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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.

INTERVIEW Minister tackles complex gender, family challenges

Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hyun-sook speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the Government Complex Seoul, June 2. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulMinister calls for international cooperation in coping with dark side of digital eraBy Jun Ji-hyeThe digital era has made people's lives much more convenient and easier, offering effective communication tools and virtually eliminating borders. But at the same time, the unintended dark sides of information technology, such as surveillance and declining privacy, are causing grave problems for many.Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hyun-sook said one of the most serious and dark aspects of rapid digitalization around the world is the increase in online sex crimes, among others. “There are no borders in digital sex offenses, thus international cooperation is necessary,” Minister Kim said during an interview with The Korea Times at her office in Seoul, June 2. Online sex offenses refer to various kinds of sex crimes, including sexual violence and illegal production and distribution of pornography, wh

Jun 11, 2023By Jun Ji-hye
[INTERVIEW] Minister tackles complex gender, family challenges
  • Who is Kim Hyun-sook?

Who is Kim Hyun-sook?

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook holds an interview with The Korea Times at the Government Complex in Seoul, June 2. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Jun Ji-hyeMinister Kim Hyun-sook is Korea's 10th minister of gender equality and family, and also a tax and pension expert.Born in 1966 in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in economics from Seoul National University, and received a doctorate in the same major from the University of Illinois.From 2007 to 2012, she taught economics at Soongsil University in Seoul, before serving as a lawmaker for the conservative then-ruling Saenuri Party from 2012 to 2015 under the proportional representation system. The Saenuri Party is the predecessor of the current ruling People Power Party.She served as a member of the Gender Equality and Family Committee of the National Assembly from June 2013 to May 2014 and as a spokesperson for the Saenuri Party from May 2014 to January 2015.She also served as the senior presidential secretary for employment and welfare during the Park G

Jun 11, 2023By Jun Ji-hye
Who is Kim Hyun-sook?
  • INTERVIEW Minister tackles complex gender, family challenges

Ex-NIS director Suh Hoon questioned over illicit hiring charges

Former National Intelligence Service director Suh Hoon is seen in this May 19 file photo. YonhapFormer National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Suh Hoon was questioned by police Saturday over charges he had illegally meddled in the organization's hiring decisions.The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said it summoned Suh for questioning at 10 a.m. and sent him home around 6 p.m. On May 24, the agency had raided the homes of Suh and another ex-NIS director, Park Jie-won, over unfair hiring allegations. The Seoul police are expected to call Park in for questioning in the near future.Suh served as NIS director from 2017-20, and Park from 2020-22, both under the previous Moon Jae-in administration.Suh and Park are both accused of abusing their authority as NIS chief in having people close to them hired as employees at the Institute for National Security Strategy, which is affiliated with the NIS. The spy agency reportedly learned of such hiring in a recent internal inspection of personnel affairs during the Moon administration and requested a police investigation.Suh, who also worked as

Jun 10, 2023
Ex-NIS director Suh Hoon questioned over illicit hiring charges

President Yoon, OpenAI CEO discuss ways to enhance AI cooperation

President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, shakes hands with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at his office in Yongsan, central Seoul, June 9, 2023. OpenAI is the creator of ChatGPT. YonhapSouth Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, the president's office said Friday, to discuss a variety of topics regarding artificial intelligence (AI) technologies."ChatGPT is stirring up a global sensation," Yoon told Altman, who is traveling to meet political and tech leaders around the world."I asked ChatGPT some questions when writing up my New Year's speech and got some very decent results," Yoon said.Altman suggested South Korea, one of the world's most active users of ChatGPT, can help advance technologies that power the AI chatbot even further, partly by producing more advanced chips. Collaborating with the country, home to the world's two largest memory chip makers, Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc., is important, the CEO said, as ChatGPT needs a vast amount of memory chips and demand for such semiconductors will continue to rise.Altman also called on

Jun 9, 2023
President Yoon, OpenAI CEO discuss ways to enhance AI cooperation

Ruling party slams China ambassador's remarks as 'serious diplomatic discourtesy'

Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming, left, gestures during his meeting with main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung at the former's residence in Seongbuk District, Seoul, Thursday. Joint Press CorpsThe ruling People Power Party (PPP) slammed Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming on Friday after the envoy unleashed remarks criticizing South Korea for getting closer to the United States, saying the remarks constitute a "serious diplomatic discourtesy."Xing made the remarks during a dinner meeting at his residence with Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, saying it is a wrong bet to believe that China will lose in the rivalry with the United States."I can say definitely that those betting on China's defeat will certainly regret it later," Xing said.The remark was an apparent swipe at the government of President Yoon Suk Yeol that has been seeking to bring South Korea closer to the U.S. and Japan in a departure from the previous Moon Jae-in administration that had put a greater emphasis on China."Ambassador Xing and Chairman Lee we

