Most Popular
-
1
[AtoZ into Korean mind] Humor in Korea: Navigating the line between what's funny and not
-
2
Yoon seeks rebound, taps 5-term lawmaker as chief of staff
-
3
Medical standoff deepens as doctors reject new med school plan, talks
-
4
[Exclusive] Korean military set to ban iPhones over 'security' concerns
-
5
[Herald Interview] Why Toss invited hackers to penetrate its system
-
6
[Graphic News] 77% of young Koreans still financially dependent
-
7
Korean, Romanian leaders discuss defense tech, nuclear energy
-
8
S. Korean envoys convene to navigate strategy amid Middle East tensions
-
9
North Korea fires several short-range ballistic missiles into sea: JCS
-
10
Samsung, SK hynix investors dump shares on Nvidia crash
-
Deal clears way for prosecution reform
President Park Geun-hye is set to embark on much-debated prosecution reform, expected to sharply reduce its power and organization, following a political agreement on the government reorganization plan.The ruling Saenuri Party and the Democratic United Party on Sunday struck an agreement to pass Park’s government overhaul proposal, which includes a major restructuring of the prosecution office.The plan calls for the abolishment of the powerful Central Investigation Department at the Supreme Pros
March 18, 2013
-
Park forges ahead with leadership
President Park Geun-hye forged ahead with her state agenda Monday following the parliamentary agreement on her new Cabinet plans, ordering her aides to swiftly assist each ministry to begin work. But major obstacles remain for Park as some of her minister choices are staunchly opposed by the main opposition Democratic United Party, while the rival parties’ vaguely worded agreement leaves much more to be worked out.“We should be speeding up our work more efficiently with a clear direction and pur
March 18, 2013
-
SME policy chief-nominee quits
President Park Geun-hye was dealt another blow Monday after her nominee for smaller business policy withdrew apparently due to a rule that compels high-level officials to dispose of personal assets. Hwang Chul-joo, CEO of semiconductor manufacturing equipment maker Jusung Engineering, was tapped Friday to head the Small and Medium Business Administration. He asked Park to cancel the nomination during the weekend and Park accepted his decision, according to the government agency. He became the th
March 18, 2013
-
Park’s aides call for strong measures to prevent GI crimes
The Korean government has reportedly asked the United States to take stern action against recent crimes by U.S. soldiers stationed here.Korean and U.S. officials began consultations to prevent recurrences and enhance discipline of U.S. service members, Yonhap News Agency reported citing a presidential official responsible for foreign policy and security affairs.“After consultations with the U.S., we plan to come up with stronger measures,” the official was quoted as saying. “The United States ta
March 18, 2013
-
Japanese step up against anti-Korea demonstrations
As anti-Korea sentiment in Japan boils over, some Japanese citizens are stepping up to protest the negativity.According to Yonhap News Agency, around 100 Japanese citizens held a rally in Koreatown of Tokyo on Sunday to counter anti-Korea demonstrations. Pro-Korean Japanese picketed to protest the demonstration by hundreds of members from far-right groups.The participants of pro-Korea rally organized online and urged against anti-Korean sentiment by holding signs bearing words “Let’s be friends”
March 18, 2013
-
S.Korea, GCF ink headquarter agreement
South Korea and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), a United Nations organization, have signed a headquarter agreement regulating the privileges and immunities of GCF and its staff, the finance ministry said Sunday.The agreement was signed in Berlin, Germany, during the third round of the GCF board meeting held from March 12-15, the ministry said.The agreement laid the legal foundations for the establishment of the GCF headquarters to the Songdo International Business District in Incheon, 40 kilometer
March 17, 2013
-
Parties strike deal on government organization
The ruling Saenuri Party and the Democratic United Party struck a deal over a Government Organization Act revision on Sunday after 47 days of negotiation deadlock and 21 days of administration stagnation. The parties plan to process the bill on Wednesday.The two sides agreed to uphold most of the original plans by President Park Geun-hye but implement additional measures to address concerns raised by the opposition party, namely concerning the authority over new media outlets.The agreement final
March 17, 2013
-
Park stresses inter-governmental cooperation in Cabinet workshop
President Park Geun-hye asked her Cabinet Saturday to work out a new policy roadmap as quickly as possible to better serve people.Park took office on Feb. 25 but her 17-member Cabinet could not be fully organized until earlier this week due to conflicts with opposition politicians over her government reorganization proposal.On Saturday, Park addressed a meeting of about 100 senior presidential and government officials, including Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, to discuss ways to share the goal of
March 16, 2013
-
Park names Chae prosecution chief
President Park Geun-hye named the heads of 18 government offices Friday including the most powerful agencies of the prosecution, police and tax service.Senior prosecutor Chae Dong-wook was nominated for the public prosecutor general and Kim Duk-joong, chief of the Jungbu Regional Tax Office, to head the National Tax Service. Busan police chief Lee Sung-han, was named to lead the National Police Agency. The three are subjected to go through a parliamentary confirmation hearing.Chae, 54, now head
March 15, 2013
-
Busan police chief nominated for top police post
Busan's police chief has been nominated to take over the nation's top police post, officers said Friday.Lee Sung-han, who currently heads the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, has been nominated to succeed Kim Ki-yong as commissioner of the National Police Agency, they said."(I) feel a sense of huge responsibility to be nominated for the post that handles such a difficult and important task," Lee told reporters on his way to attend a hearing. After holding the hearing, the seven-member National
March 15, 2013
-
Park names science minister, FTC chief
President Park Geun-hye on Thursday named information and communications technology expert and KAIST professor Choi Mun-kee to head the new science ministry, which is at the center of political disputes over government reorganization.Park also nominated Han Man-soo, Ewha Womans University law professor with expertise in the tax system, as chief of the Fair Trade Commission.Both were founding members of Park’s think tank Institute for the Nation’s Future. “Expertise was prioritized (in the select
March 14, 2013
-
Civil service, military under scrutiny as Park tightens reins
Civil servants and state-run organizations are coming under close scrutiny as President Park Geun-hye seeks to tighten discipline and stamp out inappropriate conduct.Three separate audits into the military, civil service and state-run companies will be in full swing by next week. The results are expected to affect possible reshuffles of top posts in the organizations.The Ministry of Public Administration and Security will conduct a government-wide audit on civil servants from March 18-April 23.
