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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.

Main opposition party trying to appease angry residents in Gwangju, Jeolla

Main opposition People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok speaks during a meeting with party members at its regional branch in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, Thursday. YonhapPPP presidential contender expresses 'regret' over remarks praising ex-dictatorBy Jung Da-minThe main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has been baffled by remarks by its leading presidential contender, Yoon Seok-youl, which seemed to defend former dictator Chun Doo-hwan and angered residents of Gwangju and the Jeolla region who suffered from his brutal suppression of pro-democracy protests. Out of concern that the comments may diminish support for the party from residents in the region and prompt more centrist voters to turn their back on the party, the PPP's chief rushed to the region to appease residents, while Yoon “reluctantly” expressed regret over his remarks, but did not apologize.PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok visited Yeosu and Suncheon in South Jeolla Province, Thursday, and met party members and residents there. The visit was hurriedly arranged the previous day after Yoon's remarks caused a s

Oct 21, 2021
Main opposition party trying to appease angry residents in Gwangju, Jeolla

Raid into Seongnam mayor's office

Officials at Seongnam City Hall in Gyeonggi Province cover the entrance to the office of mayor's secretaries with newspapers to prevent people from watching a raid by the prosecution, Thursday. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office sent a team of 23 investigators to seize documents and other material as a part of its investigation into alleged corruption surrounding a massive land development project in Daejang-dong in the city. During four raids earlier this month, the prosecution did not include the mayor's and secretaries' offices, drawing criticism that it was mounting a limited investigation. Yonhap

Oct 21, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Raid into Seongnam mayor's office

Yoon expresses regret over controversial remarks on ex-President Chun

Yoon Seok-youl, a leading presidential contender of the main opposition People Power Party / YonhapYoon Seok-youl, a leading presidential contender of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), expressed regret Thursday after coming under intense criticism for his remarks seeming to praise former authoritarian President Chun Doo-hwan.Yoon said Tuesday that many people think Chun did well in politics, except for his bloody suppression of a 1980 pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju and his seizing power through a coup.The comments sparked a backlash especially because he said even some people in the Honam region, which includes Gwangju, agreed."I certainly did not defend or praise (Chun's) government," Yoon said at an event at the PPP headquarters in Seoul. "But I humbly accept the comments and criticism from many people that my explanation and comparison were inappropriate and express regret."Yoon reiterated that he used the comparison to underscore his resolve to take the advice of experts in various fields and delegate authority to them if he becomes preside

Oct 21, 2021
Yoon expresses regret over controversial remarks on ex-President Chun
  • Leading opposition contender Yoon Seok-youl slammed for remarks praising ex-dictator

Korea's first homegrown space rocket 'Nuri' set for launch at 5 p.m.

South Korea's homegrown space rocket is erected on a launch pad before a wet dress rehearsal at the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, Aug. 26, in this photo provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT. YonhapSouth Korea was preparing Thursday to launch its first homegrown space launch vehicle in the latest attempt to foster its space program and join the elite global space club.The KSLV-II -- also known as Nuri -- is set to blast off from the Naro Space Center in the country's southern coastal village of Goheung at 5 p.m., one hour behind schedule, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.Yong Hong-taek, the first vice minister at the Ministry of Science and ICT, told a press briefing that engineers spent "additional time checking valves inside the launch vehicle." The 200-ton Nuri is intended to put a 1.5-ton dummy satellite into orbit, a space launch vehicle technology that South Korea has been seeking to acquire for more than a decade for its space program.If successful, the Nuri rocket will be South Korea's first space vehicle wholly designed and built in t

Oct 21, 2021
Korea's first homegrown space rocket 'Nuri' set for launch at 5 p.m.

Leading opposition contender Yoon Seok-youl slammed for remarks praising ex-dictator

Main opposition People Power Party's leading presidential hopeful Yoon Seok-youl clenches his fist during a meeting with party members in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday. YonhapBy Kim RahnYoon Seok-youl, the leading presidential contender of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), has drawn condemnation over his remarks that seemed to defend Chun Doo-hwan, who led a military coup in December 1979 to take over the country and ordered the deadly suppression of pro-democracy protesters in Gwangju in May 1980. Yoon explained that he meant there were things to learn from the former leader, but criticism arose from not only the ruling bloc and Gwangju citizens but also from members of his own party.During a meeting with party members in Busan, Tuesday, Yoon said that if he becomes president, he would appoint top-class experts in key government positions to manage administrative affairs systematically.He then mentioned Chun: “Parts of Chun's acts were wrong, but many say he was good at politics aside from the military coup and (suppression of the) May 18 (Gwangju up

