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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.

PM nominee's confirmation hearing ends without decision amid DPK's boycott

Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo / YonhapLawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the minor opposition Justice Party boycotted the confirmation hearing for Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo for the second day Tuesday, citing Han's failure to submit information they had requested.Although a legal deadline for the National Assembly to complete Han's confirmation hearing passed without a decision, the DPK and the Justice Party asked the Assembly to reschedule a date for the hearing.Tuesday's hearing was adjourned about 30 minutes after it started. Rep. Sung Il-jong of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) expressed regret that the hearing ended without approval, while asking a special committee to set a new date for the hearing. The deadline was set in line with a law, which requires the vetting process to be finished within 20 days after a request for a hearing is submitted to the Assembly. Han's hearing was submitted to the Assembly, April 7. The DPK and the Justice Party had demanded postponement of the two-day confirmation hearing, saying that it was

Apr 26, 2022
PM nominee's confirmation hearing ends without decision amid DPK's boycott

Can Bu-Ul-Gyeong megacity project revitalize provincial regions?

From left, Ulsan Mayor Song Chul-ho, the presidential transition committee's regional balanced development committee head Kim Byeong-joon, Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon and the South Gyeongsang Province governor's representative Ha Byeong-pil pose during a discussion about the three local governments' special self-governing body at the presidential transition committee's office in Seoul's Jongno District, April 19. Joint Press Corps.Busan, Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province team up for megacity projectBy Ko Dong-hwanSome of the biggest provincial universities in Korea have been seeing ominous signs recently. After this year's enrollment registration closed, the schools saw that the total number of new students fell short of their maximum enrollement caps. Not only does that mean less tuition fees but less investment being made in the schools. When the top universities in larger regions are facing such crises, there's no doubt other smaller and less popular local universities face an even worse situation.The shrinking number of students points to a chronic imbalance in development and inf

Apr 26, 2022By Ko Dong-hwan
Can Bu-Ul-Gyeong megacity project revitalize provincial regions?

Cabinet approves remainder of funds for presidential office relocation

The Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan District, Seoul / YonhapThe Cabinet approved the remaining 13.6 billion won ($10.9 million) in reserve government funds for President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's plan to relocate the presidential office, Tuesday.The spending was approved about three weeks after the first 36 billion won was approved following the orders of outgoing President Moon Jae-in, who endorsed the plan after initially opposing it over concerns a hurried relocation could leave a "security vacuum."The new presidential office will be set up inside what is now the defense ministry building in line with Yoon's campaign promise to move the presidential office out of Cheong Wa Dae to help him connect better with the people. (Yonhap)

Apr 26, 2022
Cabinet approves remainder of funds for presidential office relocation

DP nominates former finance minister as candidate for Gyeonggi governor

Former finance minister Kim Dong-yeon declares his bid to run in the Gyeonggi gubernatorial election at the National Assembly, March 31. The ruling Democratic Party nominated Kim as its candidate for the governorship of Gyeonggi Province in the June 1 local elections, Monday. Korea Times fileThe ruling Democratic Party (DPK) on Monday nominated former finance minister Kim Dong-yeon as its candidate for the governorship of Gyeonggi Province in the June 1 local elections.He will compete with the main opposition People Power Party (PPP)'s Kim Eun-hye, who served as spokesperson of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol. Kim Dong-yeon beat three rivals by winning 50.67 percent of the vote in the party's primary to pick its candidate for the nation's most populous province, which surrounds Seoul. Kim formerly headed the minor New Wave Party and ran in the March presidential election. He withdrew from the race to support the DPK's Lee Jae-myung. Kim's party merged with the DPK in mid-April.The party also nominated South Chungcheong Province Gov. Yang Seung-jo and Daejeon Mayor Heo Tae-Jeong for the

Apr 25, 2022
DP nominates former finance minister as candidate for Gyeonggi governor

Moon voices support for compromise bill on prosecutorial reform

President Moon Jae-in smiles during a meeting with reporters at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Courtesy of Cheong Wa DaeOutgoing president asks for proper evaluation of his term in officeBy Nam Hyun-wooPresident Moon Jae-in said Monday he supports the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) efforts to separate the prosecution's powers to lead investigations and indict suspects and added that a compromise bill agreed by the DPK and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is desirable.“You probably know that I support separating the prosecution's powers to lead investigations and indict suspects,” Moon said during a press conference at Cheong Wa Dae.“Even if it is appropriate, its process should be able to win the public's support and understanding. In this regard, I believe the recent agreement between the rival parties, arranged by National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, is desirable,” he added.Moon's comments came hours after the PPP withdrew its endorsement of the compromise version of the controversial prosecutorial reform bill it agreed to previously wit

Apr 25, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
Moon voices support for compromise bill on prosecutorial reform
  • PPP rejects rewritten prosecutorial reform bill amid backlash

Presidential chief of staff's official residence emerges as option for FM's residence

