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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.

Cheong Wa Dae vows efforts for peaceful coexistence as Pyongyang dismisses any dialogue with Seoul

Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday that South Korea will continue efforts toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula, shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un dismissed any dialogue with Seoul while appearing to leave the door open for talks with the United States. Cheong Wa Dae gave the response as Kim, wrapping up the North's key party congress, rejected the outreach by President Lee Jae Myung's administration, describing Seoul's olive branch as "deceptive." "Our government will continue efforts to open a future of co-prosperity in which the two Koreas can peacefully coexist and prosper together," a senior presidential official said. "To this end, the South and the North should refrain from hostile and confrontational rhetoric and build a foundation of mutual respect and trust." At the party congress, Kim warned that North Korea would permanently exclude South Korea from "the category of the same people," reaffirming his earlier position that inter-Korean relations should be treated as those between hostile states. During a military parade marking the end of the congress, Kim al

Feb 26, 2026By Yonhap
Cheong Wa Dae vows efforts for peaceful coexistence as Pyongyang dismisses any dialogue with Seoul

Ruling party, gov't reaffirm commitment to advance US investment bill

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the government reaffirmed their commitment Thursday to push for the passage of a special bill on implementing Korea's investment package for the United States amid objections from the main opposition party. During their consultations at the National Assembly, DPK lawmakers and trade ministry officials agreed on the need for the swift passage of the bill in order to ease bilateral trade uncertainties. "The main point of today's discussion was that it is important to swiftly pass the U.S. investment bill to reassure (the U.S.) that Korea is making sincere efforts to uphold its trust-based relationship with the U.S. and honor its commitments, and that we are actually implementing them," Rep. Kim Won-i told reporters after the meeting. "Passing the U.S. investment bill is the first step toward removing uncertainties between the two countries," he added. The U.S. investment bill was introduced by the DPK in November last year to implement the trade deal reached at the summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump. Th

Feb 26, 2026By Yonhap
Ruling party, gov't reaffirm commitment to advance US investment bill

PM calls for rooting out fake news ahead of elections

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Thursday called for rooting out fake news with the help of the prosecution and the police, saying such misinformation threatens democracy ahead of elections. Kim issued the call during a meeting with relevant ministers and agency chiefs with the nationwide local elections less than four months away on June 3. "Fake news and smear campaigns that distort government policies, spread false accusations against members of the government and undermine specific candidates or parties ahead of various elections or primaries are a public enemy of democracy," he said. "While guaranteeing the freedom of expression as much as possible, acts of intentionally creating and distributing fake news in whatever form for whatever purpose and disrupting the political order or election order must be handled strictly in accordance with the law and principles." Kim warned that anyone caught producing fake news will not be condoned regardless of their social standing and that rooting it out with zero tolerance is the path to defending democracy. "The prosecution and the police must ro

Feb 26, 2026By Yonhap
PM calls for rooting out fake news ahead of elections

Prosecution drops final appeal in DPK cash-for-votes scandal case

The prosecution said Wednesday they have dropped a final appeal against an appellate court's recent acquittal of one incumbent and two former ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmakers charged in connection with a cash-for-votes scandal surrounding the party's 2021 leadership election. Last week, the Seoul High Court overturned guilty verdicts for Rep. Heo Jong-sik and former Reps. Youn Kwan-suk and Lim Jong-seong, who had been accused of distributing cash envelopes to support former DP leader Song Young-gil ahead of the party's national convention in May 2021. The court said recordings of phone calls submitted by a former DPK official, which had served as key evidence in the case, were illegally obtained, reversing a lower court's ruling that had handed down suspended prison terms for the three politicians. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office said in a press notice that it withdrew the appeal in consideration of a similar Supreme Court precedent rejecting illegally obtained evidence. In a separate ruling on the same election scandal earlier this month, an appeals court acquitted Song

Feb 25, 2026By Yonhap
Prosecution drops final appeal in DPK cash-for-votes scandal case

Nat'l Assembly passes revised Commercial Act after main opposition's filibuster

The National Assembly, led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), passed another amendment to the Commercial Act aimed at requiring the cancellation of listed firms' own shares Wednesday after the opposition's 24-hour filibuster expired. The latest revision, the third such amendment, centers on the mandatory cancellation of listed firms' own shares, a measure widely expected to increase shareholder returns. The bill was put to a vote during a plenary session, a day after the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) launched a filibuster to stall the procedure. The PPP has opposed the revision, citing concerns that domestic companies could be exposed to hostile takeover attempts. Immediately after the vote, the DPK introduced another bill — a revision to the criminal code to punish judges, prosecutors and members of investigation agencies who intentionally distort legal principles or manipulate facts. The offense would be punishable by up to 10 years in prison or up to 10 years of a license suspension. The amendment also includes provisions that will outlaw spying not only for "en

