The Korea Times

All eyes on Supreme Court as DPK’s main presidential contender awaits ruling

After an appeals court in Seoul found Lee Jae-myung, the leading presidential contender of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), not guilty of violating the election law on March 26, party officials said it would be virtually impossible for the Supreme Court appeal to be concluded before the June 3 election. They may be wrong. After taking over the case, Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae referred it to a full-bench review and held the first deliberation session on the same day — a rare move. Just two days later, on Thursday, the court convened its second session, signaling an unusually swift pace. Many experts view the move as a clear indication that the court is determined to resolve the case before the June 3 presidential election — a prospect that has heightened anxiety among DPK politicians. “Given the steps taken by the court so far, the justices are likely to issue a ruling before the voting day,” Lee Hyun-gon, a former judge, told The Korea Times. “Part of the reason for the court to speed up is to avoid a more confusing situation following the election.” The scenario the lawyer

Apr 24, 2025By Jung Min-ho

All eyes on Supreme Court as DPK’s main presidential contender awaits ruling

Environment & Animals

Is DPK coming around on nuclear energy?

After the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan, liberal politicians here embraced the idea of phasing out Korea's reliance on nuclear power, a stance that defined the energy policy of the liberal Moon Jae-in administration. Now, it seems the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is changing its mind on the issue, as party officials say completely excluding nuclear energy is no longer a viable policy option. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the party’s leading contender for the next presidency, talked of "energy mix," a concept of combining diverse energy sources which usually include nuclear power, in his climate pledges ahead of the June 3 election. On Earth Day on Tuesday, Lee vowed to achieve four long-term objectives for the nation’s environment: mapping out a more specific plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, eliminating the use of plastic, reducing fine dust and preserving biodiversity. In a separate social media message targeting residents on Jeju Island the following day, Lee also said he would lead the efforts to develop more green technologies to make the energy supply more re

Apr 23, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Politics

Korea’s liberal party embraces Hungary's approach to depopulation

The liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is embracing Hungary's approach to the birthrate crisis, reviewing the idea of offering loans to newlywed couples with the promise that the debts will be forgiven once they have three children. The policy idea of offering 100 million won ($70,000) loans to all newly married couples, regardless of their income levels, is now reportedly under review by the DPK as officials work to finalize policy priorities ahead of the June 3 presidential election. The party introduced the idea during last year’s campaign for legislative elections as one of its pledges to address Korea’s persistently low birthrate. If one of the party’s contenders wins the presidential race, this cash-for-kids proposal could quickly become actual policy through legislation, given that the DPK holds a majority in the National Assembly. Under the plan, all newly married couples would be given 100 million won. If they have one child, they would be relieved of paying interest on their loans. If they have a second one, the principal would be reduced by half to 50 million won,

Apr 22, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Korea’s liberal party embraces Hungary's approach to depopulation

Global Community

Ansan, Korea's most diverse city, to host global interculturalism forum

Ansan, the most ethnically diverse city in Korea, will host an international event to promote interculturalism ― a movement that supports cross-cultural interaction ― as officials embrace multicultural harmony as the city’s identity and brand. The city government in Ansan, the first Korean city to join the list of the Council of Europe’s intercultural cities, announced last week that it will host the symposium from Sept. 17 to 19 to share its vision with and strengthen ties to other members, including Japan’s Hamamatsu and Australia’s Melton. “This year marks the fifth anniversary of our membership and 20 years since the creation of the division dedicated to serving foreign residents,” its official told The Korea Times Monday. “As we celebrate it, we will invite representatives of other member cities to Ansan to share our thoughts on the development of our common vision and new policy ideas.” According to the Council of Europe’s website, the intercultural city program was launched in 2008 to support cities in “reviewing and adapting their policies through an inte

Apr 22, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Ansan, Korea's most diverse city, to host global interculturalism forum

Society

Ex-spokesman for labor ministry to lead Korea Labor and Employment Service

Park Jong-pil, a former spokesman for the labor ministry, has become the new chief director of the Korea Labor and Employment Service (KLES). Park, 57, began his three-year term on Monday, which will continue through April 20, 2028, according to officials. The KLES is a state-run organization dedicated to fostering harmonious labor-management relations and improving employment and labor services. In a statement released before his inauguration, Park said he would focus on making tangible changes. “All work our organization does should be field-friendly,” he said. “I will pay more attention to the voices of workers. Based on their needs, I will focus on driving real changes.” After graduating from Korea University with a history degree, he entered public service in 1995. While working, he studied public administration at Yonsei University as well as the University of Birmingham before earning a doctorate in business administration from Yeungnam University in 2021. Known as a good communicator with the press, Park served as a spokesman for the Ministry of Employment and Labor twice

Apr 21, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Ex-spokesman for labor ministry to lead Korea Labor and Employment Service

Global Community

ILO says Korea’s new foreign nanny program ‘contrary’ to its equality rules

Korea’s new foreign nanny program launched last month for residents in Seoul is not aligned with the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) equality principles, its representative said. In a recent response to inquiries from The Korea Times about the program — through which holders of certain visas can gain employment here as domestic workers for less than the minimum wage — the ILO official said it would be in violation of multiple conventions that guarantee the right to equal treatment. Among them is Article 6 of the ILO’s Domestic Workers Convention that ensures the right of domestic workers to enjoy fair terms of employment in the same way as those employed for other types of work, including the same minimum wage, the official said. The convention defines "domestic work" as work performed in or for a household or households. This comes after the announcement by the Ministry of Justice and the Seoul Metropolitan Government that holders of one of four visas ― D-2, D-10-1, F-3 and F-1-5 ― can apply for permission via the outsourcing service firm EasyTask to work as dom

