The governing party on Tuesday vowed to push through the parliamentary confirmation of Prime Minister nominee Hwang Kyo-ahn despite the main opposition party’s objection, signaling a partisan showdown at a parliamentary session this week. The ruling Saenuri Party said it would unilaterally approve Hwang’s confirmation at an upcoming National Assembly plenary session unless the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy accepted the nomination. The Assembly is slated to gather for an int

Politics June 16, 2015

Rival parties agreed Monday on a controversial bill that enables lawmakers to demand changes to government ordinances, accepting the compromise suggested by the National Assembly speaker and passing it to the government that adamantly opposed the original version.President Park Geun-hye hinted at possibly vetoing the bill, saying that it could encroach upon the executive branch’s authority and violate the constitutional rule of separation of powers.The ruling Saenuri Party and the main oppositio

Politics June 15, 2015

The Education Ministry on Sunday decided to lower the threshold for foreign part-time teachers to become college instructors, allowing them to compete on an equal footing with Korean teachers in seeking jobs at colleges.The ministry said that it would seek changes in the laws to allow part-time foreign teachers who have worked for more than 15 hours per week at kindergarten or elementary, junior high or high schools to be eligible for teaching jobs at colleges. They need to have taught related s

Social Affairs June 14, 2015

Rival parties continued their standoff over the pending confirmation of Prime Minister-designate Hwang Kyo-ahn and the controversial amendment enabling lawmakers to demand changes to government ordinances.The ruling Saenuri Party said it would consider unilaterally pushing to approve Hwang to “normalize the governance,” as the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy continued to object to the nominee as “unfit” for the job.On Friday, the Saenuri Party unilaterally adopted a parliamen

Politics June 14, 2015

Rival parties remained deadlocked over the approval of Prime Minister nominee Hwang Kyo-ahn Thursday, casting a cloud over his prospects of taking over the post that has been vacant for more than a month. The governing Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy failed to agree on a parliamentary procedure to confirm the nominee. The Saenuri Party urged for Hwang’s confirmation at the plenary session on Friday, while NPAD opposed it. “Both parties couldn’t reach an

Politics June 11, 2015

Health and Welfare Minister Moon Hyung-pyo on Monday anticipated the Middle East respiratory syndrome would begin to abate in two days, hoping to bring the nation back on track following the outbreak that has left six people killed and 87 under quarantine so far. “I hope we will see (MERS) start to abate starting Wednesday,” said Moon. “If I may offer cautious predictions, (MERS) hit its peak today. We will do our utmost to reassure the public and prevent the disease from further spreading” said

Politics June 8, 2015

South Korea’s main parties agreed Sunday to make bipartisan efforts to contain the Middle East respiratory syndrome and assuage mounting public fear.The governing Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy agreed to create a special parliamentary committee to slow the MERS crisis and prevent potential outbreaks of other infectious diseases. They also decided to pass relevant laws in an upcoming parliamentary session while urging the government to consider raising t

Politics June 7, 2015

Korea’s main political parties demanded Thursday the government step up efforts to cope with the spreading Middle East respiratory syndrome amid growing public fears over the virus.The governing Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy urged Cheong Wa Dae to take the initiative and consolidate administrative efforts to prevent MERS and contain public fears. The disease has left two confirmed deaths and 1,364 people have been quarantined since the first case was c

Politics June 4, 2015

Internal feud escalated at the ruling Saenuri Party over the recent passage of a bill enabling legislators to demand amendments to government decrees.Members loyal to President Park Geun-hye raised their calls for the floor leader to resign from the post for the controversial passage, while the non-mainstreamers criticized Cheong Wa Dae for crossing the line and stoking internal conflict.Rep. Lee Jang-woo on Wednesday urged the party’s floor leader Rep. Yoo Seung-min, to step down from his seat

Politics June 3, 2015

Rival parties are expected to continue their partisan fights in the June extraordinary session over President Park Geun-hye’s choice of new prime minister amid pending reform bills posing a challenge to the upcoming session. The National Assembly is to start a 30-day extraordinary session on Thursday, which would include a confirmation hearing on Prime Minister nominee Hwang Kyo-ahn to test whether he is qualified for the nation’s No. 2 post. Lawmakers are also expected to lock horns over Park’s

Politics May 31, 2015

Cheong Wa Dae on Friday strongly protested the National Assembly’s passage of a bill giving lawmakers the right to demand an amendment to a government decree, saying that it may violate the Constitution.According to the revised bill, lawmakers are authorized to “demand” changes to a decree issued by the executive branch. The bill was endorsed early Friday in line with an ongoing debate over the government enforcement decree of the special Sewol bill that dictates the government’s investigation i

Politics May 29, 2015