The Korea Times

Seoul tasked with complex challenges ahead of visit of US diplomatic, defense policy chiefs

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks on foreign policy at the State Department, Wednesday, March 3, 2021 in Washington. AP-Yonhap By Do Je-hae Korea and the U.S. are coordinating a visit to Seoul by U.S. diplomatic and defense policy chiefs, according to Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. Although Seoul has not officially announced a date yet, latest reports say that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected in Korea March 17 and 18, following their visit to Japan. If the trip to Seoul happens, it will be the first time for the top U.S. policymakers in diplomacy and defense to visit Korea since President Joe Biden's inauguration in January. The consecutive visits to Seoul and Tokyo only two months following the launch of the new U.S. administration are seen as showing the level of importance that Washington places on the two allies in its diplomatic strategy.In an Interim National Security Strategy Guidance released by Presiden

Mar 6, 2021By Do Je-hae

Seoul tasked with complex challenges ahead of visit of US diplomatic, defense policy chiefs

Politics

'Spirit of the Constitution and the system of rule of law are falling apart'

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl arrives at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, Thursday. YonhapTop prosecutor resigns after clash with ruling blocBy Do Je-hae Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's offer to resign, following his continuing conflict with the ruling bloc over the latter's efforts for prosecutorial reform, was accepted by President Moon Jae-in only an hour after it was offered Thursday, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Yoon has claimed that the moves by the government and ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) were undemocratic and aimed at reducing the power of the prosecution.“I am offering to resign today,” Yoon earlier told reporters after arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul. “The spirit of the Constitution and the system of rule of law are falling apart before our eyes. And it is solely the people that will have to endure the consequences. I can no longer stand by and watch the collapse of common sense and justice that our society has fought so hard to achieve.” The resignation offer came a year and eight m

Mar 4, 2021By Do Je-hae

'Spirit of the Constitution and the system of rule of law are falling apart'

Politics

Investigation into LH workers' speculative land buying to intensify

Land Minister Byeon Chang-heum takes part in a meeting of economy-related ministries at the Government Complex Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in has ordered a thorough investigation into allegations of speculative illegal land purchases by employees of the state agency dealing with housing affairs, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday. Moon's instruction came a day after allegations emerged that 14 former and incumbent employees at the Korea Land & Housing Corp. (LH) and their family members purchased land in Siheung and Gwangmyeong, two cities in Gyeonggi Province designated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as new sites for a housing development project, based on inside government information prior to the project being announced last month.“President Moon ordered a thorough investigation into all land transactions of employees ― and their families ― at the land ministry and other related agencies involved in the third round of new housing projects in Siheung, Gwangmyeong and other areas,” presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok said

Mar 3, 2021By Do Je-hae

Investigation into LH workers' speculative land buying to intensify

Politics

Long way to go before opposition's fielding of single candidate

People's Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo, a candidate for the Seoul mayoral by-election, visits the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK) in Seoul, Monday. YonhapBy Do Je-haeAfter minor opposition People's Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo was confirmed Monday as the winner of a third-party primary for the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, all eyes are now on whether it will be possible for Ahn and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to field a single candidate as he has been suggesting. But it is widely predicted the discussion to field a single candidate to represent the opposition bloc will not be easy, as the People's Party and the PPP differ on how to select one, with each preferring a method that favors their own candidateAhn, who beat former ruling party lawmaker Keum Tae-sup in a public poll, said he will meet with the winner of the PPP's primary as soon as possible to enter into negotiations for a “unified candidate.” “The process for selecting the final candidate should be carried out quickly,” Ahn said on Facebook. “I will meet with t

Mar 2, 2021By Do Je-hae

Long way to go before opposition's fielding of single candidate

Health

New moms in their 20s becoming increasingly rare

New moms in Korea are increasingly in their 30s, a new study shows. GettyimagesbankBy Do Je-haeThe number of women in Korea who give birth for the first time in their 20s has decreased significantly over the last three decades, according to the latest government data. According to Statistics Korea, 62,200 babies were born to moms in their 20s in 2020, accounting for 22.1 percent of a total 272,400 births. In 1990, 524,411 babies were born from mothers in their 20s, accounting for 80.7 percent of the total. In 2000, the figure stood at 63.2 percent, or 404,592.On the other hand, the number of babies born to mothers in their 30s is on the rise. Last year, 197,300 babies were born to women in their 30s, or 72.4 percent of all births. This is also in in stark contrast to 1990 when only two out of 10 were in their 30s. The survey showed that the average age of women giving birth is also on the rise.Last year, the average age of women giving birth was 33.1 years. The average age was about 27 or 28 in the 1990s and surpassed 30 for the first time in 2005 when it rose to 30.2 years. "The ris

