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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.

Defense minister offers to resign amid criticisms of Marine's death

President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives for a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday, with Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup present.Resignation offer raises speculation about additional Cabinet reshuffle By Nam Hyun-wooDefense Minister Lee Jong-sup has offered to resign amid criticisms of the ministry's controversial handling of investigations into the death of a Marine during a search-and-rescue operation. The move came as the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) seeks to pass a motion on impeaching the minister, which will suspend him from his job and freeze President Yoon Suk Yeol's authority to replace him for months until the Constitutional Court makes a decision. The ruling bloc claims the decision is to prevent a leadership vacuum in the military amid North Korea's evolving missile and nuclear threats, while the DPK argues that Lee's resignation is not enough, dropping hints at further political offensives on the issue. A local broadcaster first reported, Tuesday, that Lee had expressed to the presidential office his intention to resign

Sep 12, 2023By Nam Hyun-woo
Defense minister offers to resign amid criticisms of Marine's death

Fake interview suspect said to have denied knowing Yoon

Kim Man-bae, the owner of the asset management company Hwacheon Daeyu, is released from the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 7, for the second time due to the expiration of his custodial period. YonhapKim Man-bae, a key suspect in allegations that he purposely faked an interview in 2021 to discredit then opposition presidential candidate Yoon Suk Yeol, denied key parts of his interview, including being an acquaintance with Yoon, during subsequent questioning by prosecutors, effectively admitting to the falsity of the interview, informed judicial officials said Tuesday.Kim, a journalist-turned-property developer, is currently on trial for his role in the scandal-ridden Daejang-dong development project pushed in the mid-2010s by opposition leader Lee Jae-myung as the mayor of Seongnam.In the September 2021 interview with journalist Shin Hak-lim, Kim made remarks to the effect that Yoon was the mastermind behind the Daejang-dong scandal, and the interview was reported by online news outlet Newstapa on March 6, 2022, just three days before the presidential elect

Sep 12, 2023
Fake interview suspect said to have denied knowing Yoon

Ex-President Moon sues veterans minister for defaming his father

Veterans Minister Park Min-shik, center, speaks during a parliamentary meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Sept. 6. YonhapFormer President Moon Jae-in filed a defamation complaint against Veterans Minister Park Min-shik on Tuesday for suggesting that his father was a pro-Japanese figure, according to an opposition lawmaker.The minister made the remark during a parliamentary meeting last week, claiming Moon's father served in a regional government in Hungnam, a city in what is now North Korea, during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.Moon's side rejected the claim, saying the deceased served in the position after the colonial rule ended."Former President Moon filed a complaint against Minister Park for defaming the deceased this morning," said Rep. Youn Kun-young of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, who served as Moon's senior presidential secretary, in a text message sent to reporters.The minister's remarks came in the context of a comparison to another historical figure, Gen. Paik Sun-yup, who is widely credited for his contributions to the co

Sep 12, 2023
Ex-President Moon sues veterans minister for defaming his father

Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup appears to have expressed willingness to resign: source

Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup / YonhapKorea's Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup appears to have expressed his willingness to resign, a senior government source said Tuesday, amid calls for his impeachment by the main opposition party.The move came as the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea has said it will push for Lee's impeachment over allegations he unfairly interfered with a military investigation into the death of a young Marine."I heard that Minister Lee has expressed his intention to resign," the source said. "I understand that he made the decision out of concern for a possible security vacuum amid the recent talks of impeachment."Another source said Lee appeared to be "very concerned" about the possible vacuum and is considering offering his resignation.The defense ministry declined to comment on Lee's possible resignation offer.Lee has recently been under fire over his handling of the Marine Corps investigation into what contributed to the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was swept away by an overflowing stream during a mission to search for victims of downpours on July 19.

Sep 12, 2023
Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup appears to have expressed willingness to resign: source

Opposition leader appears for questioning again over suspected illegal remittance to N. Korea

Lee Jae-myung, center, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, departs the National Assembly on his way to the Suwon District Prosecutors Office, Sept. 12. YonhapOpposition leader Lee Jae-myung appeared before prosecutors Tuesday for his second questioning over allegations of his involvement in a company's illegal remittance to North Korea in 2019.Lee, chair of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, arrived at the Suwon District Prosecutors Office to face questioning on charges of third-party bribery, three days after he underwent the first round of questioning on Saturday. The investigation centers on allegations that Ssangbangwool Group, an underwear maker, illegally transferred $8 million to North Korea between January 2019 and January 2020 on behalf of Gyeonggi Province.Prosecutors suspect that, of the total remittance, $5 million was meant for Gyeonggi's smart farm support program in North Korea while the remaining $3 million was what the North had demanded as the cost of facilitating Lee's visit to North Korea.Lee has been on a hunger sit-in against the Yoon Suk Yeol a

Sep 12, 2023
Opposition leader appears for questioning again over suspected illegal remittance to N. Korea

