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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

'S. Korea needs to block THAAD deployment'

By Jun Ji-hyePaik Hak-soonResearcher at Sejong InstituteNational security analyst Paik Hak-soon believes that the government should oppose any move by the United States to deploy its latest ballistic missile interception system in South Korea as part of its missile defense (MD) program.“A Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile battery is actually ineffective to neutralize ballistic missiles from North Korea unlike its primary purpose,” said Paik, the director of the Center for North Korean Studies at the Sejong Institute in a recent interview.  He said THAAD is designed to shoot down missiles at high altitudes, and the North is too close to be affected by such a defense system.The THAAD system is designed to detect and intercept missiles during their final or terminal phase of flight.“While the primary role of the anti-missile defense shield has been called into question, Washington’s consistent efforts to bring it here have irritated Beijing and Moscow,” he said.Washington and Seoul have stressed that the battery is a defensive me

Feb 17, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
'S. Korea needs to block THAAD deployment'
  • Missile interceptor emerges as hot issue
South Korea

Lee Wan-koo's magic wears out in new job

By Jun Ji-hye Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo faces many challenges in his leadership due to the fact he was endorsed for the job despite unresolved allegations of moral laxity.When he was floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party, Lee was lauded for negotiating with the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), especially when drawing up a special law on the Sewol ferry disaster.Now, his strong suit may be gone, and he is likely to face NPAD hurdles that may slow his initiative to accomplish President Park Geun-hye’s core projects.NPAD floor leader Woo Yoon-geun said, “The ruling party’s enforcement of the appointment motion was against the will of the people. The party will have to take full responsibility for any future controversy.”Public opinion toward him is not warm due to unanswered questions over his alleged involvement in real estate speculation and evasion of military service as well as his alleged attempt to control media reports.Awarding Lee an appointment certificate, Tuesday, President Park said, “I believe Lee will displa

Feb 17, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Defying gravity: Air Force pilots' rigorous training

Korea Times reporter Jun Ji-hye, left, and other reporters covering the Defense Ministry check their oxygen masks during training in a hypobaric chamber at the Aerospace Medical Center in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Feb. 10. / Courtesy of Air ForceBy Jun Ji-hye CHEONGJU, North Chungcheong Province ― Aerobatics ― aerial maneuvers executed in fighter jets ― look effortless. However, the pilots who fly these aircraft undergo intense training to help ensure they can endure the elements and tough conditions.The Air Force’s F-15K can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 2.3, or about 2,800 kilometers an hour. At such speed, pilots are affected by gravitational forces (G-forces) nine times greater than their weight. Without constant training, they can suffer G-force induced Loss of Consciousness (G-LOC) when blood is drained from the brain.This is just one of the difficulties that pilots must endure.Last week, reporters covering the Ministry of National Defense visited the Aerospace Medical Center of the Air Force Academy in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province

Feb 16, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Defying gravity: Air Force pilots' rigorous training
South Korea

Korean Air, Airbus at loggerheads on fighter program

By Jun Ji-hye Korean Air and its partner Airbus Defence and Space appear to be having difficulties drawing up a joint bid for an $8 billion fighter program, according to industry sources, Sunday.“Airbus D&S is not overly enthusiastic about its participation in the project,” an informed industry source told The Korea Times. “Airbus would sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU), but one thing for sure is that the company believes it is just a guest for this project, not a host.”The two companies failed to participate in the first tender for the project, with a schism between the two as the likely reason for the delay.The two previously reached a verbal agreement for joint participation on the project, in which the European firm would provide technical support.Other sources pointed out that Korean Air has sidelined Airbus on occasions over key decisions in the bidding process. The two are close partners in the non-military market, Korean Air being a key buyer of Airbus passenger jets; however, “Airbus is not happy,” the source said.The flag

Feb 15, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Korean Air, Airbus at loggerheads on fighter program
South Korea

Saenuri Party to use majority to get PM motion passage

By Jun Ji-hye The ruling Saenuri Party has marshaled all but three of its lawmakers who are eligible to cast a ballot to pass a confirmation vote on embattled nominee for Prime Minister, Lee Wan-koo. The party said Sunday that 155 of its total 158 lawmakers will attend the National Assembly plenary session for the vote. If all Saenuri Party members vote along partisan lines and back Lee’s nomination, the party will achieve a majority with seven votes to spare.Assembly custom dictates that Lee, as the nominee, will refrain from voting.The two other absentees are Reps. Song Kwang-ho and Cho Hyun-yong, who are facing charges of corruption.The vote will most likely be held Monday after Speaker Chung Ui-hwa pledged to do so under any circumstances. However, it cannot be ruled out that the opposition will attempt to physically block the vote from taking place, or that the ruling party could relent in fear of a public backlash.The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) may also boycott the vote, but it is numerically impossible for it to thwart the S

