With a maximum of 55 days left to the election, South Korea’s presidential hopefuls sped up preparations for their campaigns Tuesday, with some declaring their bids in the race and others registering their primary candidacy with the election body.The government has yet to finalize when the nation will elect the successor of Park Geun-hye, who was removed from her position Friday over a corruption scandal, but May 9 is widely seen as the most feasible date. Rep. Kim Jin-tae, a staunch supporter o

Politics March 14, 2017

Former President Park Geun-hye’s loyalists and aides are showing unrelenting support for the disgraced leader even after the top court forced her out of office over a corruption scandal. On Sunday evening, Park moved from the presidential residence back to her private house in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul, and some eight lawmakers greeted her at the entrance of her house. A large crowd of supporters also gathered to welcome her return. Rep. Cho Kyung-hwan (right) and other lawmakers of the Libe

Politics March 13, 2017

Sunday evening marked the second time that Park Geun-hye has bid farewell to Cheong Wa Dae, her home and office for the past four years. As with the first time, it was not by her own will, but a forced move that had left her in a somber mood. Yet, the former president smiled, at least to her supporters gathered in front of her old home in Samseong-dong to greet her. Former President Park Geun-hye smiles to her supporters gathered in front of her old home in Samseong-dong to greet her. (Yonhap)Bo

Politics March 12, 2017

The Democratic Party of Korea, which led the parliamentary campaign to impeach President Park Geun-hye, on Friday hailed the Constitutional Court’s decision to uphold the sacking, calling it the “people’s triumph.”“The Constitutional Court made a historical decision today and proved that the nation still maintains its rationality after it was brought down by corruption,” party Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae said in a press conference after the verdict was announced. It marked the victory of millions

Politics March 10, 2017

The conservative Liberty Korea Party, who had supported former President Park Geun-hye, said Friday that it would accept the Constitutional Court’s decision to oust her, apologizing to the public for its failure to assist the president as a ruling party.Formerly the Saenuri Party, the political party said the result respects citizens’ aspirations and constitutional values.“We also apologize for failing to protect the nation’s dignity and the people, and failing in our duty as a ruling party,” th

Politics March 10, 2017

The election for the next president of South Korea is likely to take place on May 9, the last day of the 60 days stipulated by law to fill a vacancy in the nation’s highest office. In a historic ruling Friday, the Constitutional Court expelled Park Geun-hye, the 17th president of South Korea, from office, making her the first democratically elected leader to lose her position by impeachment. Political camps and presidential aspirants across the aisle now face a very tight schedule to prepare for

Politics March 10, 2017

South Korea’s political parties showed contrasting reactions to the arrival of parts of a US anti-missile system Tuesday, revealing a sharp divide over issues tied to the deployment, such as how to deal with North Korea’s military threats and strike a balance between two rivaling global powers -- the US and China. The conservative parties, including the ruling Liberty Korea Party, hailed the surprise move, while the liberal opposition strongly protested against it. “We welcome the quick decision

Politics March 7, 2017

President Park Geun-hye’s fate is still up in the air, but the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea is wasting no time in its preparation for the next presidential election. Four presidential contenders of the liberal party squared off at the party’s primary debate Monday, trying to prove their eligibility to become the nation’s next leader. They are former party leader Moon Jae-in, South Chungcheong Gov. An Hee-jung, Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung and Goyang Mayor Choi Sung. Left to right: S

Politics March 6, 2017

Former UN Secretary of General Ban Kim-moon plans to deliver a lecture at a local seminar this week, making his first public appearance since giving up his presidential ambitions, his aides said Sunday.Ban is to give a lecture at the seminar to be hosted by the Korea Institute for National Security Affairs, according to the aides. His lecture is likely to focus on elaborating his thoughts on the latest diplomatic and security situations on and around the Korean Peninsula.  Ban Ki-moon (Yonhap)Th

Social Affairs March 5, 2017

TOKYO (AFP) -- Japan’s ruling party on Sunday extended term limits for its leaders, a change that gives Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a shot at becoming Japan’s longest-serving post-war leader.Abe would have had to step down as party leader and prime minister in September next year, even if his Liberal Democratic Party were still in power.The LDP congress approved extending the limit to three consecutive three-year terms, up from the previous two consecutive three-year term limit.Japan's Prime Minis

World News March 5, 2017

South Korea’s top diplomat Yun Byung-se is planning to visit Southeast Asian countries this month, a foreign ministry official said Sunday, as Seoul pushes to rally the region’s support for its efforts to put pressure on North Korea over its nuclear program as well as the recent assassination in Malaysia.“Foreign Minister Yun is reviewing plans to attend events to mark anniversaries of diplomatic relations with Southeast Asian countries,” the official said. If confirmed, the trip is likely to fa

Diplomatic Circuit March 5, 2017

Lotte Group held an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss countermeasures against what appears to be intensifying retaliation by China against its goods and affiliates after its land swap deal with the government for a planned THAAD deployment, its officials said.The meeting, which was held later in the day, came as Lotte is feared to be taking the brunt of Beijing’s retaliation against the THAAD deployment for which it recently provided a land site in a contract signed late last month with the

Industry March 5, 2017

The possibility of the United States redeploying tactical nuclear weapons on South Korean soil to counter North Korea’s evolving military threat is expected to fuel a fresh debate on national defense, sources said Sunday.The debate comes as the weekend issue of the New York Times reported that in the most recent meeting of US President Donald Trump’s national security deputies, discussion took place on the option of basing tactical nukes on the Korean Peninsula.The news outlet said the exchange

Defense March 5, 2017

Alpine snowboarder Lee Sang-ho has won South Korea’s first ever silver medal at the International Ski Federation World Cup.Lee earned silver at the FIS Snowboard World Cup in Kayseri, Turkey, on Saturday (local time) after finishing second in men’s parallel giant slalom. He lost to Andreas Prommegger of Austria by 0.21 second in the final.  Lee Sang-ho (Yonhap)This is the best ever result by a South Korean at the FIS World Cup. Previously, Lee had a fourth place finish at the FIS Snowboard World

Olympic Games March 5, 2017

The National Assembly on Thursday failed to pass a revision bill to extend the period of the special investigation into the President Park Geun-hye corruption scandal, as the legislation chief refused to use his authority to directly bring the revision bill to the floor.Earlier in the day, four opposition parties requested National Assembly Speaker Rep. Chung Sye-kyun to put the revision bill directly to a vote -- without the approval of the parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee.But

Politics March 2, 2017