The Korea Times

Moon vows to bolster transparency of civic movement

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a regular meeting with his senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae, June 8. /YonhapBy Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in underlined Monday the need to increase transparency of civic organizations in the wake of the corruption allegations surrounding a civic group advocating for the rights of former wartime former sex slaves.He also stressed the mounting controversy regarding the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan should not undermine their cause that has continued for almost 30 years.It was the first time for the President to mention the controversy since it emerged last month, involving ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang, former head of the council that has supported the victims also called “comfort women.”While Yoon has faced allegations of misusing government funds and public donations, Lee Yong-soo, one of the victims of wartime sex slavery who raised the suspicions, also faced criticism from DPK supporters.“Over the last 30 years, the civic movement for

Jun 8, 2020By Do Je-hae

Moon vows to bolster transparency of civic movement

Moon says 'comfort women' campaign must go on despite scandal

Politics

Moon pays tribute to independence movement hero

Crew members of the Republic of Korea Navy vessel, named after the independence fighter Hong Beom-do, stand in formation on June 5, ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Bongodong. YonhapBy Do Je-haePresident Moon Jae-in urged Koreans Sunday to remember the sacrifices of independence fighters who struggled against Japanese imperalism on the centennial of the victory of the Bongodong (Fengwudong) Battle.He paid tribute to Hong Beom-do, a commander-in-chief of the Korean Independence Army, who led his force of 1,200 to 1,300 freedom fighters to victory at the Battle of Bongodong, with 157 Japanese killed and 300 wounded of a force of 500 soldiers. It was the first large-scale battle between the Korean Independence Army and Japanese troops in Manchuria.“The Bongodong Battle occurred only five months after the Provisional Government declared the year of war for independence,” Moon said in a social media message Sunday. “The Bongodong Battle gave confidence and hope for independence to our people who were suffering under the colonial rule.”“The vict

Jun 7, 2020By Do Je-hae

Moon pays tribute to independence movement hero

North Korea

North Korea threatens to scrap 2018 military agreement

North Korean leader's powerful sister Kim Yo-jong is seated across from President Moon Jae-in during a lunch at Cheong Wa Dae on Feb. 11, 2018. YonhapBy Do Je-haeNorth Korea threatened to scrap the 2018 inter-Korean agreement Thursday if Seoul did not act quickly to stop anti-Pyongyang leaflets being sent over the two countries' border by defectors' groups based in South Korea.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong said in a statement published by the Korean Central News Agency that the North could consider not only scrapping the pact, but also terminating exchange projects with the South if the latter did not stop the “hostile activities.” “If the South Korean authorities fail to come up with proper measures, they will have to be fully ready to face the consequences, whether it be the abolition of the Mount Geumgang tour program, a complete removal of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, a closure of the inter-Korean liaison office or the scrapping of the North-South military agreement,” she said in the statement. Kim Yo-jong, who serves as first vi

Jun 4, 2020By Do Je-hae

North Korea threatens to scrap 2018 military agreement

S. Korea to legislate ban on anti-Pyongyang leaflet campaign after NK threats

Politics

Ruling party punishes 'defiant' ex-lawmaker

Former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Keum Tae-sup stands in a party meeting at the National Assembly in this February photo. The party recently gave a disciplinary action against him for not following the party's decision to vote for a judiciary reform bill last year. /YonhapBy Do Je-hae During his days as a lawmaker in the recently finished 20th National Assembly, Keum Tae-sup was not a very popular member for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), as he was a deliverer of hard truths.He locked horns with the party leadership over multiple contentious issues. He opposed a bill proposed by the party to expedite President Moon Jae-in's judiciary reform and made negative remarks regarding former Justice Minister Cho Kuk over his corruption allegations. Probably based on these conflicts, Keum failed to secure candidacy for the April 15 general election.And it seems denying him candidacy was not enough, as the DPK has penalized the former lawmaker for abstaining from a vote on the judiciary reform bill during a National Assembly plenary session late last year. The bill was abou

Jun 3, 2020By Do Je-hae

Ruling party punishes 'defiant' ex-lawmaker

Politics

Controversial aide returns to Cheong Wa Dae

Tak Hyun-min, left, new presidential protocol secretary, takes part at an event at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. YonhapBy Do Je-hae Former presidential aide Tak Hyun-min, who had caused a controversy with his sexist remarks, has returned to Cheong Wa Dae with a promotion to secretary for protocol. His unexpected return comes about a year and four months after he stepped down from his previous post as assistant secretary at the presidential protocol office.He was included in a list of new presidential aides announced Sunday.The appointment of Tak, a former adjunct professor on cultural content, as the presidential protocol chief is seen unusual as high-level diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have usually been sent to fill the post at the presidential office. Tak's predecessor, Bahk Sahng-hoon, was also a career diplomat. Tak's return has drawn criticism of President Moon Jae-in for “recycling” a controversial aide, who has been attacked for his past sexist remarks in his book published in 2007. He has faced calls from women's rights groups to resign since his earlie

