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Yoon instructs gov't to provide full support until end of jamboree

President Yoon Suk Yeol waves his hand during the opening ceremony of the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, Aug. 2. Yonhap President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed the government Tuesday to provide full assistance to participants of the 25th World Scout Jamboree until the event's conclusion, his office said.Yoon made the remark while being briefed by his aides on the relocation of thousands of young Scouts and adult volunteers from the jamboree venue in Saemangeum to cities across the country ahead of Typhoon Khanun's expected landfall Thursday morning."The entire government, including the emergency response team, should do its best to provide support until the end of the jamboree event," he said, according to presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon."The 45,000 Scouts who have come here from some 150 nations will all talk about what kind of country the Republic of Korea is when they return home," Yoon said, asking all Koreans to think of themse

Aug 8, 2023
Yoon instructs gov't to provide full support until end of jamboree

'We survive. We are Scouts. We don't have problems.'

Moroccan Scout Lina Mestari, third from left, poses with her friends at the Delta zone of the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, Sunday. Courtesy of Ministry of Gender Equality and FamilyNevertheless, there are people enjoying World Jamboree in Korea By Jun Ji-hyeSAEMANGEUM, North Jeolla Province ― While the 25th World Scout Jamboree taking place in Korea has faced a torrent of bad news about heat illnesses and hygiene issues, participants are still having fun making new friends and learning about different cultures during the event. On Sunday, the sixth day of the largest international youth camp held in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, The Korea Times spoke with young Scouts and adult volunteers who were spending time in the Delta zone, the only location where onsite media access is allowed. At the Delta zone, a number of booths were installed to introduce the cultures of each participating nation. Drums and other musical instruments resounded in the background. Young Scouts were gathering in small groups, chatting and laughing with each other. Partic

Aug 7, 2023By Jun Ji-hye
'We survive. We are Scouts. We don't have problems.'

2 former spy chiefs from Moon administration referred to prosecution over alleged hiring misconduct

Park Jie-won, a former director of the National Intelligence, appears for police questioning in Seoul over allegations of hiring irregularities, in this file photo taken July 1. YonhapPolice have referred two intelligence chiefs from the previous Moon Jae-in administration to the prosecution for further investigation into allegations of hiring irregularities, officials said Monday.The National Office of Investigation said Park Jie-won and Suh Hoon, both former directors of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), were handed over to the prosecution on July 31.Suh and Park, who served as NIS directors from 2017 to 2020 and from 2020 to 2022, respectively, are suspected of abusing their authority to secure employment positions for people close to them at the Institute for National Security Strategy, an entity affiliated with the NIS.The intelligence agency reportedly became aware of the alleged misconduct during an internal inspection and requested a police investigation early this year.Suh Hoon, a former director of the National Intelligence, appears at the Seoul Central District Cour

Aug 7, 2023
2 former spy chiefs from Moon administration referred to prosecution over alleged hiring misconduct

Yoon discusses 'contingency plan' for Jamboree participants

President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a welcoming speech during the opening ceremony of the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, about 180 km southwest of Seoul, in this Aug. 2 photo provided by the presidential office. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol and his aides have been discussing a "contingency plan" to ensure the safety of participants in the World Scout Jamboree ahead of the expected landfall of Typhoon Khanun later this week, his office said Monday.Yoon was briefed on the plan by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min earlier Monday, after beginning related discussions with relevant ministers the previous day, senior presidential secretary for press affairs Kim Eun-hye said in a written briefing."The contingency plan involves the possible relocation of scouts' lodgings and remaining events to Seoul and the surrounding capital area," she said.Sources told Yonhap News Agency the government has been looking at various alternatives for lodgings, including college dormitories in Seoul and training facilities owned by public organizations and businesses.A K-po

Aug 7, 2023
Yoon discusses 'contingency plan' for Jamboree participants

Yoon's approval inches up for 2nd consecutive week

President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, shakes hands with a naval officer during a visit to a naval base in Jinhae, in this Aug. 3 photo provided by the presidential office. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating inched up for the second consecutive week to 37.5 percent, a poll showed Monday.In the poll of 2,532 eligible voters conducted by Realmeter from Monday to Friday last week, the positive assessment of Yoon's performance advanced 0.2 percentage point from the previous week, while the disapproval of Yoon's performance dropped 0.2 percentage point to 59.3 percent. The rise in the positive assessment mostly came from respondents in their 60s and 40s, and those living in the southern cities of Gwangju, Busan and Ulsan.While the negative assessment decreased overall, it did rise for respondents in their 20s, and those living in Seoul and the central city of Daegu.The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. (Yonhap)

