Most Popular
-
1
[Exclusive] Korean adoptee sisters meet for the first time in 39 years
-
2
Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
-
3
Rose's 'Apt.' redefines K-pop's global appeal
-
4
Two years on, thousands mourn Itaewon tragedy, calling for accountability
-
5
Yoon calls for measures to protect Koreans amid escalating Iran-Israel conflicts
-
6
Civil servant’s death linked to workplace bullying
-
7
[Weekender] Walk around Korea to really get to know the country
-
8
[Herald Interview] Love for K-drama, food defines 'Secret Ingredient'
-
9
Hanwha, HD Hyundai vie for Poland’s $2.7b submarine program
-
10
[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+
-
Main opposition party to launch probe into corruption allegations against lawmaker
The main opposition party will launch an emergency fact-finding mission to look into corruption allegations raised against one of its lawmakers, party officials said Monday. The special emergency fact-finding committee of the People Power Party (PPP) will be tasked with probing allegations that its lawmaker Park Duk-hyum illegally clinched construction orders from government agencies, they said. The three-term lawmaker is suspected of having clinched orders worth over 100 billion won ($86.13 m
Sept. 21, 2020
-
Moon urges continued push for reform of prosecution, police, state spy agency
President Moon Jae-in called Monday on the government to step up efforts to complete its drive to reform South Korea's prosecution service, police and state intelligence agency. He was speaking at his first Cheong Wa Dae meeting in 1 1/2 years on a related strategy with government ministers and senior ruling Democratic Party (DP) officials. "Our government's reform (work) of the power institutions is making irreversible progress," Moon said at the outset of the session. "Now, we
Sept. 21, 2020
-
S. Korea donates COVID-19 test kits worth 930m won to Afghanistan
South Korea has donated new coronavirus test kits worth 930 million won ($800,000) to Afghanistan, according to diplomatic officials Sunday. The some 40,000 test kits of the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) type were delivered on Saturday at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, according to the South Korean embassy in Afghanistan. A handoff ceremony was held at the airport, attended by Rhee Zha-hyoung, South Korean ambassador to Afghanistan, and Ahmad Jawad Osmani, acting
Sept. 20, 2020
-
Russia has no intel suggesting impending N. Korean SLBM test: Moscow official
Russia does not have any intelligence suggesting that North Korea is preparing to test-fire a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), a Moscow foreign ministry official has said amid speculation that Pyongyang could conduct a test next month. Petr Ilichev, director of the department of international organizations at the Russian foreign ministry, said in an interview with the country‘s RIA Novosti news agency on Saturday that his country does not have any information of a possible N
Sept. 20, 2020
-
Moon is a big BTS fan: Cheong Wa Dae
President Moon Jae-in is a big fan of BTS, the Blue House said Sunday. Blue House spokesperson Kang Min-seok said in a press briefing Sunday that Moon likes the band’s songs and its dancing, and has praised the K-pop superstars in conversations with top officials. “BTS looks like a group of youngsters at their peak when listening to their songs and watching their dance moves,” Moon said, according to Kang. “It is sometimes difficult to follow (the lyrics of) K-pop band
Sept. 20, 2020
-
Proportion of women in high-ranking govt. posts reaches record high
The proportion of women among high-ranking officials in the central government has risen to an all-time high, a government report showed Sunday. According to the report on balanced personnel policy in the public sector, 7.9 percent, or 122, of 1,539 high-ranking civil servants in the central government were female as of the end of last year, up 19.6 percent from 102 recorded a year ago. It said both the number of senior female officials and their growth rate are the largest on record. High-r
Sept. 20, 2020
-
Former president's son apologizes after being expelled by ruling party
Rep. Kim Hong-gul, the youngest son of late former President Kim Dae-jung, issued an apology Saturday, one day after he was expelled from the ruling party amid controversy over his dubious amassing of properties. The Democratic Party stripped the first-term lawmaker of party membership Friday for underreporting wealth and refusing to cooperate with an in-house probe. "I accept the party's decision on the expulsion heavily and solemnly," Kim said in a message sent to reporters. "
Sept. 19, 2020
-
Moon vows full efforts to promote fairness in Youth Day message
President Moon Jae-in pledged his administration's every effort to enhance fairness in South Korea's society and economy, as he addressed the country's inaugural Youth Day ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae on Saturday. "We still hear the rage of young people who complain that unfairness still persists" despite the government's campaign for fairness and justice as well as an egalitarian society, Moon said during the event held at Nokjiwon, a verdant garden inside the presidential compound. Pr
Sept. 19, 2020
-
Ruling party to expel son of former President Kim over ethical issues
The ruling Democratic Party decided Friday to expel the third son of the late former President Kim Dae-jung, over allegations of underreporting wealth and ownership of multiple homes The party's ethics inspection body launched probes this week into allegations of wrongdoing raised against some party lawmakers, including Rep. Kim Hong-gul. "The party decided to deprive Rep. Kim of party membership as he appeared to not sincerely cooperate with the body in the probe," Rep. Choi In-ho,
Sept. 18, 2020
-
Moon says Korea peace possible without giving up hope for dialogue
