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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.

Moon unlikely to grant pardon before leaving office: officials

President Moon Jae-in / Korea Times file Outgoing President Moon Jae-in is not expected to carry out a pardon before his five-year term ends May 9, Cheong Wa Dae officials said Monday.Moon has long deliberated over whether to exercise his power to grant pardons on the occasion of Buddha's Birthday, May 8 this year, but eventually decided not to do so, the officials said.Speculation has recently risen in political circles that Moon may grant his last pardon in office to former President Lee Myung-bak, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's wife, Chung Kyung-sim, and former South Gyeongsang Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo."I don't know anything about a pardon by President Moon," a senior Cheong Wa Dae official told Yonhap News by phone. "There has been no official discussion on the matter."Political watchers also say chances of additional pardons by Moon have diminished in consideration of time constraints, as the Ministry of Justice has

May 2, 2022
Moon unlikely to grant pardon before leaving office: officials

Opposition party urges Moon to veto prosecution reform bill

The main opposition People Power Party's floor leader Rep. Kweon Seong-dong speaks during a meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, May 2. Yonhap The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) urged President Moon Jae-in, Monday, to use his veto to stop controversial prosecution reform legislation from becoming law.The appeal came one day before the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is set to railroad through the National Assembly the second and final part of a package of legislation aimed at reducing and ultimately removing the prosecution's investigative powers.The DPK hopes to postpone this week's Cabinet session from Tuesday to Wednesday so the legislation can be signed into law before President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol takes office May 10."The only thing that is left now is President Moon's veto, and in order to fulfill the president's duty to defend the constitutional government, it is only right to exercise that veto," PPP floor leader Rep. Kweon Seong-dong

May 2, 2022
Opposition party urges Moon to veto prosecution reform bill

PM nominee grilled over alleged conflict of interest

Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo gestures during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. Joint Press CorpsOpposition party defends Han claiming he possesses experience, expertiseBy Nam Hyun-wooRival parties clashed over Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo's qualifications during a confirmation hearing on Monday. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) took issue with Han's wealth which increased in size over the past 10 years after he last served in a government position, while the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) defended him, claiming he is more qualified than any other prime minister of the current Moon Jae-in administration.During the first leg of a two-day National Assembly confirmation hearing on Han, Monday, DPK Rep. Kim Eui-kyeom slammed the nominee's stints at Kim & Chang, saying Han alternated between jobs at one of the biggest law firms in Korea and the government like going through “a revolving door.”“There have been no precedents and there won't be,” Kim said. “While working at the law f

May 2, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
PM nominee grilled over alleged conflict of interest

Ruling, main opposition party candidates for Gyeonggi governor election in dead heat: poll

Minister Kim Dong-yeon, left, and Kim Eun-hye. Korea Times fileBy Jung Da-min Two candidates of the ruling and main opposition parties for the Gyeonggi gubernatorial election are in a dead heat when it comes to popularity, a recent poll released on Monday showed.According to the survey conducted from April 29 to 30 of 1,058 voters by local pollster Gallup Korea, at the request of local daily newspaper JoongAng Ilbo, former lawmaker Kim Eun-hye of the main opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP) and her rival, former finance minister Kim Dong-yeon of the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are almost tied, with each garnering 42.7 and 42.6 percent, respectively.Former lawmaker Kim Eun-hye, left, a candidate of the main opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP), speaks with president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, center, as they visit a railway tunnel construction site in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Joint Press CorpsIn the Gallup-JoongAng Ilbo survey, Kim of the DPK is ahead of the PPP candidate in most of the age groups including those over 18 and in their 20s

May 2, 2022
Ruling, main opposition party candidates for Gyeonggi governor election in dead heat: poll

More than 50% of Koreans oppose pardoning ex-President Lee: poll

Former President Lee Myung-bak / Yonhap More than half of Koreans oppose granting a pardon to former President Lee Myung-bak, a poll showed Monday, amid rising speculation outgoing President Moon Jae-in may use his clemency powers to set Lee free before he leaves office. The Korea Society Opinion Institute survey of 1,012 adults, conducted between Friday and Saturday, showed 51.7 percent of respondents were against pardoning Lee, while 40.4 percent supported amnesty for the former president.Lee's pardon has emerged as a key issue after Moon said last week he will determine whether to pardon Lee after taking judicial and public consensus into consideration, noting there are not only cons but also pros to the envisioned pardon.Moon is widely speculated to use the occasion of Buddha's Birthday, Sunday, a day before his five-year term ends, to pardon Lee, who is serving a 17-year prison term for embezzlement and bribery.The poll also found 56.9 percent of the respondent

