Most Popular
-
1
'Super Rich in Korea' will leave viewers appreciating Korea more: producers
-
2
Probe of first lady on Dior bag allegations set to begin
-
3
Top prosecutor pledges 'speedy, strict' probe into first lady's luxury bag allegations
-
4
Indonesia’s KF-21 fighter jet deal cut back -- what’s next?
-
5
[KH Explains] Can tech firms' AI alliances take on Nvidia?
-
6
Local filmmakers criticize ‘The Roundup: Punishment’ monopoly of screens
-
7
Police seek arrest warrant for med student who killed girlfriend
-
8
[Grace Kao, Meera Choi] Has money displaced romance on dates?
-
9
Will China's self-sufficient dream in HBM come true?
-
10
Man stabs woman and her son amid financial dispute, killing 1
-
Ex-opposition leader announces presidential bid
A former opposition leader announced Thursday he will run for president, saying he would be a dependable leader who cares deeply about the working class and could hold an increasingly divided society close together.Sohn Hak-kyu, a special advisor for the main opposition Democratic United Party, is one of the leading opposition hopefuls for the December election, along with Rep. Moon Jae-in, South
June 14, 2012
-
Prosecution winds up probe into spying scandal with unsatisfactory outcome
Prosecutors pressed additional charges against a confidant of President Lee Myung-bak Wednesday as they wrapped up a reinvestigation into allegations authorities illegally spied on civilians critical of the government.Former Vice Knowledge Economy Minister Park Young-joon, once considered a right-hand man of the president, is already under arrest in a separate corruption scandal. He was newly char
June 14, 2012
-
Primary rule debate confines Saenuri
Standoff over how to select presidential candidate overshadows panel meetingThe ruling Saenuri Party officially entered nomination mode Wednesday by holding its first preparatory committee meeting, but the mood was overcast by stubborn demands from dissenting presidential hopefuls to change the primary rules.The trio ― Reps. Chung Mong-joon and Lee Jae-oh and Gyeonggi Gov. Kim Moon-soo ― refused on Wednesday the leadership’s latest proposal to meet and discuss ways to review the primary rules.“W
June 13, 2012
-
N.K. threatens to reveal rightists’ ‘pro-North’ comments
North Korea has interjected in an intensifying ideological dispute in Seoul, threatening to disclose “pro-North” remarks that conservative politicians allegedly made in the past. Political pundits say its interjection is likely to make the row even muddier. On Monday, Pyongyang’s mouthpiece on South Korean affairs said the ruling Saenuri Party’s former chairwoman and presidential frontrunner Park Geun-hye made several “pro-North remarks” during her visit to North Korea in 2002.The statement by t
June 13, 2012
-
DUP presidential hopefuls gear up for nomination race
Presidential hopefuls of the main opposition Democratic United Party are kicking off their campaign for the party nomination this week.Moon Jae-in, former aide to the late Presient Roh Moo-hyun, said on Tuesday he will announce his candidacy on Sunday. He is supported by new party leader Lee Hae-chan, a former prime minister and leading pro-Roh figure. “I am the DUP’s most competitive candidate and also the only one who may realize the political changes for which the people yearn,” said Moon in
June 12, 2012
-
DUP first-timer vows to speak for minorities
Rep. Kim Hyun is a key voice for political liberals. Her witty but piercing comments and outspoken nature have put her in the firing line of partisan battles for more than a decade.As a first-term lawmaker, the vice spokesperson of the main opposition Democratic United Party is poised to bring her skills to the parliament and, she says, speak for minorities, defend the liberal cause and maximizing the party’s chances in December’s presidential election.Despite her 24-year party career, she had b
June 12, 2012
-
Saenuri pushes for probe into Lee’s home scandal
The ruling Saenuri Party is likely to seek an independent counsel investigation into lingering suspicions involving a now-defunct project to build a retirement home for President Lee Myung-bak after the prosecution closed the case without charging anyone.Rep. Hong Il-pyo, the floor spokesman of the party, told reporters that a special investigation is considered an appropriate option in most cases when a prosecution investigation is insufficient. He believes the retirement residence scandal is n
June 12, 2012
-
Lee sends message of condolences to Peru’s president
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak sent a message of condolences to Peruvian President Ollanta Humala on Monday over the deaths in a helicopter crash in Peru that killed 14 people, including eight South Koreans.In the message, Lee expressed deep condolences to the victims and their families and asked the Peruvian government for support in handling the aftermath of the crash, according to preside
June 12, 2012
-
Saenuri launches nomination panel despite internal row
The ruling Saenuri Party launched its election committee Monday to oversee the party’s presidential nomination, rebuffing minority dissenters’ call for a fully open primary. In a meeting in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, the Supreme Council passed the appointment of the election committee headed by former National Assembly speaker Kim Soo-han. The 13-member committee comprised of former and incumbent lawmakers as well as civilian political experts will be in charge of managing the overall nomina
June 11, 2012
-
Jusapa: Painful legacy of modern history
