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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

Parties to fight under same rules

New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) co-chairman Ahn Cheol-soo, right, speaks during the main opposition party’s meeting at the National Assembly, Friday, to prepare for the June 4 local elections. Next to him is NPAD co-chairman Kim Han-gil.  / YonhapRival camps still face criticism over breaking campaign promisesBy Jun Ji-hye The two rival parties have managed to avoid competing in the June 4 local elections with two conflicting sets of nomination standards, following a decision by the opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) to maintain the practice of the party nominating candidates.However, both camps must now live with public criticism for reneging on their 2012 presidential campaign pledges, where President Park Geun-hye, then the ruling Saenuri Party candidate, Rep. Moon Jae-in, a candidate from the now-defunct Democratic Party (DP), and independent Ahn Cheol-soo all promised to abolish the party nomination system.Choi Kyung-hwan, floor leader of the governing party said Friday both parties embarked on exhaustive consultations

Apr 11, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
Parties to fight under same rules
South Korea

Beer market brewing new wave

By Jun Ji-hye  The relatively bland local beer industry is brewing a big change in the wake of a recent amendment to the Liquor Tax Law, which took effect April 1.The revision is designed to lower the entry barrier for small and medium-sized businesses, and brewpubs.Rep. Hong Jong-haak of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy is one of lawmakers who pushed for the legislation of the deregulation bill.Before the revision, only companies that have production capacity of more than 150 kiloliters could distribute their beer into the market. Brew masters had to sell their hand-made beer only in their pubs.The revision lowered the required standard production to 75 kiloliters, so that small- and medium-sized enterprises can easily enter into the market.It also enabled brew masters to distribute their beer outside their pubs through wholesale dealers, for example, to supermarkets and bars.The revision also calls for the government to cut the tax rate from 80 percent to 60 percent for a maximum delivery amount of 300 kiloliters, a big boon to small-scale manufacturers.“It w

Apr 11, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Saenuri's mayor hopefuls in 1st TV debate

The ruling Saenuri Party’s hopefuls for the Seoul mayoral election ― former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, left; Supreme Council member Lee Hye-hoon, center; and seven-term lawmaker Chung Mong-joon ― pose for a photo before holding their first televised debate at MBC studios in Yeouido, Seoul, Wednesday. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeThe three Saenuri Party members hoping to contest the Seoul mayoral race appeared in their first televised primary debate, Wednesday.During the debate, former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, seven-term lawmaker Chung Mong-joon and Supreme Council member Lee Hye-hoon also attacked sitting Mayor Park Won-soon, a member of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD).Stressing his competitive edge, Kim said he has sufficient experience from being in high-ranking positions. He was a Supreme Court judge and head of the Board of Audit and Inspection as well as serving as prime minister.Chung, a son of the late Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung, said he was the most suitable person to create more jobs.Lee said she will adopt an “innovative conserv

Apr 9, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Ahn vows to respect poll result

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, co-chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, speaks at a Supreme Council meeting in the National Assembly, Seoul, Wednesday, while his fellow chairman Rep. Kim Han-gil looks on. / YonhapNPAD will decide on abolishing party nominations todayBy Jun Ji-hyeRep. Ahn Cheol-soo, co-chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), said Wednesday that he will unconditionally follow the result of an opinion poll of party members and the public on whether to abolish party nominations of candidates to stand in local elections.The poll was conducted Wednesday, and the result will determine whether party headquarters will nominate candidates for lower-level municipal and provincial mayoral and council positions in the June 4 elections.The NPAD plans to announce the result today after first reporting to a meeting of the party’s Supreme Council.Ahn, who insisted on scrapping the practice of parties selecting candidates, said, “I am ready to follow any decisions made by party members and the public. I will devote myself to a victory for the party

Apr 9, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
People & Events

American plugs Korea with music videos

Michael AronsonBy Jun Ji-hye Michael Aronson, an expatriate from the United States, creates music videos to promote Korea.He does most of the work necessary to create music videos himself ― writing, composing, recording, directing and editing.“In total, I think I have made 20 music videos, and they are all about Korea,” said Aronson in an interview. “I made my first music video about Kim Yu-na, the Vancouver Olympics figure skating champion, right after the 2010 games were finished.”Others include a video in which he praised the convenience of the Korean subway system. In the video, he used a Korean traditional song that plays over the intercom when trains approach transfer stations, after creatively remaking it with his rap.He also made videos about gimbap, a Korean roll filled with steamed rice and vegetables, and hanbok, Korean traditional clothes.“Other than ‘actors,’ I usually just have someone hold the camera and that is it. Also, one friend sometimes records guitar and bass parts. I do the all the rest from writing to editing

