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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.

Ruling party lawmakers mourn death of ex-PM Lee Hae-chan

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) mourned the death of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan on Monday, refraining from clashing over a proposed merger with a minor opposition party and other contentious issues. Lee, who was appointed in October as senior vice chairperson of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council to support the North Korea and unification policies of the current administration, died Sunday at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City after suffering cardiac arrest. DPK lawmakers, who had been divided over the party's push to merge with the minor liberal Rebuilding Korea Party ahead of the June 3 local elections, instead focused on paying their respects to the former prime minister this day. The party's Supreme Council meeting, initially scheduled to take place on the southern resort island of Jeju, was held at the National Assembly in consideration of Lee's death. DPK leader Jung Chung-rae expressed his condolences at the meeting, vowing to carry on Lee's legacy for the nation's democratization and peace on the Korean Peninsula. "The DPK will never forget Lee's lifelong com

Jan 26, 2026By Yonhap
Ruling party lawmakers mourn death of ex-PM Lee Hae-chan

President Lee offers deep condolences over death of former prime minister

President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday expressed deep condolences over the death of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, who died while visiting Vietnam. "Today, the Republic of Korea has lost a great mentor in the history of democracy," Lee wrote in a message posted on his Facebook account. "On behalf of the Republic of Korea, I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family." Praising the late prime minister's dedication to safeguarding and expanding democratic values, the president said Lee demonstrated exceptional leadership by balancing stability and reform without compromising his principles and convictions. "Just as a river may meander but ultimately flows to the sea, the journey toward democracy, peaceful reunification and balanced development that he sought to achieve will continue," Lee wrote. "We will long remember the precious political legacy he left behind." Lee Hae-chan, who was serving as senior vice chairperson of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, died Sunday at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City after suffering cardiac arrest. He arrived in the Vietnamese city Thurs

Jan 25, 2026By Yonhap
President Lee offers deep condolences over death of former prime minister

Former PM Lee Hae-chan dies during Vietnam trip

Korea's former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan died on Sunday during his visit to Vietnam where he was to join a regional plenary meeting of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC). He was 73. PUAC, a presidential advisory group, said on Sunday that Lee, the organization’s senior vice president, died two days after being taken to a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. He was diagnosed with myocardial infarction at the hospital and received a stent operation but could not recover. Lee reportedly complained of flu-like symptoms before his departure to Vietnam and decided to return home one day after since his condition didn't improve. While waiting for his return flight at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, he experienced shortness of breath and was transported to the hospital. He reportedly suffered cardiac arrest twice, once during the transfer and again at the hospital. Lee, a former seven-term lawmaker, served as prime minister from 2004 to 2006 during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. He was appointed as senior vice chairperson of the PUAC in October last year. His political career

Jan 25, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Former PM Lee Hae-chan dies during Vietnam trip

President withdraws nomination of budget minister candidate

President Lee Jae Myung withdrew the nomination of budget minister candidate Lee Hye-hoon on Sunday amid an outpouring of allegations, including staff mistreatment and an unlawful apartment purchase. The withdrawal came just 28 days after she had been selected as the inaugural head of the Ministry of Planning and Budget, and only two days after the National Assembly held her confirmation hearing following a series of delays due to bipartisan conflicts. From the outset, her nomination to join the liberal administration carried both promise and apprehension: She was a veteran economist, yet a former three-term lawmaker from the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP). With her withdrawal, Lee’s first effort to recruit a figure across party lines on a pragmatic basis has faltered. Senior presidential secretary for political affairs Hong Ihk-pyo told reporters that the president said the nominee had failed to meet the public's expectations due to multiple allegations. “President Lee Jae Myung listened carefully to the diverse opinions from all sectors of society regarding M

Jan 25, 2026By Anna J. Park
President withdraws nomination of budget minister candidate

Lee reaffirms no extension of capital gains tax exemption for multiple homeowners

President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed Sunday the government will not extend an exemption of the heavy capital gains tax for owners of multiple homes. In a post on social media platform X, Lee said the tax exemption will expire May 9, as previously decided in February 2025. "If one thought there would be another legal revision to extend it again, that's a miscalculation," he wrote. "The unfair benefits from an abnormality have to be removed at all costs even if it's hard." The temporary tax exemption was introduced in May 2022 as part of efforts to stimulate the real estate market and has been extended annually. Currently, capital gains taxes on real estate sales range from 6 to 45 percent. Owners of two homes in areas designated as speculative zones face an additional 20 percentage points, while those with three homes are subject to a 30 percentage-point surcharge on top of the basic rate. Lee said in his post that he will discuss at a Cabinet meeting whether to grant the exemption for deals made until May 9. He had said in a post Friday that an extension "is not under consideration at all."

