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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.

Demanding probe into nuclear plant row

Opposition lawmakers submit a request for a National Assembly investigation into the government's alleged plan to help North Korea build a nuclear power plant, to the Assembly Secretariat, Wednesday. The opposition bloc alleged President Moon Jae-in offered to help build the plant in the North as part of cross-border reconciliation projects during his April 2018 summit with the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. From left are Rep. Kwon Eun-hee of the People's Party, and Rep. Kim Sung-won and Rep. Lee Chul-gyu, both from the main opposition People Power Party. Yonhap

Feb 3, 2021
Demanding probe into nuclear plant row

Should council members be allowed to go to overseas trips despite pandemic and embarrassing scandal?

Former Yecheon County councilman Park Jong-cheol punches an American tour guide on a bus in Canada while he was on an overseas trip financed by the county council in this photo from Dec. 23, 2018. The photo was released by the guide on the day of the incident. YonhapBy Ko Dong-hwanYecheon County's plan to send its council members overseas this year “for education” despite the COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions on whether this is necessary ― especially after one of its councilmen made headlines in 2019 for assaulting an American tour guide in Canada.The North Gyeongsang provincial county's council has allocated a budget of 11.2 million won ($10,000) for “international exchanges,” local broadcaster KBS reported.While any overseas visit for such a purpose should involve a minimum pool of lawmakers or council members, Yecheon County Council's budget this year includes all seven of them.In 2019, the council experienced a major backlash ― with protesters calling for all its members to step down ― when then-councilman Park Jong-cheol assaulted a Korean-American t

Feb 2, 2021By Ko Dong-hwan
Should council members be allowed to go to overseas trips despite pandemic and embarrassing scandal?

Korea expresses concerns over Myanmar coup

The Shwedagon Pagoda is seen near the closed gate of Military of Resistance Park in Yangon, Myanmar, Monday. According to media reports, the senior members of the National League for Democracy, including leader Aung San Suu Kyi, are being detained by the military due to a dispute rising from elections held in November 2020, the results of which have been challenged by the military-aligned opposition party. EPA-YonhapKorea expressed concerns Monday after Myanmar's military seized power in an apparent coup and declared a state of emergency following the detention of top civilian leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi."(The government) is paying keen attention to the recent political situation in Myanmar with concerns," the foreign ministry said in a statement."In consideration of the fluid situation in Myanmar, the government will make all-out efforts to ensure the safety and rights of our citizens and businesses currently in Myanmar," it added.About 3,800 Koreans are thought to reside in the Southeast Asian country. There have been no reports of Koreans having suffered any damage related

Feb 1, 2021
Korea expresses concerns over Myanmar coup

Gyeonggi governor takes big lead in presidential polls

Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung, center, holds a rose he received from a supporter at the entrance of Gwangju City Hall, Friday, during his visit to the city. Yonhap By Jung Da-minGyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is taking a big lead in recent opinion surveys on potential presidential candidates, with a year and a month left until the next presidential election to be held in March 2022.His rise for consideration in the next presidential race is attributable to his push for policies, with other potential contenders showing no presence for now, according to political analysts. A Research and Research survey of 1,010 adults conducted from Tuesday to Thursday last week showed Lee ranking top garnering support of 32.5 percent, followed by Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl with 17.5 percent and ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Lee Nak-yon with 13 percent.This was the first time for his support rate to surpass the 30 percent mark. Another poll b

Feb 1, 2021
Gyeonggi governor takes big lead in presidential polls

Ruling bloc goes all out to fire back over nuclear plant row

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Yonhap Moon says opposition's claims 'instigate conflicts, political retrogression'By Do Je-hae The ruling bloc is going all out to defend itself against escalating suspicions that the Moon Jae-in administration attempted to initiate the construction of a nuclear power plant in North Korea in 2018. Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are lashing out at the main opposition People Party of Korea (PPP) for raising the allegations ahead of the April 7 mayoral by-elections for Seoul and Busan, claiming it was re-engaging in the politics of “northern winds” often used by conservatives during election season.President Moon called on the political circle to refrain from outdated political wrangling, in response to the rising calls from the opposition to clarify exactly whether there was any mention of a nuclear plant building project during his summit with Nort

Feb 1, 2021By Do Je-hae
Ruling bloc goes all out to fire back over nuclear plant row
  • Political row intensifies over suspicions of North Korea's nuclear plant plan
  • Unification minister denies allegation Seoul pushed to build nuke plant in North Korea
  • Energy ministry unveils document to calm dispute over North Korea reactor plan

Lawmakers seek to impeach senior judge

Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and other liberal minor parties announce a plan during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday, to proceed with a motion to impeach senior Judge Lim Seong-geun, who has been accused of abusing his power. Lim is currently on trial for allegedly meddling in a number of politically controversial cases between 2015 and 2016 when he was a judge at the Seoul High. The lawmakers argue that he violated the Constitution. Yonhap

