Yoon-Lee exchange tit-for-tat on Ukraine crisis

Presidential nominees Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party and Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea exchanged criticisms on each others’ “inadequate capabilities,” over the Ukraine crisis during a televised presidential debate on Friday. “The Ukraine crisis is leading the prices of raw materials and energy sources to skyrocket, and it may create insecurity in the finance sector. It is also a threat factor to Korea’s national se

Feb. 25, 2022

Yoon calls ruling party’s electoral reform scheme ‘a false promise’

Presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party denounced the ruling party’s pledge to pursue electoral reform as a “false promise” aimed at gaining public attention, during a televised presidential debate Friday. When Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, said he would introduce a new government system aimed at devolving powers concentrated in the presidential office and stressed the need for a mult

Feb. 25, 2022

Yoon and Lee again exchange fire on key allegations during TV debate

The two major presidential candidates again dedicated much of their given times on a televised debate Friday night to denounce each other on key allegations, as the tight race continues between them with less than two weeks left until voting day. Presidential nominee Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party concentrated fire on voicing claims that Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea is the mastermind behind the controversial land development scandal currently un

Feb. 25, 2022

Moon administration was myopic in picking nominees, Lee Jae-myung says

Presidential nominee Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea picked close-mindedness and lack of efforts toward political integration as the reasons behind what brought criticism toward the incumbent Moon Jae-in administration. But he insisted that the Moon government was not entirely a failure in itself, seemingly expressing partial support for the administration associated with his own party. The response was made to a question from Ahn Cheol-soo of the People&rs

Feb. 25, 2022

Ahn attacks Yoon for being ‘idealistic’

Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate for the minor opposition People’s Party, attacked Yoon Suk-yeol of the major opposition People Power Party for being unrealistic about leading a government in a situation where opposition parties are the majority. “If (the Democratic Party of Korea) attempts to disturb the government because it has 180 seats in the National Assembly, I believe it goes against the orders of the Constitution,” Yoon said during a TV debate held Friday,

Feb. 25, 2022

Ahn says merger talks have failed while Yoon insists he is working on it

Presidential nominee Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition People’s Party insisted that talks for a candidacy merger between him and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party will not continue unless his call for a public survey is not agreed to. Rep. Sim Sang-jung, the presidential nominee of the minor progressive Justice Party, asked whether Ahn and Yoon are still working on merging their candidacies. Ahn said the negotiation has already fallen through, and that talks woul

Feb. 25, 2022

Korea and US agree to return 165,000 square meters of Yongsan US base

South Korea and the United States have reached an agreement for the US to return 165,000 square meters from the Yongsan US Base in Seoul and Camp Red Cloud, a US Army camp located in Uijeongbu city, officials said Friday. Im Sang-woo, director of the North American Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and joint chairperson of the Korea-US Status of Forces Agreement, and Scott Pleus, deputy commander of the US Forces Korea, adopted a joint statement containing these details by phone on the

Feb. 25, 2022

Frontrunners address Russian invasion of Ukraine with different focuses

The two frontrunners in the quickly approaching presidential election addressed the Russian invasion of Ukraine with different focuses. While Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea spoke of economic aspects, Yoon Suk-yeol from the main opposition People Power Party attacked the Moon Jae-in administration’s security policies. Lee tried to bring the focus on how the war will affect the Korean economy in an attempt to emphasize his capability in handling economic matters. Lee

Feb. 25, 2022

Hong Joon-pyo says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused by lack of nuclear weapons

Rep. Hong Joon-pyo of the main opposition People Power Party said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was caused by Ukraine’s lack of nuclear weapons. Other opposition politicians criticized the invasion, calling for more active support from the Korean government to support Ukraine. When asked by a supporter how he would have reacted to the current situation if he had been President of Ukraine, the senior politician and former presidential candidate replied, “The Ukraine crisis was

Feb. 25, 2022

Mudslinging intensifies as election day draws near

Verbal attacks have grown increasingly fierce between the two main presidential candidates in Korea, with less than two weeks remaining until Election Day. At campaign rallies for Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and his main rival Yoon Suk-yeol of the opposition People Power Party, officials from each camp devoted much of their energy to denounce and criticize the other side, to the extent of even leveling false accusations combined with insults. "You know, prosecut

