Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday discovered documents from the former Lee Myung-bak administration that are rumored to contain evidence of links between the government and corporations, local media outlets reported Wednesday.The contents of the documents, found in the office of the presidential secretary for national security, have not been disclosed. But they reportedly concern the construction of Lotte World Tower in southern Seoul by retail giant Lotte Group, and include information on dealings invol

Politics July 26, 2017

A South Korean lawmaker on Tuesday proposed a bill to designate parking spaces for pregnant women. Proportional representative Kim Hyun-a of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party submitted the bill to the National Assembly, after a citizen requested its enactment on a popular Korean TV program “Infinite Challenge,” citing physical difficulties she faced while parking in narrow parking spaces.  Parking space designated for the disabled (Yonhap)The proposal aims to revise an existing law governi

Politics July 25, 2017

Rep. Lee Jeong-mi, the newly appointed chair of the far-left Justice Party, on Monday vowed to bring “minor agendas,” such as issues involving gender disparity, sexual minorities and farmers, to South Korea’s mainstream politics. “Issues like the gender gap, temporary employees, farmers or sexual minorities have been considered as accessories in the field of South Korean politics,” Lee told reporters at a luncheon, nearly two weeks into the job. “We will not be a party offering a stopgap measure

Politics July 24, 2017

Three members of the North Chungcheong provincial assembly were expelled from the Liberty Korea Party on Monday, following criticism for going on an overseas trip while the region was severely hit by heavy rains. “We decided to revoke the party membership of the three who evoked much criticism,” the main opposition party’s spokesperson Jun Hee-kyung said in a party meeting.  Members of North Chungcheong Provincial Assembly, Kim Hak-chul (left) and Park Han-beom, apologize at the North Chucheong

Politics July 24, 2017

The government will execute 70 percent of the supplementary budget approved Saturday before October, in an attempt to maximize its effects and to offset the delay in its approval by the National Assembly. “It is very important to effectively execute the budget at the right time and place to maximize the influence of the funds,” Vice Minister Kim Yong-jin of the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said in an urgent economy inspection meeting held Saturday after the bill was passed. “We will come up

Politics July 23, 2017

For Kim Chong-in, 78, morning starts at 5 a.m., with news updates about world politics. “Humans are political animals. You should know what’s going on around the world,” the veteran politician told The Korea Herald at his office in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul. That’s the approach Kim, originally an economics professor, took to stay relevant, and ideally ahead of the game, for more than three decades in South Korea’s turbulent politics. Of all countries, France is his main interest now, Kim said,

Politics July 21, 2017

With more than a century of history, Gwangjang traditional market is still bustling with shoppers and visitors. Although it sells all sorts of goods from clothes to fresh meat and vegetables, the biggest reason that people flock here is food. Long lines of stalls offer visitors a wide variety of food available at cheap prices, starting right from South Koreans’ all-time favorite delicacies – tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and sundae (pig intestines filled with glass noodles) -- to sushi and beef s

Social Affairs July 21, 2017

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party on Wednesday filed a complaint against Blue House officials for leaking presidential records of the previous administration, claiming they broke a law banning the documents’ public disclosure for 30 years. The complaint requests the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office to investigate presidential spokesperson Park Soo-hyun and others involved in two live press briefings held on the discoveries, in two batches, and the content of the dossiers, purportedly complied d

Politics July 20, 2017

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday appealed for parliamentary support of his core issues, including an extra budget bill currently pending, in a rare meeting with opposition party leaders. During a meeting with the heads of four political parties over a luncheon at Cheong Wa Dae, including his ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Moon proposed to leave acrimonies in the past and open a new cooperative dialogue, while pledging not to seek a political vendetta on opponents.  (Yonhap)“Even if the parl

Politics July 19, 2017

The National Assembly failed to handle President Moon Jae-in’s extra budget and government reorganization plans at a plenary session Tuesday, as rival parties continued to lock horns over some key details. The parties, however, agreed to continue negotiations and were likely to convene another plenary session Wednesday.  The plenary session goes into a temporary suspension at the National Assembly on Tuesday. It didn’t resume until in the evening. (Yonhap)At Tuesday’ plenary, which was originall

Politics July 18, 2017

Senior politicians and lawmakers called for a constitutional reform plan that reflects the opinions of the people during a debate at the National Assembly on Monday, the 69th Constitution Day.“Constitutional reform is now an order from the people and the duty of lawmakers. The amending procedures should also be led by the people, not by a specific authority or political factions,” National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun said, opening the debate. National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun delivers

Politics July 17, 2017

Minor parties are struggling with criminal allegations just as the parliament looks set to resume normal operations. On Friday, Lee Yoo-mi, a rank-and-file member of the People’s Party, was indicted on charges of fabricating evidence to smear President Moon Jae-in’s son during the presidential election. Lee was found to have fabricated evidence, including a voice recording, to back the allegation that Moon’s son Joon-yong was unfairly hired at a public agency with the help of his father. With a

Politics July 14, 2017

The Moon Jae-in administration’s supplementary budget plan gained much needed momentum Thursday with the minor opposition People’s Party agreeing to cooperate with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. With the support of the People’s Party, the Democratic Party is expected to push the bill through the budget committee, which will then enable it to be put to the plenary session set for July 18. As the review at the committee level was expected to take between five and seven days, Thursday was th

Politics July 13, 2017

Rep. Lee Hye-hoon, chairwoman of the conservative splinter Bareun Party, on Wednesday paid homage to the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, a liberal icon openly disdained by the conservative old guard. “I will restructure true conservativism and make South Korea healthy, keeping balance between the right and left wing,” she wrote in the visitor’s book. Meeting the widow, former first lady Kwon Yang-suk, she said her party and the late president have some common ground in their political vision

Politics July 12, 2017

An executive of Seoul Metro, a subway operator in the capital, received personal favors from a company in return for helping it win a contract to supply trains, the state audit agency said Tuesday. The Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea said it has requested the subway operator to dismiss the official, a 57-year old surnamed Cho, and impose severe disciplinary action on two other individuals linked to Cho’s alleged wrongdoings. Seoul Metro (Yonhap)Cho is suspected to have influenced the bidd

Social Affairs July 11, 2017