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Yoon visits grave of late President Kim Young-sam on death anniversary

Yoon Suk-yeol, center, pays a silent tribute to late former President Kim Young-sam on the sixth anniversary of his death in this Nov. 22, 2021 file photo. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geunPresident Yoon Suk-yeol visited the grave of late President Kim Young-sam on Tuesday and paid tribute on the seventh anniversary of his death, his office said.Kim, who was in office from 1993 to 1998, formally ended decades of military rule in Korea and accepted a massive international bailout during the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis. He was buried at Seoul National Cemetery."Now is the time for all to reflect on the grand politics, upright politics of Geosan," Yoon wrote in a visitors' book, referring to the late president's pen name, according to deputy presidential spokesperson Lee Jae-myoung.Geosan means great mountain.He was accompanied on the visit by leaders of the ruling People Power Party and presidential officials, among others. (Yonhap)

Nov 22, 2022
Yoon visits grave of late President Kim Young-sam on death anniversary

DPK leader under pressure as probe zeroes in on him

Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has come under mounting pressure as corruption investigations surrounding him are intensifying following the arrests of his close aides. With the probe zeroing in on Lee, ruling party lawmakers are pressuring him to step down, while some DPK lawmakers are demanding official explanations from the party leader.“It has become highly possible that the black money earned from the Daejang-dong development scandal flowed into the hands of two people and was used in Lee's election campaigns for Seongnam mayor, primary and presidential elections,” Chung Jin-suk, incumbent chief of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), said Monday. He urged Lee to make a “decision” as the party leader to unshackle the DPK lawmakers who have so far been unified in their efforts to protect their leader. The “two people” Chung was referring to are Lee's confidants ― his vi

Nov 21, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
DPK leader under pressure as probe zeroes in on him

President stops taking questions from reporters on way to office

President Yoon Suk-yeol answers questions from reporters after he arrives at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap By Nam Hyun-wooPresident Yoon Suk-yeol will no longer take questions from reporters on his way to the office, ending the impromptu Q&A sessions that the president has held 61 times since his inauguration on May 10, his office said on Monday.In a text message to reporters, the presidential office said the Q&A sessions, also referred to as “door-stepping” and initiated by Yoon to become more accessible to the public, will no longer be held starting Monday, and that they will not resume unless there are measures to prevent the recurrence of “unfortunate incidents” like what happened recently.“Door-stepping was introduced to facilitate open communication with the public,” it said. “We will consider resuming the sessions when there are measures to fulfill that cause.”The reaction came days after the presidential office was direct

Nov 21, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
President stops taking questions from reporters on way to office

ANALYSIS North Korea ratchets up pressure on US

A Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile is raised on a launcher in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Saturday, a day after the test-firing. Yonhap By Kang Seung-wooNorth Korea has continued to increase pressure on the United States, with the reclusive state successfully test-firing the most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in its arsenal, living up to a threat made by its foreign minister, who warned of fiercer military responses.In addition, its leader has revealed for the first time that his country runs military units in charge of ICBMs, in an apparent move to show that its long-range missile technologies and deployment capability have reached a significant level. The latest revelation heightens the U.S. government's concerns as Washington faces limitations in dealing with new threats from the North while juggling challenges posed by the Ukraine-Russia war and fierce economic competition with China. According to South Korea's military, a Hwasong-17 ICBM, launched at a lofted angle, traveled some 1,000 kilometers at an altitude

Nov 21, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
[ANALYSIS] North Korea ratchets up pressure on US

Opposition parties submit plan for parliamentary probe into Itaewon crowd crush

Rep. Wi Seong-gon of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, Rep. Jang Hye-yeong of the Justice Party and Rep. Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party submit a document detailing their plans for a parliamentary probe into the Itaewon crowd crush at the National Assembly, Nov. 21. YonhapThe main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and two minor parties submitted a blueprint for a parliamentary investigation into the Itaewon crowd crush, one of the last remaining steps to launch the probe despite strong objections from the ruling People Power Party (PPP).The three parties, including the Justice Party and the Basic Income Party, plan to approve the investigation plan at a plenary National Assembly session on Thursday to kick off a 60-day probe into the Oct. 29 tragedy that killed at least 158 Halloween partygoers in Seoul's Itaewon district.The plan calls for determining the cause of the incident and whether necessary measures were taken by relevant government institutions, including the presidential office, the prime minister's office, the interior and safety ministry and t

Nov 21, 2022
Opposition parties submit plan for parliamentary probe into Itaewon crowd crush

