Former presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo is leaving the political party he co-founded two years ago to embark on a quest, once again, for “new politics.” In doing so, the entrepreneur-turned-centrist-politician seeks to revive his political fortunes in the April parliamentary elections and attract moderate voters who have grown disillusioned with the endless partisan battle of liberals and conservatives.   French President Emmanuel Macron appears to be his role mod

Politics Jan. 30, 2020

Jeju Island is considering suspending a visa-free entry program for Chinese visitors in a bid to prevent the inflow of those infected with the deadly coronavirus virus, the provincial government said Thursday. The government is discussing with the Ministry of Justice on imposing a temporary halt to the system that permits foreigners to stay on the island for 30 days without visa. “We are exchanging opinions such as measures to minimize the suspension period for Chinese visitors due t

Social Affairs Jan. 30, 2020

Former presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo said Wednesday he has decided to leave the party he co-founded two years ago, in an apparent move to create a new group for the April general elections. The former chief of the Bareunmirae Party, who returned from abroad last week after more than a year’s absence from the political scene, said he was giving up on the minor opposition party, blaming party leaders for failing to present a vision for new politics. The move came after the party&rsq

Politics Jan. 29, 2020

Rival parties intensified their political offensives Thursday while greeting voters at major railway stations ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays. Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Hae-chan and Floor Leader Lee In-young visited Yongsan Station in Seoul to hand out promotional brochures to citizens heading back to their hometowns for the holidays. Joining them was former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, who accepted the party chief’s proposal to take the position of co-head of the p

Politics Jan. 23, 2020

The number of dads taking child care leave from work exceeded 20,000 for the first time last year, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Wednesday.The number of men working in the private sector who took parental leave last year was 22,297, up 26.2 percent from the previous year. This is the first time that the tally surpassed the 20,000 mark. Men accounted for 21.2 percent of all parents taking child care leave, with this figure exceeding 20 percent for the first time. Civil

Social Affairs Jan. 22, 2020

One in four South Koreans said they would support a new party created after the merger of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party and the minor New Conservative Party, receiving a lower rating than the ruling Democratic Party, a poll showed Wednesday. Commissioned by online news outlet OhmyNews, Realmeter conducted a survey of 1,002 people adults nationwide between Monday and Tuesday. In the survey, the approval rating for the new integrated conservative party came to 25.1 percent. Under th

Politics Jan. 22, 2020

Yongin, a city of 1 million located about 40 kilometers south of Seoul, aims to take the livelihood of its citizens to the next level, with improvements in living environments, job opportunities and municipal services. “This year will mark the first year for our city to raise the level of all sectors to the next level,” said Mayor Baek Kun-ki. Under the slogan “Upgrading Yongin,” Baek laid out five policy pillars for this year: invigorating the city economy and its compet

Social Affairs Jan. 19, 2020

Ahn Cheol-soo, founder of the Bareunmirae Party and former presidential contender, said Sunday that he will challenge Korean politics, characterized by idealistic rivalries and partisan strife, with a new centrist political movement. Upon his arrival from Canada, Ahn pledged, in front of hundreds of his supporters at the Incheon International Airport, a practical and realistic political vision to better the livelihood of the people. “I will take the lead in correcting the current governmen

Politics Jan. 19, 2020

Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon returned to the Democratic Party on Wednesday, amid expectations that he will be a key candidate for the ruling camp in the general elections in April.Korea’s longest-serving prime minister wrapped up his term of two years and eight months on Tuesday, kicking off the day by attending the ruling party’s Supreme Council meeting.  Democratic Party Chairman Lee Hae-chan said he expects Lee Nak-yeon to play a core role when the party launches its in

Politics Jan. 15, 2020

A day after suffering two painful setbacks, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party ratcheted up its rhetoric toward the liberal ruling camp, condemning almost every bit of President Moon Jae-in’s New Year’s press conference. Calling the Moon administration “a tyranny,” the party’s spokesperson Jun Hee-kyung said, “How dare the government praise itself when it entered the path of judicial control, public welfare debacle and security breakdown?” The heigh

Politics Jan. 14, 2020

Reforming the “almighty prosecution” was one of President Moon Jae-in’s top priorities, one he was painfully aware could threaten his political fortunes but saw as too important to fail.  　His campaign so far to overhaul the powerful law enforcement agency has proved as difficult as he must have anticipated. Two justice ministers have been appointed for the task. One bowed out after two weeks on the job and the other, the incumbent, faces an opposition-led parliamentary im

Politics Jan. 12, 2020

Rival parties clashed over the new justice minister’s decision to replace senior prosecutors who have played leading roles in investigations targeting Cheong Wa Dae officials. On Wednesday, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae announced a personnel reshuffle affecting 32 senior posts at the prosecution, mainly targeting those who have focused on scandals involving former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and presidential aides. Choo took office last week pledging to carry out President Moon Jae-in’s p

Politics Jan. 9, 2020

Prosecutors have asked an appeal court to increase the jail term for former President Lee Myung-bak to 23 years on charges of bribery and embezzlement, and sought a fine of 32 billion won ($27.3 million). The Seoul High Court heard appeals from the disgraced president and prosecutors over a lower court’s October 2018 ruling that sentenced Lee to 15 years in prison on convictions of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power, and ordered him to pay a fine of 13 billion won. Charges against Le

Social Affairs Jan. 8, 2020

Prosecutors on Tuesday summoned a former CEO of Samsung C&T, as part of its ongoing investigation into the firm’s alleged accounting fraud during its 2015 merger with its sister company Cheil Industries.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office initially planned to question Kim Shin, who headed Samsung C&T from 2010 and 2018, on details of the controversial merger but sent him back due to an attorney issue. The prosecution suspects that Samsung C&T deliberately

Social Affairs Jan. 7, 2020

A confirmation hearing for Prime Minister nominee Chung Sye-kyun will begin Tuesday as the main opposition party questions the appropriateness of a parliamentary speaker taking the top government post. The six-term ruling party lawmaker and former National Assembly speaker will face two days of questioning to determine whether he is to replace Lee Nak-yon, who will return to the ruling Democratic Party to lead its April parliamentary election campaign. The main opposition Liberty Korea Part

Politics Jan. 6, 2020