Most Popular
-
1
[Weekender] Geeks have never been so chic in Korea
-
2
[KH Explains] Why Korea's so tough on short selling
-
3
[News Focus] Mystery deepens after hundreds of cat deaths in S. Korea
-
4
NewJeans members submit petitions over court injunction in Hybe-Ador conflict
-
5
N. Korea says it test-fired tactical ballistic missile with new guidance technology
-
6
‘Kim desperately wanted to denuclearize,’ Moon writes in memoirs
-
7
Actors involved in past controversies return first via streaming service originals
-
8
S. Korea's exports of instant noodles surpass $100m for 1st time in April: data
-
9
Korea set to finalize medical school expansion plans
-
10
Yoon, first lady celebrate return of Buddhist relics after century
-
Moon Jae-in throws hat into presidential race
Rep. Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Democratic United Party on Sunday announced that he would join the party primary for the Dec. 19 presidential election. One of the closest associates of the late President Roh Moo-hyun, Moon is expected to succeed Roh’s liberal agenda by focusing on fairness, welfare and civic participation in contrast with his potential rival Park Geun-hye of the Saenuri Party. “My politics will be about people and go alongside people. Gone are the days when money and pow
June 17, 2012
-
Progressive lawmaker sparks controversy by disavowing national anthem
Rep. Lee Seok-gi, an opposition lawmaker under pressure to resign for being involved in an election fraud and sympathetic to North Korea, has rekindled the pro-North controversy by disapproving of South Korea's national anthem, Aegukga.Lee, a member of the Unified Progressive Party (UPP), has grabbed the media spotlight after he was elected to parliament in April through the UPP's rigged proportio
June 17, 2012
-
S. Korea, U.S. to strengthen missile defense against N.K.
The defense and foreign ministers of South Korea and the U.S. on Thursday agreed to seek measures to strengthen a comprehensive missile defense capability to deal with threats from North Korea’s long-range missiles.During the so-called “two-plus-two” meeting in Washington, they also agreed to establish a consultation channel on cyber security, recognizing the growing challenge posed by Pyongyang’s focus on enhancing electronic and cyber warfare tactics.The second high-profile talks at the U.S. S
June 15, 2012
-
Ruling party jolted by leak of members’ info
The ruling Saenuri Party came under fire for its membership list leak, ahead of its presidential candidate primary.The right-wing party kicked off an internal investigation task force on Friday to look into the charges that a ranking official sold the party’s member register to a text message provider in January-March, before the April general elections.The list included the personal information such as names, addresses and telephone numbers of some 2.2 million party members, according to prosec
June 15, 2012
-
Little progress in Saenuri row over primary rules
The ruling Saenuri Party failed Friday to find a compromise in an escalating dispute over how to pick its presidential candidate as differences between party leaders and minor hopefuls were too wide, an official said.At the center of the row is a demand from three contenders ― Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Moon-soo and Reps. Chung Mong-joon and Lee Jae-oh ― that the party fully open its primary voting to non-party members in what is dubbed an “open primary” system. They claim the current rules fav
June 15, 2012
-
Ruling party kicks off negotiations to defuse row over primary rules
The ruling Saenuri Party kicked off negotiations Friday to defuse an escalating row over how to pick its presidential candidate after underdogs in the race threatened to bow out en masse unless primary rules are changed first.At issue is a demand from three minor contenders -- Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Moon-soo and Reps. Chung Mong-joon and Lee Jae-oh -- that the party fully open the primary voti
June 15, 2012
-
Ruling party kicks off negotiations to defuse row over primary rules
The ruling Saenuri Party kicked off negotiations Friday to defuse an escalating row over how to pick its presidential candidate after underdogs in the race threatened to bow out en masse unless primary rules are changed first.At issue is a demand from three minor contenders – Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Moon-soo and Reps. Chung Mong-joon and Lee Jae-oh -- that the party fully open the primary votin
June 15, 2012
-
S. Korea, U.S., Japan seek security ties
China’s rise, North Korea’s threat bolster trilateral cooperation; historical animosity, economic interests with Beijing still in the wayNorth Korea’s continuing saber-rattling and China’s growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific are reviving momentum for enhanced security cooperation among the U.S., South Korea and Japan.Washington has long sought the three-way tie-up to lessen its security burden while maintaining its preeminence in the region, particularly at a time of fiscal austerity. But
June 14, 2012
-
Ex-DP chief announces bid for presidency
Sohn Hak-kyu, former opposition leader, declared his intention to run in the Democratic United Party’s presidential primary against two heavyweights loyal to late President Roh Moo-hyun.“People’s livelihoods and social unity are the top two priority tasks for the next president to accomplish,” said the senior advisor of the main opposition party, in a press conference at Gwangwhamun Plaza. The former DP chief made his speech in front of the statue of King Sejong, one of the most respected kings
June 14, 2012
-
Saenuri may demand justice minister’s ouster
The Saenuri Party said Thursday it is open to discussing the main opposition party’s proposal to push for the dismissal of Justice Minister Kwon Jae-jin over his alleged role in the government’s illegal surveillance of civilians. “As he (Kwon) was the secretary for civic affairs when the surveillance activities were taking place, and the justice minister during the investigation, it will not be easy for him to avoid taking responsibility,” floor spokesperson Hong Il-pyo said on a local radio sho
June 14, 2012
-
DUP gripped by fresh voting row
New allegations of election fraud are looming large over the main opposition Democratic United Party, adding to growing factional strife ahead of its presidential primary race. A party member in Gyeonggi Province, supposed to be a supporter for new party leader Lee Hae-chan was found to have voted twice in its recent leadership election.He took part in the mobile-phone election on June 1 as an ordinary member and later cast his ballot as a policy delegate in the national convention on Saturday,
June 14, 2012
-
History of obstacles
The basic condition for three-way cooperation was first forged in 1965 when Seoul and Japan reestablished their diplomatic relationship amid Washington’s push for its normalization to help keep China and the former Soviet Union in check.The normalization deal came as the South was in dire need of economic assistance from outside to spur its development while Japan needed to mend fences with neighboring countries to reestablish its status.But the deal failed to lead to trilateral security coopera
June 14, 2012
-
Prosecutors raid offices of UPP’s Lee
Lawmaker suspected of corrupt ties with a local education chiefProsecutors on Thursday raided the private offices of leftist lawmaker Lee Seok-ki as part of their probe into the suspected election fraud involving a regional education chief.Lee of the Unified Progressive Party is also embroiled in a separate vote-rigging scandal at his party and is facing calls to give up his parliamentary seat. The prosecution explained the raid was unrelated to the UPP controversy.The search and seizure was co
June 14, 2012
-
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