Yoon's office considers suing lawmaker over claim against first lady

First lady Kim Keon-hee holds a Cambodian child with a congenital heart disease while visiting his home in Phnom Penh in this photo provided by the presidential office, Nov. 12. YonhapThe office of President Yoon Suk-yeol is looking into suing an opposition lawmaker on charges of defaming first lady Kim Keon-hee with claims that her photos with a sick Cambodian child were staged with studio lighting, an official said Monday.The move comes after Rep. Jang Kyung-tae of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea said Friday that foreign reporters and photo experts believe the photos were taken with at least two or three pieces of lighting equipment, not naturally during charity work.The presidential office denied Sunday that any lighting was used."We're considering suing him on charges of libel or seeking compensation for damages," the presidential official told Yonhap News Agency, arguing Jang could have fact-checked his claims."A member of a public party's Supreme Council made remarks that were factually wrong," he added.Yoon's office has yet to file a complaint against anyone sinc

Nov 21, 2022
Yoon's office considers suing lawmaker over claim against first lady

Main opposition leader vows to focus on economy even under 'political oppression'

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung speaks at a party meeting held at the National Assembly in western Seoul, Nov. 21. YonhapOpposition leader Lee Jae-myung vowed Monday to focus on improving people's livelihoods and the economy despite what he calls political oppression against him, after his two closest confidants were arrested earlier this month in connection to a corruption scandal.The two ― Jeong Jin-sang, a vice chief of staff to Lee; and Kim Yong, deputy head of the Democratic Party's Institute for Democracy think tank ― have been arrested on charges of taking illicit money from real estate developers at the center of the scandal.Their arrests suggest the investigation is zeroing in on Lee."The Democratic Party of Korea will steadily look after people's livelihoods and the economy while protecting peace and national security even under the suppression," Lee said in a party meeting.Lee accused the government of President Yoon Suk-yeol of using its power to destroy the opposition party at a time when people's livelihoods and the economy are in a "grave

Nov 21, 2022
Main opposition leader vows to focus on economy even under 'political oppression'

Main opposition headquarters searched after online post claims bomb planted

Police control the entrance of the headquarters of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in Seoul, Oct. 24. YonhapPolice commandos and sniffer dogs have searched the headquarters of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) after an online post claimed a bomb had been planted in the building, officials said Monday.The post was uploaded on the online community DC Inside around 9:40 p.m. on Sunday, saying, "I am informing you that an explosive has been planted at the DPK headquarters," the police officials said. After getting notified of the post by an anti-terrorism center of the National Intelligence Service two hours later, police sent 15 police commandos and four sniffer dogs to search the building, but no explosive was found. Police stepped up security surveillance around the DPK headquarters. Police were also trying to track down the writer of the post, having requested information regarding the writer's identity from the website operator. The post had been deleted as of Monday morning. (Yonhap)

Nov 21, 2022
Main opposition headquarters searched after online post claims bomb planted

Yoon indefinitely suspends routine Q&A with reporters

President Yoon Suk-yeol answers reporters' questions while arriving for work at the presidential office in Seoul, Nov. 18. Newsis President Yoon Suk-yeol will stop holding routine Q&As with the press starting Monday, his office said, after a reporter got into a shouting match with one of his aides during a session last week.The quarrel happened Friday after Yoon said it was "unavoidable" that his office barred local broadcaster MBC's reporters from boarding the presidential plane to cover his Southeast Asia trip earlier this month, given that it showed "very malicious behavior" with its "fake news."Yoon was referring to MBC's airing of his hot mic moment in New York in September, which was subtitled to make it appear that he used vulgar language to talk about U.S. lawmakers and President Joe Biden.As he walked away to go up to his office, an MBC reporter shouted at his back, "What did MBC do that was malicious?"Soon after, he got into a heated argument with a presid

Nov 21, 2022
Yoon indefinitely suspends routine Q&A with reporters

Wall set up at presidential office lobby following dispute with reporter

President Yoon Suk-yeol answers reporters' questions after arriving at the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Nov. 10. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoonBy Nam Hyun-wooThe presidential office on Sunday set up a wooden wall in the lobby area where President Yoon Suk-yeol usually answers reporters' questions on his way to work.The administration explained that the wall was set up for security reasons. But the move is widely viewed as a reaction to a recent incident where an MBC reporter shouted a question at the president as he walked away over his comments that the broadcaster harmed national interests by allegedly airing fake news. The incident led to a verbal altercation between the journalist and the presidential secretary for public relations planning.Yoon's daily interview session, or door-stepping, takes place at an open space at the lobby of the presidential office, which is usually off limits except when reporters are allowed to wait there to ask the president questions. The wall was set up between the off-limits space and the areas open to reporters.The wall has a

Nov 21, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
Wall set up at presidential office lobby following dispute with reporter
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