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Yoon's approval rating breaks through 40% level: polls

President Yoon Suk Yeol raises his fist in a show of solidarity during an event at the presidential office in Seoul to honor small and medium-sized enterprises that have made a significant contribution to the nation's economic development, May 23. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating has broken through the 40 percent level, two separate polls showed Wednesday, reflecting positive feedback on his handling of diplomatic and security issues.In a poll of 1,006 adults aged 18 and older conducted by Ace Research from Sunday to Monday, Yoon's approval rating came to 42.2 percent, while the disapproval rating was 56.1 percent.Among respondents with positive assessments, 30.3 percent mentioned Yoon's decisive manner, while 25.2 percent highlighted his efforts in diplomatic ties with the United States and security issues.In another poll of 2,002 adults aged 18 and older conducted by Jowon CI from Saturday to Monday, Yoon's performance received a positive assessment of 41.2 percent, while his disapproval rating stood at 57.2 percent.Both polls have a margin of error of plus or minus

May 24, 2023
Yoon's approval rating breaks through 40% level: polls

Gov't, ruling party mull restricting rallies by groups with unlawful act history

Rep. Yun Jae-ok, center, the floor leader of the ruling People Power Party, speaks during a meeting with government officials at the National Assembly, May 24. YonhapThe government and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) agreed on Wednesday to review the possibility of disallowing downtown rallies by organizations with a history of unlawful acts, according to officials.The plan also includes restricting downtown rallies and demonstrations during commuting hours, legislating a ban on overnight rallies between midnight and 6 a.m., and revising police manuals to help them deal better with illegalities happening during rallies.The decision follows President Yoon Suk Yeol's criticism of a labor group, the Korean Construction Workers' Union, for staging an overnight rally in downtown Seoul last week in protest of the government's labor policies.Approximately 25,000 union members participated in the rally, causing significant traffic congestion and resulting in around 80 noise complaints being filed with the police. Others also complained of protesters drinking and urinating on the streets.

May 24, 2023
Gov't, ruling party mull restricting rallies by groups with unlawful act history

Yoon meets with businesspeople over 'chimaek'

President Yoon Suk Yeol meets with businesspeople over chicken, pizza and beer on the front lawn of the presidential office in Seoul, in this photo provided by the presidential office, May 23. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol has met with a group of businesspeople over chicken and beer on the front lawn of his office, saying the government is doing its best to support them by ensuring the market runs fairly and efficiently.Around 500 people were invited to the gathering Tuesday evening, including heads of small and medium-sized enterprises and startups, and small merchants, for an annual event celebrating the achievements of SMEs."Quality jobs are not created by the government's direct funding but by companies and startups, and the spirit of challenge," Yoon said.On the government's role, he said, "We are doing our best to ensure the market runs fairly and efficiently."Yoon called on businesses to more boldly enter the global market with the attitude that "the world market is my market," saying the government will do its best to support them.During the event, Yoon also presented governm

May 24, 2023
Yoon meets with businesspeople over 'chimaek'

WTO chief calls for diversification of supply chains for trade resilience

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director general of the World Trade Organization / YonhapNgozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), on Tuesday called on countries to "deconcentrate" their supply chains, instead of forming blocs to marginalize others, emphasizing trade diversification is essential for global growth and resilience. She made the remarks at a forum in Seoul, expressing concerns over growing trade practices in which a handful of friendly nations establish exclusive supply chain networks and adopt policies to effectively reduce trade with certain countries. "Governments have unfortunately weaponized trade relations in response to strategic rivalries or diplomatic disagreements ... (seeing) the risks of the integration exceeding the benefits, and this new mantra calls for more production to reshoring or friendshoring," Okonjo-Iweala said during a trade talk session co-hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). "That is over-concentration in some trading relations for certain vita

May 23, 2023
WTO chief calls for diversification of supply chains for trade resilience

'Corporate Korea stands united'

President Yoon Suk Yeol poses with business leaders during an annual event held at the lawn of the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, Tuesday, to celebrate the accomplishments of small and medium-sized companies. First from left in front row are Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong; Kim Ki-mun, chairman of Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business; Yoon; Ko Myung-jin, co-founder and CEO of healthcare company SILVIA; and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. Joint Press Corps

May 23, 2023
'Corporate Korea stands united'

Election watchdog to undergo cyber security check from NIS over N.K. hacking attempts

