The Korea Herald

Lee’s chief auditor nominee faces tough hearings

Civil service marred by ethical problemsChief state auditor nominee Chung Tong-ki faces tough questions at his parliamentary confirmation hearings about his political impartiality and his earnings at a law firm after resignation as a prosecutor.President Lee Myung-bak last week nominated his former aide Chung as the new chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection.Opposition legislators argue th

Politics Jan. 7, 2011

Lee’s chief auditor nominee faces tough hearings

S. Korea to repatriate 3 stray N. Koreans

South Korea will return on Friday three North Korean fishermen who had drifted on a boat across the countries’ tense western sea border about a month ago, an official said.The fishermen were rescued by the South Korean Navy on Dec. 3 near the island of Yeonpyeong in the West Sea, Unification Ministry spokesman Chun Hae-sung said in a briefing.The island was the site of an attack by North Korean ar

Politics Jan. 7, 2011

Ex-KH editorial writer dies

Kim Kak, former editorial writer for The Korea Herald, died of bile duct cancer Friday morning at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital. He was 76.Kim had been a journalist for four decades since he joined the Korea Times as a reporter in 1957. He became an editorial writer for The Korea Herald in 1972. Kim KakKim also briefly served as former President Park Chung-hee’s secretary for public relations in 1973.

Politics Jan. 7, 2011

Seoul, Tokyo ministers talk on cooperation

Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan met with Japan’s national strategy minister Friday to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the two neighboring nations, including the possibility of a free trade agreement.Koichiro Genba, Japan’s state minister in charge of national policy, arrived in Seoul on Thursday for a two-day visit that includes meetings with Foreign Minister Kim, Trade Minister Kim Jon

Politics Jan. 7, 2011

Seoul, Tokyo ministers talk on cooperation

Lee calls for FMD solutions

Officials told to secure enough vaccines to prevent future outbreakPresident Lee Myung-bak on Thursday instructed his government to come up with fundamental solutions to prevent another outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease next year in addition to ongoing quarantine efforts. “With an increasing number of travelers moving in and out of the country, we need to do more than just quarantine work,” Lee s

Politics Jan. 6, 2011

Ex-president offers to donate all his wealth

Former President Kim Young-sam on Wednesday offered to donate all of his wealth to the public. Kim’s residence in Seoul and land in his hometown of Geoje Island will be bequeathed to a nongovernmental organization named after him while the house where he was born will be returned to the municipal government of Geoje, according to his aides. The total value of Kim’s assets is estimated at about 5 b

Politics Jan. 6, 2011

Ex-president offers to donate all his wealth

Is Lee waging anticorruption campaign?

A series of irregularities among public office holders is drawing attention to whether the Lee Myung-bak administration would launch an all-out campaign to tighten the discipline of civil servants as it enters its fourth year.President Lee emphasized in his New Year’s address Monday that the government “has so much to achieve this year,” reiterating his call on public officials to focus on work to

Politics Jan. 5, 2011

Korea, Japan to discuss bilateral military relations

Defense chiefs to hold talks in Seoul next weekDefense chiefs of South Korea and Japan will meet in Seoul next week for talks on a proposed agreement on protection of military secrets and bilateral cooperation on military supplies, Seoul officials said.During their talks next Monday, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa are also expected to exchange views on

Politics Jan. 4, 2011

Door for talks with N.K. open: Lee

Vows to speed up defense reform for stronger deterrencePresident Lee Myung-bak on Monday said the door for dialogue with North Korea still remains open, hinting hopes that the frozen inter-Korean relations might abate as members of the six-nation talks prepare for resumption of the nuclear negotiations.Lee also vowed to speed up defense reform to strengthen deterrence against North Korea’s threats

Politics Jan. 3, 2011

Articles by 김소현