Mar 1, 2021By Do Je-hae

New moms in their 20s becoming increasingly rare

Portion of male births of newborns hits record low

Arts & Theater

Star violinist joins Deutsche Grammophon

Violinist Kim Bomsori / Korea Times fileBy Do Je-hae Violinist Kim Bomsori has signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon (DG), according to the prestigious recording company earlier this week. Her debut solo recording “Violin on Stage,” recorded in Poland with the NFM Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra, will be released in June, according to Universal Music. The recording features pieces written for ballet and opera. “I feel truly honored to join Deutsche Grammophon and follow in the footsteps of so many legendary artists,” Kim said in a statement. “The Yellow Label stands for excellence and the best of tradition. I hope my new album for DG will touch and inspire listeners of all ages.”DG expressed its excitement in signing a deal with the star violinist. “Her extraordinary virtuosity is matched by an ability to make the violin sing. We love the way she's prepared to take risks in the moment of performance and the heartfelt poetry of her playing,” said Clemens Trautmann, president of Deutsche Grammophon. “Bomsori's DG debu

Feb 25, 2021By Do Je-hae

Star violinist joins Deutsche Grammophon

North Korea

Will China, other countries show interest in Gaeseong Industrial Complex?

The road to Gaeseong in North Korea remains closed in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, in this April 2013 photo. Korea Times fileBy Do Je-hae Some experts call for companies from China, Russia and other countries to do business in North Korea's Gaeseong Industrial Complex, to prevent the symbol of inter-Korean economic cooperation from being shut down whenever inter-Korean relations go sour.It has been five years since the industrial complex in the North Korean border city was closed abruptly Feb. 10, 2016, during the Park Geun-hye administration, to protest North Korea's nuclear tests. The complex remains closed, despite calls from the businesses that took part in the project to reopen it. The Ministry of Unification has said this week that Seoul will continue to seek the reopening of the complex within the framework of international sanctions against North Korea. Pro-engagement experts have stressed that globalizing inter-Korean economic cooperation could be effective by making the two Koreas accountable not only to each other, but also toward a host of other countries with which they have

Feb 23, 2021By Do Je-hae

Will China, other countries show interest in Gaeseong Industrial Complex?

Politics

Fuss about senior presidential secretary shows cracks in state management system

Shin Hyun-soo, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, listens as President Moon Jae-in, shown on the video screen, speaks during a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. YonhapBy Do Je-hae Shin Hyun-soo, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, has decided to remain at Cheong Wa Dae despite offering his resignation earlier after a feud with the new justice minister over the reshuffle of senior prosecutors, according to the presidential office, Monday. Although the brouhaha about his resignation has been wrapped up for the time being, it showed Cheong Wa Dae has lost its grip on state management and that internal disputes in the ruling bloc are not being controlled properly in the latter part of President Moon Jae-in's term. “Shin has decided to ask the President to decide what to do with his offer of resignation,” Chung Man-ho, senior presidential secretary for public communication, told reporters, Monday. Shin carried out his duties as usual on the day, taking part in the weekly meeting with President Moon in the afternoon. The announcement

Feb 22, 2021By Do Je-hae

Fuss about senior presidential secretary shows cracks in state management system

Politics

Key presidential aides making trouble for Moon

President Moon Jae-in, left, and justice minister Cho Kuk, Moon's first senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, head toward a meeting room after an appointment ceremony for new Cabinet ministers at Cheong Wa Dae in September 2019. Moon appointed Cho as justice minister despite fierce protests from the opposition. Korea Times fileFour senior secretaries for civil affairs at center of political controversies By Do Je-haePresident Moon Jae-in has had four senior secretaries for civil affairs since taking office in May 2017, all of whom have ended up causing controversies that have damaged the public's trust in Moon's leadership.The senior aide for civil affairs is among the most powerful positions within Cheong Wa Dae ― Moon himself served in this position for the late former President Roh Moo-hyun from 2005 to 2006. One of the primary duties of the post is to oversee affairs related to the prosecution. It has been a longtime practice at the presidential office to name a prosecutor to the position, but the practice has not been followed so far in the current administration. Moo

Feb 19, 2021By Do Je-hae

Key presidential aides making trouble for Moon

North Korea

Kim Jong-un using 'president' as official English title

State TV footage shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presiding over a party meeting, Feb. 8. YonhapBy Do Je-hae North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is now using “president” as his official title in English, instead of “chairman” as he has used in the past, according to the North's state media. The English service of the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) has been using president rather than chairman since Feb. 12 a report about Kim's attendance at a Lunar New Year performance with leading members of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).Since then, the KCNA has been referring to him as the “general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).” The DPRK is North Korea's official name. “President Kim” appears in the latest English report about his visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, Wednesday, to mark the birthday of his late father, Kim Jong-il, whose body is displayed there alongside Kim Il-sung's.The change in his title followed the eighth party co

Feb 18, 2021By Do Je-hae

Do Je-hae

Read more

Seoul tasked with complex challenges ahead of visit of US diplomatic, defense policy chiefs

'Spirit of the Constitution and the system of rule of law are falling apart'

Investigation into LH workers' speculative land buying to intensify

Long way to go before opposition's fielding of single candidate

New moms in their 20s becoming increasingly rare

Star violinist joins Deutsche Grammophon

Will China, other countries show interest in Gaeseong Industrial Complex?

Fuss about senior presidential secretary shows cracks in state management system

Key presidential aides making trouble for Moon

Kim Jong-un using 'president' as official English title

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