Ruling party wins 11 committee chairs, confirms PM Han amid opposition boycott

The National Assembly on Tuesday elected 11 lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea as chairs of parliamentary committees after weeks of negotiations with the main opposition People Power Party collapsed. Those put to the vote for election in Tuesday's session were Rep. Seo Young-kyo, chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee; Rep. Yoo Dong-soo, chair of the National Policy Committee; Rep. Jo Seoung-lae, chair of the Economy, Planning and Budget Committee; and Rep. Han Byung-d

2026-06-30 20:31:23:00

PPP chair struggles to address calls for resignation

The leader of South Korea's right-wing People Power Party, Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, is facing mounting calls for resignation in reckoning for the party's defeats in June's local elections. Reformists accused him of suppressing opponents to cling to his leadership post after Jang refused to resign and hinted at disciplinary action against other members for damaging the party. In the latest tally, more than 10,000 people had signed a petition started by party reformists on June 22 calling for Jang's

2026-06-30 14:17:27:00

Tensions flare inside ruling party ahead of leadership race

Internal division within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea appears to be growing as left-leaning commentators accuse President Lee Jae Myung of alienating core supporters in his effort to appeal to swing voters. The controversy comes less than two months before the party's Aug. 17 national convention, where members will elect a new chairperson. The race is shaping up to be a contest between outgoing Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Rep. Jung Chung-rae, who recently stepped down as party chair

2026-06-29 14:29:27:00

Lee blasts KFA for naming 'incompetent leader,' vows to push for reform

President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday pledged to look into the controversial process through which the Korea Football Association named Hong Myung-bo as the manager of the South Korean national soccer team in 2024. His X post came in a show of disappointment over South Korea's elimination from the World Cup. "I am more than perplexed by the unexpected outcome. I am dumbfounded," Lee wrote on X on Sunday, hours after South Korea failed to qualify for the Round of 32. "It has been proven once again th

2026-06-28 18:01:37:00

Lee touts chip plant in southwest as major announcement looms

President Lee Jae Myung is set to unveil a blockbuster project for South Korea's balanced economic growth at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Monday, where Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are expected to announce their bids to build new plants outside the capital region. According to Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday, the two memory chipmakers, currently riding a global artificial intelligence boom, will announce their investment plans, followed by the government's presentation on the policy for "megaprojects,"

2026-06-28 15:33:09:00

6-term lawmaker blasts KFA as 'biggest enemy' of Korean soccer

Six-term lawmaker Rep. Song Young-gil has called for a complete restructuring of the Korea Football Association, soccer's governing body in Korea. The ruling party politician's remarks, made Saturday on Facebook, come amid growing public disappointment in the performance of South Korean men's national football team, many pointing to a lack of transparency in decisionmaking such as the appointment of the head coach. "What South Korean football needs the most is not merely the replacement of a hea

2026-06-28 12:04:02:00

Governor-elect invites Nvidia CEO to K-BBQ dinner in Saemangeum

Lee Won-taeg, governor-elect of North Jeolla Province, has extended an invitation to Jensen Huang, founder and chief executive officer of US chipmaker Nvidia, for a casual dinner meeting with him. The liberal governor-elect seeks to offer the reclaimed land of Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, to be used as a hub for Nvidia's envisioned artificial intelligence technology. "I want to invite you to Saemangeum for something deeply authentic: a relaxed evening of Samgyeopsal and a good drink," said

2026-06-28 10:51:21:00

Govt. backs removal of prosecutors' investigative powers

The South Korean government on Thursday endorsed the abolition of prosecutors' remaining authority to conduct supplementary investigations, backing the full removal of the prosecution's investigative powers as the ruling bloc presses ahead with its judicial overhaul. The decision resolves one of the final outstanding questions surrounding the reform package: Would prosecutors retain limited authority to conduct "further investigations" in exceptional cases after a new crime investigation agency

2026-06-25 15:15:11:00

PM nominee calls NK 'threat and compatriot'

Prime minister nominee Han Seong-sook said Thursday that North Korea is both a threat and a compatriot, as lawmakers questioned her views on inter-Korean relations during her confirmation hearing. One key issue raised during the opening day of the two-day hearing was whether North Korea's regime and military should continue to be designated as South Korea's enemy in the defense white paper. In response to an inquiry by Rep. Kim Sun-gyo of the main opposition People Power Party about whether Nort

2026-06-25 14:56:44:00

Ruling party chair steps down ahead of convention

Democratic Party of Korea Chair Jung Chung-rae has resigned from his post in apparent preparation to stand again for leadership of the party at its August convention. The four-term lawmaker announced his intention to step down at the ruling party's Supreme Council meeting Wednesday. Some speculate that the future of the government and the party — in the midst of dropping approval ratings and interfactional power struggles — could hinge on the outcome of the convention expected on Aug. 17. Jung h

2026-06-24 11:31:59:00