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INTERVIEW SpaceX's Starlink in Kyiv is wake-up call for Seoul

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, May 27. The rocket is carrying the BADR-8 communications satellite for Arabsat. AP-YonhapThis is the last in a two-part interview series with experts regarding the validity of South Korea's aim to become a real player in the burgeoning space sector after the successful placement of small satellites into geosynchronous orbit on May 25 during the third launch of the locally-developed rocket Nuri, also known as KSLV-II. _ ED.US national security expert advises S. Korea to promote public-private partnership in space industryBy Kim Yoo-chulThe South Korean government has been asked to promote the private sector to help the country maintain its upward trajectory in the booming space sector as entrepreneurs begin to take hold of satellite and private spaceship development markets, a U.S. national security expert said.Starlink's satellite internet terminals for the use of Elon Musk's SpaceX in Ukraine is a good example of where new competition is welcome and could significantly improve public and governmental choice, acc

Jun 8, 2023By Kim Yoo-chul
[INTERVIEW] SpaceX's Starlink in Kyiv is wake-up call for Seoul

Ruling party, gov't to strengthen punishment against tech theft

Rep. Park Dae-chul, second from left, is seen giving a speech at a meeting with government officials and startups aimed at eradicating technology theft against small and medium-sized companies held at the National Assembly in Seoul on June 7. YonhapThe government and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) decided Wednesday to significantly toughen punishment of conglomerates stealing ideas or technology from smaller companies, a lawmaker said.The two sides agreed to revise relevant laws to increase the limit of punitive damages from the current three times to five times the actual amount of damages caused, Rep. Park Dae-chul of the PPP said after a meeting with startups and government officials. "The Yoon Suk Yeol administration has designated it a national agenda item to eradicate technology theft from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)," Park said. "In order to carry this out, we agreed to lay the institutional groundwork and create a social atmosphere to deal sternly with illegal acts of technology theft."Other measures discussed include offering SMEs expert consulting on lega

Jun 7, 2023
Ruling party, gov't to strengthen punishment against tech theft

Yoon's security strategy focuses on ROK-US alliance, stronger deterrence against NK

First Deputy Director of National Security Kim Tae-hyo speaks during a press briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Nam Hyun-wooThe cover of the Yoon Suk Yeol Administration's National Security Strategy / Courtesy of presidential officeThe Yoon Suk Yeol administration announced its new security strategy, Wednesday, reflecting a determination to strengthen South Korea's alliance with the United States, while departing from the previous Moon Jae-in administration's concentration on rapprochement with Pyongyang in the pursuit of normalized South-North Korea relations.The Office of National Security published the Yoon administration's National Security Strategy, which is the highest-level document outlining South Korea's current national security concerns and how the administration seeks to address them.“The Yoon administration's diplomatic and security direction can be summarized as carrying out the cooperative diplomacy of freedom and solidarity, while pursuing practical national interests,” First Deputy Director of National Secu

Jun 7, 2023By Nam Hyun-woo
Yoon's security strategy focuses on ROK-US alliance, stronger deterrence against NK

Yoon gov't unveils National Security Strategy highlighting NK threat

Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo briefs reporters on the Yoon administration's National Security Strategy at the presidential office in Seoul, June 7. YonhapThe Yoon Suk Yeol administration on Wednesday unveiled a National Security Strategy highlighting the threat of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and outlining its objectives for the realization of a "global pivotal state."The Office of National Security under the presidential office published the strategy in a booklet ― 107 pages in Korean and 150 pages in English ― to present the administration's policies for foreign affairs, unification and defense in the context of a rapidly changing security environment marked by North Korea's advancing nuclear capabilities, the intensifying strategic competition between the United States and China, and emerging security issues, such as supply chain anxieties and climate change."We find ourselves at a critical inflection point in history once again," Yoon wrote in the preface, citing an unprecedentedly turbulent future that breaks from the stability and prosperi

Jun 7, 2023
Yoon gov't unveils National Security Strategy highlighting NK threat

Gov't orders each agency to refer civil organizations misusing government subsidies for probe

Government Policy Coordination Minister Bang Moon-kyu, right, speaks during a meeting of the audit officers of all 47 government agencies at the government complex in Seoul, June 7. YonhapGovernment Policy Coordination Minister Bang Moon-kyu instructed all government agencies Wednesday to promptly request an investigation or an audit into suspected corruption involving subsidies to civil organizations.The instruction came after the Office for Government Policy Coordination earlier released the result of an audit of government subsidies given to about 12,000 civil organizations and found a total of 1,865 cases of irregularities involving about 31.4 billion won ($24 million)."Stern measures are necessary for offenders," Bang said during a meeting of the audit officers of all 47 government agencies. He urged the agencies to refer such cases to formal investigations or state audits depending on the severity of the misuse.The audit officers discussed several follow-up measures, including the recovery of government subsidies, exclusion of the implicated organizations from government-funded

