South Korea - The Korea Times

Lee consolidates landslide lead in ruling party's primary race

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, the front-running presidential contender of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), gives a thumbs up before his supporters as he leaves on a car after winning the party's regional primary at Oak Valley Resort in Wonju, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. YonhapGyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung clinched two consecutive electoral victories Sunday in the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) primary votes to pick its presidential candidate, solidifying his landslide lead. Lee finished first in one of the party's three rounds of electoral college votes, released in a regional primary event in Oak Valley Resort in Wonju, Gangwon Province, earlier in the day. The governor garnered 51 percent of the 496,672 ballots cast in the first electoral college vote, running far ahead of runner-up, ex-DPK Chairman Rep. Lee Nak-yon, who had 31.4 percent. In the same event, the governor was announced the winner of the regional primary vote in Gangwon Province with 55.3 percent of the votes, sweeping all four of the party's 11 regional primary votes held so

Sep 12, 2021

Lee consolidates landslide lead in ruling party's primary race

Ex-top prosecutor's presidential bid in crisis over power abuse allegation

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, the leading presidential contender of the main opposition People Power Party, speaks during a press conference held at the party's regional branch in Daegu, Saturday. YonhapBy Jung Da-minFormer Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, the leading presidential contender of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), is facing a crisis in his bid for the presidency, after a special body that investigates scandals involving high-ranking officials began looking into allegations that he abused his power as head of the prosecution. The scandal surfaced earlier this month in media reports that stated Yoon, as top prosecutor, ordered aides to hand over documents to PPP lawmakers ahead of the general election in April last year, for them to use in filing criminal complaints against several liberal ruling party figures.At the time, Yoon often made headlines for colliding with then-Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and other members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) as he was at odds with the Moon Jae-in government's so-called prosecutorial reform pol

Sep 12, 2021

Ex-top prosecutor's presidential bid in crisis over power abuse allegation

Opposition party files complaint against CIO over alleged illegal raid

Rep. Jun Joo-hyae of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), center, flanked by PPP Rep. Kim Hyung-dong, left, and legal adviser, Kwon Oh-hyeon, walks up to the Supreme Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul, Sept. 11, to deliver a complaint accusing Kim Jin-wook, chief of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), and others of abusing their power. YonhapThe main opposition People Power Party (PPP) filed a complaint Saturday with the prosecution over what it called an illegal raid against one of its lawmakers in a snowballing political meddling scandal.The complaint accuses Kim Jin-wook, chief of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), and five investigators of abuse of power and an illegal raid on the office of PPP Rep. Kim Woong, Friday.Rep. Jun Joo-hyae, a PPP spokeswoman, delivered the complaint to the Supreme Prosecutors Office, along with a party legal adviser, Kwon Oh-hyeon.The scandal centers on allegations that the state prosecution service asked the PPP to file criminal complaints against several ruling party fig

Sep 11, 2021

Opposition party files complaint against CIO over alleged illegal raid

Lee Jae-myung, a 'bulldozing public administrator' fearless of conflicts

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, the leading presidential contender of the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during an Aug. 5 interview with the Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-hanThis article is the first in a series on the major presidential contenders' leadership styles, campaign promises, strengths and weaknesses, as well as career histories ― ED.By Nam Hyun-wooGyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung has built his reputation as a 'bulldozing public administrator' and outspoken politician who does not fear conflict with his opponents, or even his colleagues within the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), while pursuing projects that he endorses. This aspect of his character has earned him the reputation of a capable politician who can bring actual results to the people, which is a critical merit boosting the 56-year-old's lead in the race to choose the party's single presidential candidate.Before beginning his career as a politician, Lee was a human rights lawyer for major civil society organizatio

Sep 11, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo

Lee Jae-myung, a 'bulldozing public administrator' fearless of conflicts

Why Hong Joon-pyo shows sudden strength among opposition candidates

Hong Joon-pyo, center, a presidential contender from the main opposition People Power Party, visits the Seomun Market in Daegu, Friday. YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooHong Joon-pyo, a five-term lawmaker of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) who announced his second presidential bid three weeks ago, is restructuring the electoral landscape as he is emerging as a strong candidate for the opposition bloc, even beating out Yoon Seok-youl who has been a leading contender, in some opinion polls. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter on 2,019 adults Sept. 6 and 7, 32.6 percent picked Hong as the optimal presidential candidate from the opposition, 12.4 percentage points up from the last week of August. In the survey, Yoon had 25.8 percent, 2.8 percentage points down during the same period.Hong also jumped to third in an opinion poll on overall presidential contenders from both the ruling and opposition parties, marking 15.6 percent, following Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung with 27 percent and Yoon, 24.2 percent. Hong saw a 7.5 percentage point increase, rising as a new power among th

