The Korea Times

Sim Sang-jeung, long-time labor activist, braces for toughest-ever presidential bid

Rep. Sim Sang-jeung, the presidential candidate of the progressive minor opposition Justice Party, speaks during a television debate at a KBS studio in Seoul, Sept. 30. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geunThis article is the sixth in a series on the major presidential contenders' leadership styles, campaign promises, strengths and weaknesses, as well as career histories ― ED.By Kang Seung-wooRep. Sim Sang-jeung of the progressive minor opposition Justice Party is preparing for her fourth presidential campaign in the upcoming election slated for March 9. However, for the 62-year-old, four-term lawmaker, once a household name of the progressive side, this latest presidential run is likely to be her toughest-ever as she appears less competitive than she used to be, in terms of both her presence within the party and awareness of her among the public.She may once again face the pressure to drop out of the race and instead show her support for ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate Lee Jae-myung for the liberal side's victory, if the election shapes up to be a two-way race between th

Nov 2, 2021By Kang Seung-woo

Sim Sang-jeung, long-time labor activist, braces for toughest-ever presidential bid

Half of voters still undecided for next presidential election

Politics

Koreans cry foul over deepening polarization in post-COVID era

By Kang Seung-wooAs the COVID-19 pandemic continues to extend into a second year, polarization and inequality have accelerated in various areas of society, emerging as a hot-button issue that the government should immediately address. Polarization was a serious global social problem before the pandemic as a result of the advent of neoliberalism following the economic crisis in the 1990s; and Korea was no exception to this trend, going through issues of youth unemployment, poor working conditions for irregular workers and real estate speculation among others that has brought about wealth inequality.However, even before addressing these problems, the unprecedented pandemic has deepened polarization dependent on differing types of situations. Over the past few weeks, The Korea Times has interviewed several people in different age and occupation groups to see how the coronavirus has impacted the everyday lives of Koreans, and they all agree that something is going wrong.“I think polarization is a natural phenomenon in society that is also happening in the United States and Britain,

Oct 31, 2021By Kang Seung-woo

Koreans cry foul over deepening polarization in post-COVID era

North Korea

Unification minister's rare trip with President shows Moon's determination for inter-Korean relations

Unification Minister Lee In-young speaks during a parliamentary audit of the ministry at the National Assembly in Seoul, Oct. 21. Korea Times photoMoon departs for Europe for meeting with pope, attending G20, COP26By Kang Seung-wooUnification Minister Lee In-young will be participating in President Moon Jae-in's overseas trip, in a rare move during which he is expected to play a role in promoting peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula, according to diplomatic observers. Moon departed for Italy, Thursday, where he is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis and attend the G20 summit. Following this, the President will travel to the U.K. for the COP26 United Nations Climate Summit and visit Hungary afterward.As Moon is scheduled to visit the Vatican, Friday (local time), Lee is expected to talk with officials there about a possible visit to North Korea by the pope.Pope Francis has repeatedly expressed his willingness to visit Pyongyang, which could help restart inter-Korean talks. A papal trip to North Korea has been put on the backburner since the 2019 Hanoi summit between North Korean lead

Oct 28, 2021By Kang Seung-woo

Unification minister's rare trip with President shows Moon's determination for inter-Korean relations

North Korea

US 'appears to have drawn a line' at South Korea's push for end-of-war declaration

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., Tuesday. EPA-YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooQuickly developing discussions between South Korea and the United States on declaring a formal end to the Korean War appear to have hit a snag as Washington has made it clear that it cannot accept Seoul's proposal, at least at this time, according to diplomatic observers, Wednesday. Since President Moon Jae-in once again floated the idea in a United Nations General Assembly speech in September, it has been gaining traction, as evidenced by six meetings occurring between South Korea's top nuclear envoy Noh Kyu-duk and his U.S. counterpart, Sung Kim, since August.However, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan seems to have stepped on the brakes amid the Moon administration's push for an end-of-war declaration, Tuesday (local time).“We may have somewhat different perspectives on the precise sequence or timing or conditions for different steps, but we are fundamentally aligned on the core strategic initiative here and on the belief tha

Oct 27, 2021By Kang Seung-woo

US 'appears to have drawn a line' at South Korea's push for end-of-war declaration

North Korea

Moon administration stays quiet about most North Korean provocations

By Kang Seung-wooThe Moon Jae-in administration has refrained from firmly condemning North Korea's military provocations, a lawmaker said, Tuesday.President Moon Jae-in / YonhapAccording to Rep. Kang Min-kuk of the main opposition People Power Party, the Kim Jong-un regime has carried out provocative actions, including missile and nuclear tests, on a total of 40 occasions since President Moon took office in May 2017. However, the current administration has struck back with counter-remarks in only 12 instances, or 30 percent of the time, the lawmaker added. Taking a closer look, Moon has denounced the North's military actions as provocations only seven times. In addition, the President last issued a strong warning to North Korea for its tension-generating moves, May 9, 2019, in an interview marking the second anniversary of his inauguration, the lawmaker noted. Earlier in the day, the totalitarian state had launched short-range missiles. “Anyway, however, I'd like to warn North Korea that if such behavior by North Korea is repeated, it could make the current dialogue and negot

