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Yoon names veterans minister, chief of overseas Koreans agency

This file photo shows veterans minister nominee Park Min-shik. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday named the minister of the upgraded veterans ministry and the chief of a new government agency for overseas Koreans, his office said.Park Min-shik, who currently heads the veterans ministry, will continue to lead the ministry after its upgrade from sub-ministry level to full-fledged ministry status Monday.Lee Key-cheol, former deputy foreign minister for overseas Koreans, will head the new agency tasked with supporting overseas Koreans following its launch Monday.Yoon also named Vice Veterans Minister Yoon Jong-jin as vice minister of the upgraded veterans ministry.All three will be formally appointed Monday. (Yonhap)

Jun 2, 2023
Yoon names veterans minister, chief of overseas Koreans agency

Election watchdog refuses state auditor's inspection into nepotism suspicions

Rho Tae-ak, head of the National Election Commission (NEC), closes his eyes prior to a meeting on whether to accept the Board of Audit and Inspection's probe into the agency's alleged preferential employment of the children of a dozen senior NEC officials The National Election Commission (NEC) decided Friday to refuse the state auditor's inspection into snowballing nepotism suspicions rocking the commission, saying it is not part of government agencies subject to such an audit.The commission's board members unanimously made the decision at a meeting presided by Chairperson Rho Tae-ak at the agency's headquarters in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, convened to decide its stance on the proposed audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI)."The unified view of all NEC commissioners was that it is difficult to accept a BAI audit," the commission said in a statement after the meeting of commissioners. The watchdog has nine commissioners, including Rho.The NEC stressed it ha

Jun 2, 2023
Election watchdog refuses state auditor's inspection into nepotism suspicions

First lady delivers donations to people of national merit

In this file photo provided by the presidential office, first lady Kim Keon Hee attends a Children's Day event at the former presidential compound of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, May 5. YonhapFirst lady Kim Keon Hee on Thursday delivered donations raised from a charity drive to people of national merit, the presidential office said.The donations of about 1 billion won ($756,000) were delivered during a ceremony at the headquarters of the Community Chest of Korea (CCK), with Kim saying she will remember the sacrifice and dedication of "heroes in uniform," and warmly look after the families who have been left behind.She is honorary chair of the CCK. The event was organized to mark the month of appreciation for patriots and veterans.The donations will be delivered to 341 meritorious people and family members of patriots and veterans, the presidential office said. A dozen representatives of recipients attended Thursday's ceremony. (Yonhap)

Jun 1, 2023
First lady delivers donations to people of national merit

Gov't, ruling party agree to establish state agency supporting school violence victims

Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, left, who doubles as the deputy prime minister for social affairs, speaks during a meeting with the ruling People Power Party at the National Assembly in Seoul, June 1. YonhapThe government and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) agreed Thursday to set up a state agency aimed at providing support to victims of school violence in their recovery and treatment.The agreement was discussed during a policy consultation meeting between the PPP and the education ministry at the National Assembly, in response to the growing demand for specialized support services for students who experience bullying in schools."It is crucial for the government to assume significant responsibility, and provide support in treating the trauma experienced by victimized students and enabling their recovery to return to a normal life, to ultimately eradicate school violence," Rep. Lee Tae-kyu, the PPP's executive secretary of the parliamentary education committee, told reporters after the meeting.Details of the road map will be announced by the education ministry at the end of this mon

Jun 1, 2023
Gov't, ruling party agree to establish state agency supporting school violence victims

Korea to offer tax benefits to biopharma industry, open public health data

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during an export strategy meeting held in Gangseo District, Seoul, Thursday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin The government will offer tax incentives for the biopharma sector and increase access to public health data, as a part of its efforts to nurture a biohealth cluster modeled after the “Boston Cluster” in the U.S., according to the presidential office, Thursday.During an export strategy meeting held in Magok, Gangseo District of Seoul, Thursday, President Yoon Suk Yeol unveiled a plan to foster innovative firms in high-end industries, including the establishment of a biohealth cluster that will bring together local bio-pharmaceutical firms, universities, think tanks and hospitals. A cluster refers to an industrial complex in which companies, research institutes and think tanks related to a specific industry are gathered in one place to generate synergy. Korea has some 1,800 clusters of 70 different kinds that are currently in operation or being developed.However, many of the existing clusters have struggled to grow internationally due to a lack of

Jun 1, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea to offer tax benefits to biopharma industry, open public health data

Top court sides with gov't in classifying details of 2015 Seoul-Tokyo deal on sex slaves issue

