South Korea - The Korea Times

Moon's approval rating hits record low of 29 percent: Gallup

Korean President Moon Jae-in takes off a mask during a cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, April 27. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in's approval rating dropped below 30 percent for the first time since his inauguration in May 2017, a Gallup Korea poll showed Friday.In its three-day survey from Tuesday of 1,000 adults nationwide, 29 percent of respondents supported Moon's leadership, down 2 percentage points from a week earlier.His approval rating has been on the decline since recording 40 percent in the first week of March.The proportion of those disapproving of his presidency stayed at 60 percent. On reasons for negative assessment, real estate policies topped the list with 28 percent followed by the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic with 17 percent. Nine percent cited lack of progress in addressing problems related to the economy and the people's livelihoods, according to Gallup.Public support for the ruling Democratic Party gained 1 percentage point to 33 percent, while that for the main opposition People Power Party remained unchanged at 28 percent.The margin of error in Ga

Apr 30, 2021

Moon's approval rating hits record low of 29 percent: Gallup

Independent panel to review power abuse probe of Seoul prosecution chief on May 10

An independent panel created to review the validity of an ongoing investigation into the Seoul prosecution chief on charges of abuse of power will convene on May 10, judiciary sources said Thursday. YonhapAn independent panel created to review the validity of an ongoing investigation into the Seoul prosecution chief on charges of abuse of power will convene on May 10, judiciary sources said Thursday.Lee Sung-yoon, chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office, is being probed over allegations he exercised undue influence in 2019 to stop an inquiry into the alleged illegal exit ban imposed on a former senior official.The Supreme Prosecutors Office last week accepted Lee's request for outside experts' review of the legality of the probe. He argued the case should be transferred to a new investigative agency in charge of public corruption.Yang Chang-soo, who chairs the review committee, set the meeting for May 10, according to the sources.The panel's 15 members have been selected from a pool of some 250 figures from academia, media, civic groups and other various sectors, they

Apr 29, 2021

Independent panel to review power abuse probe of Seoul prosecution chief on May 10

President under criticism for five-person dinner

President Moon Jae-in takes off his mask to speak at a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. YonhapBy Jung Da-minPresident Moon Jae-in has come under fire for having a dinner with four of his former aides at Cheong Wa Dae, which critics claim was in violation of the nationwide ban on gatherings of five or more people as a measure to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two days after the Moon administration's latest Cabinet reshuffle, announced April 17, Moon had drinks and dinner with the four former aides to show his appreciation for their work, at his residence within the presidential office compound. The aides were former senior secretary for social policy Yoon Chang-yul, former senior secretary for political affairs Choi Jae-sung, former spokesman Kang Min-seok and former secretary for legal affairs Kim Young-sik. However, a person later filed a civil complaint on the website run by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, saying Moon's gathering with the former aides was against the ban on gatherings of five or more people. They said it was highly inappropr

Apr 28, 2021

President under criticism for five-person dinner

Korea's dilemma deepens over joining US-led Quad network

A journalist takes a photo of a screen showing a live image of Chinese President Xi Jinping delivering a speech at the opening of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2021 in Boao, Hainan province, April 20. AFP-YonhapBy Jung Da-minKorea may face tougher pressure from China to avoid joining a U.S.-led strategic group, as Beijing reportedly remains particularly concerned over Seoul's possible participation.Citing diplomatic sources, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported Saturday that Korea had received a number of inquiries from Chinese officials about whether it was considering joining the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue or “Quad.” But the government here has so far said that there has been no invitation from Washington.The report also said that Chinese diplomatic experts believe that if Korea were to join the Quad, it would be a significant challenge to China's security in East Asia, while referring to the alliance as an “anti-China coalition” in the region.The Quad is a four-way strategic forum aimed at containing China, and

Apr 25, 2021

Korea's dilemma deepens over joining US-led Quad network

Moon vows to bolster commitments to carbon neutrality

President Moon Jae-in makes a speech during the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate, Thursday.  YonhapBy Nam Hyun-wooPresident Moon Jae-in said Thursday that Korea will strengthen its commitment to carbon neutrality by toughening the country's emissions reduction target and ending public investments into coal-fired power generation facilities. Moon made the pledges in a speech at the Leaders Summit on Climate, which is being hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden. The two-day virtual summit is being participated in by the heads of state of 17 member countries of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, including Korea, and 23 other invited countries.During his speech, Moon said Korea will present its enhanced target for carbon emissions ― called nationally determined contribution (NDC) ― to the United Nations within this year, to improve the country's contribution to global efforts to counter climate change, and encourage other nations to keep up with such efforts.“Despite difficulties stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the people of Korea have set a goal of achieving

