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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

PM says to focus on policy implementation, safety, economy ahead of elections

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Tuesday he will focus on the three main areas of policy implementation, safety and the economy ahead of the June local elections. Speaking to reporters at the government complex, Kim said the three issues have become particularly important as many local government chiefs are preparing to run for election, creating a possible vacuum in the everyday operation of state affairs. "Just when the economy was improving, the Iran situation suddenly happened and there are lots of worries overall," the prime minister said. "I think it's time for all ministries to carry out a form of emergency check on state affairs." Kim recalled his visit last week to an accident site in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, saying safety issues are at particular risk of being overlooked during election season. He also said the war in the Middle East has led to an "emergency economic situation" that requires the government's close attention to the supply of daily necessities.

Mar 31, 2026By Yonhap
PM says to focus on policy implementation, safety, economy ahead of elections

InterviewUS sees Korea as reliable investment partner, ruling party lawmaker says

U.S. government officials and lawmakers view Korea as a reliable manufacturing partner and have responded positively to its commitment to investing in the U.S., a Korean lawmaker told The Korea Times. However, they remain sensitive to certain nontariff trade issues as well as controversies surrounding Coupang, a U.S.-based e-commerce giant that experienced a massive customer data leak in Korea late last year. Rep. Lee Un-ju, a Supreme Council member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and a member of the Korea-U.S. Parliamentarians' Union, visited Washington last week as part of a six-member delegation from the union. She said U.S. officials and lawmakers showed a broadly favorable assessment of Korea’s economic role. “The U.S. side saw Korea as one of the most reliable manufacturing partners and a key supply chain ally,” Lee said in a written interview, referring to discussions with senators, House members and officials from the departments of State, Commerce and Energy. She added that this positive view was shared by both Republicans and Democrats, who also welcomed the

Mar 31, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
US sees Korea as reliable investment partner, ruling party lawmaker says

From bakery cafes to sham relocations, Lee moves to close policy loopholes

President Lee Jae Myung is turning his attention to a string of policy loopholes being exploited against their original intent — from corporate loans used to bypass housing borrowing caps and family-run bakery cafes claiming inheritance tax breaks meant for long-established businesses to companies making token relocations to rural areas to claim regional tax exemptions. Analysts say the pattern reflects Lee's governing style, forged over a career that began in local municipal administration and later expanded through progressively larger regional roles before his election as president in June 2025. “Lee, compared with several previous presidents, is recognized for being well-informed about both the broad and narrow aspects of affairs,” a political analyst said, Tuesday, on condition of anonymity. The analyst said that this trait was built over Lee's political career, from serving as mayor of Seongnam and then governor of Gyeonggi Province, before being elected president. “This quality enables him not only to present general directions but also to provide detailed guidance, as see

Mar 31, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
From bakery cafes to sham relocations, Lee moves to close policy loopholes

Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday instructed senior officials to take bold measures to address concerns over the energy situation caused by the war in the Middle East, saying the government may issue an emergency economic decree if necessary. "South Korea, which is highly dependent on external markets and relies heavily on energy supplies from the Middle East, requires more thorough inspections and detailed emergency measures," Lee said during a Cabinet meeting. Lee urged all relevant ministries to closely monitor the situation and take "preemptive and bold action" to ease concerns over potential disruptions of energy supply. "Key raw materials, such as urea solution, helium and aluminum, should be strictly managed at levels equivalent to wartime supplies," he said. He also said, under the Constitution, an emergency economic decree could be issued if needed. Under Article 76 of the Constitution, the president may issue an order, with the effect of an act, in times of grave financial crisis, natural calamity or internal turmoil, without waiting for the approval of the National Assembly. Hi

Mar 31, 2026By Yonhap
Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed

Lee says energy crisis sparked by Middle East war keeps him awake at night

President Lee Jae Myung said Monday that the energy crisis triggered by the Middle East war is so serious that it keeps him awake at night, stressing the need to transition to renewable energy. Lee made the remark during a town hall meeting on southern Jeju Island, warning that the situation is "worse than you think" and could deteriorate further. "The whole world is in chaos because of the energy issue, and it's so serious that I can't fall asleep either," he said, stressing the need to quickly transition to renewable energy sources. Lee also asked for residents' opinions on local issues, such as the potential construction of an undersea tunnel connecting Jeju to the mainland, and the construction of a second airport on the island. He effectively expressed his opposition to the tunnel project by saying that he thinks the island characteristics of Jeju are "what make Jeju, Jeju." The island was the final stop in a series of town hall meetings that Lee led in 12 cities and provinces across the nation beginning shortly after his inauguration in June last year. Cheong Wa Dae said it is consid

Mar 30, 2026By Yonhap
Lee says energy crisis sparked by Middle East war keeps him awake at night

60 Korean workers evacuate from Iraq amid war in Middle East

A total of 60 Korean corporate workers based in Iraq had been evacuated to safety amid the continuing war in the Middle East, the foreign ministry said Monday. The workers left Iraq for neighboring countries, including Kuwait, Turkey and Jordan, between March 18 and Sunday on the advice of the Korean Embassy in Iraq, with assistance from embassy staff, according to the ministry. In addition, three more Koreans left Lebanon for Turkey last Friday, as Korea evacuates its nationals from the conflict-hit Middle East. An estimated 1,500 Koreans have evacuated the region with assistance from the ministry since the conflict erupted.

