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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.

Lee approves appointments of finance, defense, land minister nominees

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday approved the appointments of the minister nominees for finance, defense and land, his office said. Finance Minister nominee Lee Hyoung-il, Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul and Land Minister nominee Hong Jee-sun recently underwent confirmation hearings at the National Assembly, and their hearing reports were adopted by the respective parliamentary committees. Lee appears to have signed off on their appointments shortly after arriving in New York, where he is set to attend the U.N. General Assembly.

Sep 22, 2026By Yonhap
Lee approves appointments of finance, defense, land minister nominees

President Lee arrives in New York to attend UN General Assembly

NEW YORK — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in New York on Monday to attend the United Nations General Assembly's High-Level Week and deliver a speech. During a speech on Tuesday to the U.N. session, Lee plans to propose ways to reform the U.N. to tackle global issues and outline South Korea's contributions, while also presenting his administration's vision of seeking peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. On the sidelines of the U.N. session, Lee will seek to engage with other heads of state, including U.S. President Donald Trump, and hold a meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call for the world body's cooperation in efforts to ensure peace on the peninsula. On Wednesday, the president will attend an investment summit that will bring together economic and financial leaders from South Korea and the United States before departing for Mexico later that day for a state visit.

Sep 22, 2026By Yonhap
President Lee arrives in New York to attend UN General Assembly

Lee pledges deliberation, humility in state administration

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday pledged to be more thoughtful and humble in governing the country, reaffirming his efforts to improve the quality of people's lives. "I will think more deeply about what is most needed for the public in this era and fine-tune governance with a humbler attitude," Lee said during a meeting with his key aides at Cheong Wa Dae. "I am once again reflecting on the intention of the voters who elected the administration," the president said. The pledge came as Lee's approval ratings declined to their lowest levels in recent weeks amid controversies over ministerial nominations and other issues. "I feel heavily responsible as the person in charge of state governance for the opinion that improvements in economic indicators are not fully translating into tangible changes in people's livelihoods," he said. The presidential office and the government will join hands to make tangible improvements in people's livelihoods, the president said, adding that he will also stick to his initial vision of pursuing reforms. Meanwhile, the president said he has not decided whether t

Sep 21, 2026By Yonhap
Lee pledges deliberation, humility in state administration

Confirmation hearing report adopted for land minister nominee

A parliamentary committee on Monday adopted a confirmation hearing report for Land Minister nominee Hong Jee-sun, paving the way for his appointment. The report was adopted by bipartisan consensus at a meeting of the land, infrastructure and transport committee, though the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) marked him as unfit. PPP Rep. Yoo Ui-dong, the committee chair, said the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's positive assessment of Hong was based on his experience and expertise as a former official of the Gyeonggi provincial government and as second vice land minister. The PPP's assessment, however, was based on perceptions it would be difficult for him to pursue policies with principle due to his close relationship with President Lee Jae Myung and the apparent failure of some of his past projects, Yoo said. Hong underwent a confirmation hearing last week following his nomination by Lee in late August. He vowed to mobilize all public and private sector resources to promptly supply housing in areas in high demand.

Sep 21, 2026By Yonhap
Confirmation hearing report adopted for land minister nominee

President faces another setback as chief of staff offers to resign

Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik offered to resign, Monday, taking responsibility for a string of bungled Cabinet nominations that has fueled criticism of President Lee Jae Myung’s personnel vetting system. If Lee accepts Kang’s resignation, two of Cheong Wa Dae’s top three secretary-level posts — chief of staff, policy chief and national security adviser — would be vacant at the same time, after former policy chief Kim Yong-beom stepped down earlier this month amid criticism over controversial financial products and tax policies. Kang's absence would deal another blow to the president as he has played key roles in diplomacy and economy as Lee's closest aide. Kang conveyed his intention to step down to Lee earlier in the day, senior presidential secretary for public relations Sung Ki-hong said during a briefing. A Cheong Wa Dae official said that during Friday's press conference, the president had said multiple times that his own shortcomings had contributed to negative public views of his administration. "As chief of staff, Kang tendered his resignation to take overal

Sep 21, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
President faces another setback as chief of staff offers to resign

President Lee embarks on trip to US, Mexico

President Lee Jae Myung left Monday on a two-nation trip that will take him to New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and to Mexico for a state visit. Lee is set to address the U.N. session Tuesday (U.S. time), highlighting his commitment to establishing permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, his aides said earlier. During his three-day visit to New York for the UNGA, the president will seek to hold meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and other heads of state through various venues, according to the officials. He is also scheduled to meet with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and seek the United Nations' cooperation in efforts to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula. Lee will head to Mexico on Wednesday for a three-day state visit, during which he will hold summit talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to discuss ways to expand bilateral trade and investment. In Mexico City, Lee will also meet with Korean residents in the country and attend a business forum. Lee will depart Mexico on Saturday to return home the following day.