Jan 25, 2026By Yonhap
Lee reaffirms no extension of capital gains tax exemption for multiple homeowners

PM meets Korean leaders, residents in New York

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has met with Korean leaders and residents in New York to thank them for their contributions to developing South Korea-U.S. relations, his office said Sunday. Kim has been on a five-day trip to Washington and New York, marking his first U.S. trip since taking office in July 2025. On Friday (local time), Kim met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and proposed the idea of the U.S. sending a special envoy to North Korea to mend ties between Washington and Pyongyang. On Saturday, he held a luncheon meeting with five Korean representatives and local community leaders in New York to share the details of his trip and thank them for serving as a "connecting link" in the development of bilateral relations, his office said in a press release. The five were New York State representatives Ron Kim and Grace Lee, Mayor of Palisades Park Chong Paul Kim, Mayor of Englewood Cliffs Mark Park and President and CEO of The Korea Society Abraham Kim. The prime minister later held a separate meeting with Korean residents in the New York area and praised their efforts in contributing to

Jan 25, 2026By Yonhap
PM meets Korean leaders, residents in New York

Lee calls achieving self-reliant defense 'most basic of basics' over new US defense strategy

President Lee Jae Myung said Saturday achieving a self-reliant national defense is the "most basic of basics" over a new U.S. defense strategy that calls for South Korea's primary role in its defense. Lee wrote the message on his X account as the Pentagon said in its National Defense Strategy (NDS) that South Korea is capable of taking "primary" responsibility to deter North Korea with "critical, but more limited" U.S. support. "In the midst of an unstable international security situation, achieving self-reliant defense is the most basic of basics," Lee wrote. He said it will be inconceivable for South Korea to be unable to defend itself when its defense spending stands at 1.4 times larger than North Korea's gross domestic product (GDP) and it holds the world's fifth-largest military power. "A robust self-reliant defense and peace on the Korean Peninsula will enable sustainable economic growth," Lee said. The 2026 NDS is in line with U.S. President Donald Trump's America First policy that calls for allies to do more for their own defense. South Korea plans to increase its defense spending

Jan 25, 2026By Yonhap
Lee calls achieving self-reliant defense 'most basic of basics' over new US defense strategy

Ex-PM Lee Hae-chan hospitalized during Vietnam trip

Former Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, currently visiting Vietnam, was rushed to a local hospital Friday due to a heart attack and remains in critical condition, officials said. Lee, currently senior vice chairperson of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC), collapsed at around 1 p.m. (local time) after arriving at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City while trying to return to Korea, according to PUAC officials. The former prime minister arrived in Vietnam on Thursday for a meeting of the Vietnamese branch of the PUAC. According to officials, Lee had complained of flu-like symptoms prior to departing for Vietnam a day earlier and was preparing to return home after his condition deteriorated. He experienced breathing difficulties and was transported to a local hospital by ambulance while receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Lee received a stent insertion procedure and is breathing with the assistance of a mechanical device. He is expected to remain at the hospital until his condition stabilizes. Officials said Lee suffered cardiac arrest twice during the

Jan 23, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-PM Lee Hae-chan hospitalized during Vietnam trip

Budget minister nominee apologizes over staff abuse allegations, denies improper apartment bid

Lee Hye-hoon, the nominee for budget minister, bowed in apology during a parliamentary confirmation hearing Friday over allegations that she mistreated aides, while denying claims of an improper apartment application and what she called “parental favoritism” in her son’s university admission. The hearing for the nominee had been delayed after both the ruling and opposition parties objected during earlier proceedings amid disputes over her submission of requested materials. The standoff has emerged as a major test of President Lee Jae Myung’s pragmatic governing strategy. The liberal president tapped Lee, a veteran economist and three-term former lawmaker from the conservative opposition, to lead the newly created Ministry of Planning and Budget. In opening remarks at the National Assembly, Lee said she was sorry for causing public concern and apologized to both the public and the president. She also addressed allegations that she had mistreated staff. “I sincerely apologize to everyone hurt by my immature words and actions,” she said, adding that she had been narrowly focuse

Jan 23, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
Budget minister nominee apologizes over staff abuse allegations, denies improper apartment bid

PM’s solo US visit draws attention to possible meeting with Vice President Vance

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok departed for the United States, Thursday, for a rare solo visit that includes efforts to arrange a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, underscoring Seoul’s push to revive high-level communication channels with Washington. Kim’s trip is seen as part of efforts to establish an additional high-level communication channel between Seoul and Washington, as bilateral networks have grown increasingly important under the Trump administration. At the same time, some political observers suggest the visit may also serve to bolster Kim’s profile ahead of a possible bid for party leadership later this year. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Kim will visit Washington, D.C., and New York from Jan. 22 to 26. He left Incheon International Airport around 10 a.m., without holding the customary press briefing and accompanied by only a small group of aides. A meeting with Vance is being arranged, an official at the Prime Minister’s Office told The Korea Times, Thursday, adding that the date and time had yet to be finalized. During his visit, Kim is also ex

Jan 22, 2026By Anna J. Park
PM’s solo US visit draws attention to possible meeting with Vice President Vance
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