Most Popular
-
1
Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
-
2
Rose's 'Apt.' redefines K-pop's global appeal
-
3
Two years on, thousands mourn Itaewon tragedy, calling for accountability
-
4
[Herald Interview] Love for K-drama, food defines 'Secret Ingredient'
-
5
Hanwha, HD Hyundai vie for Poland’s $2.7b submarine program
-
6
First lady’s controversies to top agenda at meeting of party leaders
-
7
103 autumn foliage paths in Seoul
-
8
Seoul aims to halve current suicide rate by 2030
-
9
4 in 10 young South Koreans take up 'irregular' jobs: data
-
10
[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+
-
Major parties agree to launch negotiations on constitutional revision Tuesday
Three major parties agreed Monday to begin earnest negotiations over a constitutional revision this week, as President Moon Jae-in submitted the government's amendment proposal in a move to further pressure them to meet halfway.The floor leaders of the ruling Democratic Party, main opposition Liberty Korea Party and Bareunmirae Party will meet Tuesday to discuss major sticking points, such as how to overhaul the government structure, party officials said after their regular meeting with National
March 26, 2018
-
Moon signs bill on constitutional revision
ABU DHABI -- President Moon Jae-in on Monday signed a government bill on revising the Constitution, becoming the first South Korean head of state to do so in nearly four decades.The bill was signed electronically, according to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. Moon is currently on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of his two-nation trip that earlier took him to Vietnam."Today, I propose a constitutional revision bill. I have promised to the people to amend the Cons
March 26, 2018
-
Cabinet approves constitutional revision proposal
The government passed a constitutional revision proposal through a Cabinet meeting Monday for introduction into the National Assembly as the main opposition party vows to do everything it can to derail it.President Moon Jae-in plans to sign the proposal electronically from the United Arab Emirates, where he has been on a four-day visit since Saturday, so that the measure can be sent to the National Assembly later in the day for debates and approval. Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon presided over the C
March 26, 2018
-
[Newsmaker] Ex-President Lee’s associates to go on trial this week
Ex-President Lee Myung-bak’s former associates, including those who served as his asset managers during his presidency, are expected to attend trials or preparatory proceedings this week for their alleged involvement in Lee's bribery and other corruption charges. Lee Myung-mo, the executive secretary of the Cheonggye Foundation, has long worked for the former president, mostly taking care of his property and assets. Lee, whose first preparatory proceeding is set for Wednesday, is accused of dest
March 25, 2018
-
Blue House to submit constitutional revision bill
With Cheong Wa Dae set to table its constitutional amendment proposal Monday, parties are struggling to narrow their differences in an effort to come up with their own revision plan.The government’s proposal includes plans to change the current five-year single term presidency to a four-year term with the possibility of re-election. It will be discussed in a Cabinet meeting Monday morning before it is passed on to President Moon Jae-in for approval to be submitted to the National Assembly.The Li
March 25, 2018
-
Prosecutors to resume questioning ex-President Lee early this week
Prosecutors are expected to resume questioning of former President Lee Myung-bak early this week, in what will be the first interrogation after his arrest last week over a string of corruption charges. Lee was taken into custody on early Thursday, after a court issued an arrest warrant over 12 counts of corruption including bribery, abuse of power and embezzlement, following a five-month probe by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. He was escorted to the Seoul Eastern Detention Cente
March 25, 2018
-
Prosecutors to question former first lady over involvement in Lee's alleged corruption
Kim is also suspected of involvement in the National Intelligence Service's secret payment of $100,000 to the presidential office in 2011. A former presidential secretary confessed that he delivered the funds to one of Kim's aides.The 76-year-old Lee, who was president from 2008 to 2013, reportedly denied all the charges against him and his wife during a 21-hour interrogation at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office last week.Prosecutors have said direct questioning of Kim is inevitable
March 24, 2018
-
Two minor parties' talks for parliamentary alliance enter final stretch
Two minor political parties on Friday laid out a set of policy cooperation agenda as they accelerated their talks to form a joint floor negotiation group aimed at bolstering their clout in the legislature. (Yonhap)The liberal Party for Democracy and Peace (PDP) and far-left Justice Party announced their joint position on a number of issues, including constitutional revision, "consensus-based" democracy and the protection of small businesses.The agreement came as their talks on the formation of a
March 23, 2018
-
Lee’s arrest sparks war of words in political arena
Former President Lee Myung-bak’s arrest is being met with mixed reactions from the country’s political arena.The ruling Democratic Party of Korea welcomed Lee’s arrest in the early hours of Friday, hailing it as the end of an era of corruption, while the conservative opposition repeated its accusation of political revenge. Former President Lee Myung-bak seen inside a vehicle as he was taken into custody on Friday. YonhapThe ruling party’s chief Rep. Choo Mi-ae responded to the arrest by saying
March 23, 2018
-
Ex-President Lee spends lone first night in cell after arrest
