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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.

Opposition parties pass parliamentary probe report on Itaewon tragedy

Opposition lawmakers adopt a report on the outcomes of a parliamentary investigation into the Itaewon tragedy at a plenary session at the National Assembly, Seoul, Monday. Ruling People Power Party lawmakers boycotted the session in objection to the adoption. YonhapOpposition parties on Monday passed a report on the special parliamentary committee's investigation into the Itaewon tragedy through the National Assembly despite the ruling party's objection.The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the minor progressive Justice Party and the Basic Income Party adopted the report at a plenary session, though the People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers boycotted the vote over claims that Interior Minister Lee Sang-min mishandled the aftermath of the Oct. 29 crowd crush that killed 159 people. The PPP also raised objections against descriptions that the relocation of the presidential office to Yongsan, where Itaewon is located, and the authorities' focus on cracking down on drug crimes were part of the reasons there was lacking crowd control on the day of the accident. The report, dev

Jan 30, 2023
Opposition parties pass parliamentary probe report on Itaewon tragedy

Yoon approves $81.4 mil. in reserve funds for heating bills

Kim Eun-hye, senior presidential secretary for public affairs, gives a briefing on President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval of an emergency fund of 100 billion won ($81.46 million) to help low-income households with heating bills at the presidential office in Seoul, Jan. 30. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday approved 100 billion won ($81.4 million) in reserve government funds for emergency use in supporting vulnerable groups with soaring heating bills, his office said.Yoon approved the funds only hours after the item passed a Cabinet meeting, which was held a day earlier than scheduled, according to senior presidential secretary for press affairs Kim Eun-hye."The approval was given swiftly in the hopes of easing the burdens of vulnerable citizens by even a small degree amid their struggle during the unprecedented cold wave," Kim said during a press briefing.The reserve funds will be added to an existing 80 billion won budget to make a total 180 billion won available for use in doubling the value of energy vouchers for around 1.18 million vulnerable households from 152,000 won to 304,

Jan 30, 2023
Yoon approves $81.4 mil. in reserve funds for heating bills

Seoul mayor accuses liberals of leading nation in wrong direction

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks during a press conference at Seoul City Hall, Monday. YonhapMayor Oh Se-hoon blames former Moon government for surging energy bills, blasts disability group that staged subway protests for disrupting law and order By Ko Dong-hwanSeoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has been on the offensive over several issues that are dividing the nation. Regarding the rising energy bills that put an extra financial burden on citizens, Oh pointed his finger at the previous Moon Jae-in government as a source of the problem and declared the Moon government's reckless policy to phase out nuclear power plants responsible for the disaster. In a sarcastic comment, Mayor Oh said the controversial left-wing radio host who left TBS last year sweated a lot to side with the liberal opposition party and serve its interests. He made the divisive remarks during a press conference at City Hall on Monday as an extensive range of commodities ― from utility bills to public transit fares and snacks ― are poised for price hikes this year. The earliest and most widespread sign of the price hikes came wit

Jan 30, 2023By Ko Dong-hwan
Seoul mayor accuses liberals of leading nation in wrong direction

Opposition party chief says he's paying price for presidential election defeat

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a press conference held in the National Assembly, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Yeon-wooRep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said he will appear again for questioning by prosecutors over his alleged involvement in a massive land development scandal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.With this remark, Lee defied speculation that he would reject the prosecution's call to appear again for further investigation.The main opposition party leader was critical of the prosecution, reiterating his stance that their investigation into him is nothing more than political retaliation.“I'm paying the price for my defeat in the presidential election. The investigation is insulting and unfair. But as a loser, I will appear again because they ask me to come again,” Lee said while holding a press conference at the National Assembly on Monday.On Saturday, Lee was questioned by prosecutors for more than 12 hours about his alleged role in the Seongnam land development

Jan 30, 2023By Lee Yeon-woo
Opposition party chief says he's paying price for presidential election defeat

Opposition leader says he will appear again before prosecutors for questioning

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, speaks at the party's Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Jan. 30. Yonhap Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said Monday he will appear before prosecutors for another round of questioning, portraying himself as a "loser" in last year's presidential election in an attempt to paint the investigation as politically motivated.Lee made the remark two days after he underwent a second round of questioning over corruption allegations surrounding a massive development project pushed for in Seongnam, south of Seoul, when he was its mayor. Prosecutors have since summoned him again for additional questioning."It is humiliating and unfair, but as a loser (in the presidential election), I will go, as they summoned me again," Lee told reporters. "It's truly wrong, but I think I am paying the price because I lost in the presidential election due to my shortcomings."Lee has claimed innoc