Jun 3, 2020By Do Je-hae

Controversial aide returns to Cheong Wa Dae

Politics

System on proportional representation vote to be changed

UFP lawmakers leave the National Assembly's main hall, Tuesday. YonhapBy Do Je-hae The main opposition United Future Party (UFP) is pushing to change a controversial electoral system that allowed voters to select candidates for proportional representation seats in addition to candidates representing constituencies. The system was introduced for the April 15 general election and led to the major parties' creation of satellite parties.According to party sources, Tuesday, first-term lawmakers of the UFP who won proportional seats as members of the UFP's satellite Future Korea Party (FKP) are planning to propose a revision to the election law, including the termination of the system. The FKP was merged recently into the UFP.The new system was intended to give minor parties a better chance of winning proportional seats to ensure a more diverse National Assembly and ultimately eradicate the long dominance of the two major parties.But there has been criticism that the system has failed to serve its original intention, and rather has let the two major parties dominate the proportional seats

Jun 2, 2020By Do Je-hae

System on proportional representation vote to be changed

Politics

Main opposition may support 3rd expansionary budget

A flag celebrating the opening of the 21st National Assembly hangs at the parliament's main hall, Monday. YomhapBy Do Je-haeKim Chong-in, head of the main opposition United Future Party's (UFP) emergency committee for reform, said Monday that he will make the party more policy oriented.His pledge reflects widespread public recognition that the party just criticizes anything the liberal ruling bloc seeks without presenting any alternative ― which was partly the cause of the UFP's crushing defeat in the April 15 general election.“Through the emergency committee, we will become more forward-looking and aim to play a leading role in creating policies,” Kim said during his first meeting of committee members at the National Assembly.The veteran economist accepted the post late last month after weeks of controversy within and outside the party about whether he was the right person to rebuild the main opposition. Under the slogan “Accompanying the weak,” the committee said Kim will shift the party's focus to welfare for the socially weak, from the growth-oriented econ

Jun 1, 2020By Do Je-hae

Main opposition may support 3rd expansionary budget

Politics

US-China conflict: South Korea stuck between rock and hard place

Visitors are seen near the portrait of late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong on Tiananmen Gate, on the day of the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC), in Beijing, China May 28. Reuters-YonhapBy Do Je-haeThe government is closely watching the escalating U.S.-China conflict and analyzing the possible impact on Korea, the nation's top diplomat said Thursday."We are well aware of domestic concerns about the rising conflict in the international community," Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said during a meeting on foreign affairs strategy coordination held at the ministry's headquarters in central Seoul, according to press pool reports. "We are conducting a detailed analysis with experts within and outside the government about the conflict's significance and its possible impact on Korea."Although the foreign minister stopped short of specifically mentioning the United States, and China, the remarks were seen as reflecting the Moon Jae-in administration's increasing concerns about Korea's diplomacy being sandwiched between the two superpowers' escalating competition.The meetin

May 29, 2020By Do Je-hae

US-China conflict: South Korea stuck between rock and hard place

People & Events

Former defense minister dead at 83

The late former defense minister set a record as the first from the Air force to become Joint Chief of Staff in 1993 during the Kim Young-sam administration. He died May 28 at the age of 83. YonhapBy Do Je-haeLee Yang-ho, who served as minister of national defense during the Kim Young-sam administration, died of natural causes on May 28. He was 83.Born in North Chungcheong Province in 1937, he joined the Air Force Academy in 1960 and served in key Air Force posts. He is known for being named as the Air Force’s first head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in May 1993.The rare appointment was due to his role in purging a large number of generals from “Hanahoe,” a private military organization, during the Kim administration, which sought reforms in various sectors after years of authoritarian rule.Lee served in other key posts in the Air Force, such as Air Force operations commander in 1989 and Air Force chief of staff in 1992.He was also only the third defense minister from the Air Force. Defense ministers had usually been selected from the Army. He served as defense minis

May 29, 2020By Do Je-hae

Politics

Moon to strengthen cooperation with new Assembly

President Moon Jae-in, left, talks with ruling Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon, center, and main opposition United Future Party floor leader Joo Ho-young, right, ahead of a lunch at Cheong Wa Dae, May 28. Yonhap By Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in will work more closely with the next National Assembly for a more effective management of state affairs in the post-COVID-19 period, according to the presidential office, Thursday.Moon had a long lunch meeting with the floor leaders of the two major parties ― the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) Rep. Kim Tae-nyeon and his counterpart of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP), Rep. Joo Ho-young ― and discussed urgent issues including a third extra budget, which Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party have seen as crucial for economic recovery and job creation in the wake of the global health challenge. The meeting took place two days ahead of the inauguration of the 21st Assembly, elected throu

May 28, 2020By Do Je-hae

Do Je-hae

Read more

Moon vows to bolster transparency of civic movement

Moon pays tribute to independence movement hero

North Korea threatens to scrap 2018 military agreement

Ruling party punishes 'defiant' ex-lawmaker

Controversial aide returns to Cheong Wa Dae

System on proportional representation vote to be changed

Main opposition may support 3rd expansionary budget

US-China conflict: South Korea stuck between rock and hard place

Former defense minister dead at 83

Moon to strengthen cooperation with new Assembly

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