Feb 25, 2026By Yonhap
Nat'l Assembly passes revised Commercial Act after main opposition's filibuster

Chief judges express 'grave concern' over DPK-led judicial reform bills

The heads of district courts nationwide on Wednesday expressed "grave concern" over controversial judicial reform bills pushed by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), including a proposal to introduce a new crime of "legal distortion" and to allow constitutional appeals in court cases. "We express grave regret over the current situation in which the bills have been referred to the plenary session without sufficient public discussion and deliberation, despite concerns raised by the judiciary," according to an official statement released after a meeting of chief judges. The meeting was convened in response to three DPK-led bills that have faced strong opposition from the judiciary. It was chaired by Park Young-jae, head of the National Court Administration. 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 chief judges said the proposed legislation could bring fundamental changes to the judicial system and have a significant impact on th

Feb 25, 2026By Yonhap
Chief judges express 'grave concern' over DPK-led judicial reform bills

Gov't revises role, organization of new investigation agency after backlash

The government has revised bills on the establishment of two bodies set to replace the prosecution following criticism they were designed to be little different from the current prosecution service, a task force said Tuesday. The so-called serious crimes investigation agency and the indictment agency are set to be established in October under a government reorganization bill that passed the National Assembly last September. The two bodies will replace the prosecution office and take on its investigative and indictment powers, respectively, as part of the Lee Jae Myung administration's drive to address longstanding criticism that the prosecution has abused its exclusive powers by carrying out politically motivated investigations. Under the initial bills unveiled last month, the investigation agency was tasked with investigating nine major types of crimes, including corruption and insurrection. The corresponding revised bill, however, reduces the number to six, excluding crimes involving public officials, elections and large-scale disasters, to reflect concerns that the scope was too large

Feb 24, 2026By Yonhap
Gov't revises role, organization of new investigation agency after backlash

As cable giant shuts out rivals, Lee seeks to topple Olympic paywall

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for changes to the law to ensure what he described as “universal access” to major sporting events, criticizing a private broadcaster that secured exclusive rights to the Olympics and the 2026 World Cup. While Lee did not name the company, his remarks clearly targeted JTBC, the cable giant whose exclusive contracts have sidelined traditional networks in Winter Olympics coverage. The move has sparked backlash over a "paywall" being placed around events long viewed as a shared national right. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Lee said the government should review how Koreans can watch events that carry broad public interest. “Institutional improvements are needed to ensure our people have broad access to international events,” he said. Lee pointed to the recently concluded Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, saying the national mood did not rise as much as in past global competitions despite strong performances by Korean athletes. “Despite our athletes’ grit and performances, there is regret that social excitement was not sufficiently elevated co

Feb 24, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
As cable giant shuts out rivals, Lee seeks to topple Olympic paywall

Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol appeals life sentence in martial law case

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday appealed his life sentence for leading an insurrection linked to his 2024 declaration of martial law. The filing came five days after the Seoul Central District Court convicted the former leader of leading an insurrection in connection with his brief imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. "We believe we bear a responsibility to clearly place on record the flaws in this judgment, not only before the court but also before history," Yoon's legal team said in a statement. "Under that responsibility, we will set out the errors in fact-finding and misapplications of laws in the first-instance ruling." "We will not remain silent regarding the special counsel's excessive indictment, the contradictory reasoning of the first trial conducted under those circumstances and its political implications," the statement added. In its ruling issued last Thursday, the court concluded that Yoon's actions met the legal definition of insurrection and that the martial law declaration caused serious damage to government institutions and the National Assembly. Two days

Feb 24, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol appeals life sentence in martial law case

Lee steps up verbal warning against owners of multiple homes

President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that owners of multiple homes should not avoid risks and responsibilities associated with their investments if housing prices are normalized, stepping up his verbal warning against them. Hardening his resolve to stabilize the overheated housing market in the Seoul metropolitan area, Lee shared a link to a news report that pointed to weakening market expectations for housing price increases. "People know that the real estate market, particularly the apartment market in the Seoul metropolitan area, is abnormal and support efforts to normalize it," Lee wrote on the social media platform X. "The government has powerful tools for normalization, including regulations, taxation, finance and supply measures. The issue is whether the authorities have the willingness and determination," he added. Lee said people are free to maintain multiple homes, own properties for investment purposes or hold luxury homes but warned they "cannot avoid the risks and responsibilities that come with the normalization of these abnormalities." Lee has repeatedly urged owners of mul

Feb 24, 2026By Yonhap
Lee steps up verbal warning against owners of multiple homes
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