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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.

Yoon's state visit to US to be historic turning point for alliance: office

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, talks with U.S. President Joe Biden during their summit at a hotel in Phnom Penh, in this Nov. 13, 2022 file photo. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the United States next month will be a "historic turning point" for the bilateral alliance as the two countries look to protect their people, defend core values and advance into the future, his office said Wednesday.The White House said Tuesday (local time) U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will host Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee for a state visit, including a state dinner, on April 26.The visit will coincide with the 70th anniversary of the bilateral alliance.The two leaders "are expected to celebrate the achievements of the Korea-U.S. alliance built up over the past 70 years and hold in-depth discussions on the direction of the alliance's future development," senior presidential secretary for press affairs Kim Eun-hye said in a statement.The leaders are expected to produce "detailed and practical cooperation measures" across diverse areas, including on the allies'

Mar 8, 2023
Yoon's state visit to US to be historic turning point for alliance: office
  • Biden, Yoon to hold summit in Washington in April: White House

Forced labor victims reject gov't's compensation plan

Yang Geum-deok, 94, left, and Kim Sung-joo, 93, surviving victims of Japan's forced labor during World War II, attend a press conference denouncing the government's proposal to settle the compensation issue, at the National Assembly, Tuesday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin Surviving victims of wartime forced labor by Japanese firms strongly condemned on Tuesday the Korean government's proposal to settle the compensation issue without the direct involvement of the Japanese companies.Yang Geum-deok, 94, one of the victims, said she will not accept the money if it is not coming directly from the responsible firm, even if she “starves to death.”On the previous day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed a plan to compensate the victims through a public foundation that will be funded primarily by Korean companies that benefited from reparations Japan provided under a 1965 treaty, instead of the responsible Japanese firms. The arrangement, which aims to resolve a years-long diplomatic tussle between Seoul and Tokyo, immediately drew criticisms from victims and liberal lawmakers for co

Mar 7, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Forced labor victims reject gov't's compensation plan
  • Ruling party proposes discussion on special bill to compensate forced labor victims

Yoon vows to give over $10 mil. to build shelters for Turkey quake survivors

President Yoon Suk Yeol gives a speech during a luncheon with the Korean rescue team that was dispatched to Turkey following a devastating earthquake at the guesthouse of the former presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, in Seoul, March 7. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday that Korea will give over $10 million to help Turkey build shelters for survivors of last month's devastating earthquake.Yoon unveiled the plan during a luncheon with members of the Korea Disaster Relief Team who were sent to Turkey shortly after the Feb. 6 quake to help with rescue and recovery work."The spirit of solidarity you showed on the field in Turkey reminded us once again that Korea and Turkey are true friends that help each other in difficulty," Yoon said during the event at the former presidential compound of Cheong Wa Dae."The government and the private sector will jointly provide over $10 million in finances to take part in the Turkish government's planned temporary housing project for displaced people, and plan to actively support everything from its creation to operation," he said.Korea sent a

Mar 7, 2023
Yoon vows to give over $10 mil. to build shelters for Turkey quake survivors

Korea's solution to forced labor issue draws backlash from victims

Foreign Minister Park Jin speaks during a briefing on an agreement with Japan over compensating forced labor victims at the ministry building in Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulTokyo says settlement will help 'restore healthy ties' with SeoulBy Lee Hyo-jinThe government on Monday announced an agreement with Japan to compensate victims of forced labor during World War II through a fund created by Korean companies, without the direct involvement of responsible Japanese firms.But the resolution immediately provoked a fierce backlash from wartime victims and their families, who described the proposal as Seoul's “total defeat” to Tokyo following a diplomatic fracas between the two sides that dragged on for nearly five years. The Japanese government, on the other hand, welcomed the announcement, hoping that the deal will help restore healthy bilateral relations.During a briefing, Foreign Minister Park Jin unveiled the resolution on compensating 15 Korean victims of forced labor who won three separate lawsuits against two Japanese firms ― Mitsubishi Heavy Indus

Mar 6, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea's solution to forced labor issue draws backlash from victims
  • Korean companies cautious about compensating victims of Japan's forced labor
  • Korea seeks truce in trade war with Japan by halting WTO dispute process
  • Yoon's visit to Japan this month under strong consideration

Opposition leader denounces gov't compensation plan for forced labor victims

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung speaks at a party meeting at the National Assembly in western Seoul on March 6. YonhapOpposition leader Lee Jae-myung lambasted a deal between South Korea and Japan to compensate victims of wartime forced labor without the involvement of Japanese firms as the country's worst-ever humiliation in history.The government of President Yoon Suk Yeol came up with the deal that calls for creating a foundation charged with collecting public donations and compensating victims of Japan's forced labor during its 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea in an effort to resolve the biggest thorn in relations between the two countries.But the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), some victims and civic groups have expressed outrage that it makes no sense to compensate victims with public donations, rather than money from Japanese companies that exploited forced labor victims."The Yoon Suk Yeol administration appears to have ultimately chosen the path to betraying historical justice," DPK leader Lee Jae-myung said during a party mee

