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Controversy swirls over president-elect's appearance on talk show

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, center, appears on a popular talk show “You Quiz on the Block,” hosted by Yoo Jae-suk, left, and Jo Se-ho, right, Tuesday. Captured from InstagramBy Kwon Mee-yooPresident-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's unexpected appearance on a popular TV show stirred controversies over the politicization of entertainment.Yoon appeared as a guest on a tvN talk show "You Quiz on the Block," Wednesday, sharing his thoughts after being elected as South Korea's next president and talking about his experiences while preparing for the bar exam for over nine years and working as a prosecutor.During the show, Yoon said his appearance was partly based on his personal intention and partly on advice from his staff as he had heard the show is very popular with the public and his aides suggested it would be useful for him to make an appearance.The talk show, hosted by top comedian Yoo Jae-suk along with Jo Se-ho, explores the lives of various people in society. The program was originally filmed at various locations, visiting different cities and places to meet a diverse range of

Apr 22, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
Controversy swirls over president-elect's appearance on talk show

Top prosecutors offer to resign en masse in protest over reform legislation

Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo / YonhapProsecutor General Kim Oh-soo, his deputy and the chiefs of all six high prosecutors' offices nationwide offered to resign en masse Friday after the ruling and opposition parties agreed on legislation that would reduce and eventually scrap the prosecution's investigative powers.The unprecedented move came after the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party reached an agreement on prosecution reform legislation in a breakthrough compromise that defused tensions over the DPK's push to strip the prosecution of its investigative powers.Prosecutors, however, strongly protested the agreement. The Supreme Prosecutors Office issued a statement saying it "firmly opposes" the proposal by National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, arguing that it merely postpones the timing of the DPK's plan and contains "serious procedural problems."After Prosecutor General Kim offered to resign, Deputy Prosecutor General Park Sung-jin and the heads of all six regional high prosecutors' offices ― in Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan, Gwa

Apr 22, 2022
Top prosecutors offer to resign en masse in protest over reform legislation

Around 41,000 people to attend Yoon's inauguration ceremony

Kim Yeon-joo, spokeswoman for the presidential inauguration preparation committee, speaks during a press briefing at the office in Seoul, April 22. YonhapAbout 41,000 people will be invited to the inauguration ceremony of incoming President Yoon Suk-yeol, the preparatory committee said Friday.The inauguration ceremony will take place at a plaza in front of the National Assembly at 11 a.m. May 10, said Kim Yeon-joo, spokesperson for the preparation committee. Before the ceremony, Yoon will visit Seoul National Cemetery to pay tribute to fallen Korean heroes. The number of attendees was higher than originally anticipated as Korea lifted all social distancing rules, except a mask mandate. All attendees will be required to wear face masks at the ceremony, Kim said. Kim said the committee has been discussing a list of guests to be invited.One of those invited is former President Park Geun-hye. Yoon extended the invitation when he paid a visit to her earlier this month. In response, Park said she was not sure whether she could attend but would try to improve her health and make it to the c

Apr 22, 2022
Around 41,000 people to attend Yoon's inauguration ceremony

Supreme Court Justice Roh Tae-ak nominated as election watchdog chief

Supreme Court Justice Roh Tae-ak / Korea Times file Supreme Court Justice Roh Tae-ak was nominated Friday to head the National Election Commission (NEC), following the resignation offer by the current chairperson over the watchdog's mishandling of some ballots in the March presidential election.Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Meong-su picked Roh to replace Noh Jeong-hee, who tendered her resignation Monday following criticism over the mishandling of votes cast by COVID-19 patients during early voting for last month's election.Kim praised Roh as a legal expert with "a wide range of trial experience" and well versed in the theory and practice of law. The nominee began his judicial career in 1990 and joined the Supreme Court in 2020.The chief justice is expected to soon ask the National Assembly to hold a confirmation hearing for Roh. (Yonhap)

Apr 22, 2022
Supreme Court Justice Roh Tae-ak nominated as election watchdog chief

Assembly speaker puts forward compromise proposal on prosecution reform

National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug speaks during a press conference on a prosecution reform plan at his office in Seoul, April 22. Yonhap National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug put forward a compromise proposal on prosecution reform Friday in an effort to defuse tensions over the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) push for legislation that would strip the prosecution of its investigative powers.Despite strong objections from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), the DPK has been pushing for a set of amendments to the Prosecutors' Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act as part of efforts to “reform” the prosecution that has been accused of abusing its power for political and other purposes. "It was not easy to arbitrate as differences between the ruling and opposition parties are so large," Park said. "I strongly urge the parties to accept my mediation proposal in their general meeting." The DPK, which controls a majority in the 300-membe

Apr 22, 2022
Assembly speaker puts forward compromise proposal on prosecution reform