Jun 9, 2023
Ruling party slams China ambassador's remarks as 'serious diplomatic discourtesy'

Yoon renews pledge to support defense industry exports at maritime exhibition

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers his speech during a ceremony marking the country's 68th Memorial Day at the National Cemetery in Seoul, Tuesday, June 6, 2023. AP-YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol reiterated the government's commitment to providing support for arms industry exports at a defense exhibition in Busan on Friday, officials said, vowing to put himself at the center of such efforts.Yoon made the remarks in a speech read out by Lim Jong-deuk, second deputy national security adviser, at the biennial International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, according to the Navy."The government will expand cooperation with various friendly countries to improve trust in South Korea's defense industry," he was quoted as saying in the speech. "Starting from the president becoming the 'No. 1 salesperson,' we will make efforts to promote the exports of local defense companies.""For export destinations, we will offer the expertise of weapons systems operation, such as maintenance, education and training, follow-up logistics support and

Jun 9, 2023
Yoon renews pledge to support defense industry exports at maritime exhibition

Yoon says new status will boost Gangwon's cutting-edge, tourism industries

President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a congratulatory address at Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, 76 kilometers northeast of Seoul, during a ceremony marking Gangwon Province's new status as a special self-governing province, June 9. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol congratulated Gangwon Province on Friday on its new status as a special self-governing province, saying the newly gained autonomy and ability to remove regulations will give a boost to the local cutting-edge and tourism industries.Yoon made the remark during a ceremony at Kangwon National University in Chuncheon, 76 kilometers northeast of Seoul, two days before the province gains its new status under a law enacted last June.Under the new law, Gangwon Province will gain autonomy over policy decisions and the ability to ease regulations set by the central government in the forestry, environment, agriculture and defense sectors.Gangwon is the third region to win the status after Jeju and Sejong."Gangwon Province has until now been tied down by unnecessary multilayered regulations due to reasons of national security and th

Jun 9, 2023
Yoon says new status will boost Gangwon's cutting-edge, tourism industries

Anti-corruption agency to investigate all of NEC's hiring, promotion cases over past 7 years

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Deputy Chairman Jeong Seung-yoon talks at a press briefing at the government complex building in Seoul, June 9. YonhapThe state anti-corruption agency announced on Friday that it will investigate all employment and promotion cases within the National Election Commission (NEC) over the past seven years as part of its investigation into a hiring corruption scandal.The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission has launched the intensive investigation after allegations surfaced that at least several children of former and current senior officials of the election watchdog landed agency jobs thanks to the influence of their fathers."We plan to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all of the NEC's hiring and promotion cases from the past seven years," Deputy Chairman Jeong Seung-yoon told a press briefing, emphasizing that the scope includes retired officials as well.Jeong further stated that the agency will request a formal prosecution investigation and seek disciplinary action based on the seriousness of any irregularities. The agency wi

Jun 9, 2023
Anti-corruption agency to investigate all of NEC's hiring, promotion cases over past 7 years

Presidential adviser says allegations of son's school bullying 'exaggerated'

Special Adviser for International Relations Lee Dong-kwan is briefing to press as a spokesman for the presidential office of then Lee Myung-bak administration in this 2009 file photo. Korea Times fileA special adviser to President Yoon Suk Yeol said Thursday that allegations of school bullying involving his son are "distorted and exaggerated," saying his son remains close friends with the alleged victim.Lee Dong-kwan, special adviser for international relations who is reportedly being considered by Yoon to head the Korea Communications Commission, has been accused by the main opposition Democratic Party of being unfit for the job due to various reasons, including allegations that his son bullied a fellow student while attending Hana Academy Seoul in 2011.In an eight-page statement to the press, Lee refuted the allegations one by one."Firstly, regardless of the facts, I am deeply sorry for the school violence controversy surrounding my child's time in high school," he said."I refrained from giving a formal response until now under the belief that it would not be the right thing to do

Jun 8, 2023
Presidential adviser says allegations of son's school bullying 'exaggerated'

Rival parties agree on parliamentary probe into NEC hiring scandal

Rep. Lee Yang-soo of the ruling People Power Party, left, and Rep. Song Ki-hun of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea announce that a parliamentary investigation will be conducted into the National Election Commission over allegations that children of senior officials were employed at the agency through favoritism in Seoul, June 8. YonhapRival political parties agreed Thursday to conduct a parliamentary investigation into the National Election Commission (NEC) over allegations of favoritism in the employment of senior officials' children.According to the vice floor leaders of both the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), hearings and other investigative activities will be carried out to scrutinize the election watchdog.Rep. Lee Yang-soo of the PPP told reporters the purpose of the investigation is to uncover the truth behind possible nepotism in the employment process and to prevent similar cases from occurring in the future.The NEC has faced increasing suspicions of nepotism after revelations that children of at least sev

Jun 8, 2023
Rival parties agree on parliamentary probe into NEC hiring scandal
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