Sep 10, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo

Why Hong Joon-pyo shows sudden strength among opposition candidates

MBC given slap on the wrist for discriminatory Olympic broadcasts

A photo of a riot is aired on MBC's broadcast of the 2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony as Haitian athletes walk into the stadium, July 23. Screenshot from MBCBy Lee Hae-rinLocal broadcaster MBC was given non-binding administrative guidance from the Korean Communications Standards Commission, Thursday, for using offensive or stereotyped images to depict some countries during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Now, the commission is drawing a backlash for handing out such a mild punishment for the discriminatory and inappropriate description of other countries that drew criticism both within Korea and from abroad.During a meeting, the commission decided only to “advise” MBC not to repeat such an offense by issuing an administrative guidance, which does not affect the commission's future evaluation of the broadcaster. The decision contradicted initial expectations that MBC might receive a “warning,” which would affect the commission's future evaluation of the broadcaster.The three commissioners appointed by the liberal ruling Democrati

Sep 10, 2021By Lee Hae-rin

MBC given slap on the wrist for discriminatory Olympic broadcasts

DPK flummoxed as Lee Nak-yon seeks to give up Assembly seat

A A National Assembly worker clears out documents from the office of Rep. Lee Nak-yon of the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Thursday, a day after Lee announced he would quit his Assembly seat to focus on the presidential election. Joint Press CorpsBy Nam Hyun-wooThe ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is at a loss after its former leader and current presidential contender Lee Nak-yon announced that he will abandon his National Assembly seat. The primary contender said that he made the decision in order to concentrate fully on his presidential campaign and to show his strong determination to win in the presidential election by becoming the party's single candidate. However, criticism has arisen concerning the move, as it means that he will not be able to fulfill his duty as a lawmaker representing his constituency of Jongno District in Seoul. The current DPK leadership is also expressing concerns that the decision may harm the liberal party's unity by aggravating competition among the contenders.Lee announced his resignation from his Assembly seat Wednesday after the DPK

Sep 10, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo

DPK flummoxed as Lee Nak-yon seeks to give up Assembly seat

Moon only living president to receive monthly pension of 14 million won after retirement

President Moon Jae-in speaks at luncheon with National Assembly members held in Cheong Wa Dae, Sept. 3. YonhapBy Yoon Ja-youngAfter retirement, President Moon Jae-in will get 13.9 million won ($11,875) a month as a pension. He will be the only living former president of Korea who is allowed to receive the presidential pension, as the other four former presidents who are still alive were deprived of this right after being impeached and removed from office, or jailed. According to Ministry of Interior and Safety data submitted to Rep. Lee Young of the main opposition People Power Party, Moon will be paid around 166.9 million won annually following retirement, or 13.9 million won a month. His term ends in May of next year. Moon's annual salary, meanwhile, is expected to be 250.1 million won next year, which is a 5 percent increase from this year. However, he has been freezing his own salary since 2019 by voluntarily returning any pay raises. Currently, none of Moon's living predecessors are receiving a presidential pension. However, former first lady Son Myung-soon, wife of the late for

Sep 10, 2021By Yoon Ja-young

Moon only living president to receive monthly pension of 14 million won after retirement

Ruling party gearing up for bill on curbing 'unjust' practices by domestic online platform giants

Rep. Yun ho-jung of the ruling Democratic Party / Joint Press Corp.The ruling Democratic Party (DP) is gearing up to enact a new law targeting "unjust" business practices by domestic online platform giants that have rapidly grown to control a lion's share of the market. Last month, the party controlling an absolute majority at the National Assembly led a parliamentary approval of a law banning Google and Apple from forcing app developers to use the platforms' payment systems. The approval made South Korea the first country to introduce such curbs on global tech giants' in-app billing policies, which have come under increasing scrutiny around the world.Party officials said the DP plans to pass a bill targeting domestic tech giants, such as Kakao Corp. and Naver Corp., at the ongoing regular parliamentary session.About 10 different versions of the envisioned bill have been submitted for parliamentary review since last year amid growing concerns over the increasing predominance of mainstream online platforms. Behind the legislative efforts are a consensus within the party that the compa

Sep 9, 2021

Ruling party gearing up for bill on curbing 'unjust' practices by domestic online platform giants

Yoon slammed for response to power abuse allegation

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, the leading presidential contender of the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP), answers reporters' questions during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press CorpsBy Jung Da-min Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, the leading presidential contender of the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP), has come under fire for his inappropriate remarks and overbearing manner while giving his account of a power abuse allegation.It has been alleged recently that Yoon, while he was the top prosecutor ahead of the general election in April last year, ordered his aides to hand over documents to PPP lawmakers and ask them to file criminal complaints against several liberal ruling bloc figures. At the time, Yoon was often colliding with then-Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and other ruling bloc figures as he was at odds with the Moon Jae-in government's prosecutorial reform policies.As the scandal grew, Yoon held a press conference at the National Assembly abruptly, Wednesday, to claim his