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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.

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South Korea

Air Force chief receives stern warning

By Jun Ji-hyeAir Force Chief of StaffGen. Choi Cha-gyuThe Ministry of National Defense issued a stern warning Thursday to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Choi Cha-gyu for mismanaging government funds and utilizing official vehicles for personal use.Announcing the results of its inspection into a series of allegations involving Choi, the ministry said the Air Force spent 189 million won ($173,000) on refurbishing Choi’s office after he took the job in April of last year.Choi’s inauguration came only four months after the Air Force spent 765 million won moving the office from the second to the fourth floor of the Air Force Headquarters in Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province.“It was confirmed that the Air Force made an overlapping investment of about 14 million won,” a ministry official said.He said that the ministry will hold those in charge of budget management responsible depending on the seriousness of misuse of funds.The ministry added that Choi’s wife asked a driver of official vehicles to help hang the curtains in her daughter’s house. It was

May 21, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Air Force chief receives stern warning
South Korea

Navy unveils newest type submarine

Defense Minister Han Min-koo, second from right, and his wife Kwak Jung-im break a bottle of champagne during the launching ceremony for the Navy’s sixth 1,800-ton submarine, the ROKN Yu Gwan-sun, in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. / Courtesy of NavyBy Jun Ji-hyeThe Navy unveiled a state-of-the-art attack submarine Thursday named after the revered independence fighter Yu Gwan-sun (1902-1920).The launching ceremony for the Navy’s sixth 1,800-ton submarine took place in the southern coastal city of Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province. Attendees included Defense Minister Han Min-koo, Chief of Naval Operations Jung Ho-sub and executives of ship-maker Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering.The launch drew keen attention as it was the first sub named after a woman.Yu was one of the main organizers of the March First Independence Movement in 1919 against Japanese colonial rule who died at the age of 18 after being tortured.“The military decided to name the submarine after Yu to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the nation’s independence from Japanese c

May 7, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Dokdo defense drill due later this month

By Jun Ji-hyeMilitary and maritime police are planning to carry out a drill later this month to practice defense of the nation’s easternmost islets of Dokdo in the event that the territory is invaded, military officials said Wednesday.“The military and maritime police have set up a plan to conduct a two-day Dokdo defense drill in the East Sea and its surrounding waters at the end of this month,” a naval officer said on condition of anonymity.It will be the first drill conducted since the United States and Japan revised their defense guidelines on April 28, increasing concerns that Tokyo may return to a state of militarism.The revision of the 1997 U.S.-Japan defense cooperation pact removes current geographic limits on the role of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, and expands its role globally to help U.S. forces in military emergencies.Japan has recently renewed its territorial claims to Korea’s rocky outcroppings of Dokdo in its middle school textbooks and Diplomatic Bluebook, enraging the Korean public.“Authorities are expected to finalize the plan fo

May 6, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Warm-hearted US soldiers offer homeless meals

Lt. Col. Dan Roger Brue II, commander of the 41st Signal Battalion of the Eighth U.S. Army, hands out a sandwich and water to a homeless man at Seoul Station on April 26. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Jun Ji-hyeOccasionally, there are headlines regarding misconduct by U.S. soldiers including sex crimes and assaults that tarnish the image of all GIs stationed in South Korea. But it is rarely known that many soldiers of the United States Forces Korea (USFK) actively take part in volunteer activities to support the underprivileged. Their good deeds draw relatively little media attention.Lt. Col. Dan Roger Brue II, commander of the 41st Signal Battalion stationed in Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, is one such warm-hearted soldier. Brue and soldiers from his unit prepare simple meals to give to the homeless at Seoul Station.  “We typically serve hotdogs, but we have served sandwiches, soup, and rice and beans,” he said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. “Everyone who helps is a volunteer. Some are soldiers. Others are family members of the soldiers in th

May 4, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Warm-hearted US soldiers offer homeless meals
South Korea

Task force agrees on pension bill

Dramatic progress made in pension reformBy Jun Ji-hye A task force comprising government officials, civil servants and experts agreed Friday on a bill that would require public officials to contribute more to, and receive less, in pension payments.The agreement calls for raising the contribution rates from the current 7 percent to 9 percent over the next five years while curtailing the entitlement rate from 1.9 to 1.7 percent gradually over the next two decades.The task force was made up of two government officials, three civil service representatives and four experts recommended by the ruling and opposition parties.If agreed on by the floor leaders of the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), the bill will be presented to a National Assembly special committee for review prior to being forwarded to the Assembly.If it is passed in a parliamentary vote, a civil servant whose monthly salary is 3 million won ($2,800) will need to pay a 270,000 won pension premium per month, up from the current 210,000 won.The pension amount they receive

