my timesThe Korea Times
South Korea

Politics

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
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 vows to put exports first to weather economic challenges

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers his New Year's address at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Sunday. Courtesy of presidential officeNorth Korea, diplomatic agenda missing in New Year's speechBy Nam Hyun-wooPresident Yoon Suk-yeol said in a New Year's speech Sunday that he will place top priority on revitalizing the nation's exports to weather economic challenges, highlighting the country's economic recovery as being at the top of the agenda for his second year as president.However, Yoon did not mention North Korea's increasing threats or political cohesion with the opposition bloc, indicating that his administration's main focus is on overcoming global economic difficulties.“Countries around the world have relied on high-interest rates to counter soaring raw material prices and runaway inflation caused by global supply chain disruptions,” Yoon said in the televised New Year's message. “The possibility of the world economy slipping into a recession this year is higher than ever before… Exports are our key to overcoming this complex crisis. They form

Jan 1, 2023By Nam Hyun-woo
Yoon vows to put exports first to weather economic challenges
  • Will Korean economy slip into recession in 2023?

Yoon says reforms of labor, education, pension cannot be delayed any longer

President Yoon Suk-yeol visits Seoul National Cemetery, Jan. 1. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk-yeol vowed Sunday to push reforms in labor, education and pensions, saying they cannot be delayed any longer and the country's future depends on it.In a New Year's address live from his office, Yoon outlined his administration's plans to tackle economic challenges, such as by changing the country's export strategy and investing in future strategic technologies.He especially warned there will be no future for a country "preoccupied with vested interests and rent-seeking" and promised reforms in labor, education and pensions."The Republic of Korea's future and our future generations' fate depend upon three major reforms: labor, education and pension. These cannot be delayed any longer," he said. "First of all, we must drive economic growth through labor reforms."Yoon said his administration will do all it can to ensure fairness in labor-management and labor-labor relations, as well as to improve workplace safety while flexibly adapting the labor market to meet changing demands."The starting point f

Jan 1, 2023
Yoon says reforms of labor, education, pension cannot be delayed any longer

France, Spain to require COVID tests for China passengers

A passenger gives his passport to a worker, after Italy has ordered coronavirus disease (COVID-19) antigen swabs and virus sequencing for all travellers coming from China, where cases are surging, at the Malpensa Airport in Milan, Italy, Dec. 29. Reuters-YonhapFrance and Spain will implement tougher COVID-19 measures for passengers arriving from China, authorities said Friday.France's government is requiring negative tests, and is urging French citizens to avoid nonessential travel to China. France is also reintroducing mask requirements on flights from China to France. French health authorities will carry out random PCR tests at airports on passengers arriving from China to identify potential new coronavirus variants. The new rules take effect on Sunday, but officials said it would be a few days before they are fully in place.France and Spain said they would continue to push for a Europe-wide policy.France's hospitals have struggled in recent weeks with a large number of patients because of three concurrent outbreaks: the seasonal flu, a wave of bronchitis cases and COVID-19.Earlier

Jan 1, 2023
France, Spain to require COVID tests for China passengers
  • Korea resumes COVID-19 tests for visitors from China

Operator of suspected 'Chinese police station' denies repatriation of Chinese nationals

Wang Haijun, a Chinese national who controls the Chinese restaurant Dongpangmyeongju which is suspected of being a front for a "secret Chinese police station," speaks during a press conference held at the restaurant in Seoul, Saturday. YonhapBy Jack LauThe operator of a restaurant accused of serving as a clandestine Chinese police station has denied allegations that the organizations run from his establishment forced Chinese nationals to join protests against the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in South Korea, and helped repatriate Chinese dissidents.During a news conference held at the boat restaurant, Dongpangmyeongju, in southern Seoul, Wang Haijun said that his restaurant is a normal business selling food to Chinese tourists and he has suffered a huge loss after media reports pointing to it as the secret Chinese police station operating in Seoul with tour groups canceling their reservations. He held his second press conference Saturday to refute the allegations about his restaurant and the organizations led by him. In the first news conference held Wednesday, he blamed

Dec 31, 2022
Operator of suspected 'Chinese police station' denies repatriation of Chinese nationals

Ex-President Lee says sorry for causing concern to people upon return home following pardon

Former President Lee Myung-bak returns home from Seoul University Hospital in the capital, Dec. 30. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulFormer President Lee Myung-bak said Friday he is sorry for causing concern to people as he returned home after a special presidential pardon canceled his remaining prison term for corruption.Lee was put into detention in March 2018 for alleged bribery and embezzlement before the Supreme Court finalized a 17-year prison term in 2020. Since June this year, he had been staying at a hospital after the prosecution suspended his prison term for health reasons.The special pardon, granted Tuesday, canceled his remaining prison term of roughly 15 years and some 8.2 billion won ($6.5 million) of unpaid fines."I am deeply sorry for causing concern to the people," the 81-year-old told reporters upon his return home from a Seoul hospital where he had been under treatment for diabetes and other chronic illness.Former President Lee Myung-bak speaks in a message to the nation as he returns home from Seoul University Hospital in the capital, Dec. 30. Korea Times photo

