The Korea Times

Gov’t to spend 85% of supplementary budget by June

The government will execute 85 percent of its supplementary budget within the first half of this year, in an effort to help boost consumer spending and revitalize the economy as the Middle East crisis continues to weigh on energy costs and supply chains. Government officials and members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea announced Monday that they are pushing to front-load spending and roll out relief measures for households. As part of the scheme, the government will accelerate the execution of a 26.2 trillion won ($17.7 billion) supplementary budget passed earlier this month, in order to deliver support quickly to households and businesses. “The supplementary budget must be implemented swiftly to ensure it reaches those who need it without delay,” said Rep. Ahn Do-geol, a senior lawmaker involved in the discussions. Alongside the spending plan, officials are also preparing to lower vehicle insurance premiums, citing reduced driving under emergency traffic restrictions. As the energy supply has become unstable, the government implemented a two-day vehicle rotation system for th

Apr 13, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Gov’t to spend 85% of supplementary budget by June

Politics

Ruling party rides early momentum as key battlegrounds take shape

With about 50 days remaining until the June 3 local elections, the ruling and opposition parties are moving at different speeds in preparing for the vote. While the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has finalized candidates in key regions and shifted into campaign mode, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is still working through delays and internal friction in several races. This difference in pace is beginning to define the broader contours of the election, although major battlegrounds remain unsettled. According to sources in political circles, candidates from both major parties have now been confirmed in five of the 16 metropolitan races, including those in Incheon, Gangwon, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang and Busan. In several other regions, nominations are in their final stages, with parties expected to finalize their lists in the coming days. The DPK has taken the lead in this process. It has either confirmed or is close to finalizing candidates in major regions, in some cases opting for single nominations to avoid prolonged primaries. Rep. Choo Mi-ae, the party’s candidate

Apr 12, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Ruling party rides early momentum as key battlegrounds take shape

Politics

DPK far outpaces PPP in nominations for Daegu mayoral election

The race for Daegu mayor ahead of the June 3 local elections is beginning to take shape, but the two major parties are moving at noticeably different speeds. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has already locked in its candidate, while the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is still dealing with fallout from its nomination process, with disputes continuing inside the party and outside challengers emerging as a real possibility. The liberal DPK moved early, confirming former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum as its sole candidate in the city, a longtime stronghold for conservatives, and shifting quickly into campaign mode. Party leaders have since visited Daegu and begun coordinating support, signaling that the race is already underway for the party. Kim, a four-term lawmaker who represented Daegu’s Suseong District and later served as prime minister, is one of the party’s most recognizable figures. The party is betting on his experience and name recognition in a region where it has long struggled to gain ground. During a visit to Daegu, DPK leader Jung Chung-rae made that point

Apr 10, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

DPK far outpaces PPP in nominations for Daegu mayoral election

Politics

Chong Won-o named DPK candidate for Seoul; Chun Jae-soo for Busan

Chong Won-o, a former chief of Seoul’s Seongdong District, was nominated as the Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) candidate for Seoul mayor, Thursday, ahead of the June 3 local elections. He won the three-way primary against Reps. Park Ju-min and Jeon Hyun-heui. In the primary that reflected party member voters and public opinion polls 50-50, Chong secured more than half of the votes, avoiding a runoff. Speaking after the result was announced, Chong framed the mayoral election as a referendum on the current city administration run by Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is a member of the main opposition People Power Party. “We will judge the 10 years of incompetence under Mayor Oh and repeat the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration in Seoul,” he said. He also called for party unity, saying the outcome reflects “a clear mandate to win Seoul as one united DPK.” Chong, who won three consecutive elections in 2014, 2018 and 2022 to serve as Seongdong District chief, rose as a leading contender for Seoul mayor after President Lee publicly praised his administrative performance. In December la

Apr 9, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Chong Won-o named DPK candidate for Seoul; Chun Jae-soo for Busan

Defense

Finland orders 112 more K9 howitzers in $635 mil. follow-up deal

Finland signed a deal worth 940 billion won ($635 million) to purchase additional K9 self-propelled howitzers from Korea, placing a follow-up order after operating the system for several years. According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the contract was signed in Helsinki under a government-to-government framework between Finland’s Ministry of Defense and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), which acted as the contracting party on behalf of the Korean government. Such government-led deals are commonly used for defense exports to ensure accountability and consistent execution. The latest deal follows Finland’s initial introduction of the K9 in 2017, when it agreed to acquire 96 howitzers under a separate government-to-government contract. The system has since been deployed in active service, forming part of Finland’s artillery capabilities. Officials said the new order reflects the Finnish military’s assessment following years of field use, making it a repeat purchase based on operational experience rather than a first-time acquisition. DAPA

Apr 9, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Finland orders 112 more K9 howitzers in $635 mil. follow-up deal

Foreign Affairs

Republicans face midterm risks as Middle East crisis drags on, former Trump official says

