First lady meets haenyeo, expresses respect, gratitude

First lady Kim Keon Hee met with a small group of haenyeo -- female divers from Jeju Island who have traditionally harvested by hand mollusks and seaweed from the sea for a living – in Jongdal-li, Gujwa-eup, Jeju Island, Friday, and expressed respect and gratitude to them for maintaining the tradition despite difficult conditions. About 10 people attended the meeting, including some who have been diving in Jeju for decades and others who recently came to Jeju from Seoul to learn how to bec

Oct. 6, 2023

Lee attends first trial on his development corruption, bribery cases

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, recuperating from his 24-day hunger strike at a hospital, appeared at a court in Seoul on Friday to attend his first trial on charges of development corruption and bribery arising from his term as mayor of Seongnam, south of Seoul, years ago. The chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party attended the trial held at the Seoul Central District Court to deliberate on charges against him of breach of duty, conflict of interest, bribery and concealment of crimin

Oct. 6, 2023

Parliament to vote on Supreme Court chief justice nominee

The National Assembly was set to vote Friday on a confirmation motion for Supreme Court Chief Justice nominee Lee Gyun-ryong, with the possibility of rejection looming. The motion can be rejected if main opposition Democratic Party lawmakers vote against it during a plenary session set for the afternoon, as the party holds a majority with 168 seats. If the nomination is rejected, it would mark the first such rejection in 35 years since the 1988 nomination of Chung Ki-seung was voted down. It wou

Oct. 6, 2023

Partisan rage erupts over Yoon’s new Cabinet picks

The confirmation hearings for President Yoon Suk Yeol’s nominations for three Cabinet posts have become the latest partisan battleground, as the nominees faced intense scrutiny appearing before the National Assembly on Thursday. The first day of the hearing for Kim Haeng, who has been tapped for the position of minister of gender equality and family, was interrupted by Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers’ vociferous objections to the nomination choice. The gender equality minister no

Oct. 5, 2023

Prosecution raid ministries over housing price data manipulation allegations

The prosecution on Thursday raided the Ministries of Land and Finance, Statistics Korea and the Korea Real Estate Board over allegations that the previous Moon Jae-in administration manipulated statistics on housing prices. The move came after the Board of Audit and Inspection requested an investigation into allegations that Moon's presidential office and the Land Ministry at that time of his presidency abused their power and forced the Korea Real Estate Board to manipulate figures in a wee

Oct. 5, 2023

[Busan is ready] Korea in final push to promote Busan expo

With less than two months remaining before the final vote to decide the host city of the 2030 World Expo, the South Korean government, along with private and civic organizations, is making an last push to secure the global event for the city of Busan. During the United Nation's General Assembly last month, President Yoon Suk Yeol met over 30 leaders around the world to ask for their support in the upcoming final vote, at a summit room filled with brochures and hangers written "Busan Is

Oct. 5, 2023

S. Korea to crack down on illegal immigrants

The government is set to begin a two-month crackdown next week on foreigners staying or working illegally in the country, the Ministry of Justice said Thursday. The crackdown, the third of its kind that will last through Dec. 9, will mainly focus on foreigners who work in entertainment services or those with criminal records, as well as companies that habitually employ undocumented foreigners and their brokers. "The basic policy of our government is to flexibly expand legal stays and strict

Oct. 5, 2023

PM orders measures to prevent public opinion manipulation on web portals

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Wednesday ordered South Korea's Cabinet to set up a pan-governmental task force to prevent "fake news" from "manipulating public opinion." The government, based on an estimate by the state-run media watchdog, the Korea Communications Commission, suspects that two foreign internet users left 20 million reactions cheering for the Chinese soccer team within a few hours on an online forum dedicated to the men's soccer match between South K

Oct. 4, 2023

Culture minister nominee warns celebrities to be cautious over political speech

Culture Minister nominee Yu In-chon said Tuesday that public figures should be careful when speaking out publicly, when asked about his thoughts on a social media post by a singer concerning Japan's discharge of contaminated water. “Although anyone is free to express their opinions, when it comes to celebrities or public figures who have social influence, they should be careful when they publicly speak about something because it comes along with responsibility," he said in a writ

Oct. 4, 2023

Races tighten in Seoul as parties battle for Assembly control

Over the long holiday weekend, South Korea’s ruling and opposition lawmakers campaigned across Gangseo in western Seoul, as the district is set to choose a new head in a by-election next week. With the general election six months away, the Gangseo-gu by-election on Oct. 11 will offer insight into voter sentiment in Seoul -- a swing electorate holding some 40 seats that can determine which party will win control of the National Assembly. Winning in Seoul will be essential for the ruling Peo