Feb. 25, 2022

Ukraine crisis pushes national security to fore of presidential campaign

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has propelled national security issues to the fore of South Korea's presidential campaign as the two front-runners have seized on the crisis to highlight their own visions for defending the country and peace. The competing claims from the leading presidential candidates came as the Ukraine crisis has underscored the security challenges South Korea faces against a provocative and nuclear-armed North Korea across its border. Ruling party candidate Lee Jae-myung of the

Feb. 25, 2022

Lee, Yoon neck and neck at 38% vs. 37%: poll

Ruling party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung and main opposition rival Yoon Suk-yeol are running neck and neck at 38 percent and 37 percent support, respectively, a poll showed Friday. Lee of the liberal Democratic Party gained 4 percentage points from last week, while Yoon of the conservative People Power Party lost 4 percentage points, according to Gallup Korea, which polled 1,000 adults from Tuesday to Thursday. Ahn Cheol-soo, the candidate of the minor opposition People's Party, came in

Feb. 25, 2022

Blame game intensifies to reveal under-the-table negotiations

The blame game is intensifying between the main opposition People Power Party and minor People’s Party over the failure to reach an agreement to merge their respective campaigns for the upcoming presidential election, with the respective chiefs revealing their under-the-table negotiations. Amid a widening gap between the two opposition parties, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea has reached out with plans to reform the government system and lay the foundations for a multiparty system,

Feb. 24, 2022

NSC voices strong regret over Russia's Ukraine attack

The presidential National Security Council (NSC) on Thursday expressed strong regret over Russia's attack on Ukraine, shortly after President Moon Jae-in said South Korea will join international sanctions against Moscow.    National security adviser Suh Hoon presided over the meeting after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in eastern Ukraine.    During the meeting, security officials "expressed strong regret over Russia's invasi

Feb. 24, 2022

Ruling party chief vows electoral reform, constitutional revision

The ruling Democratic Party will push for electoral reforms, including changing the single five-year presidential term to a renewable four-year term, in an effort to forge national unity and increase the political participation of minor parties, its chief said Thursday. DP Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil announced the measures in a press conference at the party headquarters in a likely bid to forge a coalition with minor opposition presidential candidates ahead of the March 9 presidential election.

Feb. 24, 2022

Ahn says time for candidacy merger is over

Presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition People's Party said Thursday that the time for a candidacy merger with Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is over, reiterating his commitment to finish the presidential race on his own. "The time had already passed when I declared that the candidacy merger is off the table," Ahn told reporters at the National Assembly. "I have not received any calls (from Yoon)." Earlier this month, Ahn ha

Feb. 24, 2022

Lee calls for maintaining partnership with China despite its 'assertive behavior'

Ruling party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung has said South Korea should maintain good relations with its largest trading partner China despite Beijing's "increasingly assertive behavior," saying China's cooperation is key to addressing various issues in the region and beyond, including North Korea. Lee of the liberal Democratic Party made the comment in an article he contributed to Foreign Affairs magazine, titled "A Practical Vision for South Korea," outlining his view

Feb. 24, 2022

Moon welcomes WHO's decision to establish global biomanufacturing training hub in S. Korea

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday welcomed a decision by the World Health Organization (WHO) to set up a global biomanufacturing training hub in South Korea, saying the move would help Seoul achieve its goal of becoming a global vaccine hub. Moon made the remarks after WHO announced it will establish the facility in South Korea that will carry out biomanufacturing training for workforces from around the world. "Korea has become a hub country for education and fostering professionals to incr

Feb. 24, 2022

Voting in S. Korean presidential election begins in US

WASHINGTON -- Dozens of South Koreans in the United States, including Ambassador Lee Soo-hyuck, hit the polls early Wednesday as overseas voting in the presidential election began a six-day run. The South Korean ambassador urged all eligible voters to take part. "It is an honor to exercise one's right in an event to elect someone who will decide the fate of the country," Lee said. The South Korean election watchdog earlier said some 226,000 overseas South Koreans have registered to vot

Feb. 24, 2022

South Korea not considering military support over Ukraine crisis

South Korea is not considering military support or sending troops over the Ukraine crisis, top officials said Wednesday. “The government is reviewing what we can do by predicting what the situation will be like in the future and looking at how it will affect us,” a Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters amid escalating tensions over the Ukraine-Russia crisis. “We are considering various possibilities, but not military support or dispatch of troops.” “What we are r

Feb. 23, 2022