Dec 30, 2022
Ex-President Lee says sorry for causing concern to people upon return home following pardon

Main opposition party proposes extending parliamentary probe into Itaewon tragedy

Rep. Park Hong-geun, the floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, speaks at a party meeting at the National Assembly in western Seoul, Dec. 30. YonhapThe floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Friday called for extending the ongoing parliamentary probe into the Itaewon crowd crush and newly opening a hearing on the recent drone infiltration by North Korea.Rep. Park Hong-geun made the remark at a party meeting, saying it is impossible to properly look into the Oct. 29 tragedy that killed 158 people and draw up measures to prevent similar accidents as only about a week remains in the investigation.The 45-day probe is scheduled to end Jan. 7.On Thursday, the parliamentary probe session was suspended as members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted it while alleging that an aide to Rep. Yong Hye-in of the minor opposition Basic Income Party secretly took photos of two PPP lawmakers. The DPK floor leader accused the PPP of intentionally hindering and stalling the probe."We must hold a hearing with Minister of Interior and Sa

Dec 30, 2022
Main opposition party proposes extending parliamentary probe into Itaewon tragedy

Ex-President Lee is going home Friday following pardon

This Feb. 10, 2021, file photo shows former President Lee Myung-bak leaving the Seoul National University Hospital in central Seoul to return to a detention center in Anyang, just south of Seoul. YonhapFormer President Lee Myung-bak will leave the hospital and return to his home in southern Seoul on Friday following a special presidential pardon, aides said, amid speculation he could deliver a statement in person.Lee was pardoned at the beginning of Wednesday while serving a 17-year prison term for bribery and embezzlement. The pardon canceled his remaining prison term of about 15 years and about 8.2 billion won ($6.47 million) of unpaid fines.The 81-year-old has been staying at a hospital in Seoul due to diabetes and other chronic ailments. (Yonhap)

Dec 29, 2022
Ex-President Lee is going home Friday following pardon

Yoon says NK drone infiltration 'unacceptable'

President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a visit to the Agency for Defense Development in the central city of Daejeon to check the nation's progress on drone and missile development following North Korea's recent drone infiltration, Dec. 29. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk-yeol said Thursday that North Korea's recent drone infiltration was "unacceptable" and called for making "overwhelmingly superior" war preparations to ensure peace.Yoon made the remark during a visit to the state-run Agency for Defense Development in Daejeon, 140 kilometers south of Seoul, where he checked the progress of the nation's weapons development, including its surveillance and reconnaissance interception capabilities, his office said."North Korea's violation of our airspace by drones was a completely unacceptable incident. We must make them realize that provocations come with harsh consequences," he said, according to deputy presidential spokesperson Lee Jae-myoung."Our military must become a powerful military that instills unapproachable fear in our enemy and firm confidence in our people," he said. "In order to ga

Dec 29, 2022
Yoon says NK drone infiltration 'unacceptable'
  • UN Command convenes special team for probe into NK drone infiltrations
  • S. Korea stages drills to counter N. Korean drone threats

National Assembly refuses to consent to arrest of DPK lawmaker Noh

Rep. Noh Woong-rae of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea speaks at the National Assembly ahead of a parliamentary vote on an arrest warrant sought against him on bribery charges, Dec. 28. YonhapThe National Assembly on Wednesday voted against arresting opposition lawmaker Noh Woong-rae on bribery charges.The motion fell through in an anonymous vote of 161-101, with nine abstentions, in the Assembly where Noh's main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) holds a majority.The four-time lawmaker has been under prosecution investigation on charges of receiving a total of 60 million won ($47,281) before and after the 2020 parliamentary election from a businessperson in return for providing business favors.The alleged bribe is suspected to have been used for Noh's election campaign, according to prosecutors.Noh has flatly denied the allegations.According to law, sitting lawmakers are immune from arrest while parliament is in session. The prosecution must obtain parliament's consent to detain lawmakers.Noh is the fourth lawmaker to face arrest during the current National Asse

Dec 28, 2022
National Assembly refuses to consent to arrest of DPK lawmaker Noh

Ex-President Lee to leave hospital soon following special presidential pardon

This Oct. 30, 2020 file photo shows former President Lee Myung-bak entering the Seoul National University Hospital in central Seoul. YonhapFormer President Lee Myung-bak will likely leave the hospital soon following a special presidential pardon, aides said Wednesday, amid speculation he could deliver a statement in person.Lee was pardoned at the beginning of Wednesday while serving a 17-year prison term for bribery and embezzlement. The pardon canceled his remaining prison term of about 15 years and about 8.2 billion won ($6.48 million) of unpaid fines.The 81-year-old has been staying at a hospital in Seoul due to diabetes and other chronic ailments.The exact date of Lee's discharge has yet to be determined as well as whether he will issue an official statement on his release, according to his aide. "If he decides to issue a message, I think he could do it by himself," an aide said. (Yonhap)

Dec 28, 2022
Ex-President Lee to leave hospital soon following special presidential pardon
previous page
462463464465466
next page

Most Read in South Korea