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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.

DPK seeks extension of special counsel probe into uncovered allegations surrounding ex-President Yoon

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) introduced a bill to extend a comprehensive special counsel investigation at a parliamentary plenary session Monday, prompting the main opposition party to launch a filibuster. The comprehensive special counsel investigation combines three separate special counsel probes into former President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law in December 2024, allegations involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee and the death of a young Marine. It was launched in February amid concerns that the three earlier probes had ended without fully addressing key allegations. Under the proposed bill, the investigation period would be extended by 30 days from the current deadline of July 24 to Aug. 23. It would also increase the number of public officials dispatched to the special counsel team from 130 to 150 and expand the scope of the probe to include obstruction of audits by public officials. As the DPK put the proposal before the plenary session, the main opposition People Power Party immediately launched a filibuster in protest, delaying a vote on the bi

Jul 20, 2026By Yonhap
DPK seeks extension of special counsel probe into uncovered allegations surrounding ex-President Yoon

Abortion legislation returns to spotlight after 7-year limbo

Seven years after the Constitutional Court struck down the abortion ban in Korea, the country’s stalled effort to establish a new legal framework has returned to the spotlight following President Lee Jae Myung’s call to review the introduction of the abortion pill mifepristone. The issue stems from legislation left unresolved since the court ruled in 2019 that the criminal provision on abortion was incompatible with the Constitution and ordered lawmakers to revise it by the end of 2020. Although the criminal provision lost its legal effect after the deadline passed, the National Assembly has yet to pass replacement legislation defining when and under what conditions abortions are permitted. Lee reignited the issue during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, criticizing the government’s handling of mifepristone, commonly known overseas as Mifegyne or Mifeprex, which has not been approved in Korea. “Even if it creates some difficulties for the government, women should be able to receive the medication under appropriate medical supervision. Leaving the situation as it is now is irresponsib

Jul 19, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Abortion legislation returns to spotlight after 7-year limbo

Lee calls for increasing agricultural subsidies to protect food security, ensure farmers' livelihoods

President Lee Jae Myung has called for increasing agricultural subsidies to protect food security and ensure the livelihoods of farmers. Lee made the remark in a post Friday on X, calling agriculture a "very important strategic industry." He was responding to a post by Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung that Korea's agricultural subsidies are smaller than those in the European Union and Japan. Song said Korea's subsidies amounted to 5.19 million won ($3,490) per farming household last year, while the EU's amounted to 25.8 million won in 2023 and Japan's 9.67 million won in 2024. Lee said that financial resources are becoming sufficient for agricultural subsidy increases, as revenues from the special rural development tax have spiked due to the booming stock market. In Korea, a special rural development tax is deducted every time shares listed on the stock market are sold. "If we are going to protect food security and save rural regions, agriculture and farmers, we have to increase agricultural subsidies," Lee said. "As an open trading nation, it is unavoidable to open markets, but it is

Jul 18, 2026By Yonhap
Lee calls for increasing agricultural subsidies to protect food security, ensure farmers' livelihoods

Korean parents welcome gov't move to curb minors' social media use

A new plan by Korea's media watchdog to curb social media use by minors drew mixed reactions from parents, with some cautiously optimistic and others raising concerns. On Thursday, the Korea Communications Commission said it was considering restricting children under 14 from creating social media accounts and limiting addictive platform features for users under 19. Hong Eun-hee, a parent of a middle school student in Seoul, welcomed the proposal, saying she hopes it will help her child and other teenagers spend less time on social media. "They watch [YouTube] Shorts and [Instagram] Reels whenever they have a spare moment. They say they will watch for 10 minutes, but it becomes 20 minutes or an hour," Hong said. "They have difficulty controlling it themselves." She said her child often checks her phone while doing homework and resists putting it away before bed. "When parents try to control it on their own, it ends in a fight," Hong added. Parents also cite sleep deprivation, declining concentration, cyberbullying and exposure to gambling, sexual content and other harmful material as major

Jul 17, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Korean parents welcome gov't move to curb minors' social media use

Lee's approval rating edges down for 2nd consecutive week: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating edged down to 52 percent this week, a poll showed Friday, marking its second straight weekly decline. In a survey conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday through Thursday, 52 percent of 1,003 respondents aged 18 and older positively assessed Lee's management of state affairs, down 1 percentage point from a week earlier. The rating marks a consecutive weekly drop from 54 percent recorded in the poll released July 3. Those who disapproved of Lee's handling of state affairs rose by 2 percentage points on-week to 37 percent. Eleven percent of the respondents declined to answer. About a fifth of the respondents cited diplomacy as the main reason for their positive assessment of Lee's performance, followed by 19 percent who pointed to the economy and people's livelihoods. Economic concerns, including the continued weakness of the local currency and his real estate policy, were among the main reasons cited by those who viewed Lee unfavorably. By region, support for Lee was the highest in the southwestern regions of Gwangju and Jeolla at 77 percent, while s

