my timesThe Korea Times
South Korea

Politics

Moon-Yoon feud spreads to nomination of central bank chief

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during a meeting with reporters at a press tent set up in front of his office in Tongui-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapMoon names IMF director as new BOK governor amid escalating tensionsBy Nam Hyun-wooPresident-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and President Moon Jae-in clashed again on Wednesday with the two locking horns this time over the nomination of the central bank governor.Yoon denied Cheong Wa Dae's explanation that it consulted with the president-elect before nominating the new Bank of Korea (BOK) governor. The nominations of several key posts, including the BOK governor, were some of the obstacles that stood in the way of Moon's one-on-one meeting with Yoon earlier this month.The prospects of a Moon-Yoon meeting seem to have grown slim as the two sides show few signs of narrowing their differences on key agenda items. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Moon named Rhee Chang-yong, director of the Asia and Pacific Department at the International Monetary Fund, as new governor of the BOK. Current BOK Governor Lee Ju-yeol's term ends on March 3

Mar 23, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
Moon-Yoon feud spreads to nomination of central bank chief

Security strengthened around ex-President Park's new home on eve of hometown return

A view of former President Park Geun-hye's new residence in Deagu / Korea Times fileSecurity around the new residence of former President Park Geun-hye was strengthened Wednesday as supporters prepared to welcome her on the eve of her arrival.Park has been staying in a hospital in Seoul for treatment even after she was set free following a presidential pardon in December. She plans to leave the hospital Thursday and move into the residence in the city, 302 kilometers southeast of Seoul.Local police and the Presidential Security Service were busy preparing for Park's arrival, setting up a security perimeter around the residence in Dalseong County in southwestern Daegu. A traffic control gate was newly placed 10 meters away from the entrance of the home.The number of security personnel around her home was also increased to around 10 compared to the previous one or two until Tuesday. Three police buses and two patrol cars were also mobilized near the home.Dozens of well-wishing flower wreaths lined the street leading to Park's home.Around 10 apparently conservative-leaning YouTube chann

Mar 23, 2022
Security strengthened around ex-President Park's new home on eve of hometown return

Seoul city to offer subsidies for public transportation, moving costs of young adults

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon / Yonhap Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Wednesday it plans to offer subsidies for public transportation costs of young citizens regardless of income level starting next month as part of its new youth support scheme.According to the city's new comprehensive youth support plan announced by Mayor Oh Se-hoon, the local government plans to offer up to 100,000 won ($82) won in annual transportation subsidies for those aged between 19 and 24, while providing up to 400,000 won for moving expenses for those aged between 19 and 39 starting in the second half of the year.The five-year plan is comprised of 50 support projects, including employment and rent-related programs, and is projected to cost 6.3 trillion won in total, nearly nine times that of an earlier one announced by the previous mayor in 2016.The city also plans to supply over 55,000 new public housing units to young adults and newly-wed couples, and establish over 10 digital technolo

Mar 23, 2022
Seoul city to offer subsidies for public transportation, moving costs of young adults

Ministries of gender equality, unification, education face uncertain fate

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol presides over a leadership meeting of his transition committee at the committee headquarters in Seoul's Jongno District, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps By Jung Da-min The future of some existing ministries looks uncertain, as President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's transition team began to take ministerial briefings, with some likely to be scaled back or even abolished.The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, in particular, is in limbo, as none of its officials have been included among the total 56 expert and working-level members from different government ministries who have joined the transition committee.A total of 184 members have been put together for tasks related to the government transition, including the 24 primary transition committee members as well as 76 expert members and 73 working-level members, according to the transition committee.Earlier on March 13, Yoon hinted at the possible abolishment of the Ministry of Gender Equality and

Mar 22, 2022
Ministries of gender equality, unification, education face uncertain fate