Apr 9, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
American plugs Korea with music videos
South Korea

Rep. Ahn loses magic

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, co-leader of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), answers questions from reporters before a party meeting in Yeouido, Tuesday. / YonhapNPAD leader concedes on signature pledgeBy Jun Ji-hyeRep. Ahn Cheol-soo has lost another piece of his political soul by conceding his signature political initiative.In a news conference, Ahn, now co-chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), announced that he would not insist on the abolition of parties’ nomination of candidates for the June 4 local elections.“I understand there are other voices in the party,” the businessman-turned politician said, adding that he would not object to an opinion poll of party members and the public on the matter.His reversal of stance came amid open objections by party stalwarts.Ahn has used the abolition of nominations to press President Park Geun-hye, citing her presidential campaign pledge. He had demanded a meeting with Park on the issue, which was rejected Monday.The new main opposition party, led by Ahn and Kim Han-gil, is also faci

Apr 8, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
Rep. Ahn loses magic
South Korea

Assembly emblem to feature Hanguel

By Jun Ji-hyeNew badge for lawmakersA group of bipartisan lawmakers agreed Tuesday to change the text in the center of the National Assembly emblem and on lapel badges worn in the parliament by representatives from a Chinese character to Hangeul, Korean script.The parliamentary steering committee passed a bill to revise the relevant law.In the current design which has been used since 1993, the Chinese character “國,” meaning “country,” sits in the center of the nation’s national flower Mugunghwa, or the rose of Sharon, on badges and flags. The word “국회,” or gukhoi, meaning National Assembly, will replace this.    “Lawmakers agreed with the revision in a bid to show that we love our native language,” said Rep. Yoon Sang Hyun, the governing Saenuri Party’s vice floor leader. “There also have been misunderstandings of the current character as some often mistake ‘國’ for ‘或,’ which means suspicion.”Rep. Jun Byung-hun, floor leader of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, said:

Apr 8, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
Assembly emblem to feature Hanguel
South Korea

Park snubs Ahn's request for talks

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, co-chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, returns to his seat after speaking at a party meeting on the local elections in the National Assembly Library, Seoul, Monday. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyePresident Park Geun-hye rejected Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo’s call to meet over the practice of parties nominating candidates for local elections, Monday, the deadline set by the co-chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD).“Park disrespected the leader of the main opposition party that holds 130 National Assembly seats and received support of 48 percent from the public during the 2012 presidential election,” the NPAD said.Ahn made a surprise visit to Cheong Wa Dae, Friday, to submit an application for a meeting with President Park to her secretary, saying he wanted Park to explain the reason the ruling Saenuri Party decided to maintain party nominations for lower-level municipal and provincial council candidates ahead of the June 4 local elections.Park made no comment about the proposal during her appearance at a meeting with senior secr

Apr 7, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Japan adopts absurd claims in textbooks

By Jun Ji-hyeThe foreign ministry called in Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koro Bessho, Friday, to protest his government’s decision adopt more claims on Dokdo, in school textbooks. / YonhapThe Japanese government Friday approved newly revised textbooks for elementary schools claiming that Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo are Tokyo’s and they are illegally occupied.Seoul lodged a strong protest, warning the move will further strain relations between the two countries.The foreign ministry called in Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koro Bessho.Japan’s education ministry approved eight social studies textbooks for fifth- and sixth-graders that contain the claims.The ministry screens and authorizes all Japanese school textbooks every four years.Among the five textbooks that passed the screening in 2010, just one contained the specific description of Japan’s territorial claim to the islets.Others indirectly claimed the country’s Dokdo ownership by using visual images, such as maps.However, eight newly approved textbooks all contain these provocative argume

Apr 4, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
Japan adopts absurd claims in textbooks
South Korea

Ahn reaches out to meet Park

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, co-chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, visits Cheong Wa Dae Friday, to pressure President Park Geun-hye to meet with him to discuss the scrapping of the party nomination system. / YonhapResistance growing in NPAD over scrapping party nominationsBy Jun Ji-hyeRep. Ahn Cheol-soo, co-chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), visited Cheong Wa Dae, Friday, to submit an application for a meeting with President Park Geun-hye to her secretary.His surprise visit came five days after he proposed that Park meet with him to discuss the scrapping of the practices of parties nominating candidates for local elections.Park’s senior secretary for political affairs Park Joon-woo received the first-term lawmaker at the visiting room of the presidential office.During his visit, Ahn filled out an application form for a meeting with the President, asking her to reply to his inquiry by Monday. It is unprecedented that an opposition leader has visited the presidential house to fill out an application form meant for

Apr 4, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
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