my timesThe Korea Times
jjh

Jun Ji-hye

Korea Times Finance Reporter

Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.

Go to Email

Read more

South Korea

Majority of people oppose increasing No. of lawmakers

By Jun Ji-hyeA majority of Koreans oppose increasing the number of lawmakers, according to a survey released Friday.A Gallup Korea poll showed that 57 percent of respondents believed the number of lawmakers should decrease, while 29 percent said the current 300 seats are sufficient. Only 7 percent supported the proposal for increasing seats.The result amounted to 86 percent of people opposing a rise in parliamentary seats.Even when a precondition of freezing the total annual allowances to lawmakers was presented, it still showed a big lead for “no” with 75 percent. Only 17 percent said they support the increase.The survey was conducted for three days from Tuesday while discussions have continued for the need for a larger Assembly.Opposition lawmakers argue that raising the number parliamentary seats is necessary to adjust the electoral constituency map and reform an electoral system before the 20th general elections in April of next year.The move followed a ruling of the Constitutional Court in October last year.At the time, the court ruled the current map unconstitutiona

Jul 31, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Opposition launches special committee on labor reform

By Jun Ji-hyeThe main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) launched an intraparty special committee Friday to mull ways of creating jobs for young people and overcoming the ongoing economic crisis.The party said the committee, led by four-term lawmaker Choo Mi-ae, will invite labor groups to provide input.The launch of the opposition’s special committee came a few days after the ruling Saenuri Party set up its own version, led by Rep. Rhee In-je, to support President Park Geun-hye’s vision for labor reform.A battle between rival parties is expected as the NPAD downplayed the importance of the ruling party’s committee ― which will focus on adopting a peak wage system and trying to solve the shortage of jobs for young people ― saying it lacks sincerity.The largest opposition party said politicians should deal with more comprehensive issues related to the economy.“It is unclear for what and for whom the government and the governing party are pushing for labor reform,” said Rep. Choi Jae-cheon, chairman of the NPAD’s policy c

Jul 31, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Opposition launches special committee on labor reform
South Korea

Indigenous surface-to-air guided missiles to be deployed this year

By Jun Ji-hyeA test-firing of the Cheongung indigenous surface-to-air guided missile. / Courtesy of DAPAKorea will deploy indigenous surface-to-air guided missiles by the end of this year as  testing has been successfully completed, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Thursday.“The Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DTaQ) successfully conducted the quality certification firing of the Cheongung in late July,” said the DAPA in a press release. “Mass production will begin in earnest this year following the completion of the quality-certification process.”A DAPA official noted that the product receives a pass mark if it hits its target twice out of three test-fires.Cheongung, the medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, was developed in 2011 by LIG Nex1 to replace the Air Force’s aging hawk missiles in order to beef up the nation’s air and missile defense.Cheongung can intercept targets at an altitude of up to 40 kilometers and at a range of about 40 kilometers.“Cheongung can be fired even in

Jul 30, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Indigenous surface-to-air guided missiles to be deployed this year
South Korea

All soldiers will wear uniforms with national flag

Korean War veteran Song Yong-ho, 82, embraces his 21-year-old grandson, Bong-geun, after attaching the national flag onto the latter’s uniform at the Army recruit training center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, Wednesday. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeSome 1,700 recruits who completed a five-week training course in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, had a patch of the national flag on their uniforms, Wednesday.It is the first time since the foundation of the Army in 1948 that the national flag was put on soldiers’ uniforms. Within this year, national flags will put on the uniforms of all troops.“The small, rectangular patch of Taegeukgi was attached onto the arms of the recruits’ uniforms. All troops will wear the same symbol this year,” the Army said in a press release. “This is to encourage military personnel to feel more pride about their service and have a sense of honor and duty.”The Defense Ministry’s decision to attach national flags on the uniforms of all troops was made last month to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Korea&rsq

Jul 29, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
All soldiers will wear uniforms with national flag
South Korea

Osan Air Base will be inspected on Aug. 8

By Jun Ji-hyeKorean officials and experts will visit the U.S. air base in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 8 for a joint investigation with United States Forces Korea (USFK) into the mistaken delivery of live anthrax samples to its laboratory.The Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday the South Korea-U.S. joint task force team will conduct an inspection at the air base to check how the samples were brought in, and whether the U.S. properly handled and destroyed them.The decision was made during the team’s first meeting earlier in the day at the ministry, led by Maj. Gen. Jang Kyung-soo, director general of the ministry’s policy planning bureau, and Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hedelund, USFK assistant chief of staff for policy and plans.The allies set up the team on July 11 to investigate what happened in South Korea when Washington accidently sent live anthrax samples to 86 facilities across the U.S. and seven other countries, including Korea, Japan and Germany, from a chemical weapons testing site in a desolate stretch of desert in Utah.During the inspection, the air base o