Jan 30, 2023
Opposition leader says he will appear again before prosecutors for questioning
  • Main opposition leader faces pressure to resign in case of indictment

Yoon's office to sue opposition lawmaker for accusing first lady of stock manipulation

President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and first lady Kim Keon Hee attend a meeting with Korean residents in Zurich, Jan. 17. YonhapThe office of President Yoon Suk Yeol said Monday it will sue an opposition lawmaker for making allegedly false claims of stock manipulation against first lady Kim Keon Hee.The presidential office said in a statement it plans to file libel charges against Rep. Kim Eui-kyeom of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea later Monday.The lawmaker, who serves as a party spokesperson, claimed in a written briefing last Friday that the first lady's name was mentioned at least 300 times during a trial on the alleged manipulation of stock prices of Deutsch Motors, a BMW car dealer in Korea. The opposition party has long accused the first lady of involvement in the case.He further cited a prosecutor as saying Kim's bank account was used in manipulating stock prices of a separate company, Woori Technology, which develops nuclear power plant technology.The presidential office categorically denied the allegations involving Woori Technology."Making repeated public announ

Jan 30, 2023
Yoon's office to sue opposition lawmaker for accusing first lady of stock manipulation

Yoon's approval rating slips for 3rd week: poll

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Jan. 25. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating fell for the third straight week in the wake of a spike in heating bills, a poll showed Monday.In the poll of 1,504 adults conducted by Realmeter from Monday to Wednesday of last week, the positive assessment of Yoon's performance dipped 1.7 percentage points from the previous week to 37 percent.Yoon's disapproval rating was 59.8 percent, adding 1 percentage point in the same period.Realmeter said the fall could be attributable to a surge in heating bills.According to Statistics Korea, local monthly gas rates increased by 34 percent last month from a year ago due to a rise in gas prices. Local media dubbed the spike a "heating bill bomb."In a bid to curb energy bills for vulnerable households, the presidential office said the government will expand energy vouchers and discount plans.On the favorability rating of political parties, Yoon's People Power Party garnered 38.6 percent support, while the main opposition Democratic Party earned

Jan 30, 2023
Yoon's approval rating slips for 3rd week: poll

Trilateral maritime exercise

A combat craft medium vessel of the U.S. Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR) participates in a combined exercise with the South Korean Navy SEALs and the British Navy in unidentified Korean waters in this undated photo, released by the SOCKOR, Sunday. The training, held in mid-January, also involved the British Royal Navy patrol ship, HMS Spey. Courtesy of SOCKOR

Jan 29, 2023By Kang Seung-woo
Trilateral maritime exercise

Main opposition leader faces pressure to resign in case of indictment

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung leaves the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho District, Saturday, after being questioned for his alleged involvement in a land development scandal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. YonhapDPK's Lee accuses prosecution of manipulating evidence for indictment By Nam Hyun-wooMain opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Jae-myung is likely to face mounting calls to resign from inside the party if he is indicted for his alleged involvement in two bribery scandals. Lee was questioned by prosecutors for longer than 12 hours on Saturday, over allegations that he was involved in a massive land development scandal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, when he was the mayor of the city. It was his second appearance at the prosecution in less than 20 days. On Jan. 10, Lee was also questioned over an allegation that he was involved in a bribery scandal related to Seongnam FC, a football club run by the city. The Seongnam land development scandal was the most controversial subject during last year's presiden

Jan 29, 2023By Nam Hyun-woo
Main opposition leader faces pressure to resign in case of indictment
  • Opposition leader says he will appear again before prosecutors for questioning

Opposition leader Lee claims innocence in corruption probe

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung speaks to reporters as he leaves the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul, Jan. 28. YonhapOpposition leader Lee Jae-myung on Saturday released a statement rejecting corruption allegations over a property development project after he appeared before prosecutors for questioning.This was the second time in less than a month that Lee, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has appeared before prosecutors after undergoing 12 hours of questioning in a separate corruption probe, Jan. 10.Lee showed up at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul at about 10:20 a.m. to answer allegations about his involvement in a corruption-laden property development project in the city of Seongnam, south of Seoul, which was pushed for when he was mayor there.The case centers on allegations that a private asset management company, Hwacheon Daeyu, was allowed to reap about 404 billion won ($328.7 million) in profits from the development project in Daejang-dong in Seongnam tha

Jan 28, 2023
Opposition leader Lee claims innocence in corruption probe
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