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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.

Young leader's nomination exam plan raises question

Main opposition People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Lee Jun-seok speaks during a general meeting of party lawmakers at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday, three days after he was elected as the new main opposition leader. YonhapBy Jung Da-min Debates have risen over an idea presented by Lee Jun-seok, the young leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), to select candidates for next year's local elections through a qualifying exam of computer skills, reading comprehension and presentation ability. The idea is aimed at selecting candidates “fairly” regardless of their age, past experience or connections with party leadership, so more talented and young people with little experience in politics can run in the elections. However, some raise doubts whether such skills would prove people's qualification as good politicians.During his appearance on a radio show of local broadcaster MBC, Monday, Lee said he would introduce a qualifying examination to verify if candidates applying for the party's nomination to run in the local elections slated for June 1 next y

Jun 16, 2021
Young leader's nomination exam plan raises question
  • Main opposition sees influx of young members following new leader's sensational election

Under young leader, main opposition party to choose spokesmen through debate tournament

Lee Jun-seok, chairman of the main opposition People Power Party / YonhapUnder the leadership of young new leader Lee Jun-seok, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) will set out this week to pick its new team of spokespeople through a rare debate tournament, party officials said Wednesday.The party will conduct a three-week-long public audition to recruit two chief and two other deputy spokespersons, starting with an official notification of the audition Friday, according to the officials. It is part of a series of sensational campaign promises Lee made running for the party leadership. He has touted the new method of picking party spokespeople as a means to facilitate a change of culture in the conservative party and to give fair opportunities to party members, as opposed to the usual handpicking of spokespeople by a party leader. The biggest conservative party has never before opted for a public audition to choose party spokespeople, except for the selection of a deputy spokesperson slot reserved for young party members. The upcoming public notification of the audition will

Jun 16, 2021
Under young leader, main opposition party to choose spokesmen through debate tournament

Ex-prosecutor general to announce his presidential bid soon: aide

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl / Korea Times fileA former South Korean top prosecutor plans to officially announce his presidential bid later this month, his spokesman said Tuesday.Yoon Seok-youl, who has been a front-runner in opinion polls, will publicly "show the result" of his contemplation later in June or early July, Yoon's spokesman Lee Dong-hoon told Yonhap News Agency.Lee said Yoon will decide whether to join the main opposition People Power Party after meeting various officials.In the latest poll conducted by the Korea Society Opinion Institute from Friday to Saturday on 1,007 voters nationwide, 35.5 percent picked Yoon as their most favored candidate for next year's presidential election, up 4.4 percentage points from a week earlier.Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) came in second with 27.7 percent, followed by former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon with 12.6 percent.Yoon resigned in March, four months before his two-year tenure was set to end, in an apparent protest against President Moon Jae-in's drive to reform the prosecution

Jun 15, 2021
Ex-prosecutor general to announce his presidential bid soon: aide

Ruling party seeks to expand alternative holidays

gettyimagesbankThe ruling Democratic Party (DP) said Tuesday it will seek to pass legislation this month to expand alternative statutory holidays. The legislative initiative, if approved, will enable the designation of official alternative holidays for a broader range of national holidays that fall on weekends, according to party officials.Currently, alternative statutory holidays are allowed only for Chuseok, Korea's autumn harvest celebration, Lunar New Year's Day and Children's Day in May in the case they fall on weekends."Designating alternative holidays is an undeniable imperative of our time," DP floor leader Rep. Yun Ho-jung said in a party meeting, unveiling the legislation plan. "We will give you back lost red letter days. (The DP) will promptly pass a pending alternative holiday bill at the National Assembly within the provisional June parliamentary session."The DP will seek to get the bill to take effect immediately so that the first alternative holiday under the envisioned legislation can be set for the upcoming Aug. 15 Korean Liberation Day, which falls on Sunday this ye

Jun 15, 2021
Ruling party seeks to expand alternative holidays

Main opposition enjoys high support rate after electing young leader

Lee Jun-seok, right, the new chairman of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), sheds tears while talking with a bereaved family member of the 2010 sinking accident of ROK naval ship of Cheonan, during his visit to the Daejeon National Cemetery, Monday. Lee started his first official schedule as the party leader by visiting the national cemetery, three days after his election at the party convention. YonhapBy Jung Da-minThe election of a young new leader is giving a boost to the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), with it seeing the highest gains in support in years and positive signs of a potential “conservative big tent” to counter the liberal ruling bloc ahead of next March's presidential election. Public attention to the rise of the 36-year-old Lee Jun-seok and his victory at the party convention is pushing the party's support rate. According to a survey of 2,512 adults conducted last week by local pollster Realmeter, and released Monday, 39.1 percent of respondents said they supported the PPP, while 29.2 percent said were behind the ruling Democratic Par

Jun 14, 2021
Main opposition enjoys high support rate after electing young leader
  • 'Do you have girlfriend?': Questions for young party leader raise eyebrows

