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Who will attend Yoon's inauguration ceremony?

From left are U.S. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. YonhapUS vice president's husband, Chinese leader's close aide may be presentBy Jung Da-minHigh-profile delegates from the United States and neighboring countries such as China and Japan may attend President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration ceremony, which is set to be held at the National Assembly on May 10.From the U.S. side, second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, is being considered to lead the U.S. delegation, according to Tuesday's media reports. Labor Secretary Martin Walsh and House Foreign Affairs subcommittee head Rep. Ami Bera are among other members who would accompany Emhoff.In previous inaugural ceremonies of South Korean presidents, the U.S. secretary of state or the U.S. national security adviser represented Washington, but it has been reported that the possibility is low due to preparations for U.S. President Joe Biden's summit with Yoon in Seoul, which is slated for May 21.Emhoff also led the

May 4, 2022
Who will attend Yoon's inauguration ceremony?

President-elect in hot seat over backpedaling on key pledges

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol applauds during a meeting with officials at Chuncheon Station in Gangwon Province, Wednesday. Joint Press CorpsTHAAD deployment, abolition of gender ministry dropped from Yoon's national policiesBy Nam Hyun-wooThe incoming Yoon Suk-yeol administration finds itself in hot water over its policy roadmap for the next five years, as some of his key election pledges ― disbanding the gender equality ministry, raising soldiers' salaries and deploying additional U.S. missile systems in South Korea ― have been missing from a list of key tasks.Those pledges were used as catchy slogans throughout Yoon's presidential election campaign, after his Facebook postings that promoted such ideas grabbed voters' attention despite their low feasibility. As the pledges were exempt from the roadmap, however, the Yoon administration faces growing criticism for backing down from its pledges. During its Supreme Council meeting, main opposition People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Lee Jun-seok said the Yoon government “should ask for the public's understanding in a humble gesture

May 4, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
President-elect in hot seat over backpedaling on key pledges

PM on prosecution reform: 'absolute power' must be checked

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum / YonhapOutgoing Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said "absolute power" must be checked as he defended the Cabinet's decision to promulgate controversial prosecution reform legislation aimed at reducing and ultimately removing the prosecution's investigative powers.Kim made the remark during a press meeting at his official residence in Sejong on Tuesday, the same day President Moon Jae-in promulgated the legislation in his last Cabinet meeting following the National Assembly's approval on two prosecution reform bills. The ruling Democratic Party led the legislation despite objection from the main opposition People Power Party, insisting it is necessary to ensure the prosecution does not abuse its investigative powers for political purposes. "Some people say the whole community will break down due to the prosecution reform, but I do not believe that story," Kim said. "Any unchecked power should not be left alone."Kim dismissed concerns police may dominate investigations following the legislation. "I had served as a minister managing the police," Kim said, referr

May 4, 2022
PM on prosecution reform: 'absolute power' must be checked

SNU med school professor chosen as Yoon's physician

Kim Joo-sungA gastroenterology professor at Seoul National University (SNU)'s College of Medicine has been chosen as the physician to incoming President Yoon Suk-yeol, an official said Wednesday.Kim Joo-sung, who graduated from the college in 1989, is a specialist in the areas of inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.The physician to the president is a pro bono honorary position equivalent to the level of vice minister, who works at their regular job but conducts routine check-ups on the president's health and accompanies them on vacations and overseas and domestic trips.Kim is not known to have a personal connection to Yoon. (Yonhap)

May 4, 2022
SNU med school professor chosen as Yoon's physician

Moon promulgates prosecution reform legislation

President Moon Jae-in, left / YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in promulgated two controversial bills on prosecution reform at a final Cabinet meeting, Tuesday, before his term ends next week, paving the way for eventually stripping the prosecution of its power to investigate.Moon's promulgation of the two bills came hours after the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) railroaded the last remaining bill on prosecution reform through the National Assembly amid opposition protests, completing its push to reduce and ultimately remove the prosecution's investigative powers.Before deliberations on the bills at his final Cabinet meeting, Moon said, "Concerns about political neutrality, fairness and selective justice in the prosecution's investigations have still not been resolved." "And there are evaluations that it is not enough to win public trust, which is why the National Assembly has taken a step further in separating investigations and indictment." One of the laws is aimed at limiting the scope of the prosecution's supplementary investigations, while the other is to reduce the prosecution'

