[Newsmaker] Bareun Party buckles down for presidential election

Having taken sail as a new “reformative conservative” political entity, the Bareun Party now faces its greatest challenge -- scouting Ban Ki-moon in time for the upcoming presidential election, without being overshadowed by his celebrity.The entry of the former United Nations secretary-general is a crucial variable to decide not only the election result, but the survival of the fledgling party.The Bareun Party held the inauguration ceremony of its central headquarters at Jamsil Olympic Park on T

PoliticsJan. 24, 2017

[Newsmaker] Seongnam mayor touts blue-collar background

In a move to distinguish himself from key rivals in the upcoming presidential race, Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea chose to highlight his past as a blue-collar worker from a low-income family.Emphasizing his humble background is apparently intended to add weight to his pledge to promote workers’ rights, achieve economic equity, break up conglomerates and ultimately establish an incorruptible state leadership.“It is my lifetime vision to create a jus

PoliticsJan. 23, 2017

[Newsmaker] Trump praises the CIA, bristles over inaugural crowd counts

On his first full day in office, President Donald Trump on Saturday berated the media over its coverage of his inauguration, and turned a bridge-building first visit to CIA headquarters into an airing of grievances about ``dishonest‘’ journalists. But it was Trump who spread inaccuracies about the size of the crowds at his swearing in.　Standing in front of a memorial for fallen CIA agents, Trump assured intelligence officials, ``I am so behind you.‘’ He made no mention of his repeated criticism

World NewsJan. 22, 2017

[Newsmaker] Trump faces ambitious day one

Donald Trump campaigned on a detailed and extensive to-do list for his first day in office. A day before his swearing-in, his team was being coy about when and how he plans to cross items off it.As he's assembled his new government, Trump has backed off some of his promised speed, downplaying the importance of a rapid-fire approach to complex issues that may involve negotiations with Congress or foreign leaders. On others issues, he's affirmed his plan, indicating significant policy announcement

World NewsJan. 20, 2017

[Newsmaker] Earth breaks heat record for 3rd year in row

Last year, the Earth sweltered under the hottest temperatures in modern times for the third year in a row, US scientists said Wednesday, raising new concerns about the quickening pace of climate change.　Temperatures spiked to new national highs in parts of India, Kuwait and Iran, while sea ice melted faster than ever in the fragile Arctic, said the report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.　Taking a global average of the land and sea surface temperatures for the entire year,

World NewsJan. 19, 2017

[Newsmaker] Distraught Davos finds globalization savior in Xi

China‘s President Xi Jinping speaks in the Congress Hall on day one of the 47th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Tuesday. EPA-YonhapDAVOS, Switzerland (AFP) -- With Donald Trump about to get the keys to the White House and the political winds blowing a populist gale through Europe, Enter stage left Chinese President Xi Jinping, who in an hourlong speech Tuesday won over a crowd of ardent capitalists gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. 　“I’

World NewsJan. 18, 2017

[Newsmaker] Europe, NATO hit back at Trump

BRUSSELS (AFP) -- EU heavyweights Germany and France led a sharp European response to US President-elect Donald Trump Monday after he branded NATO “obsolete” and said more countries would leave the EU after Britain.　In a hard-hitting interview with two European newspapers, Trump unleashed a volley of verbal attacks on Europe and criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s “catastrophic” decision to open Germany’s borders to Syrian refugees.　With fears growing in Europe over Trump’s commitment t

World NewsJan. 17, 2017

[Newsmaker] THAAD divides presidential hopefuls

 With South Korea getting ready to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense batteries this year, the controversial US missile system remains in the spotlight as the nation’s two main presidential hopefuls wade in on the issue. The former Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, who is currently a frontrunner among conservative voters, advocated the government’s decision to deploy THAAD, calling it an “inevitable measure” to prevent North Korea’s security threat during a “quasi-

PoliticsJan. 16, 2017

[Newsmaker] Ban strives to meet citizens as potential presidential candidate

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has had a hectic schedule of what appears to be a presidential campaign since his arrival in Korea, making moves that tried to embrace both conservative and liberal voters.In the four days since his return Thursday, the potential presidential hopeful tried to address a diverse range of topics from the livelihood of citizens to national security. On Sunday, Ban headed to the Navy’s 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where a sunken warship,

PoliticsJan. 15, 2017

[Newsmaker] Lippert bids tearful farewell

US Ambassador Mark Lippert has been championing public diplomacy since he arrived as Washington’s youngest-ever representative to Seoul in October 2014 at age 41.He reached out to ordinary citizens by traveling across the country, opening his home to the public and attending baseball games, while walking his dog Grigsby around downtown in a Doosan Bears jersey. He gave Korean middle names to his son and daughter, who were both born here, Sejun and Seahee. A knife attack on him in the middle of a