President Moon Jae-in said Friday that South Korea will be able to reach the path of peace and unification unless it gives up hope for dialogue with North Korea. Speaking at a meeting with a group of Buddhist community leaders at Cheong Wa Dae, Moon noted the two Koreas will mark the second anniversary on Saturday of his Pyongyang summit deal with the North's leader Kim Jong-un. "If (we) don't give up hope for meetings and dialogue, we will surely move on to the path of peace and unifica
Sept. 18, 2020
-
NSC officials discuss pending issues on Japan, US, regional security
South Korea's top national security officials agreed Thursday to continue efforts for the development of Seoul-Tokyo ties, as Yoshihide Suga was sworn in as Japan's new prime minister, Cheong Wa Dae said. During the weekly standing committee meeting of the National Security Council (NSC), they reviewed the recent security conditions around the Korean Peninsula and pending alliance issues involving the United States. They discussed ways to "manage South Korea's diplomatic and national sec
Sept. 17, 2020
-
Moon to give video speech in virtual UN session next week
South Korean President Moon Jae-in will deliver a pre-recorded video speech at the annual United Nations General Assembly session next week, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday. It is expected to be played during the virtual event at around 2 a.m. Wednesday (Seoul time), according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok. Moon plans to request the international community's support for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia and stress the importance of the world's solidarity in response t
Sept. 17, 2020
-
Seoul vows greater role in supporting multicultural families hit by COVID-19
South Korea's government will play a greater role in helping multicultural households overcome various difficulties caused by the coronavirus outbreak, a Cabinet minister said at a forum on multiculturalism Wednesday. Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Jung-ok made the promise in her address delivered at the 2020 Multiculturalism Forum hosted by Yonhap News Agency, the nation's key newswire, at its headquarters in central Seoul. "As the COVID-19 outbreak has been prolonged, more
Sept. 16, 2020
-
Prosecution probes phone records in Choo case
The prosecution is analyzing a recording of a call made to the Ministry of National Defense regarding Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae’s son as criticism continues to come from both the opposition bloc and the public. Choo’s son, identified by the surname Seo, served as a member of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army from 2016-2018. He underwent knee surgery in June 2017 and went on extended leave. The allegations against Choo center on claims that Seo’s leave wa
Sept. 16, 2020
-
National Assembly speaker suggests simultaneous 2022 elections
National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug on Wednesday suggested holding the presidential election and local elections simultaneous in 2022. “I hope that we can conclude this issue next year as the two elections will be held three months apart in the first half of 2022, which could lead to quite a bit of waste of national resources,” he said during a press conference held to mark his 100-day anniversary in office. He urged lawmakers to deal with bills related to COVID-19 and o
Sept. 16, 2020
-
Opposition politicians eye Busan mayoral seat
The race for the mayor’s office in Busan is beginning to take shape within the main opposition People Power Party, with bigwigs hinting at a bid. Rep. Suh Byung-soo, a fifth-term lawmaker who held the mayor’s office from 2014-2018, said in a radio interview Wednesday that he is positively considering entering the mayoral by-election next year as “politicians must always be open to every possibility." "I couldn’t properly accomplish the dreams I had serving in
Sept. 16, 2020
-
Ruling party launches in-house probe body to look into alleged misconduct among members
The ruling Democratic Party (DP) launched an in-house ethics probe body on Wednesday to look into allegations of misconduct or ethical lapses raised against its members. The new body headed by Rep. Choi Ki-sang, a former judge, will serve as an internal investigation office in charge of judging corruption, sexual violations and other allegations raised against the party's lawmakers, officials and elected public office holders affiliated with the party, according to officials. After investig
Sept. 16, 2020
-
Ruling party chief voices hope for improved Seoul-Tokyo ties under new Japanese PM
The chairman of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) on Wednesday voiced hope for improved South Korea-Japan relations ahead of the expected appointment of Yoshihide Suga as the new Japanese prime minister. Suga is set to win a parliamentary vote for prime minister later Wednesday following his election as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Monday. He will succeed Shinzo Abe, who has resigned over health issues. "I hope for the elevation of Japan's national destiny and an impro
Sept. 16, 2020
-
PM warns of stern response against mass Oct. 3 rallies amid pandemic
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun pleaded with conservative civic groups Wednesday to withdraw plans to stage massive anti-government rallies in early October as the country is struggling to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. The prime minister warned once again that the government will deal sternly with any illegal mass rallies to avert transmission risks. "I request that the concerned groups roll back their rally plans," Chung said in a regular government COVID-19 response me
Sept. 16, 2020
-
Parties agree to deal with coronavirus extra budget bill next week
Rival political parties agreed Tuesday to handle an extraordinary budget to cope with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic next week. The ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party reached an agreement to vote on this year's fourth supplementary budget bill on Sept. 22, Park Hong-keun, a DP lawmaker said. Last week, the government submitted a 7.8 trillion won ($6.6 billion) extra budget bill aimed at helping small merchants and self-employed people most affe
Sept. 15, 2020