Rep. Kim Eun-hye becomes Gyeonggi governor candidate for Yoon's party

Rep. Kim Eun-hye, a former spokesperson of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol / YonhapThe conservative People Power Party (PPP) nominated Rep. Kim Eun-hye, a former spokesperson of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, as its candidate for the governorship of Gyeonggi Province in the June local elections, Friday. Kim, a former TV anchorwoman, won the nomination after beating former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min in a primary, party officials said. The gubernatorial competition in Gyeonggi Province will be one of the biggest races, along with the Seoul mayoral contest, in the June 1 elections. Also on Friday, the PPP nominated former three-term lawmaker Yoo Jeong-bok as its candidate for Incheon mayor. And two-term lawmaker Park Wan-soo was nominated as its candidate for the governorship of South Gyeongsang Province. (Yonhap)

Apr 22, 2022
Rep. Kim Eun-hye becomes Gyeonggi governor candidate for Yoon's party

Ruling party allows ex-chairman Song to compete in primary for Seoul mayoral election

Rep. Song Young-gil of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea declares his bid to run in the Seoul mayoral election on April 17 in Hongdae, Mapo District. Yonhap By Kang Hyun-kyungThe ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Thursday, reversed its selection committee's decision earlier in the week to rule out Rep. Song Young-gil as a candidate for the Seoul mayoral election.DPK spokesman Ko Yong-jin said on Thursday that the ruling party will choose its candidate for the mayoral election through a primary and give all candidates equal opportunity to compete. If necessary, he went on to say that a runoff vote will be held. All candidates will be invited for a TV debate, which will be held at least once, he said. Rep. Song welcomed the decision. “Through the primary, we will create a 'one-team DPK' and surely win the Seoul mayoral race,” he wrote on Facebook. Members of the ruling party's interim committee met for a luncheon on Thursday, a day after they failed to reac

Apr 21, 2022By Kang Hyun-kyung
Ruling party allows ex-chairman Song to compete in primary for Seoul mayoral election

'20 Cheong Wa Dae officials of the Moon administration would be sent to jail': lawmaker

Rep. Yang Hyang-ja of the Democratic Party of Korea delivers remarks on economy-related issues at a plenary meeting of the National Assembly on Seoul's Yeouido, on April 20, 2021. Korea Times file Independent lawmaker's leaked statement opposes DPK's reform bill pushBy Jung Da-minAn independent lawmaker, who had once been a member of the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), explained the reason behind the DPK's push for a prosecutorial reform bill that aims to separate the prosecution's powers to lead investigations and indict suspects, despite opposition from the main opposition People Power Party and prosecutors.“A hardcore DPK member encouraged me to vote for their reform bill. There was another person who said that 'some 20 Cheong Wa Dae officials of the Moon administration would be sent to jail,'” Rep. Yang Hyang-ja said in an interview with Korean daily Chosun Ilbo published Thursday.Earlier, Yang, a member of the National Assembly Legislation and J

Apr 21, 2022
'20 Cheong Wa Dae officials of the Moon administration would be sent to jail': lawmaker

Yoon's party nominates candidates for South, North Chungcheong governors, Daejeon mayor

Rep. Kim Tae-heum, left, former four-term lawmaker Kim Young-hwan, center, and former two-term lawmaker Lee Jang-woo / Yonhap and Korea Times fileThe conservative People Power Party (PPP) said Thursday that it has nominated candidates for South Chungcheong and North Chungcheong governors as well as Daejeon mayor for the June 1 local elections. Rep. Kim Tae-heum, a three-term lawmaker, was nominated as candidate for South Chungcheong governorship, while former four-term lawmaker Kim Young-hwan was nominated as candidate for the North Chungcheong governorship. The nomination for Daejeon mayor went to former two-term lawmaker Lee Jang-woo. (Yonhap)

Apr 21, 2022
Yoon's party nominates candidates for South, North Chungcheong governors, Daejeon mayor

Moon approves appointment of new central bank chief

Bank of Korea Governor nominee Rhee Chang-young speaks during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in approved the appointment of Rhee Chang-yong as the new head of the central bank Wednesday.Moon confirmed his appointment of Rhee as the new governor of the Bank of Korea (BOK) at around 6:30 p.m., presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee said in a text message sent to reporters.Rhee, former director of the Asia and Pacific department at the International Monetary Fund, will officially begin his four-year tenure following his inauguration ceremony at 3 p.m. Thursday.His parliamentary confirmation hearing took place Tuesday. The National Assembly's planning and finance committee adopted a report on the findings of the hearing, which was largely considered a formality.Rhee, 61, is succeeding Lee Ju-yeol, who has been at the BOK helm for eight years. (Yonhap)

Apr 20, 2022
Moon approves appointment of new central bank chief
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