President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump will hold a summit meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said Tuesday. Moon, who is currently on a three-nation tour, will arrive in Buenos Aires Friday on a three-day schedule to attend the G20 Summit. US National Security Advisor John Bolton. YonhapIn the meeting with Trump, Moon is likely to focus on North Korea-related issues, as he did in the recent meeting with US Vice Preside

Foreign Affairs Nov. 28, 2018

A French official has been taken into custody on suspicion of spying for North Korea, a number of foreign media outlets reported Tuesday. According to reports citing unnamed French sources, Benoit Quennedey, an official with the French Senate, was arrested on suspicion of “collection and delivery of information to a foreign power likely to undermine the fundamental interests of the nation.” Benoit Quennedey. Screen captured from YouTubeQuennedey is said to be undergoing questioning by French int

North Korea Nov. 27, 2018

A document claiming that Seoul’s presidential office is aware of Washington’s disapproval of its North Korea policies was the work of hackers, and the information in it did not come either from Cheong Wa Dae or Ajou University, the chief of the university’s China research center said Tuesday.  Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom. Yonhap“The file was made by a hacker group, and sent to me using (presidential secretary) Kwon Hee-seok’s name to steal information,” said Prof. Kim Heung-gyu, dir

Politics Nov. 27, 2018

The government and the ruling Democratic Party on Monday agreed to cut credit card processing fees for businesses.The measures, which the government and the ruling party claim would bring significant benefits to merchants, has been met with strong resistance from the credit card industry, with its labor unions threatening industrial action. Members of the association of credit card firms` unions are turned away from the ruling Democractic Party and financial authorities` meeting on credit card t

Social Affairs Nov. 26, 2018

The police are investigating the deaths of three men in their 20s and 30s, found in a studio apartment in Incheon.According to reports, the police found the bodies of three men at about 9:33 a.m. after responding to a call from a neighbor. The identities of the individuals have not been disclosed, but one is said to have been a 24-year old noncommissioned officer. It has not been revealed which branch of the military the man served with. (Yonhap)The property where the bodies are found is said to

Social Affairs Nov. 23, 2018

Police are investigating allegations that a woman was molested by a driver of a carpooling service. According to Incheon police, the woman filed a complaint in the early hours of Thursday, claiming that the male driver touched her and forcibly kissed her in his car. Police plan to question the woman and the driver.  (Yonhap)The woman also posted a petition on Cheong Wa Dae’s website, demanding tough punishment for the alleged attacker and raising concerns over security measures for similar servi

Social Affairs Nov. 23, 2018

President Moon Jae-in’s protocol secretary Kim Jong-cheon resigned Friday after he was caught driving under the influence of alcohol.According to Cheong Wa Dae, Kim was caught driving under the influence at around 1 a.m. Friday, near the presidential office.  Kim Jong-cheon (Yonhap)The presidential office said Kim immediately reported the incident to presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok and handed in his resignation. Kim also filed a report with Cheong Wa Dae’s disciplinary office. Moon was

Politics Nov. 23, 2018

President Moon Jae-in on Friday named Park Baeg-beom as the new vice minister of education. Park replaces Park Chun-ran, former Seoul deputy education superintendent, who has been serving as the vice minister since June last year.  Park Baeg-beom. (Yonhap)“Park Baeg-beom is an education expert who has worked in the field as a high school headmaster, and served in key positions (in the Education Ministry),” Cheong Wa Dae’s vice spokesperson Ko Min-jung said in a press briefing. Park has had a lon

Social Affairs Nov. 23, 2018

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday called for compromise and negotiations among economic entities, saying that their cooperation is key to creating an “inclusive society.”Speaking at the first meeting of the Economy, Social and Labor Council, launched Thursday, Moon said that cooperation and agreement among economic entities are at the center of labor and industrial issues, as well as other social issues such as economic polarization and the nation’s low birthrate.  President Moon Jae-in addresse

Social Affairs Nov. 22, 2018

Sweden’s UN envoy on Wednesday raised concerns that human rights conditions in North Korea are worsening due to sanctions on the country, calling for exemptions for selected items. Although humanitarian aid for North Korean citizens are exempt from current sanctions, banking and customs restrictions hamper aid efforts, Sweden’s UN envoy Olof Skoog told reporters following a briefing by the sanctions committee and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Permanent Representativ

North Korea Nov. 22, 2018

Five political parties on Wednesday agreed to normalize parliamentary operations in a last-minute meeting organized by National Assembly Speaker Rep. Moon Hee-sang.Under the agreement, the parties will resume operation of all committees, including that of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts.  National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang (third from left) and floor leaders of the political parties pose for a photograph at the National Assembly on Wednesday. YonhapThe parties also agreed that

Politics Nov. 21, 2018

The South Korean government on Wednesday began the process of dissolving a Japan-funded foundation for “comfort women,” prompting strong protest from Japan. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on Wednesday said that the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation’s license will be revoked, beginning the dissolution process. (Yonhap)Once the foundation is informed of the decision, the Gender Ministry is required to hold hearings where the foundation’s position will be voiced. Following the heari

Social Affairs Nov. 21, 2018

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday once again stressed the need to boost ties with Southeast Asian nations, and urged concerned government bodies to develop related projects. Speaking at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Moon also said that the leaders of ASEAN and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation member nations gave positive assessments of developments on the Korean Peninsula, and expressed support.  President Moon Jae-in at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting (Yonhap)Moon was in Singapore and Papua New Guinea l

Foreign Affairs Nov. 20, 2018

The prospects of a return to business as usual at the National Assembly were dashed Monday when the ruling and opposition parties failed to reach common ground in ongoing political disputes.On Monday, the floor leaders of the ruling Democratic Party and the conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party and Bareunmirae Party met in an attempt to normalize parliamentary operations but failed to do so, with the meeting serving only to entrench their differences.(yonhap)The ruling and conservative blo

Politics Nov. 19, 2018

SINGAPORE -- South Korea will push for more bilateral free trade agreements with Southeast Asian nations and cooperate to conclude regional trade pact negotiations within next year, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Thursday.As part of the plans, Seoul agreed to launch a feasibility study on a free trade agreement with Malaysia and resume stalled trade pact negotiations with Indonesia. Minister for Trade Kim Hyun-chong at a parliamentary audit on Nov. 6 (Yonhap)The measures were ag

Foreign Affairs Nov. 15, 2018