Conflict intensifies over relocation of presidential office

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol reads a report during a meeting with presidential transition committee members at the committee's office in Tongui-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press CorpsClash over relocation plan risks smooth power transitionBy Nam Hyun-wooConcerns are growing over a smooth transfer of power due to an escalating conflict between the incoming and outgoing administrations over President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's plan to move the presidential office to the defense ministry compound in Yongsan District.The ruling and opposition blocs are refusing to budge in their confrontation over the controversial relocation plan, with Yoon, President Moon Jae-in and their parties exchanging salvos every day.“Given the situation so far, (President-elect Yoon) may have to begin his presidency at the presidential transition committee office,” Yoon's spokesperson and Rep. Kim Eun-hye of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) told reporters, Tuesday. “If Cheong Wa Dae delivers its intention, we will carefully consider it,” she added.Kim's remarks c

Mar 22, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
Conflict intensifies over relocation of presidential office

Ex-President Park to leave hospital Thursday

Former President Park Geun-hye / Yonhap Former President Park Geun-hye, who was pardoned while serving a prison sentence for corruption, will be discharged from hospital this week and return to her hometown of Daegu, her lawyer said Tuesday.Park plans to leave Samsung Medical Center, Thursday morning, and take a car to her new residence in Daegu, 302 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Yoo Yeong-ha said.Before leaving the hospital, the former president will give some brief remarks, and again upon arrival in Daegu.Park's words will be closely watched for a political message, including any mention of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol.Yoon, a former prosecutor, investigated the corruption allegations against Park that led to her impeachment, removal from office and imprisonment in 2017.Park has been hospitalized for a chronic illness since November but is said to have recovered enough to receive treatment while living at home.She was set free under a presidential pardon in Dece

Mar 22, 2022
Ex-President Park to leave hospital Thursday

Moon vows to fulfill his duty as commander-in-chief until end of term

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a virtual Cabinet meeting, March 22. Yonhap President Moon Jae-in called Tuesday for watertight national security and vowed to fulfill his duty as commander-in-chief until his term ends, a day after expressing concern successor-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's plan to relocate the presidential office could leave a security vacuum.Moon, whose term ends May 9, said during a Cabinet meeting that his "last mission" was to "fulfill duties as head of state, chief of the administration, and commander-in-chief of the military that the Constitution has granted to the president." The President also said the security situation on the Korean Peninsula was "grave." "It is time for our military to maintain its highest security readiness," Moon said. (Yonhap)

Mar 22, 2022
Moon vows to fulfill his duty as commander-in-chief until end of term

Nearly 60% oppose Yoon's plan to relocate presidential office

The Ministry of National Defense main building is seen in Seoul, March 20. President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol said Sunday he will abandon the current mountainside presidential palace of Cheong Wa Dae and establish his office in central Seoul as part of efforts to better communicate with the public. AP-Yonhap About 58 percent of Koreans are against President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's plan to move the presidential office out of Cheong Wa Dae, while 33 percent support the idea, a poll showed Tuesday. According to the poll of 1,018 adults, conducted by pollster Mediatomato, Saturday and Sunday, 58.1 percent said the presidential office should remain at Cheong Wa Dae and 33.1 percent said they backed the relocation plan.On Sunday, Yoon officially announced his decision to move the presidential office from Cheong Wa Dae to what is now the defense ministry building, saying he wants the top office to move out of a "symbol of imperial power" and get closer to the people.But the reloc

Mar 22, 2022
Nearly 60% oppose Yoon's plan to relocate presidential office

Moon reacts negatively to presidential office relocation amid power transition

Seen above is the Ministry of National Defense headquarters in Yongsan District, Seoul, which will be used as the new office for President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol. YonhapPresident-elect reiterates resolve to return Cheong Wa Dae to public on May 10By Nam Hyun-wooPresident Moon Jae-in on Monday put the brakes on President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's plan to begin his presidency at a new office in the defense ministry compound in Yongsan District, Seoul, expressing worries about a possible security vacuum during the power transition process.Moon's reaction came a day after Yoon unveiled a plan to relocate the presidential office to Yongsan, which requires Cabinet approval due to the huge relocation cost. Yoon's first initiative since his election win earlier this month has encountered an obstacle with the sitting president voicing skepticism about the relocation plan. It remains uncertain whether the President-elect will push ahead with the plan at the expense of his relationship with Moon. “Since President Moon pledged to have the presidential office move to the Government Complex in Gwan

Mar 21, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
Moon reacts negatively to presidential office relocation amid power transition
previous page
595596597598599
next page

Most Read in South Korea