Hwang Kyo-ahn, chairman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, on Monday argued that he had not lied about his son’s qualifications after his remarks on the matter during a lecture sparked controversy. “If I had said a score that was higher than the actual score -- that would have been a lie. But I am not sure if the other way round is (a lie),” Hwang told reporters after a meeting at the National Assembly. Last week, Hwang spoke about his son, who landed a job at a c

Politics June 24, 2019

In the midst of a yearlong standoff between the government, labor and management over South Korea’s ratification of fundamental International Labor Organization conventions, trade unions are increasingly questioning the Moon Jae-in administration’s willingness to approve three of the four pending ones. With the arrest of Kim Myung-hwan, president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Friday, the relationship between the government and the unions looks set to worsen in the comi

Politics June 23, 2019

Main opposition Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn on Thursday sought to put the brakes on snowballing controversy over his speech targeting foreign laborers here, where he said that they “should not be given the same wage.”“It was meant to optimize the minimum wage standard,” Hwang said, regarding his comments made Wednesday.Hwang said it is “unfair” to ensure foreign workers receive the same level of wage as locals, citing the payment of taxes as jus

Politics June 20, 2019

Professor Sung Young-chul of Pohang University of Science and Technology, who is recognized as an expert in the biotech industry, has donated 10 billion won ($8.5 million) to the International Vaccine Institute, the organization said Wednesday.Sung’s donation is the biggest single donation made to the IVI by an individual donor. It will be delivered via the Korea Support Committee.The contribution will go toward funding various vaccination projects for children in developing countries acro

Social Affairs June 20, 2019

The police have requested an arrest warrant for Kim Myung-hwan, the chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, on charges of planning and carrying out illegal protests in front of the National Assembly in March and April, the police said Tuesday.The latest move comes at a sensitive time, amid heightening tensions among labor, management and the government over South Korea’s pending ratification of four core International Labor Organization conventions.The hard-line Korean Confed

Social Affairs June 18, 2019

The special investigation squad of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency recently summoned a key figure in sex-for-favors suspicions surrounding former YG Entertainment founder and chief producer Yang Hyun-suk, the police said Tuesday.The suspect, known as “Madam Jung,” reportedly has ties with high-profile figures. MBC’s investigative program “Straight” raised the allegation that Yang had called in over 10 prostitutes through Madam Jung to a meeting with eight inves

Social Affairs June 18, 2019

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party’s Secretary-General Han Sun-kyo on Monday stepped down from his post, citing health reasons, after stirring controversy for repeatedly using offensive language.Han is one of many Liberty Korea Party lawmakers who have come under fire in recent weeks for incendiary language aimed mostly at the Moon Jae-in administration.“Today I am stepping down from the secretary-general position due to health reasons,” Han said in a text message sent to

Politics June 17, 2019

Lee Sang-heon, the director of the International Labor Organization’s employment policy department, on Friday stressed that core ILO conventions are minimal universal rights of laborers and took a negative stance on allowing substitute laborers in case of a strike.“Key ILO conventions are minimal universal rights that should be granted all workers regardless of where they are. … They should not be subject to negotiation or conditions,” Lee said. He is the first South Kor

Politics June 14, 2019

Main opposition Liberty Korea Party on Thursday accused the presidential office of causing the standstill at the National Assembly amid pressure from ruling and minor opposition parties for the conservative party to cooperate to open the June extraordinary session. “How can we resume the parliament when Cheong Wa Dae is ruining (cooperation), ridiculing and pressuring the main opposition?” said Liberty Korea Party floor leader Rep. Na Kyung-won in an urgent debate on the supplementar

Politics June 13, 2019

Jeon Gwang-hoon, a pastor and the chief of the Christian Council of Korea, on Wednesday faced public backlash and opposition from Christian groups for frivolous claims concerning President Moon Jae-in.During a press conference earlier in the week, Jeon, who has been calling on the president to step down, said, “At this rate South Korea will fall. I thought I had to save the country before it perishes. … President Moon should leave Cheong Wa Dae by the end of this year.”Steppin

Politics June 12, 2019

With less than a year left until the general election slated for April next year, South Korea’s two largest political parties have their sights set on voters in their 20s and 30s.Young liberal and conservative voters are increasingly losing interest in politics -- whether due to disappointment with the ailing economy under the Moon Jae-in administration or incendiary language and actions by the leadership of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party. Polls from previous elections have shown

Politics June 11, 2019

Korea’s two main tower crane workers’ unions ended their all-out strike at 5 p.m. after two days of collective action halted operations at construction sites nationwide, the Transport Ministry said Wednesday.The ministry said a committee of concerned parties -- the unions, companies, government and civic groups -- will be formed to improve the safety of small tower cranes. “The two unions have agreed to end the strike as of 5 p.m. after a discussion with rental businesses and c

Social Affairs June 5, 2019

The Minimum Wage Commission under the Ministry of Employment and Labor held its first public hearing on next year’s minimum hourly wage, and representatives of labor and management put forward contrasting positions on the heated issue, the ministry said Wednesday.Tensions between the two groups erupted last month after the new head of the commission, Park Joon-sik, said there was a “social consensus” that the minimum wage hike over the past two years had been “too steep.&

Social Affairs June 5, 2019

Tower crane workers affiliated with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions took over some 2,500 tower cranes at construction sites nationwide in an all-out strike, calling for a ban on small tower cranes and a wage hike, the unions said Tuesday.Labor unions say small tower cranes are more vulnerable to accidents, whereas the Construction Association of Korea argues otherwise on the grounds that the driverless equipment can be controlled by a technician

Social Affairs June 4, 2019

In light of a recent series of fatal car accidents involving elderly drivers, calls are growing to revamp policies and issue conditional licenses for seniors. Last month, two died and 11 were injured after a 75-year-old man drove into a crowd celebrating Buddha’s Birthday at the temple Tongdosa in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province.According to police, the driver, surnamed Kim, testified he had accidently stepped on the accelerator pedal, sparking concerns about elderly drivers on the road

Social Affairs June 3, 2019