Jun 7, 2023
Gov't orders each agency to refer civil organizations misusing government subsidies for probe

DPK leader says he takes responsibility for controversial appointment of innovation committee chief

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung is seen attending the party's leadership meeting, June 7. YonhapMain opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Lee Jae-myung said Wednesday he will take full responsibility over the short-lived appointment of the party's innovation committee chief.On Monday, Lee Rae-kyung, a long-time civic leader, was appointed to head the innovation committee, but he resigned just nine hours later after criticism arose of his past remarks, such as claims that North Korea's 2010 sinking of the South Korean naval ship Cheonan was fabricated.Some even from within the DPK criticized the appointment, saying the party's vetting system failed. Some DPK lawmakers also urged party leader Lee to take responsibility."Taking unlimited responsibility for the outcome is what the party chief is supposed to do," Lee told reporters. "The party leader should always take responsibility for what happened in the party."But Lee stopped short of saying how he will take responsibility, including whether he has any plans to issue an official apology

Jun 7, 2023
DPK leader says he takes responsibility for controversial appointment of innovation committee chief

Yoon attends groundbreaking ceremony for high-speed railroad

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, central Korea, to start the construction of a quadruple-track railway on a KTX high-speed line, June 7. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a new high-speed regional railroad, saying the project will allow trains to travel at 400 kilometers per hour and make more places in the country reachable within two hours.The ceremony was held in Cheongju, 112 kilometers south of Seoul, to kick off construction of a second high-speed railroad track below the Pyeongtaek-Osong line.The new track is being built to ease traffic on the line connecting Pyeongtaek, 60 km south of Seoul, with Osong, 108 km south of the capital, as several high-speed rail services converge in the area.Scheduled to open in 2028, the track will allow new rail services to Incheon, Suwon and Geoje, allowing more people to travel on high-speed trains, while also showcasing the country's new world-class technology to build 400 km-per-hour tracks, according to the presidential

Jun 7, 2023
Yoon attends groundbreaking ceremony for high-speed railroad

NEC reportedly mulls partial acceptance of state audit over hiring scandal

Members of the ruling People Power Party hold a meeting with officials of the National Election Commission in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, June 7. YonhapThe National Election Commission (NEC) is considering accepting the state auditor's inspection into hiring corruption allegations on a one-off basis, an official said Wednesday, amid mounting pressure from the ruling party and public criticism over the scandal.The election watchdog has faced increasing suspicions of nepotism after revelations that children of a series of former and current ranking officials were hired. But it has refused to comply with an inspection by the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), citing its status as an independent agency.But the NEC could change its position as public criticism of the agency has shown little signs of abating."Commissioners are thinking pretty seriously about a suggestion that it is necessary to accept BAI's inspection of duties on a partial and temporary basis," said an NEC official, who asked not to be named. "Pros and cons vary among the commissioners."A decision could come as early as F

Jun 7, 2023
NEC reportedly mulls partial acceptance of state audit over hiring scandal

Ex-DPK leader Song again turned away after voluntary appearance for questioning

Former Democratic Party of Korea chief Song Young-gil speaks to reporters in front of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, June 7. YonhapSong Young-gil, a former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), was turned away Wednesday after he voluntarily appeared at a prosecutors office for questioning over a cash-for-vote scandal involving his campaign ahead of the party's 2021 leadership election.Upon arriving at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, Song asked for a meeting with prosecutors investigating the scandal, but was denied. Song plans to stage a standalone protest in front of the prosecution office later in the day.It marks the second time Song has been turned away after making a voluntary appearance without a summons to do so. Right after his return from France, Song appeared at the prosecution office on May 2, but prosecutors turned him away, saying a questioning had not been scheduled.Song was suspected of involvement in a scandal that centers on allegations that his campaign distributed cash envelopes totaling 94 million won ($72,38

Jun 7, 2023
Ex-DPK leader Song again turned away after voluntary appearance for questioning

Yoon's approval rating at 36.3%: Yonhap News survey

President Yoon Suk Yeol greeting participants of the Memorial Day ceremony at Seoul National Cemetery, June 6. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating stands at 36.3 percent, a survey Yonhap News Agency conducted jointly with Yonhap News TV showed Wednesday.The ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) would win 31.2 percent and 33.1 percent of the vote, respectively, if the parliamentary elections set for next year were to take place tomorrow, the poll also showed.Yonhap News Agency and Yonhap News TV jointly commissioned the survey to gauge public sentiment ahead of next year's parliamentary elections. The survey was conducted Saturday and Sunday by Metrix on 1,000 adults aged 18 or older.According to the poll, the positive assessment of Yoon's performance was 36.3 percent, while the negative assessment came to 58.5 percent.The figures indicate a 1.2 percentage point decrease in positive assessments from the previous survey conducted a month ago, ahead of the first anniversary of Yoon's inauguration on May 10.Defense and diploma

Jun 7, 2023
Yoon's approval rating at 36.3%: Yonhap News survey
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