'Do you have girlfriend?': Questions for young party leader raise eyebrows

Lee Jun-seok, the new leader of the main opposition People Power Party, rides a Ttareungyi, Seoul's bike sharing system, to the National Assembly, Sunday. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiIt may be natural that the public wants to know more about Lee Jun-seok, 36, the newly elected leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), as he is the first politician in his 30s to become chief of either the ruling or the main opposition party.Some questions directed at him, however, have raised people's eyebrows as they were only focused on his young age and private life ― questions which would have never been asked if the new leader was at a “normal age” to be a party leader, like those in their 50s or over.In the KBS radio show, “Joo Jin-woo Live,” Friday, the host of the show, journalist Joo, asked Lee if he was unmarried. After Lee said yes, Joo asked him if he had a girlfriend.“You shouldn't keep asking such private questions,” Lee said while refusing to respond to the query. But Joo kept asking and said many people were wondering “because you are now

Jun 14, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
'Do you have girlfriend?': Questions for young party leader raise eyebrows
  • Main opposition enjoys high support rate after electing young leader

Moon meets AstraZeneca's CEO to discuss vaccine cooperation

President Moon Jae-in bumps fists with with the head of AstraZeneca, Saturday, ahead of a meeting where he reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation in the global supply of COVID-19 vaccines, according to Cheong Wa Dae. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in had a meeting with the head of AstraZeneca, Saturday, and reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation in the global supply of COVID-19 vaccines, Moon's office said.During talks here with Pascal Soriot, executive director and CEO of the pharmaceutical firm, based in Cambridge, Britain, Moon requested that the two sides maintain collaboration in the biohealth sector for the stable production and supply of coronavirus vaccines, the presidential office said.AstraZeneca's product is a core element in South Korea's vaccination campaign that began in February. SK Bioscience, a subsidiary of the Seoul-headquartered SK Group, produces AstraZeneca's vaccine in its local plant under a consignment contract.Moon told Soriot that South Korea began its vaccination program with AstraZeneca's doses.He thanked the firm for its contribution to

Jun 12, 2021
Moon meets AstraZeneca's CEO to discuss vaccine cooperation
  • Korea, Australia to deepen ties on low-carbon energy use

Korea, Australia to deepen ties on low-carbon energy use

President Moon Jae-in and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison bump elbows before a meeting on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit, Saturday, where they agreed to broaden bilateral economic cooperation, especially on hydrogen use and other low-carbon technologies. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison agreed Saturday to broaden bilateral economic cooperation, especially on hydrogen use and other low-carbon technologies.They had one-on-one talks on the sidelines of an annual summit of the Group of Seven (G-7) here. They were invited to the session as guests.Moon and Morrison shared the view that their participation in the session reflects the G-7 member states' "high expectations" for the role of the two countries in resolving various global issues in the post-coronavirus world, according to Cheong Wa Dae.They noted that the two countries are commemorating the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties this year.They agreed to expand the "horizons of economic cooperation" to low-carbon technologies, including hydrogen production and use, and th

Jun 12, 2021
Korea, Australia to deepen ties on low-carbon energy use
  • Moon arrives in Britain for G-7 summit
  • Moon meets AstraZeneca's CEO to discuss vaccine cooperation

Moon arrives in Britain for G-7 summit

South Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in Cornwall, Britain, Friday to attend the annual Group of Seven (G-7) summit. YonhapSouth Korean President Moon Jae-in arrived in Cornwall, Britain, Friday to attend the annual Group of Seven (G-7) summit.He is joining the session as a guest invited by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the host of the first major multilateral summit since the outbreak of COVID-19.During the two-day "expanded" G-7 forum to be held till Sunday in this southwestern county, Moon plans to have discussions on how to address global challenges including the pandemic-induced health crisis, climate change and trade disputes. Other participants include the leaders of the G-7 member states: the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Britain, as well as representatives from the European Union. The leaders of Australia, India and South Africa have also been also invited as guests, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking part via video link due to the severity of the coronavirus pandemic in his country.Moon said the G-7's invitation to So

Jun 12, 2021
Moon arrives in Britain for G-7 summit
  • Korea, Australia to deepen ties on low-carbon energy use

Lee Jun-seok's victory ushers Korean politics into new era

Lee Jun-seok waves the flag of the main opposition People Power Party at the party headquarters in Seoul, Friday, after being elected as its new chairman. YonhapYoung politician to head main opposition as youngest-ever leaderBy Jung Da-min Lee Jun-seok, a 36-year-old politician who has never won a seat in the National Assembly, has rewritten the nation's modern political history by becoming the youngest-ever leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) ― the first time for a politician in his 30s to be elected to head either the ruling party or the main opposition party.The young politician's rise in the conservative bloc is shaking the political landscape, according to political watchers, as it is reflecting growing public calls for change and innovation in politics, with the presidential election nine months away in March 2022.In the PPP's party convention held Friday, Lee, a former member of the PPP's Supreme Council, was elected chairman, garnering 43.82 percent of the vote. Na Kyung-won, former floor leader of the PPP's predecessor, the Liberty Korea Party, followed hi

Jun 11, 2021
Lee Jun-seok's victory ushers Korean politics into new era
  • Moon praises ascent of main opposition's new young chairman as historic feat
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