Oct. 3, 2023

[Bills in Focus] Eased land use within industrial complexes, tackling faulty construction

  Proposed bill: Partial Amendment to the Industrial Sites and Development Act Proposed by Rep. Hong Suk-joon (Democratic Party of Korea) ● Industrial complexes are currently experiencing a decrease in competitiveness and a reduced inflow of young people due to dilapidated infrastructure and a lack of accommodation. To expand the land dedicated to accommodation and invigorate renovation projects, this amendment simplifies the procedures of amending land use and newly establishing a complex

Oct. 1, 2023

Opposition leader proposes meeting with Yoon amid growing party feud

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Friday publicly proposed one-on-one talks with President Yoon Suk Yeol amid intensifying feuds between the political rivals. The proposal from the chairman of South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party comes just two days after he narrowly averted a crisis in his political career, with the court dismissing an arrest warrant request related to corruption charges filed against him. With the arrest reprieve that bolstered the DP’s counterattack, the poli

Sept. 29, 2023

Lee Jae-myung's arrest reprieve emboldens opposition fightback

Lee Jae-myung, the leader of South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, returned from the brink of a legal crisis as the court dismissed an arrest warrant request linked to corruption charges filed against him early Wednesday. The request, had it been approved, would have seen Lee become the first incumbent opposition leader in South Korea's history to be arrested. The Seoul Central District Court's rejection marks a substantial setback in the prosecution’s ef

Sept. 27, 2023

Home of ex-DP leader Song raided over cash-for-votes scandal

Prosecutors raided the home of former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil on Wednesday as part of an investigation into a cash-for-votes scandal surrounding the party's 2021 leadership election. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office sent investigators to Song's home in Yongsan Ward in Seoul and the home of a former senior official of the party's policy committee, only known by his family name Kim, to seize evidence. The scandal centers on allegations that Song's c

Sept. 27, 2023

‘Pro-Lee Jae-myung’ lawmaker Hong Ihk-pyo elected opposition’s new floor leader

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Tuesday elected Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo, a “pro-Lee Jae-myung” lawmaker who is serving his third term in the National Assembly, as its new floor leader. Hong’s election comes after the last one to hold the post, TV journalist-turned-lawmaker Rep. Park Kwang-on, known for his dovish approach, stepped down last week amid the passage of a critical motion on the party leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung’s possible arrest. In the acceptance spe

Sept. 26, 2023

Unification minister to visit Britain, Germany

Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho will embark on a weeklong trip to Britain and Germany this week for discussions on North Korea's denuclearization, its human rights conditions and unification, the ministry said Tuesday. The seven-day trip will first bring Kim to Britain, where he will deliver a keynote speech at the Korea Global Forum, and discuss ways to cooperate with European countries on North Korea's denuclearization and human rights conditions. In Germany, Kim will visit Hamburg

Sept. 26, 2023

Opposition leader Lee attends arrest warrant hearing at Seoul court

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung appeared in court Tuesday for a hearing to decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for him over corruption charges, the biggest crisis yet for the former presidential candidate. The Seoul Central District Court is expected to make a decision as early as Tuesday night if the hearing proceeds as scheduled. Leaning on a walking stick, the frail-looking Lee walked slowly and unsteadily as he entered the court without answering a barrage of questions from reporters.

Sept. 26, 2023

Opposition leader to attend court hearing on arrest warrant

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung will attend an upcoming court hearing on his arrest warrant on corruption charges, his party said Monday. The hearing to be held Tuesday at the Seoul Central District Court will mark his first public appearance since ending a 24-day hunger strike on Saturday. Lee, the chair of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), will be accompanied by his lawyer for the hearing, DP spokesperson Kwon Chil-seung said in a briefing. Lee has been under medical treatment after h

Sept. 25, 2023

Chief justice seat at top court left vacant amid Assembly chaos

South Korea’s Supreme Court faces an unusual vacancy for the first time in 30 years as the National Assembly motion to appoint a replacement for the retiring chief justice was delayed amid turmoil over an arrest warrant request for the main opposition party leader. Ahn Chul-sang, the most senior of the 13 Supreme Court justices, will serve as acting chief justice starting Monday until the motion is considered and passed at the next Assembly plenary session. In a meeting also held Monday, t

Sept. 25, 2023

[Bills in Focus] Holding CEOs accountable for lack of internal financial control

Proposed bill: Partial Amendment to the Act on Corporate Governance of Financial Companies Proposed by Rep. Yoon Han-hong (People Power Party) ● The frequent occurrence of financial accidents has raised the need for financial companies to strengthen the monitoring of their internal control system. To ensure financial companies operate an effective internal control system, this amendment establishes an internal control committee under the board of directors to strengthen the board's responsibilit

Sept. 25, 2023