Mar 30, 2026By Yonhap
60 Korean workers evacuate from Iraq amid war in Middle East

Rival parties agree to pass extra budget bill by April 10

The ruling and main opposition parties said Monday they agreed to pass a 25 trillion-won ($16.5 billion) extra budget bill proposed by the government by April 10. The supplementary budget aims to ease the burden of rising oil prices and protect small businesses and vulnerable households from the economic repercussions of the war in the Middle East. The agreement to pass the bill by April 10 was announced by the floor leaders of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), as part of a broader agreement on the schedule for April's extraordinary session of the National Assembly. Under the agreement, the session will begin this Friday, with a budget speech scheduled for Thursday and questioning and deliberation by the special parliamentary budget committee set for April 7 and 8. In addition, the two sides agreed to hold parliamentary interpellation sessions on April 3, 6 and 13. "Today we are agreeing on the schedule for the April extraordinary session as it relates to the extra budget," PPP floor leader Rep. Song Eon-seog said. "I expect the ruling a

Mar 30, 2026By Yonhap
Rival parties agree to pass extra budget bill by April 10

President to hold summits with Indonesian, French leaders in Seoul

President Lee Jae Myung will meet the leaders of Indonesia and France this week to discuss bilateral topics as well as global issues ranging from defense and artificial intelligence development to supply chains and tensions in the Middle East. Cheong Wa Dae said Monday that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will visit Seoul from Tuesday to Thursday, followed by French President Emmanuel Macron from Thursday to Friday. Both will be on state visits. Lee’s bilateral summit with Subianto is expected to focus on defense cooperation, particularly on the KF-21, Korea’s first domestically developed fighter jet, which began mass production last Wednesday. Indonesia is expected to be the KF-21’s first export destination, with reports saying the country is likely to purchase 16 jets. Lee previously met Subianto at last year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, where the two discussed a special strategic partnership focusing on defense, trade, infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges. “This week’s meeting is expec

Mar 30, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
President to hold summits with Indonesian, French leaders in Seoul

Kim Boo-kyum declares Daegu mayoral bid, calls for break with PPP

Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced Monday that he will run for mayor of Daegu in the June 3 local elections, urging voters in the conservative stronghold to rethink their long-standing political alignment. Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Kim said, “I have decided to once again challenge the Daegu mayoral race,” framing his candidacy as part of a wider effort to address regional imbalance and political stagnation. “Overcoming regionalism and achieving balanced national development is my final political mission,” he said. Kim said he had been urged to run since last fall but initially hesitated. “I felt it would be shameful to avoid this responsibility,” he said. “In the end, the responsibility I must bear lies with Daegu.” He also sharply criticized the People Power Party (PPP), which has long dominated politics in the city. “Daegu has effectively been controlled by a single party, and that has led to a lack of competition,” Kim said. “In a system where party nominations all but ensure victory, politicians have little incent

Mar 30, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Kim Boo-kyum declares Daegu mayoral bid, calls for break with PPP

Lee vows to abolish statute of limitations for state violence at Jeju April 3 Uprising memorial

Seventy-eight years after tens of thousands of Jeju residents were killed in a state-led massacre, President Lee Jae Myung visited the island Sunday to honor the victims and pledge to ensure perpetrators of such violence can never outrun the law. “Remembering the Jeju April 3 Uprising and to prevent the recurrence of state violence, I will abolish the statute of limitations system for civil and criminal cases,” he wrote in the guestbook at the Jeju 4.3 Peace Park, where the tragedy — which killed nearly 10 percent of the island's population between 1948 and 1954 — is commemorated each year on April 3. After paying tribute, Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung shared a luncheon with bereaved families of the victims, offering comfort and expressing solidarity. In his opening remarks, Lee said that the Jeju April 3 Uprising is a chapter of history that must never be forgotten, while expressing respect and gratitude for the dedication of bereaved families and Jeju residents who have worked to uncover the truth. “Every April, Jeju comes to mind first, because the Jeju April 3 Uprising

Mar 29, 2026By Anna J. Park
Lee vows to abolish statute of limitations for state violence at Jeju April 3 Uprising memorial
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