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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

Ahn increasing political clout

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, right, waves toward wax figures of the late liberal President Kim Dae-jung and his wife Lee Hee-ho during a visit to the Kim Dae Jung Nobel Peace Prize Memorial in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, Thursday. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeRep. Ahn Cheol-soo is demonstrating that he can influence the political landscape ahead of the June 4 local elections, analysts said Thursday.The independent lawmaker hasn’t hesitated to criticize the major parties while giving details of his plan to launch a new political party in March, which is expected to become a major variable in the local polls.The impact of his words is evidenced by both the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), which are reacting sensitively to Ahn’s moves by issuing statements every time he makes remarks aimed in their direction.The former presidential candidate initially appeared to diminish into a figure of meager influence after entering the National Assembly through a by-election in April last year. He disappeared from the front pages of media and became isolated from wra

Jan 23, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

Saenuri hit over nomination stance

Members of the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice hold a rally urging the ruling Saenuri Party to fulfill its campaign pledge to scrap party designations of candidates to run in municipal elections in front of the ruling party’s headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Wednesday. / YonhapDesignation of candidates for local elections unlikely to be scrappedBy Jun Ji-hye The ruling Saenuri Party is failing to deliver on a campaign pledge to abolish the practice of political parties selecting candidates for municipal elections ahead of the June 4 local polls.Rep. Kim Hack-yong said at a press briefing Wednesday, 13 of 19 participants in a policy-setting meeting argued that the current system should be maintained, while four members said the party should fulfill its campaign promise.Two lawmakers did not express their views, he said.Opposition lawmakers lashed out at the governing side for reneging on the campaign promise.Rep. Kim Han-gil, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), and independent lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo plan to hold a one-on-one meetin

Jan 22, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
Saenuri hit over nomination stance
South Korea

Parties remain split over N. Korean human rights bill

By Jun Ji-hye The ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) said Wednesday that they agreed to discuss details of a North Korean human rights bill at the National Assembly in February.However, they remained poles apart over whether they will be able to pass the bill.The governing party said the parties agreed to draw up a bipartisan measure to eventually approve the bill by the end of February, while the DP said that it only agreed to begin relevant discussions.“Leaders of the rival parties met Tuesday and agreed to approve the North Korean Human Rights Law in the February Assembly,” said Yoon Sang-hyun, the Saenuri Party’s vice floor leader. “As a result of persistent persuasion of the ruling party, the DP has recently shown some changes in its position.”Speaking at a party meeting attended by senior members, Yoon said that the core content of the North Korean Human Rights Law is to create legal grounds for supporting civic groups working for improving the living conditions of people in Pyongyang.However, Rep. Jung Sung-ho

Jan 22, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
Parties remain split over N. Korean human rights bill
South Korea

Ahn's new party to be launched in March

By Jun Ji-hyeRep. Ahn Cheol-soo said Tuesday that he will launch a new political party by the end of March, three months before the local elections.“I realized anew that my decision to push for a new politics was right. Old politics can do nothing to improve the livelihood of the people,” said Ahn.Yoon Yeo-joon, the former environment minister who co-chairs the “new politics promotion committee,” a preparatory body for creating Ahn’s party, said, “We will form a party by the end of March. Ahn’s new party will field candidates for all 17 municipal and gubernatorial posts in the June 4 local elections.”Ahn and Yoon made the comments during a visit to Jeju Island to explain their vision of his proposed party.This is the first time that Ahn has confirmed a specific plan for the new party since the first-term lawmaker, who entered the National Assembly through the April by-elections last year, began to flesh out its apparatus.Ahn’s plan to field candidates in the local polls will make the local elections a three-way race along with the

Jan 21, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
Ahn's new party to be launched in March
South Korea

Rep. Ahn asks Mayor Park to yield

Rep. Ahn Cheol-sooMayor Park Won-soonBy Jun Ji-hyeRep. Ahn Cheol-soo is pressuring Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) to make concessions in the June 4 local polls to candidates from his envisioned political party.“I am willing to field candidates for all city councils including Seoul in the local elections. I think this is my turn to receive concessions from the DP,” Ahn told reporters. “The public will then know the state of political ethics here.”Ahn’s remarks referred to two previous concessions he made to the DP _ to Mayor Park during the 2011 Seoul mayoral by-election, and to Rep. Moon Jae-in during the 2012 presidential poll.This is the first time that Ahn has called on the largest opposition party to yield to him in fielding a single candidate among the opposition bloc since the first-term lawmaker began to flesh-out a party apparatus.In response, Mayor Park said that he is willing to bow out, but on condition that this would benefit the public.“I would make a hundred concessions (to Ahn) if that would b