Lawyer Song Ki-ho, center, speaks to reporters in front of the Supreme Court in Seoul, Thursday, after the court ruled against him, upholding a lower court ruling that justified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' nondisclosure of the minutes of the 2015 Korea-Japan deal on former sex slaves. YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeThe Supreme Court ruled, Thursday, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took appropriate measures by refusing to disclose the minutes of a controversial Korea-Japan deal on former sex slaves signed in 2015, upholding a decision by an appellate court.The latest ruling is viewed by many as favoring President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has been striving to improve the country's relations with Japan that were strained during the previous Moon Jae-in government due to disputes over historical issues, including recognizing and compensating former sex slaves.“The lower court handed down the right ruling and did not misunderstand legal principles regarding information subject to disclosure under the Public Information Act,” the top court said in its ruling. On Dec. 28 of 2015, the go

Jun 1, 2023By Jun Ji-hye
Top court sides with gov't in classifying details of 2015 Seoul-Tokyo deal on sex slaves issue

Yoon expected to name new chief of broadcasting watchdog as early as this week

In this file photo, President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, May 23. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to name the new chief of the state Korea Communications Commission (KCC) as early as this week, while also making other personnel nominations in the coming days, officials said Thursday.Lee Dong-kwan, a special adviser to the president and former senior presidential secretary for press affairs under the Lee Myung-bak administration, has reportedly been picked to head the broadcasting watchdog.Lee would replace Han Sang-hyuk, who was dismissed by Yoon earlier this week after prosecutors indicted him on charges of involvement in giving low scores to right-wing cable channel TV Chosun in the process of renewing its broadcasting license in 2020."The nomination of the new KCC chief will take place as early as this week and no later than next week," a presidential official told Yonhap News Agency.The announcement will likely coincide with Yoon's appointments of a veterans minister and the head of a new government agency tasked wi

Jun 1, 2023
Yoon expected to name new chief of broadcasting watchdog as early as this week

Hallyu inspires Thailand to mull ways to export its culture

K-pop girl band BLACKPINK in this 2019 file photo / Courtesy of YG Entertainment Thai entertainment industry wants government to play role in investment, overseas promotion By Kang Hyun-kyung“South Korea made it with hallyu. Why can't Thailand?”Nobody knows who raised that question and triggered open discussion in Thailand to find ways to spur the global popularity of Thai culture by following in South Korea's footsteps.However, the idea of exporting Thai culture has intrigued the Thai public.Thais call it an open debate about soft power. Through it, Thai politicians and people of the country's entertainment scene are calling for the creation of a Thai version of hallyu, also known as “T-culture.” Hallyu, or the Korean wave, refers to the surge in popularity of Korean culture globally.Thailand's progressive Move Forward Party's (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat, who has been at the center of the media spotlight after his party's stunning victory in the recent lower hou

Jun 1, 2023By Kang Hyun-kyung
Hallyu inspires Thailand to mull ways to export its culture

Yoon dismisses KCC chief over alleged score rigging in cable channel relicensing

Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Han Sang-hyuk arrives at his office in the building of KCC in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday signed off on a proposal to dismiss the chief of the broadcasting watchdog accused of involvement in score manipulation against a right-wing cable channel in the process of renewing its broadcasting license in 2020, the presidential office said.Han Sang-hyuk, chairman of the state Korea Communications Commission (KCC), was indicted earlier this month on charges of prodding senior KCC officials to give low scores to TV Chosun during its license renewal evaluation process.Han, who was appointed during the previous Moon Jae-in administration, also allegedly arranged the appointment of a civic activist critical of TV Chosun to the commission's judging panel in charge of relicensing reviews.The Ministry of Personnel Management sent a report with its opinion of Han to the presidential office last week, and Yoon signed off on his dismissal Tuesday, the presidential office said.Han's term was set to

May 30, 2023
Yoon dismisses KCC chief over alleged score rigging in cable channel relicensing

Police attempt to search MBC sparks standoff with unionized workers

Police are walking into MBC TV's headquarters in western Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapPolice attempted to raid the headquarters of MBC TV on Tuesday in connection with an investigation into the alleged leak of personal information of Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, sparking a two-hour standoff with unionized reporters.Investigators are looking into allegations that an MBC reporter, surnamed Lim, was involved in the leak of Han's personal information, such as copies of the residence registration document and real estate contracts.Unionized MBC workers blocked the investigators, holding banners denouncing the investigation as oppression of the press. They held banners reading "Turn back! It's unfair control of broadcasting" or "The beginning of the Yoon Suk Yeol government's oppression of MBC."With assistance from the company, police investigators succeeded in reaching Lim's desk inside the building in western Seoul but decided not to execute a search warrant, concluding nothing was subject to seizure.Earlier in the day, investigators from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency raided Lim's hom

May 30, 2023
Police attempt to search MBC sparks standoff with unionized workers
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