South Korea - The Korea Times

Chong Won-o named DPK candidate for Seoul; Chun Jae-soo for Busan

Chong Won-o, a former chief of Seoul’s Seongdong District, was nominated as the Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) candidate for Seoul mayor, Thursday, ahead of the June 3 local elections. He won the three-way primary against Reps. Park Ju-min and Jeon Hyun-heui. In the primary that reflected party member voters and public opinion polls 50-50, Chong secured more than half of the votes, avoiding a runoff. Speaking after the result was announced, Chong framed the mayoral election as a referendum on the current city administration run by Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is a member of the main opposition People Power Party. “We will judge the 10 years of incompetence under Mayor Oh and repeat the success of the Lee Jae Myung administration in Seoul,” he said. He also called for party unity, saying the outcome reflects “a clear mandate to win Seoul as one united DPK.” Chong, who won three consecutive elections in 2014, 2018 and 2022 to serve as Seongdong District chief, rose as a leading contender for Seoul mayor after President Lee publicly praised his administrative performance. In December la

Apr 9, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Chong Won-o named DPK candidate for Seoul; Chun Jae-soo for Busan

Lee calls for overhaul of Korea's economic model amid Middle East crisis

President Lee Jae Myung said Korea has reached a turning point that demands a fundamental overhaul of its economic model in response to the impacts of the Middle East conflict on the nation's economy. He called for an all-out push to diversify energy sources and accelerate industrial transformation. In a meeting of the National Economic Advisory Council at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Thursday, the president repeatedly said Korea faces a major crisis. “Even though a ceasefire was announced, attacks continue. It’s hard to predict when the situation will be over,” he said. “In the short term, the war in the Middle East is posing a considerable threat to our economy, and in the longer term, it seems now is the time for Korea’s economic system to change fundamentally.” His remarks come amid growing calls for Korea to diversify its energy supply to reduce its reliance on the Middle East, as the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz seriously disrupted imports of oil and other petrochemicals. Speaking to senior aides later in the day, Lee reiterated that the U.S.-Israel war on Iran

Apr 9, 2026By Lee Gyu-lee

Lee calls for overhaul of Korea's economic model amid Middle East crisis

Lee urges swift measures to ensure safe return of Korean vessels from Hormuz Strait

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday instructed his aides to devise "thorough and preemptive" measures on the Middle East conflict, calling the safe return of Korean vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz the most urgent task. Lee told a meeting with senior aides that, "It is too early to be optimistic about the outcome," although the United States and Iran have agreed on a two-week ceasefire. Lee urged officials to mobilize all diplomatic resources and cooperate closely with the international community to ensure the safe return of the Korean vessels and crew members. "Regardless of how and when the war in the Middle East ends, a new world will emerge that will be fundamentally different from what it was before," Lee said, calling on the officials to prepare thoroughly for the future. There are currently 26 Korean vessels with 173 sailors on board stranded in the strait since the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (U.S. time) said he agreed to suspend strikes on Iran for two weeks, subject to Tehran's agreement to the "complete" and "immediate" reopening

Apr 9, 2026By Yonhap

Lee urges swift measures to ensure safe return of Korean vessels from Hormuz Strait

PM vows no tolerance against unfair market practices

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Wednesday issued a fresh warning against unfair market practices, saying that the government would apply a "zero-tolerance" principle to crack down on any potential disruptions in markets. Speaking at a meeting with relevant ministries, Kim called for the government to work to thoroughly prevent "actions that fuel anxiety through fake news or harm the interests of the public through hoarding." "The situation in the Middle East remains shrouded in uncertainty and concerns are growing over a protracted war," the prime minister said. "The government must prepare for all possible scenarios and actively explore every available measure." "Above all, we need a zero-tolerance approach against any act that disrupts market order," he added. Kim urged members of the Cabinet to ensure that a supplementary budget aimed at stabilizing people's livelihoods is passed without delay. He further called on authorities to thoroughly conduct risk assessments on the use of alternative shipping routes bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

Apr 8, 2026By Yonhap

PM vows no tolerance against unfair market practices

Veteran lawmaker Choo Mi-ae nominated as DPK candidate for Gyeonggi governor

Rep. Choo Mi-ae of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) was nominated as the party's candidate for Gyeonggi Province governor in the June 3 local elections, the party said Tuesday. The DPK's nomination committee announced the results of a primary held from Sunday to Tuesday, in which Choo secured a majority. Choo competed against incumbent Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong-yeon and fellow DPK lawmaker Han Joon-ho to secure the nomination in Korea's most populous province with about 14 million people. The six-term lawmaker served as justice minister under the 2017-22 liberal administration of Moon Jae-in. A judge-turned-lawmaker, she has played a leading role in the DPK's judicial reform initiatives while serving as chair of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. If the 67-year-old wins the election, she will become the first female governor of a provincial government.

