South Korea's new chief prosecutor on Tuesday asked his officials to go back to the fundamentals in carrying out duties as public servants to realize social justice and rebuild the "lost trust" of the public. "We need to focus our efforts on protecting our constitutional values and law and order, while sternly handling the investigations into any corruption cases," Prosecutor-General Moon Moo-il said in his inauguration speech. (Yonhap)He was officially appointed by President Moon Jae-in earlier

Politics July 25, 2017

President Moon Jae-in is set to hold his first dialogue with top business leaders here this week over beer to help break the ice and possibly allow more frank discussions, an official from the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, said Tuesday.The talks will be held Thursday and Friday, each day involving part of the top executives from the 14 largest business conglomerates, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Park Soo-hyun."To ensure practical and candid discussions, President Moon will lis

Economy July 25, 2017

North Korea will launch a nuclear strike at the heart of the United States if Americans attempt a regime change in Pyongyang, the North's state news agency said Tuesday in denunciation of recent remarks by the Central Intelligence Agency director.In a forum last week, Mike Pompeo, the chief of the US intelligence agency, alluded to the possibility of a regime change in North Korea by saying that the most important thing the US can do is "separate (nuclear) capacity and someone who might well hav

North Korea July 25, 2017

South Korea's unification minister on Tuesday met with Japan's top envoy to Seoul to discuss the security situation on the divided peninsula and the two nations' North Korea policy, government officials said.Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon held talks with Amb. Yasumasa Nagamine, during which they exchanged views on inter-Korean relations and North Korea issues, according to Seoul's unification ministry.It marked their first meeting since Cho took office in early July. This photo, taken on J

North Korea July 25, 2017

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday urged far-fetching reform measures to enhance the transparency and political neutrality of the prosecution, also noting a need to check the prosecution by empowering the police with its own authority to launch criminal investigations.The president also said that some "politically motivated" prosecutors must be held responsible."The people want to see a great change in the prosecution, but such a wish must be considered an affection that hopes to see it become an

Politics July 25, 2017

South Korea's government on Tuesday announced an updated list of victims of a 1948 government-civilian clash on the southern island of Jeju, a step to restore the honor of the victims long labeled as "commies."A government panel, dedicated to verifying the truth behind the so-called Jeju April 3 incident, put the total number of victims at 14,232 and that of the bereaved family members at 59,426. The designated victims can receive a monthly subsidy of 300,000 won ($268.90).The list was announced

Social Affairs July 25, 2017

Russia's deputy nuclear negotiator has visited North Korea to discuss issues on the divided peninsula with the North's senior diplomats, Pyongyang's state media said Tuesday.Oleg Burmistrov, Russia's ambassador-at-large, met with North Korea's vice foreign minister Sin Hong-chol and also talked with a director in charge of North America affairs, according to the Korean Central News Agency. Burmistrov is known to also serve as Moscow's deputy negotiator to the now-stalled six-party denuclearizati

North Korea July 25, 2017

South Korean stocks finished lower Tuesday on profit-taking, after the key index hit a record high in the previous session, analysts said. The Korean won fell against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 11.63 points, or 0.47 percent, to close at 2,439.90. Trade volume was moderate at 270 million shares worth 5.3 trillion won ($4.7 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 499 to 300.The local stock market opened nearly flat as investors sought profit-taking after

Market July 25, 2017

South Korea's new chief ICT policymaker made a visit to the state-run science laboratory on Tuesday, stressing that both the government and researchers should push forward reform to face various challenges under the fourth industrial revolution. You Young-min, who took office earlier this month, made his first official visit to the Korea Institute of Science and Technology located in northern Seoul. (Yonhap)"I will make visits as much as possible to communicate more with field researchers," Yoo

Technology July 25, 2017

The Supreme Court decided Tuesday to allow verdict hearings of major trials in lower courts to be televised starting on Aug. 1.  The revised rule will make it possible for the public to watch courts rule on the ongoing trials of former President Park Geun-hye and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong. The decision was made at a meeting attended by all 14 justices at the top court. Whether to approve the live TV coverage is up to the presiding judge. Verdict hearings can be broadcast liv

Politics July 25, 2017

South Korea's foreign ministry said that it is making preparations to launch a task force to review a controversial deal reached in 2015 with Japan to address a long-standing rift between the neighbors over Tokyo's wartime sexual slavery of Korean women. "(We) are in the middle of preparations for personnel composition of the task force. It has yet to be finalized," ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck said during a regular press briefing. "It will be launched sooner or later."In December 2015, the

Foreign Affairs July 25, 2017

A funeral for the late Kim Kun-ja, a South Korean woman who was forced to work in front-line brothels for Japanese troops during World War II, was held Tuesday and attended by her family and friends as well as politicians and activists.The two-phase Buddhist funeral service took place at the CHA Bundang Medical Center south of Seoul and at the House of Sharing, a shelter for former comfort women in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. Comfort women is euphemistic term for the victims of Japan's sexual sl

Social Affairs July 25, 2017

An incumbent lawmaker of the minor opposition People's Party has been summoned for questioning over a fake tip-off about President Moon Jae-in's son used in the May election, the prosecution said Tuesday.Rep. Lee Yong-joo has been asked to appear at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office around 3-4 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the prosecutors.The prosecutors will question him over his involvement and knowledge in the fabrication and disclosure of the false allegation that Moon helped

Politics July 25, 2017

The South Korean government will unveil its plan to increase taxes for the super rich and biggest businesses next week to secure funds for expanded welfare costs over the next five years, the country's top economic policymaker said Tuesday."The tax-hike issue has been raised in government policy meetings, with the ruling party calling for it," Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon said at a press conference on the new Moon Jae-in government's economic policy plan. "The ministry is consid

Economy July 25, 2017

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday appointed two new Supreme Court justices, followed by a separate ceremony for the appointment of the new prosecutor-general.The ceremonies were held at the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae.In the first ceremony, the president presented the two new Supreme Court justices -- Park Jeong-hwa and Cho Jae-youn -- with certificates of their appointment. President Moon Jae-in (R) appoints new prosecutor-general Moon Moo-il in a ceremony held at the presidential office,

Politics July 25, 2017