Former President Lee Myung-bak spent the early hours of Friday alone in a cell at a Seoul detention center after his arrest on corruption charges.Late Thursday night, a Seoul court approved an arrest warrant for Lee on charges that include bribery, embezzlement, tax evasion and abuse of power.Lee, 76, who was president from 2008 to early 2013, has been the focus of a prosecution probe for five months. He allegedly took more than 11 billion won ($10.2 million) in bribes from the state spy agency
March 23, 2018
-
Politicians' reactions to Lee's arrest differ
Politicians' reactions to the arrest of former President Lee Myung-bak varied Friday, though they converged on the call for an end to the dark chapter of the nation's presidential history riddled with corruption and power abuse.On Thursday night, Lee, who led the country from 2008 to 2013, was put under detention on bribery, embezzlement, tax evasion and other charges, becoming the country's fourth former president to be arrested for corruption."I hope that the arrest of a former president, a tr
March 23, 2018
-
Lee's arrest marks grim coda for rare success story
Former President Lee Myung-bak was put under detention for a string of corruption charges on Thursday, in a miserable coda to his otherwise successful career as a construction CEO, Seoul mayor and president.Lee, who led the country from 2008-2013, was arrested at his home in southern Seoul and sent to a nearby detention center after the Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant for him on bribery, embezzlement, abuse of power and other charges.Arrested former President Lee Myung-bak in a car
March 23, 2018
-
Moon’s constitutional amendment calls for four-year two term presidency
Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday revealed the final part of the government’s constitutional amendment bill that seeks to introduce a presidential system that allows two consecutive four-year terms.In addition, the proposed bill includes measures to distribute the power of the president and lower the voting age. Cho Guk, the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs (center), announces the government proposal on constitutional reform at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday. (Yonhap)Cho Kuk, senior president
March 22, 2018
-
Govt. to pay monthly allowance for 2.38 mln children
Parents will be paid a monthly allowance of 100,000 won ($87) for each child under the age of six starting later this year, the health ministry said Thursday.The Ministry of Health and Welfare said a revision to the relevant law was passed on Feb. 28 with the motion taking effect in September.(Yonhap)The revision would cover a total of 2.38 million kids, 94 percent of the total 2.53 million children across the country, the ministry said.The benefit would exclude youngsters from households in the
March 22, 2018
-
Professor complains he failed to get embassy job due to critical views of govt. policies
A diplomat-turned-law professor claimed Thursday that he has been dropped from consideration for economic minister at the country's embassy in the United States due to his allegedly critical views of government policies.Choi Won-mok, who is teaching at Ewha Womans University, said he was told that he ranked first in the initial evaluation process "by a large margin" among three candidates shortlisted for the post. Yonhap reported last Friday that Yeo Han-koo, a commerce ministry official current
March 22, 2018
-
Court to decide on ex-President Lee's arrest without hearing
A Seoul court said Thursday it will decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for former President Lee Myung-bak without a hearing after Lee refused to attend it. The Seoul Central District Court said a judge in charge of the case decided to review the legality of his arrest based only on the documents submitted by state prosecutors and Lee's legal counsel.The decision will likely be made late Thursday night. Former President Lee Myung-bak (Yonhap)Lee, who was president from 2008 to early 2013,
March 22, 2018
-
Two Koreas, U.S. end semiofficial talks in Finland
A three-way semiofficial meeting between the two Koreas and the United States in Finland ended on Wednesday, the Finnish foreign ministry said, describing the talks as constructive. Choe Kang-il, Deputy Director-General for North American Affairs at the Pyongyang foreign ministry, had been holding discussions with former diplomats and researchers from South Korea and the U.S. in Helsinki since Monday. The South Korean side included Shin Kak-soo, former ambassador to Japan; Shin Jung-seung, form
March 21, 2018
-
Moon's plan for Constitution eyes decentralization, fairer economy
Local governments’ autonomy will be increased and economic polarization addressed through stronger economic democratization clauses, Cheong Wa Dae announced Wednesday, in revealing the second part of its constitutional amendment bill.The second part of the government’s proposal focuses on elements of the Constitution concerning the economy and decentralization of government. Senior Civil Affairs Secretary Cho Kuk announces the second part of the government`s proposal on Constitution amendment on
March 21, 2018
-
[Newsmaker] An Hee-jung denies rape charges, submits photographs as proof of ‘consensual sex’
Former South Chungcheong Province Gov. An Hee-jung, who is currently under investigation by the prosecution after being accused of rape by two women, denied the charges and submitted photographs as evidence of consensual sex. The photographs reportedly show An and each of the alleged victims posing together. An, who is married, has said that he had extramarital affairs with the two women, but never sexually abused them. “I thought (my sexual relationships with the women) were consensual, but th
March 21, 2018
-
Political parties clash over Moon administration’s proposed Constitutional amendment bill
Political parties clashed Tuesday over a constitutional revision plan, while the government presented elements of its amendment proposal to the public. The government is expected to present the bill to the National Assembly on Monday.While the move to revise the basic law was initiated by the National Assembly early last year, lawmakers across the aisle are struggling to narrow their differences to draw up an amendment bill. The Moon Jae-in administration presented its own bill Tuesday to push i
March 21, 2018