Jan 20, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
Rep. Ahn asks Mayor Park to yield
South Korea

Cambodian workers suffer overtime, low wages

A female Cambodian worker takes part in a press conference in front of the Cambodian Embassy in Seoul on Jan. 6. She and other laborers criticized the Cambodian government for its excessive use of force to break up workers' protests, which have resulted in the death of five people. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hye At least five people were dead and about 20 wounded after riot police and soldiers opened fire to break up a protest of striking garment workers in Cambodia on Jan. 3.Ten workers and activists had been arrested the previous day.Striking workers have been calling for increased wages to $160 per month from the current $80 after the government announced on Dec. 24 that it would adopt $95 as the new minimum monthly wage.Cambodian garment workers, mostly females, claim that they have trouble subsisting on such a small salary. They have to borrow money to support themselves and their families, incurring a growing amount of debt.According to the Cambodia Daily, Sous Sary, a 31-year-old garment worker, works two hours of overtime every day in order to earn enough to live on the

Jan 20, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
Cambodian workers suffer overtime, low wages
South Korea

Ahn takes jab at President

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo answers reporters’ questions after a press conference at the National Assembly, Sunday. The independent lawmaker criticized President Park Geun-hye and the ruling Saenuri Party for not fulfilling their election pledge to ban political parties from nominating the candidates for local elections. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hye Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo criticized President Park Geun-hye, Sunday for retreating on her campaign promise to abolish the practice of political party’s designating candidates for city councils.It was the first salvo fired by Ahn since he recently began to create a party apparatus in preparation for the June 4 local elections.His call invited a rebuke from the ruling Saenuri Party but a positive response from the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), currently hit by voter apathy.Ahn also demanded the breakup of a special parliamentary committee for political reform comprised of Saenuri and DP members.“The ruling party should stop attempting to break its election pledge to scrap the party nomination system. Such a move is just

Jan 19, 2014By Jun Ji-hye
Ahn takes jab at President
South Korea

Parties agree on terms of NIS probe

Rep. Jeon Hae-cheol, center, and two other lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party answer to reporters’ questions at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday, after their press conference calling for Nam Jae-joon, director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), to step down. They claimed that Nam is unqualified to hold that office because he “illegally” disclosed the minutes of the 2007 Inter-Korean Summit to some lawmakers of the ruling Saenuri Party. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeRival parties provisionally agreed Tuesday to call Won Sei-hoon, former director of the spy agency, and ex-Seoul police chief Kim Yong-pan, to appear at National Assembly hearings as witnesses.The National Assembly Special Committee is currently conducting an investigation into the National Intelligence Service’s (NIS) meddling in the 2012 presidential election.According to a provisional agreement drawn up by floor and vice-floor leaders of the ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), parties will file a complaint with the prosecution against the two,

Aug 6, 2013By Jun Ji-hye
South Korea

NIS head denies meddling in politics

By Jun Ji-hye Nam Jae-joon, chief of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), takes the witness stand at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. He attended a session of the parliament special committee in charge of an investigation into the NIS’s alleged intervention in the 2012 presidential election, and denied allegations of the organization’s election meddling. / YonhapNam Jae-joon, head of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), on Monday denied allegations at a parliamentary inquiry that the agency illegally intervened in the 2012 presidential election.The spy agency chief claimed that a number of comments posted online by NIS agents were “justifiable works” and part of anti-North Korea psychological warfare.    The National Assembly Special Committee is overseeing an investigation into allegations of illegal meddling by the NIS during the election last December.Nam is the first-ever head of the spy agency to appear before the Assembly for questioning in the nation’s history since the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, predece

Aug 5, 2013By Jun Ji-hye
NIS head denies meddling in politics
South Korea

DP leader offers meeting with President Park

Rep. Kim Han-gil, left, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, speaks at the party’s outdoor gathering at Seoul Plaza, Sunday. He urged President Park Geun-hye to respond to the public’s anger over the National Intelligence Service accused of political manipulation. / Yonhap By Jun Ji-hye Kim Han-gil, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), urged President Park Geun-hye, Sunday, to meet with him to break the political deadlock surrounding the state spy agency’s alleged intervention in the 2012 presidential election.“President Park is the only person who is able to resolve the current political situation that has reached a critical stage,” said Kim. “I urge her to immediately respond to my suggestion as I am ready to meet her anytime, anywhere.”The DP took to the streets Thursday to protest against the ruling Saenuri Party for allegedly blocking a National Assembly investigation into the National Intelligence Service’s (NIS) role in the election.To rally support from citizens, the DP held a mass rally

Aug 4, 2013By Jun Ji-hye
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