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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.

Rival parties expected to pass US investment bill on March 12

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) agreed Wednesday to pass a special U.S. investment bill without delay in consideration of the national interest, with a parliamentary vote expected on March 12. The two sides reached the consensus during their talks at the National Assembly, agreeing to cooperate in passing the special bill to carry out Seoul's investment pledges to Washington as part of a trade deal reached by the two countries last year, following tariff actions by U.S. President Donald Trump. "We heard from the PPP side that they will complete the review of the special U.S. investment bill by March 9 as planned," DPK Rep. Cheon Jun-ho told reporters. "If things proceed as planned, the bill will be submitted and put to a vote during a parliamentary plenary session on March 12 at the latest." PPP Rep. Yoo Sang-beom said the agreement was reached under the understanding that the U.S. would expect the bill to be passed as scheduled given the "turbulent international situation stemming from the war between the U.S. and Iran." "The U

Mar 4, 2026By Yonhap
Rival parties expected to pass US investment bill on March 12

Lee to preside over extraordinary Cabinet meeting on mounting Middle East tensions

President Lee Jae Myung will preside over an extraordinary Cabinet meeting this week to discuss response measures to the mounting crisis in the Middle East shortly after returning from his Southeast Asia trip, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday. The extraordinary meeting, set for Thursday, will be attended by top officials from the finance and foreign ministries, as joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran have triggered military responses from countries across the region, fueling concerns over a wider regional conflict. During the meeting, Lee is expected to be briefed on the situation surrounding the Iran crisis, and discuss its potential impact and response measures. Lee is scheduled to return home late Wednesday from his state visits to Singapore and the Philippines.

Mar 4, 2026By Yonhap
Lee to preside over extraordinary Cabinet meeting on mounting Middle East tensions

Students flood president’s TikTok with playful pleas as followers surpass 110,000

President Lee Jae Myung’s newly launched TikTok account has quickly drawn attention from young users, with students flooding the comment section with playful requests as the new school term began across Korea. As of Wednesday morning, Lee’s official TikTok account, @jaemyung_lee, had 111,300 followers and about 248,600 cumulative likes. The account was launched Saturday, marking Lee’s entry into the short-form video platform as he expands online communication beyond Facebook and X, formerly called Twitter. The first video posted on the account has already surpassed 2.6 million views, drawing strong engagement from younger users. In the clip, Lee is seen pressing a “join TikTok” button on a document handed to him by an aide before making a hand-heart gesture toward the camera. “Follow, like and comment — you know the drill,” Lee says in the video. The comment section has since turned into an unexpected outlet for students as most schools across the country resumed classes this week. Many comments appear to come from teenagers or elementary school students, with messages such

Mar 4, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Students flood president’s TikTok with playful pleas as followers surpass 110,000

Trade minister asks Nat'l Assembly to pass US investment bill on time

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo on Wednesday asked the National Assembly to pass a special bill on implementing Korea's investment package for the United States by March 9 as planned, calling it key to maintaining stable trade ties with Washington. Yeo made the remarks in a meeting hosted by the Korea-U.S. parliamentary union at the National Assembly, highlighting the importance of parliamentary support. "The National Assembly's timely passage of the bill is extremely important," Yeo said, noting growing uncertainties in the global trade order following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to strike down U.S. President Donald Trump's global "reciprocal" tariffs. "As I hold talks with the U.S. administration and Congress, I realize the important role of our parliament in stabilizing Korea-U.S. trade relations," he added. He stressed the need for the union to closely communicate with the U.S., noting that misunderstandings can arise as the authority over foreign trade and tariffs in the U.S. primarily lies with the Congress, unlike in Korea. Yeo added that he has explained this point in his talks w

Mar 4, 2026By Yonhap
Trade minister asks Nat'l Assembly to pass US investment bill on time

Finance minister vows efforts for smooth implementation of 'yellow envelope' bill

The government will focus all its capabilities for smooth implementation of the revised labor law aimed at broadening the bargaining rights of workers, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said Wednesday. Koo made the remarks in a meeting with officials from government ministries related to the so-called yellow envelope bill as the legislation is set to take effect Tuesday. The revision, passed by the National Assembly last year, was designed to guarantee the bargaining rights of indirectly employed, subcontracted workers and prohibit companies from filing lawsuits for damages or provisional seizures against unionized workers. "We know expectations and concerns coexist ahead of the scheduled implementation of the revision," Koo said. "But the revised labor law is aimed at promoting mutual respect and cooperation between the management and labor to establish a framework of coexistence of the two sides and support the development of the national economy." The finance minister said the government will designate the first three months following the law's implementation as an intensive inspection pe

Mar 4, 2026By Yonhap
Finance minister vows efforts for smooth implementation of 'yellow envelope' bill