The official residence of the foreign minister in Hannam-dong, central Seoul / YonhapThe official residence of the presidential chief of staff is being considered as a new residence for the foreign minister, as President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol plans to move into the top diplomat's residence, an official said Monday.Should the foreign minister move into the presidential chief's residence in Samcheong-dong, a safe house adjacent to the compound can be used as a facility for diplomatic events, Rep. Yoon Han-hong, a key aide to the president-elect in charge of the presidential office relocation project, told reporters.Remodeling the presidential chief's residence into the foreign minister's residence is not expected to cost much, because the home is in good condition, as it is currently in use, the official said.However, the plan has not been finalized yet, he said. Transition team officials earlier said renovation work on the foreign minister's residence will begin on Yoon's inauguration day, May 10, and is expected to take around a month, and he plans to commute to his new office from his

Apr 25, 2022
Presidential chief of staff's official residence emerges as option for FM's residence
  • Yoon's temporary office to be set up on 5th floor of defense ministry building

Yoon's temporary office to be set up on 5th floor of defense ministry building

The Ministry of National Defense headquarters in Yongsan District, Seoul / YonhapPresident-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's temporary office will be set up on the fifth floor of the defense ministry headquarters before a permanent office is established on the second floor, officials said Monday.Yoon will be the first president to work from what is now the defense ministry compound, as he decided to move the presidential office there to keep his campaign promise to return Cheong Wa Dae to the public."Starting May 10, President-elect Yoon will work from the fifth floor, and the permanent office will be set up on the second floor," Rep. Yoon Han-hong, who heads a relocation task force, said during a press briefing, referring to Yoon's inauguration date."Once the defense ministry moves out after the combined Korea-U.S. military exercises, the second to fourth floors will be remodeled," he said.The sixth floor will be reserved for Yoon's aides, while the presidential security service will move onto the ninth floor.A press room will be set up on the first floor.Relocating the presidential office has

Apr 25, 2022
Yoon's temporary office to be set up on 5th floor of defense ministry building
  • Presidential chief of staff's official residence emerges as option for FM's residence

PPP rejects rewritten prosecutorial reform bill amid backlash

People Power Party (PPP) floor leader Kweon Seong-dong, left, speaks during the party's supreme council meeting at the National Assembly, Monday. Sitting next to him is PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok. Joint Press CorpsPresident-elect expresses opposition indirectly By Nam Hyun-wooThe main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has unilaterally withdrawn its endorsement of the compromise version of a controversial prosecutorial reform bill it had agreed to previously with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). The prosecutorial reform bill is aimed at stopping prosecutors from investigating crime cases involving corruption, economic affairs, government employees, elections, the defense industry and large-scale incidents that take the lives of many people. During the party's supreme council meeting, PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong said that people were particularly worried about sections of the bill that would restrict prosecutors from investigating election crimes and crimes involving public servants. The ruling and opposition parties need to sit down again to discuss the matter and co

Apr 25, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
PPP rejects rewritten prosecutorial reform bill amid backlash
  • Moon voices support for compromise bill on prosecutorial reform

Yoon voices concern over prosecution reform legislation

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol /YonhapPresident-elect Yoon Suk-yeol hopes the ruling and opposition parties will pool their wisdom to address public concern over controversial legislation on prosecution reform, his spokesperson said Monday, voicing objections to the proposal to reduce and ultimately abolish the prosecution's investigative powers.The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) agreed last week to curtail the prosecution's investigative right to two types of crime ― corruption and economic ― before removing it completely.The agreement represented a breakthrough compromise between the rival parties that had sparred fiercely for weeks over the DPK's headlong push for legislation that would deprive the prosecution of all its investigative powers immediately.The deal, however, drew unexpectedly strong criticism from the public that lawmakers colluded to shield themselves from prosecution investigations as the agreement calls for excluding crimes related to elections and public officials.Yoon called for the "entire political circle

Apr 25, 2022
Yoon voices concern over prosecution reform legislation

Yoon urges lawmakers to pool wisdom over prosecution reform bill

Yoon's spokesperson Bae Hyun-jin speaks during a press briefing in Seoul, April 25. YonhapPresident-elect Yoon Suk-yeol urged lawmakers Monday to pool their wisdom over a controversial bill aimed at reducing the prosecution's investigative powers, his spokesperson said.Yoon's remark could be seen as a rejection of last Friday's compromise deal under which the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and his main opposition People Power Party (PPP) agreed to curtail the prosecution's investigation right to two types of crime ― corruption and economic ― before removing it completely.Yoon "urged the entire political circle to reflect deeply on the right answer when it comes to defending the values of the Constitution and protecting the people's lives, and to pool their wisdom," Bae Hyun-jin, his spokesperson, said during a press briefing.When asked if Yoon was rejecting the compromise deal, Bae simply said Yoon was watching the discussions at the National Assembly unfold."I believe the Democratic Party is also well aware of the deep concerns the majority of the people have regarding (the

Apr 25, 2022
Yoon urges lawmakers to pool wisdom over prosecution reform bill
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