Rep. Lee Man-hee of the ruling People Power Party, who is also the secretary of the Public Administration and Security Committee, speaks at the election body's headquarters in Gwacheon, May 23. YonhapThe National Election Commission (NEC) agreed to receive a cyber security checkup from the state intelligence agency, a ruling party lawmaker said Tuesday, amid criticism the election watchdog remained idle to North Korean hacking attempts. The NEC agreed to a joint security check by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Korea Internet Security Agency, a public institution under the Ministry of Science and ICT, Rep. Lee Man-hee of the ruling People Power Party said."The NEC is discussing whether to include outside experts recommended by rival party lawmakers (in the inspection team). We urged the three to start the inspection as soon as possible," he said.Tuesday's decision is a shift from the NEC's stance earlier to deal with cybersecurity matters independently.Previously, the NIS had warned the NEC multiple times its network was exposed to North Korean hackers and should unde

May 23, 2023
Election watchdog to undergo cyber security check from NIS over N.K. hacking attempts

'Coalition of free world' to bring peace to Korean Peninsula: Yoon

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a Cabinet meeting at his office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press CorpsPresident slams labor unions for overnight street rally By Nam Hyun-wooPresident Yoon Suk Yeol called Tuesday, for “a coalition of the free world,” which he believes will eventually help to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula and Ukraine, signaling a push for stronger security relations with the United States and Japan.Yoon made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting. He recalled discussions and achievements shared with global leaders in a flurry of diplomatic events on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan last week. There he reiterated the importance of a coalition with Western democracies, which share common values such as freedom, human rights and the rule of law. “All of the diplomatic actions which we pursue, should be based on the universal values of freedom, the rule of law and international norms, as well as on the spirit of our Constitution,” Yoon said in a nationally televised speech. “I am convinced that

May 23, 2023By Nam Hyun-woo
'Coalition of free world' to bring peace to Korean Peninsula: Yoon

Yoon slams labor union for overnight street rally

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, May 23. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol slammed a major labor group Tuesday for its overnight street rally last week, saying its actions infringed on people's freedoms, disturbed the public order and will not be tolerated by the people.Yoon made the remark during a Cabinet meeting, referring to a rally staged by the Korean Construction Workers' Union in protest of the government's labor policies from Tuesday to Wednesday.An estimated 25,000 union members took part in the rally in downtown Seoul, causing massive traffic congestion and leading to some 80 noise complaints being filed with the police.The union falls under the umbrella Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU)."Our Constitution guarantees the freedom of assembly and demonstration, and as president, I, too, have respected this," Yoon said."However, guaranteeing the freedom of assembly and demonstration does not mean infringements on another person's freedoms and basic rights, or acts disturbing the public order, are justified."Yoon

May 23, 2023
Yoon slams labor union for overnight street rally

Ex-ambassador likely to head new gov't agency for overseas Koreans

Former ambassador Lee Key-cheol is seen in this photo provided by the Korean Committee for UNICEF. YonhapA former ambassador and foreign ministry official is being strongly considered as head of a new government agency tasked with supporting overseas Koreans, officials said Tuesday.Lee Key-cheol, former deputy foreign minister for overseas Koreans, is likely to be tapped as chief of the agency set to launch next month, according to the presidential officials.Lee was a career diplomat, and served as ambassador to the Netherlands and consul general in Los Angeles. Currently, he is secretary-general of the Korean Committee for UNICEF.The new agency was a campaign pledge of President Yoon Suk Yeol and will be established under the foreign ministry to provide integrated services in areas such as visas, taxes and pensions to some 7.5 million Koreans residing overseas. (Yonhap)

May 23, 2023
Ex-ambassador likely to head new gov't agency for overseas Koreans

PM calls for recovering 'multilateral trading system' in meeting with WTO chief

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, right, poses with World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala after dinner in Seoul, Monday. YonhapPrime Minister Han Duck-soo met with the visiting head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Monday, highlighting the importance of recovering the multilateral trading system, according to Han's office.WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala arrived in Seoul on Monday for a three-day stay, marking the first visit to South Korea by the WTO's top official since 2014.During the dinner meeting, Han emphasized the crucial role of the WTO in restoring the multilateral trading system amid fast-changing global economic and trade situations, as well as worsening geopolitical conflicts, the office said in a press release.Han also urged the WTO to take the lead in restoring the global order, promoting international trade, and ensuring stable global supply chains, it said. Okonjo-Iweala is the seventh director-general of the WTO. She took office in March 2021, becoming the first woman and the first African to serve in the post. Her term of office w

May 22, 2023
PM calls for recovering 'multilateral trading system' in meeting with WTO chief
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