Anti-corruption agency to launch 90-day special probe into lawmakers' virtual assets

Deputy Chairman Jeong Seung-yoon of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission speaks in a press briefing at the government complex in Seoul, Sept. 12. YonhapThe state anti-corruption agency said Tuesday it will look into virtual asset holdings of all lawmakers to see if any irregularities are involved, after suspicions arose earlier this year over a lawmaker's once-massive cryptocurrency assets.The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission said it will conduct a 90-day inspection starting next Monday at the request of the National Assembly and a special team of 30 investigators will be mobilized for the inspection.Earlier this year, the ruling and opposition parties agreed to have the agency conduct the examination after suspicions of irregularities arose after Rep. Kim Nam-kuk, now an independent after leaving the main opposition Democratic Party, was found to have once held a substantial number of cryptocurrency coins."We will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the current state of acquisition, trading and sale of virtual assets by members of the 21st National Assem

Sep 12, 2023
Anti-corruption agency to launch 90-day special probe into lawmakers' virtual assets

Gov't, PPP to seek legal revisions to protect teachers in child abuse cases

Park Dae-chul, left, the top policymaker of the ruling People Power Party, and Vice Education Minister Jang Sang-yoon attend a consultative meeting of senior party and government officials at the National Assembly in Seoul, Sept. 12. YonhapThe government and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) decided Tuesday to push for a set of legal revisions aimed at safeguarding teachers' rights during child abuse investigations.The move comes after a series of suicide deaths of teachers sparked massive demands for the protection of teacher rights. Some argue the current child abuse crimes act could hold teachers accountable for child abuse allegations stemming from what they consider necessary disciplinary actions.The proposed revisions would mandate investigative agencies to consider the opinions of education offices when investigating child abuse allegations against teachers, according to Rep. Park Dae-chul, the PPP's chief policymaker.Additionally, the two sides also agreed to strengthen the criteria for relieving teachers of their duties when child abuse allegations are raised. Under the cu

Sep 12, 2023
Gov't, PPP to seek legal revisions to protect teachers in child abuse cases

Heavy security spotted at Vladivostok train station amid speculation of NK leader's visit

A general view shows the building of a local railway terminal in Vladivostok, Russia, Monday. Reuters-YonhapSecurity measures appeared to have been strengthened at the rail station in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok on Monday amid speculation that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could visit Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin.As of 5:40 p.m., a large number of police personnel were spotted inside Vladivostok station, unlike the previous day. A South Korean government official told Yonhap News Agency earlier in the day that a special train presumed to be carrying Kim appeared to be traveling to Vladivostok.Soldiers with service dogs, men in black suits as well as a black car surrounded by police officials entering the platform were also seen at the station, although it was unclear whether the vehicle was related to Kim's possible visit.The New York Times reported last week that Kim plans to travel to Vladivostok, possibly by armored train this month, for talks with Putin to discuss the North's potential supply of its artillery shells and other weaponry for Moscow's

Sep 11, 2023
Heavy security spotted at Vladivostok train station amid speculation of NK leader's visit
  • Kim-Putin summit could take place as early as Tuesday

DPK leader to appear again before prosecutors for questioning this week

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, lies down in a tent in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, as he continues a hunger strike against the government, Sept. 11. Joint Press CorpsOpposition leader Lee Jae-myung will appear again before prosecutors for questioning this week in compliance with a summons over allegations of his involvement in a company's illegal money transfers to North Korea, his party said Monday.After questioning Lee on Saturday, the Suwon District Prosecutors Office asked Lee to show up again for additional questioning on Tuesday, and Lee agreed to comply with the summons, according to Rep. Kwon Chil-seung, a spokesperson of Lee's main opposition Democratic Party of Korea."Despite an unfair summons, Chairman Lee will comply with it with his head held high," Kwon said.The investigation centers on allegations that Ssangbangwool Group, an underwear manufacturer, unlawfully remitted $8 million to North Korea between January 2019 and January 2020 on behalf of Gyeonggi Province.Prosecutors suspect that $3 million was intended

Sep 11, 2023
DPK leader to appear again before prosecutors for questioning this week

DPK to push for impeachment of defense minister over young Marine's death

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, attends a meeting of the party's Supreme Council at a tent in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Sept. 8. YonhapThe main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) will push for the impeachment of Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup over allegations he unfairly interfered with a military investigation into the death of a young Marine, party leader Lee Jae-myung said Monday.The minister has been under fire over his handling of the Marine Corps investigation into what contributed to the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was swept away by an overflowing stream during a mission to search for victims of downpours on July 19."The impeachment of the defense minister is an order from the people," DPK Chairman Lee said in a statement while on an anti-government hunger strike for the 12th day. "President Yoon Suk Yeol rejected a demand from the people that he fire the minister."The DPK leader claimed that although the defense minister was found to have unfairly interfered with the Marine Corps investigation into the death, Y

Sep 11, 2023
DPK to push for impeachment of defense minister over young Marine's death
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