope

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol’s approval ratings have continued to fall since the election, with the figure hitting the lowest for president-elects in recent history. Yoon’s push for relocation of the presidential office and repeated conflicts with the Moon Jae-in administration seem to have negatively affected public opinion. The poll results on Monday showed that the negative outlook for Yoon’s government performance outpaced the positive outlook in a week. The same surve

March 28, 2022

Should we care how much the first lady spent on her clothes?

Controversy is brewing over first lady Kim Jung-sook’s expenses over the past five years, particularly over the cost of her clothes, shoes, jewelry and accessories. Some have accused Kim and the presidential office of abusing their power and spending billions of won of taxpayer money on rare and fashionable items for Kim during President Moon Jae-in's five-year term, requesting Cheong Wa Dae to disclose information on its off-the-record expenses. Local civic group Korea Taxpayers' Associ

March 28, 2022

Yoon's US delegation expected to visit Washington in early April

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's delegation to the United States is expected to visit Washington early next month before the US Congress breaks for recess. Yoon's spokesperson Kim Eun-hye said the aim is to select the remaining five or so delegates early this week as Congress begins recess on April 11. Rep. Park Jin of Yoon's People Power Party has been chosen to head the team. "The delegation is being sent to meet with officials in the US government and Congress, as well as policymakers wit

March 28, 2022

Yoon to meet Japanese ambassador Monday

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will meet with the Japanese ambassador to South Korea on Monday, his spokesperson said. Ambassador Koichi Aiboshi will pay a courtesy call on Yoon in the morning, Kim Eun-hye said during a press briefing. The meeting was initially scheduled for March 17 but postponed after Aiboshi tested positive for COVID-19. Yoon spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on March 11, two days after his election. During the call, he stressed the importance of resolving pendi

March 28, 2022

Yoon to begin reviewing PM candidates

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will soon begin reviewing candidates for prime minister, with economics and business experts cited as some of the leading contenders for the job, sources said Monday. Chief of Staff Chang Je-won plans to recommend around five candidates to Yoon after receiving their profiles from the president-elect's human resources team, and the formal vetting process is expected to begin this week, the sources said. "Considering the time required for the parliamentary confir

March 28, 2022

Several options being discussed on how to restructure Gender Equality Ministry

The presidential transition committee is reviewing several ways for governmental reorganization, including abolishing the Gender Equality Ministry without eliminating its essential functions. Yoon has pledged to abolish the Gender Equality and Family Ministry, which is the Ministry of Women and Family in Korean. Yoon considers the ministry as obsolete, and has questioned the existence of systematic gender discrimination in Korea. A committee official reportedly said they will bring out a ro

March 27, 2022

Yoon to send delegation to US to discuss global affairs

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will send a consultation delegation to the United States to discuss issues regarding the US-South Korea alliance and current affairs before his inauguration, Yoon’s office said on Sunday. “Yoon will send a Korea-US policy consultation delegation to hold comprehensive and practical consultations with the US administration,” Yoon’s spokesperson Kim Eun-hye said in a statement. The delegation will be led by Yoon’s foreign policy advis

March 27, 2022