Oct 26, 2021By Kang Seung-woo

North Korea

Possible papal visit to North Korea revisited

President Moon Jae-in meets Pope Francis during his official visit to the Vatican, Oct. 18, 2018. Korea Times file By Kang Seung-wooOn the occasion of President Moon Jae-in's scheduled meeting with Pope Francis later this week, a possible papal visit to North Korea is once again emerging.Experts believe that the papal visit still stands a chance, given that Pope Francis has made many appeals for inter-Korean rapprochement. If realized, it could play a role in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula.According to Cheong Wa Dae, Moon is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Friday, before attending the G20 Summit, and he is likely to discuss the possibility of a papal visit to Pyongyang. “The pope has repeatedly expressed his willingness to visit North Korea, so they may discuss the issue as well,” a senior official of the presidential office said. A papal trip to the reclusive state gained traction in 2018 amid a peace mood created by three inter-Korean summits and historic meetings between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and then U.S. President Donald Tru

Oct 25, 2021By Kang Seung-woo

North Korea

Issue of Seoul pursuing nuclear armament re-ignited

gettyimagesbankExperts see possessing nuclear weapons 'impossible'By Kang Seung-wooThe years-long subject of South Korea possessing its own nuclear weapons is being rekindled in response to North Korea's rapid expansion of its nuclear program. The South Korean and U.S. governments have made clear their objections to the idea, but given Pyongyang's meaningful progress in the development of nuclear weapons, it is likely to remain a debatable topic in the foreseeable future.In the past, there have often been calls here for South Korea to acquire its own nuclear arsenal, but to no avail due to a possible violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that would be followed by sanctions and the disapproval of Washington that is wary of the spread of nuclear weapons. Joseph DeTrani, a former special envoy for negotiations with North Korea, was the latest to revisit the dormant issue. “North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests and continues to reprocess spent fuel rods for plutonium for nuclear weapons. They are assessed to have between 40 and 60 nuclear weapons,” DeTrani sai

Oct 23, 2021By Kang Seung-woo

Issue of Seoul pursuing nuclear armament re-ignited

North Korea

North Korea continues slamming 'Squid Game'

A scene of South Korea's Netflix megahit “Squid Game” / AFP-Yonhap By Kang Seung-wooNorth Korea has been taking jabs at South Korean Netflix megahit “Squid Game” by airing criticisms of the dystopian-thriller coming from many countries around the world. The nine-episode show, the U.S. streaming company's all-time biggest hit estimated to generate $900 million (1.06 billion won) in value, features hundreds of debt-ridden adults participating in a series of deadly Korean children's playground games to win 45.6 billion won in prize money. The drama is Netflix's most-viewed drama in 90 countries.“Squid Game is about survival in a capitalist society where you can earn money if you win by any means and you die otherwise. As children have started acting out games from the violent drama, schools around the world have been advising children not to watch it and urging parents to take extra precautions, but they are helpless,” North Korean state-run website Arirang Meari said, Tuesday.The propaganda site picked a few examples of opposition to the thriller's c

Oct 19, 2021By Kang Seung-woo

Speculating on 'Squid Game'

North Korea

Is discussion of end-of-war declaration gaining momentum?

Barricades are set up in front of Tongil Bridge in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, in this Sept. 24 photo. YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooA series of moves regarding North Korea are raising speculation that talks for a declaration to officially end the Korean War are gaining momentum. According to sources, Park Jie-won, head of South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), sat down for talks in Seoul, Monday, with Avril Haines, the U.S. director of national intelligence.Although details of their discussion were not made public, they were said to have talked about President Moon Jae-in's proposal for a declaration to formally end the war, and a subsequent push by Seoul and Washington to bring Pyongyang back to denuclearization talks. The two Koreas are still technically at war, as the 1950-53 conflict ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty, and Moon suggested once again in his United Nations speech in September that the two Koreas and the United States, probably joined by China, declare a formal end to the war.In addition, the chief nuclear negotiators of the three countries are set to hol

Oct 18, 2021By Kang Seung-woo

Is discussion of end-of-war declaration gaining momentum?

Law & Crime

'Symposium established Korea as leading legislative country'

Government Legislation Minister Lee Kang-seop / Courtesy of Ministry of Government Legislation Ministry of Government Legislation to hold 9th symposium with Asian legal expertsBy Kang Seung-wooThe Ministry of Government Legislation has been hosting the Asian Legislative Experts Symposium (ALES) every year since 2013, promoting cooperation among Asian countries through the exchanges of legal information as well as the development and advancement of legislative systems in the region. Under the theme of “Legislative Administration of Each Asian Country and Cooperation Measures,” the ninth annual symposium is scheduled to take place Oct. 27, both online and offline, with a limited number of in-person participants due to COVID-19-induced social distancing guidelines.Despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic, Government Legislation Minister Lee Kang-seop believes this year's ALES will help enhance mutual understanding between countries and discover specific fields o

Oct 17, 2021By Kang Seung-woo

Kang Seung-woo

Read more

Sim Sang-jeung, long-time labor activist, braces for toughest-ever presidential bid

Koreans cry foul over deepening polarization in post-COVID era

Unification minister's rare trip with President shows Moon's determination for inter-Korean relations

US 'appears to have drawn a line' at South Korea's push for end-of-war declaration

Moon administration stays quiet about most North Korean provocations

Possible papal visit to North Korea revisited

Issue of Seoul pursuing nuclear armament re-ignited

North Korea continues slamming 'Squid Game'

Is discussion of end-of-war declaration gaining momentum?

'Symposium established Korea as leading legislative country'

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