March 14, 2013
-
Lawmakers raise 44.9b won in political donations in 2012
Lawmakers raised a total of 44.9 billion won ($40.7 million) in political donations last year, data showed Thursday, marking a decrease from other election years.According to the data released by the watchdog National Election Commission, each lawmaker on average raised 151 million won from their respective supporters’ associations during 2012, a year in which both the general and presidential elections were held.Out of a total of 300 lawmakers, two were excluded from the data as they did not ha
March 14, 2013
-
Park focuses on Latin America, Africa
President Park Geun-hye pledged Thursday to work toward closer economic and other relations with Latin American countries and enhance efforts to share economic development experience and know-how with African nations.Park made the remarks in separate group meetings with ambassadors from the two continents.“Though South Korea is far away from South and Central America and the Caribbean region, (the sides) have close economic relations. The first foreign nation our country signed an FTA with is Ch
March 14, 2013
-
Top court confirms acquittal of ex-prime minister over bribery
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lower court ruling that cleared the country's first female prime minister of bribery charges. Han Myeong-sook, who was prime minister between 2006 and 2007 under the late liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, was found not guilty of taking US$50,000 in bribes while in office from former Korea Express chief executive Kwak Young-wook."Kwak's testimony lacks objectivity and rationality," the court said in its ruling, adding that it is difficult to rule out the possi
March 14, 2013
-
Park nominates IT expert for science minister
President Park Geun-hye named a top communications technology expert for science minister, the presidential spokesman said Thursday, after an earlier nominee resigned amid a parliamentary impasse over her government reorganization proposal.Professor Choi Mun-kee of top science university KAIST was named to head the ministry of future creation and science, presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung said. The ministry will be newly established under Park's government reorganization plan.The nomination
March 14, 2013
-
Park appoints 20 vice ministers
President Park Geun-hye on Wednesday named 20 vice ministers for the Prime Minister’s Office and 13 ministries as part of the last-remaining batch in her Cabinet formation.Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Kyou-hyun, 60, was named first vice foreign minister and Ambassador Cho Tae-yul, 58, second vice foreign minister.The Unification Ministry’s planning and coordination director Kim Nam-sik was promoted to the ministry’s No. 2 post.“Those with expertise in the relevant field and those that fit the sta
March 13, 2013
-
Korea to strengthen stock manipulation crackdown
The government will prepare measures to further clamp down on stock manipulation as part of President Park Geun-hye’s all-out fight against the financial offense, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.The Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service and the National Tax Office will prepare a package of measures to improve the system of investigation, prosecution and punishment of offenders, presidential spokeswoman Kim Haing said.The decision, made during a meeting of senior secretari
March 13, 2013
-
Park names new vice ministers
President Park Geun-hye promoted Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Kyou-hyun to first vice foreign minister and another career diplomat Cho Tae-yul to second vice foreign minister Wednesday as she selected 20 new vice ministerial officials, her spokeswoman said.Senior unification ministry official Kim Nam-sik was promoted to vice minister, while a regional prosecutor's office chief, Kim Hak-ui, was named as vice justice minister and senior industry ministry officials Kim Jae-hong and Han Jin-hyun as f
March 13, 2013
-
Park names 40 new aides but selection criteria still unclear
President Park Geun-hye is pushing ahead with the remaining appointments of her key aides and high-level officials this week but ambiguity in the selection standards is once again drawing heat from critics.On Tuesday, Cheong Wa Dae released the names of Park’s 40 secretaries. They included Kim Hyoung-zhin, former director general at the foreign ministry’s North American affairs bureau, for foreign affairs; politics professor Hong Yong-pyo of Hanyang University for unification; and senior defense
March 12, 2013