Politics

Controversy intensifies over ex-first lady's visit to India

Lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Friday defended a solo visit to India in 2018 by former first lady Kim Jung-sook, wife of former President Moon Jae-in, amid a controversy that her visit wasted taxpayer money.

Jun 7, 2024

Controversy intensifies over ex-first lady's visit to India

New Nat'l Assembly speaker elected; 1st plenary meeting held without ruling party

Five-term lawmaker Woo Won-shik was elected as the new National Assembly speaker Wednesday in a unilateral vote by the opposition parties at a plenary meeting with lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotting the session.

Jun 5, 2024

New Nat'l Assembly speaker elected; 1st plenary meeting held without ruling party

Lawmaker advocates education aid for more NK defectors' children

Rep. Park Choong-kwon, a North Korean defector-turned-lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), has introduced a bill proposing educational support for children of defectors born in third countries.

Jun 5, 2024By Kwak Yeon-soo

Lawmaker advocates education aid for more NK defectors' children

PM says gov't to look at ways to increase foreign workers in restaurant industry

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Tuesday the government will look at ways to allow more foreigners to work in the local food service industry.

Jun 4, 2024

PM says gov't to look at ways to increase foreign workers in restaurant industry

Ex-Finance Minister Hong ordered downsizing of national debt-to-GDP forecast: state auditor

Former Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki ordered his ministry in 2020 to downsize the 2060 outlook for the national debt-to-GDP ratio in a bid to avoid public criticism, the state auditor said Tuesday.

Jun 4, 2024

Ex-Finance Minister Hong ordered downsizing of national debt-to-GDP forecast: state auditor

Former Korean first lady causes stir over solo trip to India

Former first lady Kim Jung-sook has stirred up a belated controversy over her visit to India in 2018. Following the recent release of former President Moon Jae-in’s memoir, in which he wrote about his wife’s solo trip to India, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) criticized Kim for spending 400 million won in public funds, including about 62 million won ($45,109) on in-flight meals and taking a trip to the Taj Mahal to fulfill her personal wishes with taxpayer money.

Jun 4, 2024By Kwak Yeon-soo

Former Korean first lady causes stir over solo trip to India

DPK proposes special counsel probe into prosecution's alleged manipulation of N. Korea remittance case

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Monday proposed a bill mandating a special counsel probe into allegations of prosecutorial manipulation in connection with an investigation into a South Korean company's alleged smuggling of foreign currency into North Korea.

Jun 3, 2024

DPK proposes special counsel probe into prosecution's alleged manipulation of N. Korea remittance case

Yoon's approval rating inches up to 30.6%: poll

President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating rose slightly to 30.6 percent from a week earlier but failed to surpass 33 percent for eight straight weeks, a survey showed Monday.

Jun 3, 2024

Yoon's approval rating inches up to 30.6%: poll

PPP to propose livelihood-related legislation as 1st bills of new Nat'l Assembly

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) said Friday it plans to propose a set of bills on creating a new ministry to tackle the low birth rate and on scrapping the financial investment income tax as some of its first legislation of the new National Assembly.

May 31, 2024

PPP to propose livelihood-related legislation as 1st bills of new Nat'l Assembly

Yoon's approval rating sinks to lowest point since taking office

President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating fell to 21 percent, the lowest level since taking office in May 2022, following his party's crushing defeat in last month's general elections, a poll showed Friday.