May 2, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Dramatic progress made in pension reform

By Jun Ji-hye A task force comprising government officials, civil servants and experts agreed Friday on a bill that would require public officials to contribute more to, and receive less, in pension payments.The agreement calls for raising the contribution rates from the current 7 percent to 9 percent over the next five years while curtailing the entitlement rate from 1.9 to 1.7 percent gradually over the next two decades.The task force was made up of two government officials, three civil service representatives and four experts recommended by the ruling and opposition parties.If agreed on by the floor leaders of the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), the bill will be presented to a National Assembly special committee for review prior to being forwarded to the plenary session for vote.If it is passed in a parliamentary vote, a civil servant whose monthly salary is 3 million won ($2,800) will need to pay a 270,000 won pension premium per month, up from the current 210,000 won.The pension amount they receive after retirement wi

May 1, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Feud likely to go on at NPAD

Rep. Kim Moo-sung, right, chairman of the ruling Saenuri Party, and his main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy counterpart Rep. MoonJae-in, attend a rally together arranged by the Federation of Korea Trade Unions at the Culture Plaza in Yeouido, Seoul, Friday. Union members heldthe event to mark May Day. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hye The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) is suffering internal strife about whether Chairman Moon Jae-in needs to take responsibility for its defeats in Wednesday’s by-elections.Some lawmakers have called on Moon to step down, saying the current leadership could prompt a crucial defeat in next year’s general election.Others say it not proper for the party to talk about Moon’s resignation as continuous division of the largest opposition party could result in total destruction of the opposition bloc.“I have met many fellow lawmakers in person,” Rep. Park Joo-sun said during a radio appearance Friday. “They are feeling a sense of crisis.”A day earlier, Rep. Park told a party meeting t

May 1, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Feud likely to go on at NPAD
South Korea

Local gov'ts to boost exchanges with N.Korea

By Jun Ji-hye The government will allow local governments to conduct cultural exchanges with, and provide humanitarian aid to, North Korea as part of efforts toward unification.The Ministry of Unification said Friday it will also provide more funds to promote nongovernmental inter-Korean exchanges.“This year is very meaningful as it marks the 70th anniversary of the nation’s liberation from Japan’s colonial rule,” the ministry said in a statement.“The government will strive toward recovering the homogeneity of the South and North and normalizing inter-Korean relations to prepare for unification of the Korean Peninsula.”The measures include the two sides making efforts to host various events related to culture, history and sports to celebrate the anniversary at the government level.Civic groups will be encouraged to participate in exchange programs more actively. The government will also take steps to ensure the transparency of the projects.The ministry added it will allow journalists to cover events where South Korean organizations provide hum

May 1, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Two leaders see varying fortunes

Chun Jung-baeChung Dong-youngBy Jun Ji-hye Wednesday’s by-elections produced mixed results for liberal heavyweights Chun Jung-bae and Chung Dong-young, who both left the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) and ran against candidates of the main opposition party.Chun, who ran as an independent in the Seogu-B district of Gwangju, traditional home turf of liberal parties, enjoyed a surprising overwhelming victory against NPAD’s Cho Young-teck.But Chung, who stood under the banner of the Union of the People in Gwanak-B constituency in Seoul, ranked third after the ruling Saenuri Party’s Oh Shin-hwan and the NPAD’s Jung Tae-ho.During the lead-up to the elections, the candidacies of the two stalwarts heightened concerns over a possible split of liberal voters that would give victory to candidates of the governing party.  Chun, who secured the seat with the support of 52.4 percent, was praised for helping trigger a possible realignment of the opposition bloc that has been criticized for continuous factional disputes.Political commentator Park Sang-by

Apr 30, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Two leaders see varying fortunes
  • Saenuri chairman's stock skyrocketing
South Korea

Whose campaign strategy will shine?

By Jun Ji-hyeThe rival parties used widely different campaign strategies to woo voters in the lead-up to Wednesday’s neck-and-neck by-elections.The ruling Saenuri Party came up with the concept of a middle-aged woman, calling itself “Saejumma,” a compound word combing Saenuri and ajumma (middle-aged woman in Korean).The concept was designed to stress its pledge to carefully look after the local economy like a frugal housewife.“Like mothers who know everything about what family members need, the ruling party candidates well know the needs for the region,” Kim told reporters during campaigning.In an effort to maximize the concept, Saenuri Party Chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung met with voters, wearing a red apron and household rubber gloves. Red is the symbolic color of the governing camp.Ahead of the election, Kim again stressed that if the party’s candidates are elected, the party will fully support them, including financial support so that they can effectively implement their election pledges in their regions.Secretary General Rep. Lee Koon-hyon echoed

Apr 29, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
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