Feb 15, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
Saenuri Party to use majority to get PM motion passage
South Korea

S. Korea to create submarine operational plans

By Jun Ji-hye Adm. Choi Yoon-heeJCS ChairmanThe Navy plans to create new operational plans for its submarine force to better deter threats from North Korea, as well as other potential enemies, according to Adm. Choi Yoon-hee, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Thursday.“For key capability in operational and strategic terms, the Submarine Force Command needs to materialize a proactive and offensive concept of operations suitable for the combat circumstances of our time,” Choi said.He made the remarks during a visit to the Navy’s first-ever submarine command in the port city of Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province.The move is part of the Navy’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its undersea fighting capability and improve combat readiness. On Feb. 1, the Navy inaugurated the command, which is comprised of nine 1,200-ton and four 1,800-ton submarines.It also comes at a time when the North is maintaining a significant numerical superiority with a fleet of 70 subs ― 20 of them being the 1,800-ton Romeo class. The South Korean authorities believe the No

Feb 12, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
S. Korea to create submarine operational plans
South Korea

Retired rear admiral arrested for taking bribe

By Jun Ji-hyeA retired rear admiral has been arrested for taking a bribe from a brokerage firm in exchange for a business favor, according to a joint investigation team Thursday.The team said the man, surnamed Lee, 61, received money and valuables worth about 50 million won ($45,000) from the firm in January 2009, when he was with the Ministry of National Defense.The company asked him to use his influence on the Navy’s selection of communications equipment to be installed on an intelligence ship.The investigators arrested Lee at his home on Tuesday.The team of prosecutors and government and military officials was set up on Nov. 21 to root out widespread corruption within the defense industry. The corruption allegedly involves collusive relationships between people working in the defense industry and soldiers assigned to the procurement agency.The team says it also has circumstantial evidence that Lee gave part of the bribe to other high-ranking naval officers.“The joint team is expanding its investigation to find out who else was involved with this case,” an of

Feb 12, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

F-35 purchase price feared to increase

By Jun Ji-hyeConcerns have grown over a rise in the unit cost of the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter that the Air Force plans to buy, in the wake of the U.S. Navy’s recent decision to reduce its order by almost a third.The U.S. Navy plans to buy 38 F-35Cs, the navy variant, from 2016 to 2020, according to the fiscal 2016-2020 Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) that the Department of Defense submitted to Congress on Feb. 2. The Navy initially stated in previous plans it would buy 54 aircraft.The New York-based weekly magazine Aviation Week & Space Technology attributed the decision to budgetary concerns.This marks the first time the U.S. military has moved to slow down its F-35 “Joint Strike Fighter” (JSF) project, a multinational program between the U.S. and eight foreign partners in developing the air force variant F-35A, marine corps variant F-35B and navy variant F-35C of the stealth fighter.Officials and defense industry watchers say the reduction of planned buys by the U.S. could lead to a rise in the cost of the aircraft for other countries.  &l

Feb 11, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

PM nominee faces tough confirmation

By Jun Ji-hyePrime Minister-Nominee Lee Wan-koo looks to face a torrid confirmation hearing after rival parties engaged in a fierce battle Monday, just a day before it is scheduled to start.Lawmakers will vote on his appointment, Thursday, following the two-day hearing.   Members of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) are calling on him to give up the nomination voluntarily, citing various controversies involving the former ruling Saenuri Party floor leader.In contrast, lawmakers from the governing camp are claiming that they should provide him with at least a chance to explain at the hearing.Initially, Lee was widely expected to pass the confirmation smoothly because Assemblymen from both parties felt camaraderie for him, as a lawmaker and because of his reputation as a clean and competent politician.Both parties appeared not to have been worried about Lee’s involvement in real estate speculation, nor allegations that his son dodged compulsory military service, given that such activities are not unusual for nominees up for high-ranking posi

Feb 9, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Bid for homegrown fighter project fails

By Jun Ji-hyeKorean Air, the nation’s top air carrier, failed to place a bid for the ROK Air Force’s homegrown fighter program by the deadline, making the bidding for the 8.5 trillion won ($7.95 billion) project invalid, the state arms procurement agency said, Monday.“The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) was found to be the sole applier after closing the bid Monday,” an official of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) told reporters.At least two bidders are needed for the auction to be valid, according to Korean law. A lack of bidders will lead to a second auction later this month.Korean Air said last Thursday that it planned to submit a bid in collaboration with Europe’s Airbus Defence and Space, but failed to do so, with observers speculating that the two companies needed more time for preparation.  KAI, the nation’s sole aircraft manufacturer, has joined hands with U.S. aerospace giant Lockheed Martin for the project.The failure of Korean Air to make a bid by the deadline will likely cause a setback in the project because a

Feb 9, 2015By Jun Ji-hye
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