The conflict in the Middle East could prove costly for Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections, a former senior Trump administration official warned Wednesday, cautioning that the crisis risks pulling U.S. President Donald Trump's attention away from the economic issues critical to securing his political base. Fred Fleitz, a former chief of staff of the U.S. National Security Council, said the war could complicate the political landscape as the midterms approach. “I think the midterms are going to be very hard for Republicans to hold the House,” Fleitz told The Korea Times, Wednesday. He urged the Trump administration to refocus on domestic priorities, particularly the economy, to maintain support among his base as well as independents. “The president and his team really need to double down right now, reassuring the American people and focusing on economic issues,” he said. Fleitz said international developments risk pulling attention away from that effort. “These international issues are distracting Trump from what he needs to do to nail down his base and independents,” he s

Apr 8, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Republicans face midterm risks as Middle East crisis drags on, former Trump official says

Former Trump official proposes expanding Quad to include S. Korea as 'Quint'

People & Events

Remains of soldier killed in Korean War return home after 75 years

The remains of a South Korean soldier killed in the Korean War (1950-53) have been returned to his family after 75 years, the Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday. The soldier was identified as Jeon Seung-nam, who was 19 at the time and served in the Army’s 8th Division. He was killed during a fight at Mount Baekseok in Gangwon Province in October 1951. His remains were recovered in Yanggu, Gangwon Province, in November 2024, and his identity was later confirmed through DNA analysis, the ministry recovery unit said. Born in 1931 in Naju, South Jeolla Province, Jeon volunteered for service in May 1951 during the height of the war. After completing training, he was assigned to the 8th Division and deployed to the front lines, where fighting remained intense. The fighting was part of a series of intense clashes in the area, as South Korean forces sought to secure key high ground against North Korean and Chinese troops during armistice talks. It took years to confirm his identity. DNA samples were first collected from his younger sister in 2017, with additional samples from his brot

Apr 8, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Remains of soldier killed in Korean War return home after 75 years

Defense

Defense minister pushes military overhaul to address troop shortage

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Tuesday the government will push ahead with a broad restructuring of the military to address a looming manpower shortage driven by the country's declining birthrate. Speaking at a press dinner in Seoul, Ahn said the Ministry of National Defense is redesigning the military’s force, unit and personnel structures as part of a comprehensive reform package. “The demographic cliff is no longer a distant concern. It is becoming a reality for our national security,” he said. The reform plan is expected to be finalized later this year, following a defense reform seminar and Cabinet review, with presidential approval targeted for the third or fourth quarter. Ahn cited rapid changes in modern warfare as another key factor behind the overhaul. “We are seeing a shift toward asymmetric warfare, where low-cost drones can neutralize expensive advanced weapons,” he said. He also used demographic data to illustrate the scale of the challenge. According to Ahn, the number of newborns in 2023 stood at about 118,000. Under the current conscription system, this woul

Apr 8, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Defense minister pushes military overhaul to address troop shortage

Foreign Affairs

Former Trump official proposes expanding Quad to include S. Korea as 'Quint'

A former senior official in the U.S. Donald Trump administration has proposed expanding the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) security grouping to include South Korea, arguing that this would strengthen the region’s security architecture. He also expressed skepticism on the prospects for meaningful progress in a potential summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Fred Fleitz, former chief of staff of the U.S. National Security Council during Trump's first term and current vice chair of the America First Policy Institute, suggested South Korea's inclusion in the strategic regional security forum. “To further strengthen regional security architecture, I propose expanding the Quad — comprising the U.S., Japan, India and Australia — into ‘Quint’ by including South Korea,” Fleitz said Tuesday in a written interview with The Korea Times, one day ahead of his participation in the Asan Plenum 2026 in Seoul. He said South Korea’s inclusion would enhance the grouping’s role in maritime security and supply chain resilience, citing the cou

Apr 7, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Former Trump official proposes expanding Quad to include S. Korea as 'Quint'

Republicans face midterm risks as Middle East crisis drags on, former Trump official says

Politics

Presidential aide heads to Kazakhstan, Oman, Saudi Arabia to secure energy supplies

Kang Hoon-sik, presidential chief of staff, will depart Tuesday as a presidential envoy to Kazakhstan, Oman and Saudi Arabia to secure additional energy supplies amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Kang made the announcement during a press briefing on the Middle East situation at the presidential office earlier in the day, alongside Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy. The delegation includes officials from relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, as well as representatives from domestic energy companies. The trip aims to expand crude oil and naphtha imports and diversify supply sources as Seoul moves to reduce its dependence on a single supply corridor. “Our economy relies heavily on oil and naphtha imports from the Middle East, making it all the more urgent to secure alternative supply lines,” Kang said, adding that the government will work closely with companies to ensure shipments reach Korean ports without disruption. Kang noted that Korea imported more than 60 percent of its crude oil and over half of its naphtha

Apr 7, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

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Read more

Gov’t to spend 85% of supplementary budget by June

Ruling party rides early momentum as key battlegrounds take shape

DPK far outpaces PPP in nominations for Daegu mayoral election

Chong Won-o named DPK candidate for Seoul; Chun Jae-soo for Busan

Finland orders 112 more K9 howitzers in $635 mil. follow-up deal

Republicans face midterm risks as Middle East crisis drags on, former Trump official says

Remains of soldier killed in Korean War return home after 75 years

Defense minister pushes military overhaul to address troop shortage

Former Trump official proposes expanding Quad to include S. Korea as 'Quint'

Presidential aide heads to Kazakhstan, Oman, Saudi Arabia to secure energy supplies

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