Sep 21, 2026By Yonhap
President Lee embarks on trip to US, Mexico

Journalist-turned-political critic becomes new presidential spokesperson

Kim Sung-wan, a journalist-turned-political commentator, has been appointed as the new presidential spokesperson, the presidential office said Monday. Kim — a former reporter with Media Today and later a radio host and political analyst —officially assumed his duties as presidential spokesperson on Monday, according to Cheong Wa Dae. "I have often had my words passed along to others, but knowing that I am now speaking directly to the media makes me feel a heavy sense of responsibility … As President Lee Jae Myung has said, I will do my best to communicate more with the public with humility," Kim told reporters. The post has remained vacant since April, when former presidential spokesperson Rep. Jeon Eun-su stepped down to prepare for the June 3 local elections. Kim's appointment adds to the current two spokespersons — Kang Yu-jung and Ahn Gwi-ryeong.

Sep 21, 2026By Park Ji-won
Journalist-turned-political critic becomes new presidential spokesperson

Gov't, ruling party agree to lenient approach for minor violations in farmland survey

The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) agreed Monday to take a lenient approach to minor violations identified in an ongoing national farmland survey while cracking down on clear acts of land speculation. The country launched the comprehensive nationwide survey earlier this year in an effort to determine actual ownership of farmland and prevent it from being used as a speculative asset. The move, however, has faced criticism from the main opposition People Power Party, which has argued the survey has caused anxiety among farmers and could infringe on their property rights. "If the purpose of speculation is clear, (we) will take corrective action under the law and principles," Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung said in a policy meeting with DPK officials. "For minor or routine violations identified in the field, (we) will provide guidance or take alternative measures, such as making improvements to the system." The minister said the government would focus on ways to restore the intended purpose of farmland rather than immediately taking action against violations. Rep.

Sep 21, 2026By Yonhap
Gov't, ruling party agree to lenient approach for minor violations in farmland survey

Lee's approval rating rises for 1st time in 10 weeks to 34.8%: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rose for the first time in 10 weeks last week, helped by his clarification of key political issues during a press conference, a pollster said Monday. In a poll conducted on 2,507 adults nationwide from last Monday to Friday, positive assessments of Lee's job performance rose by 1 percentage point from the previous week to 34.8 percent, while negative assessments rose 0.1 percentage point to 63.4 percent, Realmeter said. It marked the first time in 10 weeks that Lee's approval rating rose following a 48.9 percent rating on July 13. There was a gradual increase throughout the week from 32.9 percent Tuesday and 32.1 percent Wednesday to 35.3 percent Thursday and 37.2 percent Friday, the day he held the press conference. "At the start of the week, his approval rating continued to decline due to controversy over personnel vetting and the repercussion of the confirmation hearings," the pollster said. Lee's approval rating was beset by controversy surrounding the qualifications of Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and Gender Equality Minister nomin

Sep 21, 2026By Yonhap
Lee's approval rating rises for 1st time in 10 weeks to 34.8%: poll

Justice minister nominee's withdrawal deals blow to president, ruling party

Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won's withdrawal from candidacy is expected to deal another setback to President Lee Jae Myung and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), as they are already struggling with declining public support. Kim stepped down Saturday, 20 days after his nomination, following controversy over several allegations — including that he used his influence as a lawmaker in 2021 to help a pharmaceutical company get regulatory approval for a COVID-19 clinical drug trial. He withdrew even after the National Assembly approved his nomination. While Kim’s withdrawal eased the immediate pressure on Lee over the appointment, it reinforced concerns over shortcomings in the administration’s personnel vetting system. Kim’s departure also leaves the justice ministry without leadership at a critical time, with pressing tasks piling up ahead of a major overhaul of the criminal justice system, scheduled to take place in October as part of Lee’s signature prosecution reform drive. For the ruling party, Kim’s departure highlighted its political misjudgment. DPK lawmake

Sep 20, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Justice minister nominee's withdrawal deals blow to president, ruling party
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