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Race for Gyeonggi governor tight within margin of error

Rep. Kim Eun-hye, left, and former finance minister Kim Dong-yeon / YonhapRep. Kim Eun-hye of the conservative People Power Party (PPP) and former finance minister Kim Dong-yeon are running neck and neck in a hypothetical two-way race for the governorship of Gyeonggi Province in the June local elections, a survey showed Wednesday. According to the survey of 812 adults, conducted by Realmeter on Monday and Tuesday, Kim of the PPP led the former finance minister Kim 43.1 percent to 42.7 percent, which was within the margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.In another hypothetical two-way race between the ex-minister Kim and former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min of the PPP, Kim led Yoo 40.6 percent to 36.2 percent, according to the survey. The 4.4 percent gap was also within the margin of error. The PPP's two potential candidates for the Gyeonggi governorship ― Kim and Yoo ― held their final TV debate on Tuesday and the PPP candidate will be chosen on Friday by a vote of party members. The former finance minister Kim, head of the minor New Wave Par

Apr 20, 2022
Race for Gyeonggi governor tight within margin of error

Non-pricing policy must for well-coordinated global climate change responses: Seoul's finance chief

This file photo, provided by the finance ministry on April 19, shows Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki. YonhapKorea's top economic policymaker has stressed the need to balance market mechanisms against non-pricing policy measures in coordinating global efforts to fight climate change, his office said Wednesday.Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki made the remarks during an online meeting of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Actions held Tuesday."The proper combination of market mechanisms, such as an emissions trading system, and non-price policy support is a must in responding to climate change," Hong said, citing such measures as financial support and research and development.The minister also said it needs to take into consideration each nation's different industry structure and other economic conditions when countries try to coordinate various measures on climate issues.Korea pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from the 2018 levels by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The country has operated a domestic emission trading system among some industries si

Apr 20, 2022
Non-pricing policy must for well-coordinated global climate change responses: Seoul's finance chief

Nat'l Assembly speaker shelves overseas trip amid tension over prosecution reform legislation

Junior prosecutors leave the Seoul Central Prosecutors Office in Seoul in the early morning of April 20, 2022, after their overnight emergency meeting to counter the ruling Democratic Party's push to deprive the prosecution of its investigative powers. YonhapNational Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug has put an overseas travel plan on hold, an official said Wednesday, amid the ruling Democratic Party's push for legislation that would deprive the prosecution of its investigative powers.The decision was seen as aimed at giving the DP more time to consider the controversial legislation without rushing as the party has vowed to pass the bills through the National Assembly before Park departs on a 10-day trip to the United States and Canada later this week. Park's cooperation is key to passing the legislation because he has the authority to introduce it.The DP has pushed the set of amendments to the Prosecutor's Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act to strip the prosecution of its right to investigate six types of crimes.The DP hopes to promulgate the legislation into law at a Cabinet

Apr 20, 2022
Nat'l Assembly speaker shelves overseas trip amid tension over prosecution reform legislation

Moon blames indifference for mobility problems of people with disabilities

President Moon Jae-in /Yonhap President Moon Jae-in called for more efforts to help improve mobility for the disabled, Wednesday, saying society's indifference is to blame for their mobility problems."We must blame ourselves for our lack of interest for disabled people's right to move," Moon said in a message to mark the 42nd Day of People with Disabilities. "A world without discrimination is the path down which we should go." "The pace of disabled and non-disabled people is also different, but we are living together," Moon said. "We need to build a world where we can wait for people with slow pace."Mobility for the disabled has been in the spotlight after rush-hour subway protests by a disabled advocacy group. Demanding measures to improve mobility rights and a budget for disability rights, the group has staged subway protests since late last year and often caused delays in metro services during rush hours as some of its members used their wheelchairs to prevent tr

Apr 20, 2022
Moon blames indifference for mobility problems of people with disabilities

Yoon to invite 41,000 for his inauguration ceremony amid eased virus distancing

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol / Joint Press CorpsA larger than previously planned number of people will be invited to attend President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's inaugural ceremony slated for early next month amid eased virus restrictions, according to Yoon's transition team Tuesday.Some 41,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony, including political leaders, citizens and bereaved families of sailors killed in North Korea's sinking of the Cheonan warship in 2010, the transition team said.The transition team said more people than previously thought will be invited, as the country fully lifted COVID-19 restrictions, except the mask mandate Monday.Yoon's inaugural ceremony committee had earlier planned to invite around 10,000 people in line with earlier COVID-19 guidelines. The ceremony will take place at a plaza in front of the National Assembly on May 10 and is expected to cost around 3.3 billion won ($2.66 million), the largest-ever. (Yonhap)

Apr 19, 2022
Yoon to invite 41,000 for his inauguration ceremony amid eased virus distancing

Unification minister holds talks with US nuclear envoy on N. Korea

Minister of Unification Lee In-young, right, talks with U.S. Special Representative Sung Kim during the latter's visit to the ministry in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of UnificationUnification Minister Lee In-young met with the U.S. envoy for North Korea to seek ways to bring the reclusive regime back to the negotiating table, his office said Tuesday.During the meeting, Lee and U.S. Special Representative Sung Kim discussed ways to “stably manage” the currently “grave” political situation on the Korean Peninsula, the ministry said in a press release.Lee stressed the two sides must maintain close policy cooperation ahead of the incoming government of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, and work closely to prevent the North from escalating tensions and resume dialogue.Kim said the U.S. remains open to diplomacy and engagement with Pyongyang but stressed it will respond to the North's provocations through close consultations with the South.He also met Vice Unification Minister Choi Young-joon to discuss the latest political situation, including the North's rep

Apr 19, 2022
Unification minister holds talks with US nuclear envoy on N. Korea

Top prosecutor proposes alternative bill for prosecutorial reform

Prosecutor-General Kim Oh-soo delivers his opinion against the Democratic Party of Korea's push to pass a prosecutorial reform bill to separate the prosecution's investigative and prosecutorial powers, during a meeting of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, at the Assembly on Seoul's Yeouido, Tuesday. Joint Press CorpsYoon Suk-yeol's transition committee condemns ruling party for attempting 'legislative coup'By Jung Da-minProsecutor-General Kim Oh-soo has proposed an alternative bill designed to ensure the political neutrality of the prosecution, to prevent the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) from pushing its own reform bill aimed at separating the prosecution's powers to lead investigations and indict suspects.“Other than completely stripping the prosecution of its investigative authority, there is another way that can ensure the fairness of the prosecution when carrying out investigations and we can consider establishing a special law at the National Assembly,” Kim told reporters at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul's Seocho District

Apr 19, 2022
Top prosecutor proposes alternative bill for prosecutorial reform

President-elect distancing himself from troubled nominee

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and health minister nominee Chung Ho-young / YonhapBy Nam Hyun-wooAs health minister nominee Chung Ho-young becomes embroiled in numerous allegations in regards to himself and his children, it seems that President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is attempting to put distance between himself and the nominee.During a press conference, Tuesday, Yoon's spokesperson Bae Hyun-jin denied the media reports that the president-elect and Chung have been friends for some 40 years. “We've seen many media reports which described the two as old friends, but they are wrong,” Bae said when asked if Yoon is trying to protect his old friend from the allegations that were raised. “The two people each spent their school years in Seoul (Yoon) and Daegu (Chung), and established their careers as a prosecutor and a medical doctor, respectively.”Chung's relations with Yoon have been a subject of interest since the former was nominated as Minister of Health and Welfare on April 10. Chung is a medical doctor who spent most of his days at Kyungpook National University Ho

Apr 19, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
President-elect distancing himself from troubled nominee
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