Jul 17, 2026By Yonhap
Lee's approval rating edges down for 2nd consecutive week: poll

Lee reiterates plan to designate Dec. 3 as day for people's sovereignty

President Lee Jae Myung on Friday reiterated his plan to designate Dec. 3 as a day of people's sovereignty that would mark the anniversary of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed imposition of martial law. In a Facebook post marking the 78th Constitution Day, Lee pledged to designate Dec. 3 as a legal public holiday so that the meaning and spirit of the day — when ordinary citizens voluntarily sought to block the unexpected martial law — could be fully passed down to future generations. Lee made a similar proposal last year to mark the first anniversary of the political crisis triggered by Yoon's declaration of martial law. "On Dec. 3, 2024, the martial law declared in the middle of the night reminded all of us that the threat to democracy is by no means a thing of the past, but a reality that could happen again at any time in today's Republic of Korea," Lee said in the post, referring to the country by its official name. He further said South Korea had demonstrated to the world through a "revolution of light" that the spirit of popular sovereignty enshrined in the Constitution is

Jul 17, 2026By Yonhap
Lee reiterates plan to designate Dec. 3 as day for people's sovereignty

NSC holds meeting to review issues with US: presidential office

The presidential national security office held a meeting Thursday to discuss trade and security issues between Korea and the United States, officials said. The National Security Council (NSC) standing committee meeting was chaired by National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac and attended by officials from the finance ministry, trade ministry, the anti-trust watchdog and reportedly by Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Kang Kyung-wha. During the meeting, Wi stressed the importance of close coordination among government ministries in formulating response measures "based on a common understanding" to protect national interests amid growing external uncertainties, according to presidential officials. He also stressed the need for an integrated government response to issues involving Korea-U.S. relations, describing the bilateral relationship as encompassing both trade and security. Presidential officials did not provide further details, but the meeting came amid continued complaints from Washington over an investigation into a massive data leak involving the Korean affiliate of U.S.-listed e-commerce

Jul 16, 2026By Yonhap
NSC holds meeting to review issues with US: presidential office

Lee names ex-Google Korea executive as secretary for youth policy

President Lee Jae Myung has named a former Google Korea executive as secretary for youth policy who will oversee the new office designed to address issues affecting young people, a presidential spokesperson said Thursday. Kim Tae-won, currently chief executive officer of marketing firm Innored and a former executive director at Google Korea, will serve as the inaugural secretary for youth and future, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said at a press briefing. The spokesperson said the new office was created to proactively address issues facing young people and present a vision for the future, vowing that the Lee administration will bring about tangible changes in areas affecting the young people. "As the lives of young people are undergoing rapid changes due to employment and other issues stemming from the transition to artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation, efforts are needed ... to proactively respond to those challenges," Kang said.

Jul 16, 2026By Yonhap
Lee names ex-Google Korea executive as secretary for youth policy

Gov't apologizes over Gwangju murder case, vows police reform

The government apologized to the nation on Thursday over the police's alleged mishandling of a high-profile murder case in Gwangju and vowed thorough reforms. In an address to the nation, Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung addressed the controversy over allegations that police in the southwestern city leaked investigative material to the murder suspect's father, who is also a police officer in Gwangju. "As the interior minister responsible for the people's lives and safety, I express my deep regret and consolation to the victim's family and apologize for causing concern to the people," he said at the government complex in Seoul. "The government is handling this case as a grave matter and will root out corruption within the police while thoroughly reforming the investigative system in order to restore the people's trust that has collapsed under shoddy and cover-up investigations," he added. The murder and subsequent investigation have become a lightning rod issue in politics as the alleged collusion between police officers was revealed during a supplementary investigation by prosecutors at a t

Jul 16, 2026By Yonhap
Gov't apologizes over Gwangju murder case, vows police reform

Parliamentary hearing on football governing body postponed

The parliamentary sports committee decided Thursday to postpone a scheduled hearing on the Korea Football Association (KFA) amid ongoing negotiations between the rival parties for the formation of the committee. The National Assembly Committee on Culture, Sports and Tourism earlier voted to hold the hearing on July 22 despite a boycott by lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). No new date has been set for the proposed hearing, but the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said it will seek to hold the hearing before the end of this month. The PPP has been boycotting all parliamentary committees in protest of the ruling party unilaterally appointing the chairs of 11 assembly committees. "We have decided to postpone the hearing given that the negotiations between the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties are in their final stages," DPK lawmaker Lee Jae-jung, who chairs the committee, told Yonhap News Agency. The proposed hearing follows the country's early exit from the ongoing FIFA World Cup. The committee earlier said it would look into the controversy sur

Jul 16, 2026By Yonhap
Parliamentary hearing on football governing body postponed
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