The Korea Times

LKP's 'satellite party'

Rep. Han Sun-kyo, second from right, the chairman of the Future Korea Party, receives congratulations from main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) chief Hwang Kyo-ahn and other dignitaries during the Future Korea Party's inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Under the revised Election Law, minority parties will now stand a better chance to get proportional representation seats. Han and several other lawmakers left the LKP to set up the new party with the goal of taking as many seats as possible in the April 15 general election, and subsequently re-merging with the LKP at a later stage. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

Feb 5, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Defense

LIG Nex1 participates in Indian defense expo

LIG Nex1's booth at DEFEXPO 2020 in India. / Courtesy of LIG Nex1By Kang Seung-wooLocal defense company LIG Nex1 is displaying precision-guided munitions at DEFEXPO 2020 in the Indian city of Lucknow, the firm said Wednesday.The South Asian country is the second-largest buyer of Korean weapons.The biennial event, which runs for five days, is one of Asia’s largest defense expos, inviting 165 companies from over 150 countries, including the United States, France, Russia, Israel and Korea.The company is exhibiting its latest products — a land-based short-range surface-to-air missile; a shipborne vertical launch short-range surface-to-air missile; a 70-milimeter guided rocket, and a medium-range anti-ship missile.It also is introducing a multi-band, multi-role, software-defined radio, which ensures seamless voice and data communication.“We look forward to introducing LIG Nex1’s defense systems optimized for future battlefields through DEFEXPO 2020,” its CEO Kim Ji-chan said.Meanwhile, Korea and India have agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the defens

Feb 5, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

LIG Nex1 participates in Indian defense expo

Foreign Affairs

Chinese envoy calls for mutual cooperation on coronavirus

Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming speaks during a press conference at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooThe new Chinese ambassador to Korea said Tuesday Korea and China need to understand and help each other to tackle the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak. However, he indirectly criticized the Korean government's decision to ban the entry of foreign nationals who have traveled to China's Hubei Province within the past 14 days, stressing that an entry ban should be based on scientific evidence.Xing Haiming, who arrived in Korea last Thursday, held a press conference at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul ― a rare move for a new envoy who has yet to present his credentials to President Moon Jae-in. Fluent in Korean due to his previous experience at Chinese embassies in both North and South Korea, Xing spoke almost entirely in Korean during the press conference.“China and Korea have been friendly neighbors to each other amid growing human exchanges. I hope both countries will understand and support each other,” Xing said. “Korea has give

Feb 4, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Chinese envoy calls for mutual cooperation on coronavirus

Coronavirus: Expert urges gov't to close border with China immediately

Health

Government hit for poor diplomacy, clumsy responses to epidemic

Koreans from Wuhan, China, arrive at Gimpo International Airport, Friday. A total of 350 of the first batch of 368 people will stay at two government-run facilities in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, and in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, for the 14 days. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooThe Korean government finally evacuated 368 Koreans from the epidemic-stricken Chinese city of Wuhan, Friday. Despite the “half-successful” evacuation ― with still more than 350 stranded there ― twists and turns during the rescue plan have put the government in the hot seat, raising questions about its readiness to cope administratively and diplomatically with the fast-spreading epidemic that has now been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced the government would send two flights each on Thursday and Friday to evacuate about 720 Koreans from Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.However, hours before the planned takeoff time of the first chartered plane on Thursday morning, the foreign ministry a

Jan 31, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Foreign Affairs

New Chinese ambassador arrives

Xing Haiming, the new Chinese ambassador to Korea, speaks to reporters after his arrival at Incheon International Airport, Thursday. Xing, who worked in the Chinese Embassy in Pyongyang from 1988 to 1991 and from 2006 to 2008, also served in the country's embassy in Seoul on three occasions dating back to 1992. He said he would make efforts to ensure the safe evacuation of Koreans residing in Wuhan following the new coronavirus outbreak there. / Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon

Jan 30, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Politics

Main opposition party stoking 'China-phobia'

Hwang Kyo-ahn, second from right, chairman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, and other party members hold a meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooAmid growing public concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party's (LKP) calls for “preventive measures” are raising eyebrows as many of them may be inciting hatred of China and Chinese people.The opposition party has called for banning Chinese nationals from entering Korea and deporting those who are already here. Party members are intensifying these calls as the epidemic has snowballed, killing more than 170 people and infecting nearly 8,000 in China. Korea has reported six confirmed cases.“Chinese from Wuhan and Hubei Province, where the coronavirus is rampant, are admitted to Korea without proper quarantine process. The government has not dealt with the coronavirus thoroughly,” Rep. Won Yoo-chul of the LKP said during a party meeting at the National Assembly, Wednesday. “I will submit a revision bill to the Quarantine Act t

Jan 30, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Main opposition party stoking 'China-phobia'

Politics

Quarantine effort

President Moon Jae-in cleans his hands with hand sanitizer ahead of a meeting at the Government Complex in Seoul, Thursday, to discuss the government's response to the coronavirus outbreak. Moon said his administration will take every necessary measure to contain the deadly virus and called for a strict response to fake news linked to the disease. / Yonhap

Jan 30, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Politics

Coronavirus affects election campaign

Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn shakes hands with a resident in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, while supporting a candidate from the party for a by-election in this March 24, 2019 photo. Although a handshake is the traditional way for politicians to express friendliness to voters, candidates for the April 15 general election are now avoiding it due to public concerns over the spread of the virus. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooThe recent coronavirus outbreak is affecting candidates' campaigning for the April 15 general election, as voters are reluctant to visit congested places and are avoiding physical contact with others, both of which are common practices on the campaign trail.The coronavirus, originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has killed more than 170 people and infected nearly 8,000 solely in China so far. The virus is transmissible via airborne particles or physical contact. Korea has reported six confirmed cases.In that respect, candidates are refraining from launching campaigns and postponing the opening of campaign offices until as late as possible. Former P

Jan 30, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Politics

Founder quits minor party

Ahn Cheol-soo, a co-founder of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday, to announce that he will leave the party following a rift with current party leader Sohn Hak-kyu over how to reform the party. The software mogul-turned-politician, who returned to politics earlier this month, plans to create a new political party dedicated to pragmatic and centrist politics. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

Jan 29, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Politics

Journalist-turned-lawmaker appointed PM chief secretary

Kim Sung-sooBy Kang Seung-wooRep. Kim Sung-soo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has been named the chief of staff of the Prime Minister's Secretariat.Given that he cannot hold two positions simultaneously, the 63-year-old resigned his seat at the National Assembly, Wednesday. The first-term lawmaker, who won the seat as a proportional representative for the party four years ago, had already announced he would not seek a second term in the upcoming general election slated for April 15. According to the DPK, new Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun offered the position to Kim, hoping he could play a bridging role between the party and opposition parties, helping the government include opposition figures in the Cabinet, and Kim willingly accepted.“The prime minister appointed Kim as his chief of staff because Kim is a man with outstanding sense of balance and a reasonable personality,” an official of the Prime Minister's Secretariat said.“Due to the confirmation process, it is expected to take a month-and-a-half before Kim takes office.”A former reporter, K

Jan 29, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Kang Seung-woo

Read more

LKP's 'satellite party'

LIG Nex1 participates in Indian defense expo

Chinese envoy calls for mutual cooperation on coronavirus

Government hit for poor diplomacy, clumsy responses to epidemic

New Chinese ambassador arrives

Main opposition party stoking 'China-phobia'

Quarantine effort

Coronavirus affects election campaign

Founder quits minor party

Journalist-turned-lawmaker appointed PM chief secretary

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