Aug 7, 2023
Yoon's approval inches up for 2nd consecutive week

Fears grow over copycat crimes following series of stabbing rampages

Police and subway officials patrol Jamsil Station in southeastern Seoul, Friday, in response to a menacing online post that threatened a copycat crime similar to the stabbing rampage that took place the day before in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Yonhap Gov't mulls introducing life imprisonment without parole for serious crimesBy Lee Hae-rinA series of copycat crimes and menacing online posts forewarning of similar attacks have emerged across the country following stabbing rampages at southern Seoul's Sillim Station and a department store in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.On Thursday evening, a 22-year-old surnamed Choi rammed a vehicle into pedestrians outside a department store near Seohyeon Station in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, and then attacked shoppers with a knife inside the building. The attack left 14 people injured with two in critical condition and at risk of brain death, according to fire authorities, Friday. On Sunday, a woman in her 60s who had been brain

Aug 4, 2023By Lee Hae-rin
Fears grow over copycat crimes following series of stabbing rampages

Gov't, political circles scramble to prevent Jamboree from tarnishing Korea's reputation

Ruling People Power Party floor leader Rep. Yun Jae-ok speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Friday. YonhapPresident orders 'unlimited supply of ice water and air-conditioned buses'By Nam Hyun-wooKorea's political circles are striving to prevent the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, from tarnishing the country's reputation, as the event has been plagued with complaints and health concerns over extreme temperatures, high humidity, poor sanitation and the organizers' apparent ill-preparedness to manage those risks. In an attempt to control the situation, the conservative ruling People Power Party (PPP) held a meeting with government officials at the National Assembly, Friday, and said they will “thoroughly explain government measures to embassies and diplomatic establishments in Korea to address the concerns of foreign governments and international participants.”“Some of the participating governments have officially expressed concerns on the condition of the event, and some parents of international part

Aug 4, 2023By Nam Hyun-woo
Gov't, political circles scramble to prevent Jamboree from tarnishing Korea's reputation

South Korea tries to fill Vietnam's security void after Russia's invasion of Ukraine

President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with Vietnamese leader Vo Van Thuong during a joint press conference held on June 23 in Hanoi after their summit. Korea Times fileVietnam's unique geopolitical landscape makes South Korea ideal defense partner, says expert By Kang Hyun-kyungVietnam's diplomatic reputation has taken a hit, while the Southeast Asian country's weapons procurement channel was also disrupted due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. For decades, Russia has been Vietnam's longstanding defense partner and dominant supplier of weapons.Wary of the possible fallout on its defense ties with Russia, Vietnam abstained from the U.N. General Assembly's vote in February to adopt a resolution calling for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine. Earlier, Vietnam also voted against kicking Russia off the U.N Human Rights Council.With these moves in favor of embattled Russia, Vietnam risked its diplomatic reputation as it is now viewed as a country that turned a blind eye to the civilian casualties of the war. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, meanwhile, created a security voi

Aug 4, 2023By Kang Hyun-kyung
South Korea tries to fill Vietnam's security void after Russia's invasion of Ukraine

World Scout Jamboree in Korea becomes nightmare due to mounting heat illnesses, hygiene issues

Scouts participating in the 25th World Scout Jamboree rehydrate from water hoses in Saemangeum, a reclaimed tidal flat in North Jeolla Province, Thursday. Yonhap 'No showers for adult males until 3rd day of event' By Jun Ji-hyeThe 25th World Scout Jamboree, which is taking place in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, has sparked outcries from participants and their parents from around the world who are accusing the organizers of being unprepared and unprofessional.Complaints have mounted over a variety of issues, including a failure to protect participants from the heat wave and shortages of sanitary facilities as well as communication and sanitation problems.Tents are installed at the campsite of the 25th World Scout Jamboree at Saemangeum, a reclaimed tidal flat in North Jeolla Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of WSB Inc./Telmo DominguesOne of the participants told The Korea Times on Thursday that there are not enough restrooms to accommodate over 43,000 participants, while shower facilities for adult males are still not ready, although three days have already passed since the largest

Aug 3, 2023By Jun Ji-hye
World Scout Jamboree in Korea becomes nightmare due to mounting heat illnesses, hygiene issues

Yoon gov't will 'never' pursue end-of-war declaration: unification minister

Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho speaks at a meeting with chiefs of civic groups seeking to resolve the issue of South Korean abductees and detainees in North Korea at his office in Seoul, Aug. 3. YonhapSouth Korea's new unification minister said Thursday the Yoon Suk Yeol administration will "never" seek the declaration of a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War, saying the move would hamper the resolution of the issue of abductees and detainees in North Korea.In his first official schedule since the inauguration, Kim Yung-ho made the remarks during a meeting with chiefs of civic groups dedicated to addressing the long-pending issue and a family member of a South Korean pastor detained in the reclusive country."What I can clearly say is that conditions for the end-of-war declaration have not been met. If such a declaration is carried out, the issue of abductees, prisoners of war and detainees in the North will be overshadowed," he said."I can promise that the Yoon Suk Yeol administration will never pursue the end-of-war declaration," Kim said.The former liberal government of Presiden

Aug 3, 2023
Yoon gov't will 'never' pursue end-of-war declaration: unification minister
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