Main opposition party stages rally against passage of DPK-led judicial reform bills

Lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) staged a rally Tuesday in protest of a set of controversial judicial reform bills passed by the National Assembly, led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. About 80 PPP lawmakers and party officials gathered at the National Assembly in western Seoul at 2 p.m. and began marching through Gwanghwamun Square before heading toward Cheong Wa Dae, in what the party described as a rally aimed at defending judicial independence and constitutional order. PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok denounced the bills as measures that would "destroy the judiciary" and ultimately pave the way for a dictatorship under President Lee Jae Myung. "I strongly urge President Lee Jae Myung to abandon his dreams of a long-term dictatorship and exercise his veto power against the three judicial destruction bills to uphold the constitutional order." The three bills seek to establish a new offense of "legal distortion," allow constitutional appeals of court rulings and increase the number of Supreme Court justices from the current 14 to 26. The PPP has questioned whet

Mar 3, 2026By Yonhap
Main opposition party stages rally against passage of DPK-led judicial reform bills

Lee says Korea will work with Singapore, create $300 mil. global AI fund

President Lee Jae Myung said Monday that Korea will push to create a global investment fund in Singapore by 2030 to attract investments worth $300 million in startups and the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. Lee made the commitment during the AI Connect Summit in Singapore, where company and government officials and experts in the AI sector of both countries gathered to seek joint research and investment opportunities. "We are now in the midst of a massive civilizational transformation driven by AI," he said. "Amid these waves of change, it is inevitable that Korea and Singapore, both of which possess world-class AI capabilities, join hands." The Korean president arrived here Sunday for a state visit that included a bilateral summit with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Acknowledging that the global AI industry is currently led by the United States and China, Lee expressed hope that South Korea and Singapore, widely seen as distant followers behind the two giants, can take the lead in niche areas, including AI manufacturing. "If the two countries set clear goals and collabora

Mar 2, 2026By Yonhap
Lee says Korea will work with Singapore, create $300 mil. global AI fund

Korea names new ministers, commission chiefs in leadership reshuffle

Korea announced a slate of nominations for cabinet posts and key oversight bodies on Monday, drawing on senior bureaucrats, lawmakers, legal professionals and academics in a sweeping leadership reshuffle. Hwang Jong-woo, a career civil servant, was nominated as minister of oceans and fisheries. Born in 1967 in Busan, Hwang has held several senior posts within the ministry, including as spokesperson, maritime safety director general and chief of its planning and coordination office. He currently chairs the International Cooperation Committee at the Korea Maritime Cooperation Center. The government also named four-term lawmaker Park Hong-keun as minister of planning and budget. Park, born in 1969 in South Jeolla Province, has served as floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party and previously chaired the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. He also led the policy planning subcommittee of the presidential transition team. Jung Il-yeon, a former senior judge who previously headed the Ansan branch of the Suwon District Court and served as a presiding judge at seve

Mar 2, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
Korea names new ministers, commission chiefs in leadership reshuffle

National Assembly passes bill allowing increase in number of Supreme Court justices

Led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the National Assembly passed a bill Saturday to nearly double the number of justices at the top court. Following the passage of the bill in a 173-73 vote, the number of Supreme Court justices will jump from the current 14 to 26 over a three-year period, starting in 2028, two years after promulgation. President Lee Jae Myung will appoint 22 of 26 justices on his watch — 12 new justices and 10 justices to replace those whose terms will end during Lee's presidency. The bill was one of three judicial reform bills the ruling party pushed to pass in February. One such bill, which criminalizes "legal distortion," passed the National Assembly, Thursday, and the second bill, which allows the Constitutional Court to review lower court rulings, followed Friday after a filibuster by the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). The bill on raising the number of Supreme Court justices was also met with strong objection from the PPP, which accused the DPK of attempting to undermine the independence of the judiciary and filling the courts with justic

Mar 1, 2026By Yonhap
National Assembly passes bill allowing increase in number of Supreme Court justices

Lee launches TikTok account, steps up social media engagement

President Lee Jae Myung opened an account on the popular short-form video-sharing application TikTok, Saturday, as part of efforts to increase his activities on social media platforms. Lee posted a short video depicting him pressing a "subscribe" box on a document awaiting approval while asking viewers to subscribe, like and leave a comment as he made heart-shaped hand gestures. On Friday, Lee wrote on another social media platform, X, "Something big is coming." The Presidential Office said Lee's new TikTok account came amid his efforts to expand communication with the public through social media platforms. Lee has recently been actively posting on X and Facebook. His new account on the platform operated by China also came as part of his continued efforts to address anti-China sentiment in South Korea.

Feb 28, 2026By Yonhap
Lee launches TikTok account, steps up social media engagement
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