Feb 1, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
Lawmakers seek to impeach senior judge

Gyeonggi chief Lee Jae-myung overtakes presidential hopefuls race in poll

Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung, with a flower given by his supporter, in front of the Gwangju City Hall on Jan. 29. Yonhap Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung topped a latest poll of potential presidential candidates released Monday, gaining significant ground compared to two months ago.In a survey conducted by Realmeter on 2,529 people over the age of 18 from Jan. 25-29, 23.4 percent picked Lee as their favored presidential candidate.Lee saw a 5.2 percentage point jump in favorability in comparison to two months ago. The results marked the first time Lee finished first in a presidential hopeful poll from Realmeter.Previous front-runner Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl fell to second place, with 18.4 percent, followed by Lee Nak-yon, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), coming in third with 13.6 percent.Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl leaves Gwacheon Government Complex on Feb. 1 where he met newly-elected Justice Minister Park Beom-kye. YonhapThe Gyeonggi governor gained ground across all metrics and indices, such as age, political leanings and professions. Gov. Le

Feb 1, 2021
Gyeonggi chief Lee Jae-myung overtakes presidential hopefuls race in poll
  • Gyeonggi Governor asks US Congress, UN to support anti-leafleting law

Unification minister denies allegation Seoul pushed to build nuke plant in North Korea

Unification Minister Lee In-young speaks to journalists at the Office of the Inter-Korean Dialogue in Seoul's Jongno District, Jan. 25. YonhapUnification Minister Lee In-young on Monday dismissed allegations that the South Korean government attempted to help build a nuclear power plant in North Korea, saying that such claims might be politically motivated.In an interview with local radio station TBS, Lee flatly denied the speculation that the government of President Moon Jae-in began pushing to build a nuclear power plant in the North after Moon's first summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in April 2018."I will say this clearly that we, as the unification ministry, have never discussed the issue of building nuclear plants in North Korea under any circumstances," Lee said.Lee's remark comes amid brewing political controversy after a local TV station reported that a document about the nuclear power plant idea was among a series of computer files that industry and energy ministry officials were accused of deleting allegedly to cover up their wrongdoing.The computer file at issue

Feb 1, 2021
Unification minister denies allegation Seoul pushed to build nuke plant in North Korea
  • Political row intensifies over suspicions of North Korea's nuclear plant plan
  • Ruling bloc goes all out to fire back over nuclear plant row

Number of female cabinet ministers shrinking

Environment minister Han Jeoung-ae, left, receives a letter of appointment from President Moon Jae-in at Cheong Wa Dae, Jan. 29 YonhapBy Do Je-hae The proportion of female ministers in the Moon Jae-in administration has significantly declined following the most recent Cabinet reshuffle, Jan. 20.This seems to be going against Moon's campaign pledge to refill 30 percent or more of Cabinet posts with women.Out of 18 ministers, there are currently only three women, accounting for 16. 6 percent of the total. Environment minister Han Jeoung-ae became the latest woman to join the Cabinet when she received a letter of appointment from President Moon at Cheong Wa Dae, Jan. 29. Prior to the announcement, Jan. 20, there were five women. But Moon replaced Park Young-sun, minister of SMEs and Startups, to enable her to run in the Seoul mayor by-election in April, and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, who was the longest-serving minister in Moon's Cabinet. The shrinking number of women in Moon's Cabinet has raised questions about whether the President is still committed to promoting gender equality

Feb 1, 2021By Do Je-hae
Number of female cabinet ministers shrinking

Political row intensifies over suspicions of North Korea's nuclear plant plan

Na Kyung-won, third from left, a Seoul mayoral by-election hopeful of the main opposition People Power Party, joins civic activists advocating nuclear energy during a protest in front of Cheong Wa Dae, Sunday. Na asked President Moon Jae-in and his government to clarify allegations that they attempted to help North Korea build a nuclear power plant, countering Moon's nuclear energy phase-out policy. YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooControversy is escalating over whether the government clandestinely attempted to help North Korea build a nuclear power plant in 2018 during a short-lived reconciliatory mood between the two Koreas.First reported on Jan. 28 by broadcaster SBS, the alleged attempt, if found to be true, contradicts President Moon Jae-in's push to phase out nuclear energy, which has fueled concerns over the fate of South Korean nuclear power companies and their overseas businesses.The incident is expected to deal a blow to the Moon Jae-in administration and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) ahead of the April 7 mayoral by-elections for Seoul and Busan, which are considered a majo

Jan 31, 2021By Yi Whan-woo
Political row intensifies over suspicions of North Korea's nuclear plant plan
  • Unification minister denies allegation Seoul pushed to build nuke plant in North Korea
  • Ruling bloc goes all out to fire back over nuclear plant row
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