Apr 22, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo

Moon vows to bolster commitments to carbon neutrality

Opposition mayors call on Moon to pardon ex-presidents

President Moon Jae-in speaks with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, right, and Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, before their luncheon at Cheong Wa Dae, Wednesday. YonhapMoon stresses need for public consensus on releasing jailed former heads of stateBy Nam Hyun-wooPresident Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that public consensus and national unity should be prioritized when granting presidential pardons to imprisoned former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak. Moon made the remarks following the recommendation of the pardons from Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, members of the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP), who were elected during the by-elections on April 7. The three attended a luncheon at Cheong Wa Dae at Moon's invitation. The meeting was interpreted as a gesture to pursue coordination between the ruling and opposition blocs on various state affairs. According to a key official at Cheong Wa Dae, Moon said during the luncheon that he personally feels pain concerning the imprisonment of the two conservative presidents, but he has to think about &ldq

Apr 21, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo

Opposition mayors call on Moon to pardon ex-presidents

Reports: UK to toughen climate target before Biden summit

Pauline Latham, the Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom, speaks during Health Secretary Matt Hancock's update on the COVID-19 situation, at the House of Commons in London, April 19. Reuters-YonhapThe U.K. government will set itself a more ambitious climate target, pledging to reduce carbon emissions by three-quarters of their 1990 levels by 2035, British media reported Tuesday.They said the goal is to be announced ahead of a virtual climate summit hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday. The Financial Times, which first reported the news, said that for the first time the U.K. would include emissions from international aviation and shipping in its goal.The 2035 plan would put Britain on course to meet its target of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.The U.K. government declined to comment directly on the reports. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said that ministers would be making an announcement “shortly, taking into account the latest advice from the Climate Change Committee.” (AP)

Apr 20, 2021

Reports: UK to toughen climate target before Biden summit

Politicians slammed for violating COVID-19 gathering ban

Arriving passengers are guided by a quarantine official at Incheon International Airport, Tuesday. YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooPoliticians are drawing criticism for violating the government's ban on gatherings of five or more people.Rep. Woo Sang-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea / Korea Times fileThe lawmakers raising eyebrows are all from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).Jung District Office in Seoul said Tuesday that it plans to fine Rep. Woo Sang-ho for violating the government's social distancing rule that bans personal gatherings of five or more people across the nation amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Woo, a four-term lawmaker and former DPK floor leader, has been under siege after being found to have had drinks with five acquaintances at a restaurant in the district, April 8, a day after the Seoul and Busan by-elections, in which the ruling party suffered a stunning loss.According to Woo's aides, the lawmaker and his two assistants visited the restaurant and were accompanied by another three who described themselves as his supporters. They also said the lawmaker stayed with

Apr 20, 2021By Kang Seung-woo

Politicians slammed for violating COVID-19 gathering ban

Lawmaker reignites debate on women's military service

Men subject to enlistment wait for health checkup at an exam center in Seoul to get their physical grade for military service in this Feb. 17 photo. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-hanBy Nam Hyun-wooRep. Park Yong-jin of the Democratic Party of Korea speaks during an interview with the Hankook Ilbo, a sister paper of The Korea Times, at the National Assembly in this Sept. 9, 2020 photo. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-keunA decades-long debate on mandatory military service for women has been reignited by Rep. Park Yong-jin of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), a presidential hopeful, who wants to change the current conscription system to encompass men and women who will both serve in the military for a shortened term. Park claims the proposed change would cushion the negative impact of forcing young men to spend a year-and-a-half in mandatory military service. Others, however, say his idea is a political gimmick to draw support from young men while fomenting gender conflict.The lawmaker called for women's conscription in his book, “Political Revolution,” published Monda

Apr 20, 2021By Nam Hyun-woo

Lawmaker reignites debate on women's military service

Debate re-emerges on pardoning ex-presidents, Samsung chief

Former presidents Park Geun-hye, left, and Lee Myung-bak / Korea Times fileBy Nam Hyun-wooDebate is being reignited over pardoning two imprisoned former presidents and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, following increasing calls by opposition lawmakers and businesses asking President Moon Jae-in to exercise leniency and send a message of unity to a divided public.Cheong Wa Dae and the government say they are not considering a presidential pardon at the moment, but speculation is mounting, because such a move could be an effective way for Moon and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) to recover lost support. The debate on pardoning former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye resurfaced after President Moon named former lawmaker Kim Boo-kyum as new prime minister last week.Former President Park has been imprisoned after being found guilty of using National Intelligence Service funds for personal use and interfering in her political party's primaries, while Vice Chairman Lee was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of bribery and embezzlement.Kim, who s