May 2, 2022
More than 50% of Koreans oppose pardoning ex-President Lee: poll

New gas pipeline boosts Europe's bid to ease Russian supply

Workers stand near a pipe at a construction site on the extension of Russia's TurkStream gas pipeline in Letnitsa, Bulgaria, June 1, 2020. REUTERS-YonhapMountainous and remote, the Greek-Bulgarian border once formed the southern corner of the Iron Curtain. Today, it's where the European Union is redrawing the region's energy map to ease its heavy reliance on Russian natural gas. A new pipeline ― built during the COVID-19 pandemic, tested and due to start commercial operation in June ― would ensure that large volumes of gas flow between the two countries in both directions to generate electricity, fuel industry and heat homes. The energy link takes on greater importance following Moscow's decision this week to cut off natural gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria over a demand for payments in rubles stemming from Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.The 180-kilometer pipeline project is the first of several planned gas interconnectors that would give eastern European Union members and countries hoping to join the 27-nation bloc access to the global gas market.In the short term

May 2, 2022
New gas pipeline boosts Europe's bid to ease Russian supply

Moon thanks workers for dedication in fight against virus on Labor Day

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a luncheon at Cheong Wa Dae, April 29, where some of the country's key military officials were invited. Courtesy of Cheong Wa DaePresident Moon Jae-in on Sunday stressed the government's efforts in enhancing labor rights as he thanked workers for their dedication in the fight against the novel coronavirus. In his message marking the 132nd Labor Day, Moon said his government worked hard on guaranteeing fundamental labor rights in the past five years. "We ratified key International Labor Organization conventions, raised minimum wage and exercised the 52-hour work week system ... and made progress in work-life balance," Moon wrote on his Facebook page and Twitter account. "Labor must be protected by the employment safety net." Moon, whose five-year terms ends on May 9, also said he expects the enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act to drastically reduce workplace disasters. The Serious Accidents Punishment Act went into effect in the country in January, under which owners and CEOs of companies with five or more employees can face a minimu

May 1, 2022
Moon thanks workers for dedication in fight against virus on Labor Day

Yoon's foreign policy mentor appointed to lead national security

National Security Director nominee Kim Sung-han speaks during a press conference at the presidential transition committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, Sunday. Joint Press CorpsPresidential office to become slimmer, with fewer senior secretaries By Nam Hyun-wooKim Sung-han, a professor at Korea University and former vice foreign minister, will serve as national security adviser to President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, Yoon's chief of staff Chang Je-won announced, Sunday.Along with Kim, Chang announced the appointments of a pack of presidential aides who have been widely anticipated. Following the nominations, the current post of chief of staff for policy will be abolished, and the number of senior presidential secretaries will be decreased. “Kim, who served as the second vice foreign minister, has his expertise in diplomacy and national security,” Chang said during a press conference. “His competence in both theory and policy making will make him the best fit for the role of control tower for national security.”Kim's nomination had been expected, as

May 1, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
Yoon's foreign policy mentor appointed to lead national security

Oh Se-hoon, ex-DPK leader Song Young-gil square off in Seoul mayoral race

Former Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Song Young-gil, left, shakes hands with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon during a Buddha's Birthday event at Jogye Temple in central Seoul, Saturday. Song has been selected as the DPK's candidate for the Seoul mayoral race, competing against incumbent Oh of the People Power Party (PPP). YonhapGyeonggi Governor election rekindles Yoon-Lee rivalryBy Kwon Mee-yooFormer Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Song Young-gil has been selected to be the party's candidate for the Seoul mayoral election in the June 1 local elections, competing against incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). The DPK and PPP are each vying to win the majority of the June 1 local election races, and the Seoul mayor and Gyeonggi Province governor races are likely the fiercest battlegrounds. The DPK, which will soon be the majority opposition party, had initially ruled Song out of the list of Seoul mayoral contenders as Song had resigned from the post of party leader post in March after the party's defeat in the presidential election. Howe

May 1, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Oh Se-hoon, ex-DPK leader Song Young-gil square off in Seoul mayoral race
  • Two by-elections to watch as springboards for next presidency

Two by-elections to watch as springboards for next presidency

Ahn Cheol-soo, center, the chairman of the presidential transition committee, gestures during a session hosted by the Circle Foundation at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Jung District, Seoul, on Saturday. YonhapAhn Cheol-soo, Lee Jae-myung may run in June 1 by-elections By Kang Hyun-kyungThe June 1 local elections for mayors, governors and other local government positions have created a handful of open seats in the National Assembly, as seven lawmakers have won internal competitions to run in the elections on their parties' tickets. Lawmakers are required to resign from their parliamentary seats when running in local elections for other positions. Song Young-gil, the former chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), won the party's internal primary on Friday to select the DPK candidate who will face a showdown with incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon in the Seoul mayoral election. His current constituency, Gyeyang District in the western port city of Incheon, is one of the seven electoral districts where by-elections will be held to elect lawmakers concurrently on June 1. Many ar

May 1, 2022By Kang Hyun-kyung
Two by-elections to watch as springboards for next presidency
  • Oh Se-hoon, ex-DPK leader Song Young-gil square off in Seoul mayoral race
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