Jul 29, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Corruption allegations hit veterans' association

By Jun Ji-hyeCho Nam-pungKorVA chairmanKorean Veterans Association (KorVA) Chairman Cho Nam-pung may face an investigation by prosecutors over a number of corruption allegations.The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs alleged Tuesday that Cho, a 77-year-old former Army general, abused his authority to recruit unqualified people since his April swearing in.Cho is also suspected of having paid voters ahead of the election to choose the KorVA chairman.Announcing the results of its special audit into the suspected corruption cases, the ministry said Cho ignored an internal rule on “special recruitment” to hire 12 people who were close to him.Under the rule, the association should recruit those under 60 who have served in the relevant area for more than three years. However, eight of them did not meet the requirement, the ministry said.One of the most controversial appointments was a relative of Cho’s close confidant, surnamed Choi, who was appointed as director of the management bureau of the association on May 29. Cho sacked an existing director who was named to

Jul 28, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Corruption allegations hit veterans' association
South Korea

Reservist students may get scholarship incentives

By Jun Ji-hyeA National Assembly committee has proposed the government make it obligatory for universities to give extra points to scholarship applicants who have completed their mandatory military service.Sources from the defense ministry said the special committee, tasked with eradicating human rights abuse in the military, asked the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Education consider such a measure to boost the morale of conscripts.“We received the proposal,” said an official from the defense ministry on the condition of anonymity. “The ministry will carefully consider the effectiveness of the idea and consult with relevant ministries.”If introduced, male students who finished their military service would be given extra points when they contend for scholarships.The committee said the measure will help offer “compensation” to those discharged, given that a number of conscripts are obliged to put their studies on hold to join the armed forces.All able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for about two years under the na

Jul 27, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Air Force to provide NK weather information

By Jun Ji-hyeThe Air Force said Monday that it will provide information on weather conditions in North Korea for military purposes to better prepare against missile threats from the reclusive nation.The Air Force Weather Wing established a specialized forecast system using radar and satellite on July 1 to monitor meteorological changes in the North. Then, it produces highly accurate information by analyzing the data with a super computer, the Air Force said.Until now, Korea has relied on the information from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). But, according to the Air Force, this information was limited, and forecasts were impossible when Pyongyang refused to send the organization its meteorological data."The Weather Wing began forecasting weather changes in North Korea because of the demands of military operations,” the Air Force said in a release.“The information will be useful in evaluating the possibility of a missile launch by the North.”The Air Force noted that weather information carries extra significance because the military now uses highly advanc

Jul 27, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Assembly to probe surveillance scandal

By Jun Ji-hye The National Assembly will begin an investigation this week into allegations that the nation’s spy agency conducted surveillance on the public during the run-up to the presidential election in December, 2012.The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) is set to launch an all-out offensive against the National Intelligence Service (NIS), while the ruling Saenuri Party intends to defend it, claiming that the opposition is jeopardizing national security.The controversy involves the NIS’s purchase of the Remote Control System spyware, which can intercept signals from PCs and smartphones, manufactured by Italian tech firm, Hacking Team. Purchases of the spyware were made in January and July of 2012.The fact-finding inquiry will begin Monday with sessions of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, and the Future Planning, Science, Broadcasting and Communications Committee.The rival parties are expected to clash during the Intelligence Committee session because the NIS is planning to report on an analysis of files that an intellig

Jul 26, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Nanatech holds key to NIS probe

By Jun Ji-hye Nanatech, a small communications company that brokered the spy agency’s purchase of spyware from an Italian firm in 2012, has become embroiled in allegations that the agency conducted illegal surveillance on citizens.Opposition lawmakers say many things about the company are shrouded in mystery, although it began business transactions with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) three years ago.They claim that clearing connections between the firm and the spy agency is the key to unearthing the truth behind the spying scandal.According to e-mail exchanges between Milan-based tech-firm Hacking Team (HT), Nanatech and the NIS continued business transactions from January 2012 until January 2015. The emails were leaked online on July 5 by unknown hackers.The NIS purchased spyware called Remote Control System (RCS), which can spy on PCs and smartphones, through Nanatech in January and July of 2012.Nanatech Co-CEO Heo Son-gu has been cited as a key figure involving suspicions that the NIS spied on members of the public ahead of the presidential election in December

Jul 23, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
previous page
180181182183184
next page

Top 5 stories

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.