Apr 7, 2026By Yonhap

Veteran lawmaker Choo Mi-ae nominated as DPK candidate for Gyeonggi governor

Opposition leader criticizes gov't cash handouts scheme; president rejects 'populist' label

Main opposition People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Jang Dong-hyeok warned on Tuesday, that a plan for cash handouts in the government's latest supplementary budget bill could stoke pressure on inflation and the exchange rate. In response, President Lee Jae Myung rejected criticism that the policy was populist, saying it will help offset economic strains resulting from high oil prices amid the Middle East conflict. They exchanged views during a meeting that also involved ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Jung Chung-rae at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. It was the first meeting between the three since last September. Jang agreed on the need for the extra budget. Nevertheless, he disagreed with the cash support for the bottom 70 percent of Korea’s income earners, for which 4.8 trillion won ($3.19 billion) is allocated as part of the total 26.2 trillion won budget. The aid is aimed at helping people cope with rising energy costs and other expenses amid the prolonged U.S.-Israel war with Iran. The bill was endorsed by the Cabinet and now awaits parliamentary approval. The PPP chairman

Apr 7, 2026By Yi Whan-woo

Opposition leader criticizes gov't cash handouts scheme; president rejects 'populist' label

Presidential aide heads to Kazakhstan, Oman, Saudi Arabia to secure energy supplies

Kang Hoon-sik, presidential chief of staff, will depart Tuesday as a presidential envoy to Kazakhstan, Oman and Saudi Arabia to secure additional energy supplies amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Kang made the announcement during a press briefing on the Middle East situation at the presidential office earlier in the day, alongside Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy. The delegation includes officials from relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, as well as representatives from domestic energy companies. The trip aims to expand crude oil and naphtha imports and diversify supply sources as Seoul moves to reduce its dependence on a single supply corridor. “Our economy relies heavily on oil and naphtha imports from the Middle East, making it all the more urgent to secure alternative supply lines,” Kang said, adding that the government will work closely with companies to ensure shipments reach Korean ports without disruption. Kang noted that Korea imported more than 60 percent of its crude oil and over half of its naphtha

Apr 7, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Presidential aide heads to Kazakhstan, Oman, Saudi Arabia to secure energy supplies

Lee set to meet with leaders of rival parties to discuss economic fallout from Middle East war

President Lee Jae Myung was set to hold a meeting with leaders of the ruling and the main opposition parties Tuesday, officials said, as they were expected to discuss measures to mitigate economic fallout from the war in the Middle East. Lee is scheduled to meet with Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Jung Chung-rae, DPK floor leader Han Byung-do, People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyeok and PPP floor leader Song Eon-seog at Cheong Wa Dae later in the day. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Kang Hoon-sik, presidential chief of staff, will also join the gathering. The planned meeting will mark the first such gathering since Lee held a luncheon meeting with the rival party leaders in September last year. Presidential secretary for political affairs Hong Ik-pyo has told reporters that the economic situation stemming from the war in the Middle East will likely be discussed at the gathering. Hong also said the meeting is intended to establish a consultative body involving the ruling and opposition parties to address people's livelihood issues.

Apr 7, 2026By Yonhap

Lee set to meet with leaders of rival parties to discuss economic fallout from Middle East war

Busan mayoral race enters final stretch as parties near primary picks

The mayoral race in Busan is entering its final stage, with both major parties set to select their candidates this week, ahead of the June 3 local elections. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is holding a primary between Rep. Chun Jae-soo and former Busan party chair Lee Jae-sung. Chun, a three-term lawmaker representing Busan's Buk District, served as minister of oceans and fisheries under the Lee Jae Myung administration and is widely seen as the DPK's strongest contender. Lee is a former Busan chairman for the DPK who is challenging Chun in the party’s primary. The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is selecting its nominee through a contest between incumbent Mayor Park Heong-joon and first-term lawmaker Rep. Joo Jin-woo. Park is the current mayor of Busan and is seeking a third term under the PPP banner, while Joo is a first term lawmaker representing Busan’s Haeundae District. The DPK began voting this week, combining party member ballots with a public survey using anonymized phone numbers, and plans to announce its candidate on Thursday. The PPP will make their an

Apr 6, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Busan mayoral race enters final stretch as parties near primary picks

Cabinet approves motion to amend parts of the Constitution

The Cabinet approved a motion Monday to amend some parts of the Constitution, setting the stage for the National Assembly to vote on the proposed amendment and, if passed by lawmakers, the amendment will be put to a national referendum. The move comes after 187 lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and five minor parties jointly proposed the bill on Friday to tighten the requirements for declaring martial law and incorporate the spirit of past pro-democracy movements into the Constitution. The main opposition People Power Party has not joined the move. With the Cabinet's approval, President Lee Jae Myung is required put up public notice of the proposed amendment for at least 20 days to give citizens time to review it. The National Assembly is then required to vote on the bill within 60 days of the public notice, where it must secure a two-thirds majority to pass. If the bill is approved between May 4 to 10, a national referendum could be held alongside the June 3 local elections. The amendment must win both a majority turnout and majority approval to be finalized. The

Apr 6, 2026By Yonhap

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