Why ruling party feud erupts into open challenge to its leader

Months of factional infighting within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea spilled into the open on Friday, as three senior officials boycotted a leadership meeting and demanded an ethics investigation into party chair Kim Min-seok. The three — Reps. Choi Min-hee, Lee Sung-yoon and Han Min-soo, who make up three of the party’s five elected supreme council members — held a separate news conference. Their protest came a day after Kim ordered an ethics investigation into Choi over remarks suggestin

2026-11-13 18:06:36:00

Hostile takeovers 'most important tool' to normalize Korean stock market, Lee says

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that hostile mergers and acquisitions are "the most important mechanism for normalizing the market," urging officials to examine what could help tackle the country's persistently undervalued stocks. "From the government's standpoint, we need to revitalize M&A. We need to make M&A easier and more frequent for the market to normalize," Lee said during a two-and-a-half-hour capital market policy meeting at the Korea Exchange in Seoul. Lee argued that South Korea

2026-11-13 15:11:50:00

‘Megaproject’ breaks ground at Samsung memory plant

South Korea broke ground Thursday on the first project under its flagship industrial megaproject initiative at Samsung Electronics’ advanced chip packaging facility, just four months after the government unveiled the plan. President Lee Jae Myung joined Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong at the company's Onyang campus in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, where a decades-old semiconductor assembly and testing operation is being transformed into a hub for advanced high-bandwidth memory pack

2026-11-12 15:29:50:00

Lee to call for cooperation on energy supply risks at ASEAN, APEC summits

President Lee Jae Myung will underscore the need for closer regional cooperation to withstand energy supply disruptions at two major regional summits next week, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Lee will embark on a four-day diplomatic trip from Monday, attending a series of summits involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila, the Philippines, before traveling to Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit , national security adviser Wi Sung-lac announced Thurs

2026-11-12 12:56:27:00

Cabinet approves wider naval operations closer to Hormuz; Assembly vote next

South Korea's Cabinet on Tuesday approved a plan to expand the operational area of its Cheonghae anti-piracy unit closer to the Strait of Hormuz, with the proposal now awaiting National Assembly consent. The decision, made at a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae Myung at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, comes amid Washington's calls for allies and partners to help secure the strategic waterway, potentially expanding Seoul's role in regional maritime security. The motion will be submitted to the

2026-11-10 12:04:51:00

‘Paycheck defense squad’ now goes on duty at presidential office

South Korea's presidential office is putting its "Paycheck Defense Squad" to work, aiming to help salaried workers cut living expenses and keep more of their hard-earned money. Presidential Chief of Staff Lim Kwang-hyun announced the launch of the task force during a weekly meeting of senior presidential aides Monday, according to a written statement from Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong. “There’s a rueful saying among office workers that their current accounts are like bus stops

2026-11-09 18:19:17:00

Lee vows gov't will be a lifeline for firefighters as on-duty deaths raise alarm

President Lee Jae Myung pledged Monday to secure stable funding for fire services and strengthen firefighter safety amid growing calls for reform following a series of deaths in the line of duty. In a speech marking the 64th Firefighters' Day, Lee highlighted the significance of 119, the country's emergency number for fire, rescue and ambulance services, as a symbol of public trust. "Those three digits embody the faith and hope that someone will surely come to our rescue when we are in danger,"

2026-11-09 14:33:41:00

Taste of Winter: Korea issues first heavy snow advisory of season

South Korea issued its first heavy snow advisory of the autumn season Sunday evening for the mountainous areas of Inje in Gangwon Province. The Korea Meteorological Administration issued the advisory at 7 p.m., warning that more snow could accumulate overnight at higher elevations. A heavy snow advisory is issued when snowfall is expected to reach at least 5 centimeters within 24 hours. As of 7 p.m., Mount Seorak had recorded 3.9 centimeters of snow, followed by 2.6 centimeters in Imnam, Cheorwo

2026-11-08 20:23:12:00

Gov't weighs W2tr in urgent firefighting aid amid local funding strain

South Korea’s central government and ruling party have agreed to consider providing around 2 trillion won ($1.5 billion) in financial support for urgent, essential firefighting investments, amid growing scrutiny of a funding system that leaves local governments bearing most of the costs. The ruling Democratic Party announced the plan on Sunday following a high-level meeting involving the party, government and presidential office at the prime minister’s official residence in Seoul. “We agreed to

2026-11-08 20:10:17:00

Vietnam takes baton from Seoul for 2028 gathering of Asia, Oceanian parties

Vietnam will take the baton from Seoul to host the next gathering of ruling and opposition parties from across Asia and Oceania in 2028. The International Conference of Asian Political Parties, a forum bringing together political parties regardless of ideology or political system, concluded two days of plenary sessions at its 13th General Assembly on Friday. The assembly drew representatives of 83 political parties from 36 countries, according to organizers. Jointly hosted by South Korea's rulin

2026-11-08 18:33:21:00