Mar 6, 2023
Opposition leader denounces gov't compensation plan for forced labor victims

Gov't overhauls 52-hour workweek system to provide more flexibility

Labor Minister Lee Jeong-sik talks to reporters on March 6, during a press conference at the government complex in Sejong. YonhapThe government announced a set of measures on Monday to reform the controversial 52-hour workweek system by giving more flexibility and choice in work hours.Under the system introduced in 2018, employers must limit overtime work to 12 hours per week to ensure the total number of hours worked remains at 52.The revision, however, will allow companies to manage overtime not only weekly but on a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly basis so that employers can choose more hours during weeks with heavy workloads and fewer hours during weeks with less work.The revision also must guarantee a consecutive rest period of 11 hours between each working day.This will enable companies to increase the maximum weekly work hours to 69 while still keeping the average work hours within the 52-hour limit.The government will also adopt a new sabbatical month system in which a worker can save overtime work hours as paid leave days, so that they can be used consecutively with

Mar 6, 2023
Gov't overhauls 52-hour workweek system to provide more flexibility

PPP kicks off membership vote to pick new leader

Ruling People Power Party leader candidates, from left, former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, and Chun Ha-ram, an attorney affiliated with ousted chair Lee Jun-seok, pose for a photo, ahead of a televised debate, March 3. YonhapThe ruling People Power Party (PPP) began a vote of paying party members Saturday to pick a new leader to head the party through next year's general elections and help move President Yoon Suk Yeol's agenda forward.Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, widely considered Yoon's favorite, is leading the race with support of more than 40 percent, trailed by Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, lawyer Chun Ha-ram and former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, according to recent opinion polls.A runoff vote will take place if none of them wins a majority in the first vote.Some 840,000 party members, the biggest for a conservative party to date, are expected to cast their ballots by phone and mobile devices over the next four days to select one of the four candidates.On the first day of voting, turnout was at a record high of 34.72 percent, PPP officials said. The PPP pl

Mar 4, 2023
PPP kicks off membership vote to pick new leader

First lady helps clean river, visits market in Pohang

First lady Kim Keon Hee holds up a crab during a visit to Jukdo Market in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, March 3. YonhapFirst lady Kim Keon Hee helped clean a river and met with merchants at a traditional market in the southeastern city of Pohang on Friday, the presidential office said.Kim joined a group of community leaders and college students in the city 272 kilometers southeast of Seoul to throw mud balls containing effective microorganisms (EM) into the river and collect trash, according to presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon.The mud balls are known to help purify water.The first lady later visited Jukdo Market and encouraged merchants who suffered damage in last year's floods.She held hands with an elderly merchant selling dried fish and asked how her business was doing before buying a flounder from her and wishing her good health in the cold weather, Lee said.Kim also bought 10 boxes of apples at a fruit stall to donate to a center for disabled children, and tasted and purchased various foods, such as gimbab, crab and fruits and vegetables, he said. (Yonhap)

Mar 3, 2023
First lady helps clean river, visits market in Pohang

Opposition floor leader lashes out at prosecution for clearing first lady of graft charges

The main opposition Democratic Party floor leader Park Hong-keun, center, speaks at a party meeting at the National Assembly in western Seoul on March 3. YonhapThe floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Friday lashed out at the prosecution's decision to clear first lady Kim Keon Hee of graft charges, vowing to seek an independent counsel investigation of her. Rep. Park Hong-keun made the remark a day after the prosecution decided not to indict Kim over graft suspicions that about a dozen conglomerates sponsored three art exhibitions organized by her former company, Covana Contents, allegedly because President Yoon Suk Yeol was serving in a high-level prosecution position at that time."The prosecution gave Kim indulgence after only a written investigation without a proper probe, just as they did in the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case," Park said. "The Republic of Korea has become a heaven of privileges for prosecutors."The stock manipulation case centers on allegations a former head of Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea, conspired with inf

Mar 3, 2023
Opposition floor leader lashes out at prosecution for clearing first lady of graft charges

S. Korea yet to decide on sending lethal weapons to Ukraine: PM

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks at the government complex in Seoul during a meeting of a government committee tasked with supporting the country's preparations for the 25th World Scout Jamboree, March 3. YonhapPrime Minister Han Duck-soo said Friday that South Korea has not yet decided whether to send lethal weapons to Ukraine, despite calls from Ukraine for heavy arms to support its fight against Russia.In an interview with CNN's "Quest Means Business," Han said that South Korea has decided to increase its financial supports for Ukraine this year while seeking to support Kyiv with electricity generation facilities.Asked whether he will consider sending lethal weapons to Ukraine, Han replied, "Not now. I think.""But we are quite supportive of Ukraine, and this year we decided that we will increase our support in the amount of $130 million, and we are trying to support them in terms of electricity generation capabilities and so on," Han said."Whether we will go into some lethal weapons support, we are not yet decided on that issue," he said.North Korea test-fired a record number of

Mar 3, 2023
S. Korea yet to decide on sending lethal weapons to Ukraine: PM
  • Whether to provide lethal aid to Ukraine is up to Korea: White House
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