May 3, 2022
Moon promulgates prosecution reform legislation

Moon signs controversial prosecutorial reform bills into law

President Moon Jae-in bangs the gavel to open a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. It was the last Cabinet meeting of Moon's presidency, and he approved two prosecutorial reform bills which are aimed at limiting prosecutors' investigative powers. YonhapMain opposition party criticizes Moon for 'colluding' with ruling party to avoid investigation afterwards By Nam Hyun-wooPresident Moon Jae-in signed into law bills aimed at limiting prosecutors' investigative powers, snubbing protests from prosecutors and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).During a Cabinet meeting, Tuesday, Moon approved revised bills of the Prosecutors' Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act, which were passed by the National Assembly on April 30 and Tuesday, respectively.“Despite the government's achievements to help authorities to be faithful to their roles, there are concerns about the prosecution's political neutrality, fairness and selective justice,” Moon said during the meeting. “I believe this is why the National Assembly took a step forward to separate prosecutors' inve

May 3, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
Moon signs controversial prosecutorial reform bills into law

Chung pressed to withdraw from nomination as health minister

Health Minister nominee Chung Ho-young attends a National Assembly confirmation hearing, Tuesday. Joint Press CorpsEducation Minister nominee Kim In-chul steps down amid scholarship allegationsBy Lee Hyo-jin Health Minister nominee Chung Ho-young was grilled at a National Assembly confirmation hearing, Tuesday, over allegations that he used his position to help his children enter a highly coveted medical school. Members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) demanded Chung turn down his nomination. Nevertheless, he reaffirmed his earlier stance that he will not refuse the nomination, denying the allegations raised against him. Since he was nominated on April 13, Chung has faced snowballing personal and family-related allegations, all of which he has flatly denied issuing 63 statements through the Ministry of Health and Welfare's website and holding a press conference on April 17. Suspicions were raised that his daughter and son were able to transfer to Kyungpook National University School of Medicine in 2016 and 2017, respectively, allegedly using their father's influence whil

May 3, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Chung pressed to withdraw from nomination as health minister

Starting 2024, parents of infants will receive 1 million won monthly childcare subsidy

Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition committee, gives a presentation of the incoming Yoon Suk-yeol government's 110 policy proposals, during a press conference in Seoul's Jongno District, Tuesday. Joint Press CorpsTransition committee unveils 110 policy proposals By Jung Da-minParents with infants who are 11 months old or younger will receive a monthly financial subsidy of 1 million won ($789) starting in 2024, according to Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the presidential transition committee, Tuesday.The subsidy for parents of infants, aimed at stopping the nation's falling birthrate, is one of the 110 policy proposals unveiled by the transition committee for the incoming Yoon Suk-yeol government during a press conference held at the committee's office in central Seoul. The 1 million won support for infants and their parents was included as part of a welfare policy for socially vulnerable groups, including low income earners, children, the elderly and the disabled, aimed at improving income inequality.Starting next year, parents of infants will be given 7

May 3, 2022
Starting 2024, parents of infants will receive 1 million won monthly childcare subsidy

Transition team unveils 110 key tasks to pursue under Yoon

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol / Yonhap President Yoon Suk-yeol's transition team unveiled Tuesday 110 key policy tasks for the incoming government to pursue, including a "revolutionary" reinforcement of capabilities to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and scrapping the previous administration's nuclear phase-out policy.The tasks are aimed at realizing six broader goals that the new government plans to seek under the administrative vision of "A Republic of Korea that leaps anew, a people's nation of co-prosperity," the transition team said.The six goals are to establish a country where “common sense” is restored; a dynamic economy led by the people and backed by the government; a society where everyone is happy, in warm company; a bold future created through freedom and creativity; a global leading nation that contributes to freedom, peace and prosperity; and an era of regions that makes it good to live anywhere in the Republic of Korea.The 110 t

May 3, 2022
Transition team unveils 110 key tasks to pursue under Yoon

Education minister nominee resigns amid allegations of ethical lapses

Education Minister nominee Kim In-chul / Yonhap Education Minister nominee Kim In-chul resigned Tuesday amid allegations of favoritism related to his family's receipt of scholarships from a nonprofit organization jointly supported by the United States and Korean governments.Kim has become the incoming Yoon Suk-yeol government's first ministerial candidate to step down."Today, I resign from my candidacy as deputy prime minister and education minister. I wanted to return the benefits I had received from the country and society through my last (public) service but I was lacking a lot," Kim said in a meeting with reporters at his office."I won't give any explanation. It's all my fault and negligence," he said. Kim, a former president of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), was nominated by Yoon April 13 as education minister and deputy prime minister for social affairs. But a controversy has erupted after it was made known Kim served as president of the Korea Fu

May 3, 2022
Education minister nominee resigns amid allegations of ethical lapses
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