Rep. Koh Dong-jin, former Samsung CEO, files bill to lift chipmakers’ 52-hour workweek cap nationwide

Rep. Koh Dong-jin of the main opposition People Power Party introduced a bill Friday to exempt semiconductor research and development personnel nationwide from South Korea’s 52-hour workweek cap. The bill from Koh, a former Samsung Electronics chief executive, comes amid reports that the government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea are considering exempting chipmakers in the southwestern Honam region from the workweek cap as part of plans to develop a second semiconductor belt there. The

2026-07-31 12:21:56:00

Disgraced soccer figures apologize for World Cup flop; deny nepotism

Disgraced soccer figures on Thursday apologized for the South Korean men's national team's group stage elimination from the World Cup. They were summoned to a parliamentary hearing on alleged corruption in the Korea Football Association, including its head coach hiring process. The figures in the hearing, however, denied allegations of nepotism linked to Hong Myung-bo's controversial appointment as head coach of the men's national football team in 2024. At the hearing held by the National Assemb

2026-07-30 11:53:18:00

Yet another filibuster expected for prosecutorial reform bill

The National Assembly appears on course for its 33rd filibuster in just over two years, with a bill removing all investigative powers from the prosecution set to be put to a plenary session on Thursday. Although the main opposition People Power Party appears likely to launch yet another filibuster to resist the contentious bill to revise the Criminal Procedure Act, the move is unlikely to achieve little more than a 24-hour delay. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea and other minor liberal part

2026-07-29 14:30:12:00

Speaker says changes to presidential term 'up to the people'

National Assembly Speaker Rep. Cho Jeong-sik said Tuesday that changes to the Constitution that affect the incumbent president's term are "up to the people," hinting at a shift in the ruling bloc's stance on the matter. In his first news conference since assuming the role of speaker in June, the six-term lawmaker said it would be "premature to discuss" the matter of easing the term limit in the amendment debate, but did not rule out the possibility of doing so. "I believe these matters are up t

2026-07-28 15:32:46:00

Land Minister hints at turning vacant offices into houses to tame housing concerns

Kim Yun-duk, minister of land, infrastructure and transport, said on Monday he was considering repurposing vacant offices or commercial properties into housing amid concerns about housing supply instability in South Korea. At a forum in Seoul hosted by Prime Minister Han Seong-sook, Kim said the government was taking the matter of solving the young generation's housing problems "very seriously." He added that developing commercial properties into residential buildings would be his signature poli

2026-07-27 18:42:09:00

Justice Minister cites health issue amid prosecutorial reform push

Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho cited a health issue when asked about rumors that he would soon resign from the post, during a general meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee at the National Assembly on Monday. Jung's remarks comes at a time when the ruling Democratic Party, which holds the majority of seats in the National Assembly, is seeking to complete its signature prosecutorial reform drive, removing all investigative powers and leaving prosecutors with only the power of indictmen

2026-07-27 16:22:08:00

Lee highlights South Korean potential in Silicon Valley

President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday highlighted the potential synergy between South Korea and the US, saying that collaboration could give rise to the next generation of mega companies like Samsung and Hyundai, at a meeting with representatives of US venture capital firms in Silicon Valley. Such potential rests on South Korean firms' technological prowess and their ability to deliver fast execution, manufacturing capacity, advanced digital infrastructure, human talent and cultural competitivenes

2026-07-26 14:38:41:00

History of Democratic Party's decadeslong prosecution reform

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea's push for the complete removal of the prosecution's investigative power is now in its final stretch, despite a range of concerns over the monumental change in South Korea's criminal justice system. On Friday, the party announced its plan to confirm a revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, which would remove the prosecution's power to investigate without exceptions, on a party-line bill. At present, the prosecution can investigate a criminal case if it is d

2026-07-26 14:32:56:00

3-way race confirmed for Democratic Party convention

A three-way leadership race for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea was confirmed Thursday, after two of the five candidates dropped out. The three shortlisted to vie for party leadership are former Prime Minister and four-term lawmaker Rep. Kim Min-seok; former Democratic Party chair and four-term lawmaker Rep. Jung Chung-rae, who is running again; and six-term lawmaker Rep. Song Young-gil, who succeeded Lee Jae Myung after Lee became president. Two-term lawmaker Rep. Ko Min-jung and Kim Bo-mi

2026-07-23 19:22:58:00

6 standing committee chairs elected as opposition ends boycott

Six standing committee chairs were elected at the National Assembly's plenary session on Thursday as the main opposition People Power Party ended its boycott in the parliament. Most of those elected to chair committees for the next two years are three-term lawmakers of the People Power Party, except for four-term Rep. Yu Eui-dong, who will lead the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee. Rep. Kim Hee-jung will head the Education Committee; Rep. Song Seog-jun will chair the Foreign Affairs

2026-07-23 13:40:32:00