Apr 20, 2025By Jung Min-ho

ILO says Korea’s new foreign nanny program ‘contrary’ to its equality rules

EXCLUSIVE Fewer than 50 foreigners applied to nanny program: source

Global Community

New visa aiming to address labor shortage faces fierce backlash

A visa system introduced this month to address labor shortages in regions outside of Seoul is facing strong backlash, with concerns that the influx of migrant workers could threaten jobs for Korean citizens. A petition calling for the abolition of the E-7-4R visa garnered more than 72,700 signatures as of Thursday after being posted on the National Assembly’s petition site on March 20. The request is currently under parliamentary review, as required for all petitions that collect 50,000 signatures or more. Also known as the region-specific skilled worker visa, E-7-4R is designed for foreign nationals who have been working in government-designated regions where the issue of falling populations is particularly serious, according to the Ministry of Justice. If E-9 and E-10 visa holders stay in one of the designated areas for at least two years and meet certain skill requirements, they will become eligible to change their visas to E-7-4R, which would allow for a longer stay, the possibility of inviting family members and potentially an easier path to permanent residency. The petitioner, su

Apr 17, 2025By Jung Min-ho

New visa aiming to address labor shortage faces fierce backlash

Rights advocates warn of rising anti-immigrant politics

People & Events

High school student donates 1 million won to help premature babies

A teenage girl who was born prematurely 17 years ago has donated 1 million won ($700) to help premature babies. According to Busan Paik Hospital on Tuesday, Hong Ah-jin, a freshman student at Hanil Girls’ High School, donated the money to help treat those born prematurely. Hong said she had the same experience. Born at 26 weeks and weighing just 590 grams, she received three months of treatment at the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit. Thanks to the hospital's efforts, her weight increased to 2.05 kilograms, at which point she was considered healthy enough to be discharged. “Thanks to the staff at Busan Paik Hospital, I was able to grow up healthy and strong. I have always wanted to express my gratitude to the hospital, and I am so glad that I was able to contribute a small amount of money to a good cause,” Hong said. “I wanted to help those in need and give them hope that they, too, can grow up healthily even if they were born prematurely like I was. I hope everyone is healthy and thank the medical staff at Busan Paik Hospital once again.” Preterm babies can be defined a

Apr 17, 2025By Jung Min-ho

High school student donates 1 million won to help premature babies

Politics

PPP presidential contenders seek to woo voters with anti-China rhetoric

Conservatives in Korea largely remain divided after the impeachment of their former leader, Yoon Suk Yeol. But their presidential contenders appear to have found common ground on one issue ahead of the June 3 election: the threat posed by China. Speaking to members of Truth Forum, a conservative group at Seoul National University (SNU) on Tuesday, Rep. Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party (PPP) called for the shutdown of the Xi Jinping Collection Room, a resource center set up at the school's main library in 2015 to commemorate the Chinese leader’s visit there the previous year. “SNU has no memorial space or archives established for any of Korea’s former presidents such as Syngman Rhee or Park Chung-hee, who led Korea’s foundation and industrialization efforts,” said Na, a five-term lawmaker who formerly served as its floor leader. “And yet, the school operates a resource center dedicated to Xi Jinping, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, right at the heart of its central library, over which many raise serious concerns and questions.” Na said she believes the esta

Apr 16, 2025By Jung Min-ho

PPP presidential contenders seek to woo voters with anti-China rhetoric

Politics

Yoon continues to wield influence on party, election

Impeachment has ended the three-year presidency of Yoon Suk Yeol ― but not his political ambition ― as he continues to meet conservative political figures and send indirect messages targeting his supporters. Criticism and concerns are rising that the former president, who left the presidential residence on Friday evening to return to his civilian life, is expected to continue to interfere in the upcoming snap election ― by playing the role of a “regent” instead of remaining low-profile after his martial law declaration pitched the country into political turmoil. "I will find a new path for the country and the people as a citizen," Yoon said through his lawyer as he left the residence. "I will do everything in my power to build the free and prosperous Korea that I and many people have dreamed of together." He then expressed his gratitude for those who had supported him during his political crisis, initiated by his decision to impose a martial law decree, which eventually led to his ouster. Before heading to his private home in southern Seoul, he got off the car and shook hands

Apr 11, 2025By Jung Min-ho

Jung Min-ho

Read more

All eyes on Supreme Court as DPK’s main presidential contender awaits ruling

Is DPK coming around on nuclear energy?

Korea’s liberal party embraces Hungary's approach to depopulation

Ansan, Korea's most diverse city, to host global interculturalism forum

Ex-spokesman for labor ministry to lead Korea Labor and Employment Service

ILO says Korea’s new foreign nanny program ‘contrary’ to its equality rules

New visa aiming to address labor shortage faces fierce backlash

High school student donates 1 million won to help premature babies

PPP presidential contenders seek to woo voters with anti-China rhetoric

Yoon continues to wield influence on party, election

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