Dispute continues over accepting N.K. sympathizers as Assembly membersOn June 30, 1989, a South Korean college student, frail but oozing with confidence, turned the Korean Peninsula upside down as she touched down at Sunan International Airport in Pyongyang, leaving a blindsided Seoul government aghast.The 21-year-old Lim Soo-kyung was there to attend the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students as the representative of “Jeondaehyup,” a major association of radical student activists formed in
June 11, 2012
-
Lawmaker Cho cuts in DUP candidacy line
Rep. Cho Kyoung-tae, a third-term lawmaker of the main opposition Democratic United Party, on Monday announced his bid to run in the party’s presidential primary.He is regarded an underdog in the DUP race to be dominated by Rep. Moon Jae-in, former top aide to the late President Roh Moo-hyun, and South Gyeongsang Governor Kim Doo-kwan. “Being the son of a laborer, I have decided to challenge for the presidency in order to relieve the poor and to improve their livelihood,” he said in a press conf
June 11, 2012
-
Lee carries out small-scale reshuffle
President Lee Myung-bak on Monday named National Human Rights Commission Chairperson Hyun Byung-chul to lead the organization for the second consecutive term in a reshuffle that affected five high-level government posts.Since he took the helm of the commission in July 2009, Hyun has played a key role in maintaining a neutral and balanced perspective in dealing with human rights issues, Cheong Wa Dae said. He is to undergo a parliamentary confirmation hearing.Lee also tapped Cho Yul-rae, assistan
June 11, 2012
-
Lee to Mexico, Brazil for G20, U.N. forums
President Lee Myung-bak will embark on a tour of four Latin American nations Sunday, including Mexico for the Group of 20 summit and Brazil for the U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development. He will also visit Chile and Colombia.During the two-day G20 summit in Los Cabos which begins on June 18, Lee and world leaders will discuss multilateral cooperation to tackle the eurozone financial crisis and spur growth as well as measures for global financial regulatory reforms and green growth, his aide
June 11, 2012
-
DUP chief turns up hostility toward Saenuri
Lee’s hardline stance may alienate moderate voters, experts sayWith reputed hardliner Lee Hae-chan taking the helm, the main opposition Democratic United Party is expected to increase its offensive against the ruling camp in the lead up to the December presidential election.The former prime minister grabbed the party’s chairmanship in Saturday’s national convention, beating dovish rival Rep. Kim Han-gill.The victory in the cliffhanger race may be attributable to his uncompromising response to th
June 11, 2012
-
Ruling party launches primary committee despite protests from minor candidates
The ruling Saenuri Party on Monday launched an election committee charged with overseeing its presidential primary, snubbing calls from underdog contenders for revising primary rules first before forming the election watchdog.The committee's launch shows the party's leadership has no intention of changing the current primary rules seen as favorable to former party chief and leading hopeful Park Ge
June 11, 2012
-
Lee’s chairmanship boosts Moon’s presidential bid
With former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan as its new chairman, the main opposition Democratic United Party is expected to step up preparations for the presidential election in December.In a dramatic come-from-behind victory, Lee grabbed the party’s chairmanship in its national convention Saturday. He beat rival Rep. Kim Han-gil. His election is widely expected to boost the partisan support for Moon Jae-in, a life-time aide to late former President Roh Moo-hyun and first-time lawmaker from Busan, a
June 10, 2012
-
Saenuri to stick to primary rules
Park’s challengers insist candidate selection rules be revisedThe ruling Saenuri Party decided to keep its current presidential candidate selection rules but check for flaws in the processes, despite criticism from underdog figures.During the party’s two-day workshop over the weekend, chairperson Rep. Hwang Woo-yea said that the primary schedule should proceed as planned as there is little time left.“We should first kick off the in-party primary according to the party platform and regulations,”
June 10, 2012
-
Lee Hae-chan elected new chairman of main opposition party
Former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan was elected the new chairman of the main opposition Democratic United Party, beating rival Rep. Kim Han-gil in the party's national convention on Saturday.Lee won 24.3 percent of the entire votes to come out the final winner. The following five including Kim (23.8 percent), Choo Mi-ae (14.1 percent), Kang Ki-jung (10 percent), Lee Jong-kul (8.4 percent) and Woo S
June 9, 2012
-
Ruling party to stick to current presidential primary process
South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party will stick to its current presidential candidate selection process, but will check to see if there are shortcomings that can be addressed, the party's chairman said Saturday.At the end of a workshop event for lawmakers, Hwang Woo-yea said meeting the primary election timetable set by the party's constitution will be a challenge in itself. He said that because the
June 9, 2012
-
Main opposition party holds national convention to pick leadership
The main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) was set to pick its new leadership at a national convention Saturday ahead of this year's presidential race.Party sources said that Reps. Kim Han-gil and Lee Hae-chan were in the lead for the top post as the party gathering got underway at the KINTEX convention center, northwest of Seoul.They added that Kang Gi-jung, Choo Mi-ae, Woo Sang-ho and Cho
June 9, 2012