Foreign AffairsJan. 13, 2017

[Newsmaker] Ban faces rocky road to S. Korean presidency

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s return home Thursday has brought him closer to his much anticipated bid for South Korean presidency, signaling a tough few months ahead for other presidential aspirants. It also means a whole new political ordeal for the 72-year-old former diplomat, who now enters domestic politics for the first time as a rookie in the electoral game.Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks to reporters before boarding a flight at the JFK International Airport (Yon

PoliticsJan. 12, 2017

[Newsmaker] Obama bids farewell in nostalgic last speech

President Barack Obama bid farewell to the nation Tuesday in an emotional speech that sought to comfort a country on edge over rapid economic changes, persistent security threats and the election of Donald Trump.Forceful at times and tearful at others, Obama's valedictory speech in his hometown of Chicago was a public meditation on the many trials the U.S. faces as Obama takes his exit. For the challenges that are new, Obama offered his vision for how to surmount them, and for the persistent pro

World NewsJan. 11, 2017

[Newsmaker] THAAD tension brews after China sends planes to Korea's air zone

Tension between South Korea and China flared up Tuesday after Beijing‘s fighter jets entered South Korea’s air defense zone without prior notice, amid protests from China over a US anti-missile system set to be installed here. According to the Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, some 10 Chinese military planes -- including bombers -- flew into the Korean air defense identification zone near the southern island of Jeju between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday. The aircrafts also entered an equivalent air def

DefenseJan. 10, 2017

[Newsmaker] Rafsanjani: Iran’s evolving revolutionary

TEHRAN (AFP) -- Iran’s former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who died on Sunday, was a pivotal figure in the foundation of the Islamic republic in 1979 and he continued to shape it.The pugnacious ayatollah, who was 82, was pronounced dead at a hospital in northern Tehran after suffering a heart attack, news agencies reported. Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani waves to journalists as he registers his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election, with his daughter Fatemeh (second

World NewsJan. 9, 2017

[Newsmaker] NK aims to complete ICBM development by end-2017: ex-diplomat

North Korea aims to complete its development of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the US mainland by the end of this year or early 2018, a high-profile North Korean defector said Sunday.North Korea is accelerating its nuclear weapons and missile development as the country’s leader Kim Jong-un said in his New Year’s speech that the North has entered the final stage of preparations for the test-firing of an ICBM.Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean minister stationed in Londo

North KoreaJan. 8, 2017

[Newsmaker] Lotte reopens duty free at World Tower

On Thursday morning, the duty-free floors of Lotte World Mall were bustling with Chinese tourists dragging travel luggage as they stood in long lines in the cosmetics section. Shoppers handed store attendants cell phones with pictures of specific products they wanted to buy. Periodically, announcements in Mandarin rang out from the store speakers. Lotte’s duty-free operator reopened its World Tower outlet Thursday after receiving a final operating license from the Korean customs regulator. The s

IndustryJan. 5, 2017

[Newsmaker] Ban underlines communication ahead of presidential bid

Communication is the top value which former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon seems to have chosen to distinguish himself from other potential contenders in the upcoming South Korean presidential election.The increasing frequency of his political remarks, as well as his impending homecoming, have been considered signals about his intention to run in the presidential race, which is likely to take place within the first half of this year. “The difficulties which South Korea is currently

PoliticsJan. 4, 2017

[Newsmaker] Special probe on Choi scandal relies on daughter‘s repatriation

The special investigators’ probe into the President Park Geun-hye scandal is increasingly taking shape, but there is one key suspect and witness still missing from the picture -- the daughter of Park’s friend Choi Soon-sil believed to have been the greatest beneficiary of her mother’s influence-peddling.  The key question now is whether Chung Yoo-ra, Choi’s 20-year-old daughter, will be summoned back home for questioning, in particular over the alleged back-scratching relationship between Choi a

PoliticsJan. 3, 2017

[Newsmaker] Lee’s exit may sever Park-Saenuri ties

Upon announcing his solo defection from the Saenuri Party, Rep. Lee Jung-hyun claimed to take all responsibility for the dire situation that the conservative ruling party has been in since the President Park Geun-hye scandal erupted late last year. “Today, I leave the party, taking all responsibility as former chairman,” said Rep. Lee, a staunch ally of the impeached President Park, who was until two weeks ago the party’s chairman. “I hope that the party uses me as a stepping stone to move towar

PoliticsJan. 2, 2017

[Newsmaker] Cho Hyun-joon takes leadership of Hyosung Group

Hyosung Group is ending the year with an official generational shift, as Cho Hyun-joon, the eldest son of Chairman Cho Suck-rai, takes the helm.The group announced late Thursday that Cho Hyun-joon, president of Hyosung Group, will take the chairman‘s post, while his father will step down, citing his age and health. Cho Hyun-joonThe handover of power from Hyosung’s second generation to the third coincided with the 50th anniversary of the group’s foundation. Cho Hyun-sang, current vice president a

IndustryDec. 30, 2016