Oct 20, 2021By Kim Rahn
Leading opposition contender Yoon Seok-youl slammed for remarks praising ex-dictator
  • Yoon expresses regret over controversial remarks on ex-President Chun

Cabinet approves immigration rule revision to grant long-term residency to Afghan evacuees

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the government complex in Sejong, Oct. 19. YonhapThe Cabinet on Tuesday approved a revision to the immigration rule to grant long-term residency to Afghan evacuees airlifted in August from the Taliban-seized country and allow them to get jobs here."In order for them to live independently in our society, getting jobs must be a priority," Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said during the Cabinet meeting in Sejong. "Ministries should review ways that can utilize their careers in Afghanistan in South Korea."In August, the government airlifted more than 390 Afghan co-workers and their family members under a military mission as they faced possible Taliban retaliation for having supported foreign operations.The Afghan evacuees include medical professionals, vocational trainers, IT experts and interpreters who worked for Korea's embassy in Kabul and its humanitarian and relief facilities in Afghanistan, as well as their family members.They have been staying at the National Human Resources Development Institute in the central county of

Oct 19, 2021
Cabinet approves immigration rule revision to grant long-term residency to Afghan evacuees

Moon urges labor union to refrain from waging large-scale strike

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a Cabinet meeting in Cheong Wa Dae, Sept. 28. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-sukPresident Moon Jae-in on Monday urged an umbrella labor union to refrain from waging a large-scale strike planned for this week, saying that such a move could make it more difficult for health authorities to slow the spread of COVID-19. Moon made the remarks at a regular meeting with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum earlier in the day as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the more militant of the country's two umbrella labor organizations, has pledged to go ahead with a nationwide walkout and protest rallies on Wednesday. The nationwide walkout aims to bring labor issues to the fore in the runup to the 2022 presidential election, and the KCTU is seeking to bring together as many as 550,000 striking workers to the events.Moon instructed officials to take stern action if striking workers violate containment rules, Cheong Wa Dae officials said. Kim told Moon that the government will make last-minute efforts to persuade the KCTU to refrain from waging a large-scale

Oct 18, 2021
Moon urges labor union to refrain from waging large-scale strike

Third presidential bid by Huh

Huh Kyung-young, the National Revolutionary Party's honorary chief, center, speaks to reporters after applying as a presidential preliminary candidate at the National Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. This is the third time that Huh, who is known for his eccentric remarks and pledges, is running for the presidency. Surrounding him are supporters wearing costumes from Netflix's hit drama series “Squid Game.” Yonhap

Oct 18, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo
Third presidential bid by Huh

Ruling party presidential candidate rebuts criticisms on Seongnam scandal

Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung takes the oath during a National Assembly audit at Gyeonggi Province Office in Suwon, Monday. Joint Press CorpsScandal affects Lee's approval rating By Nam Hyun-wooDemocratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung refuted main opposition People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers' questions and criticisms on a land development scandal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Monday, reiterating that members of the opposition party were at the center of the problematic scheme, during a National Assembly audit of the provincial government. Lee appeared at the Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee audit as governor of the province and most of the questions focused on the scandal and allegations linking him to the suspicious land development project in Seongnam in 2015, when he was the city's mayor.PPP lawmakers asked a barrage of questions on Lee's alleged connection to Hwacheon Daeyu, an asset management firm for the project that raked in massive profits thanks to a suspicious dividend structure, but faile

Oct 18, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo
Ruling party presidential candidate rebuts criticisms on Seongnam scandal

Moon strengthens presence near end of presidency

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with provincial governors and mayors in Sejong, Thursday. YonhapBy Nam Hyun-wooPresident Moon Jae-in has been strengthening his presence recently by making influential comments on a number of key political issues, which is rarely seen by a Korean president who is nearing the end of his single, five-year term.In the first half of this year, the President's influence appeared to be weakening, as the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) opposed a number of aides and ministers nominated by Moon. However, the situation appears to have reversed in recent months, as Moon is enhancing his grip on state affairs based on a near 40 percent job approval rating. The DPK and opposition parties are displaying keen reactions to the President's messages on issues including a media law revision, the Seongnam land development scandal and a meeting with DPK presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung.According to Cheong Wa Dae, Sunday, the office is scheduling a meeting between Moon and DPK candidate and Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung. Lee requested the

Oct 17, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo
Moon strengthens presence near end of presidency
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