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Moon appoints inaugural chief of corruption probe agency

President Moon Jae-in appointed Kim Jin-wook, a former judge, as the first chief of a major corruption investigative body Thursday. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in appointed Kim Jin-wook, a former judge, as the first chief of a major corruption investigative body Thursday.The president formally authorized the appointment of Kim as head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), Cheong Wa Dae said.Kim's term begins on the same day, it added. Moon will hold a ceremony later in the day to give Kim a certificate of appointment at the presidential compound. He went through the National Assembly's confirmation hearing earlier this week.The launch of the CIO is a key element of Moon's politically controversial drive to reform the state prosecution service accused of having excessive power and authority.The CIO is tasked with looking into corruption among senior government officials, including prosecutors. It has the right to indict suspects, which had long been monopolized by the prosecution. (Yonhap)

Jan 21, 2021
Moon appoints inaugural chief of corruption probe agency

Moon sends congrats message to Biden, says alliance to grow stronger

South Korean President Moon Jae-in congratulated Joe Biden on his inauguration as U.S. president Thursday, saying the Seoul-Washington alliance will grow even stronger via cooperation on various pending issues. Capture from TwitterSouth Korean President Moon Jae-in congratulated Joe Biden on his inauguration as U.S. president Thursday, saying the Seoul-Washington alliance will grow even stronger via cooperation on various pending issues."@JoeBiden, congratulations on your inauguration. America is back. America's new beginning will make democracy even greater," Moon wrote on his Twitter account. "Together with the Korean people, I stand by your journey toward 'America United,'"As an ally, Moon added, "We will continue to cooperate with the U.S. to keep the Korean Peninsula and the region peaceful and prosperous."He also wrote he believes the alliance will "grow even stronger through our coordination in addressing global issues in such areas as public health, security, the economy, and climate change.""The U.S. will surely succeed in building back better, and the world will be amazed,"

Jan 21, 2021
Moon sends congrats message to Biden, says alliance to grow stronger

Soldiers, civilians stage joint rallies in North Korea in support of party decisions

This photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency, Wednesday, shows a joint army-civilian rally held the previous day. It reported the events were held in four provinces to show determination to thoroughly implement the decisions made at the recent 8th Congress of the ruling Workers' Party. YonhapSoldiers and civilians staged joint rallies across North Korea, calling for nationwide cooperation to carry out new policies and decisions made during a recent rare party congress, state media reported Wednesday.North Korea held the eighth congress of the ruling Workers' Party that ended last week, unveiling a new five-year economic development plan focusing on self-reliance in the face of the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and global sanctions on its regime. "Joint rallies of soldiers and civilians were held on Tuesday in North Pyongan, North Hwanghae, Jagang and South Hamkyong provinces to perfectly realize the decisions made during the eighth party congress," the Korean Central News Agency said. The participants, including heads of the ruling party's provincial committe

Jan 20, 2021
Soldiers, civilians stage joint rallies in North Korea in support of party decisions

USFK struggling with increasing COVID-19 cases

This notice on the U.S. Forces Korea Facebook account shows the extension of its “shelter in place” directive for the U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Yongsan through Sunday amid a consistent increase in the number of COVID-19 infections among service members, civilian contractors and dependent family members. / Captured from USFK FacebookBy Jun Ji-hyeThe U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is struggling to cope with an increasing number of COVID-19 cases among its service members, civilian contractors and dependent family members here, most of whom tested positive upon their arrival here from the United States.The increase in the number of USFK-linked cases has come as South Korea has started to see a slowdown in infections on the back of the country's tightened social distancing measures.According to the USFK, Wednesday, a Department of Defense civilian working on U.S. Army Garrison (USAG) Yongsan in central Seoul tested positive for the coronavirus Monday, following direct contact with someone who tested positive earlier.“He tested positive after developing symptoms consistent wit

Jan 20, 2021By Jun Ji-hye
USFK struggling with increasing COVID-19 cases

Religious leaders vow to seek inter-Korean religious exchanges, tackle discrimination

Ven. Wonhaeng, the leader of the Jogye Order, speaks during an online press conference, Tuesday. Courtesy of Jogye OrderBy Park Ji-wonReligious leaders have pledged to promote inter-Korean religious exchanges this year while tackling discrimination against weaker members of society.Ven. Wonhaeng, head of the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist denomination, said Tuesday that he will work hard to push for inter-Korean religious exchanges this year by providing aid to help the North overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, and at the same time promoting joint projects.“We will push for inter-Korean exchanges in Buddhism by closely working with the Korea Buddhist Federation of the North,” Ven. Wonhaeng said during an online press conference.He said the order will send relief goods to North Korea for coronavirus prevention, and attempt to resume existing inter-Korean projects ― which have been halted ― such as research for the restoration of temples destroyed during the Korean War, holding joint services in Singye Temple in Kangwon Province in the North, and the release of a j

Jan 20, 2021By Park Ji-won
Religious leaders vow to seek inter-Korean religious exchanges, tackle discrimination

Profile Liberal, press-friendly lawmaker tapped as culture minister

Hwang Hee / YonhapHwang Hee, nominated Wednesday as the new culture minister, is a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party who has built an extensive career in liberal political circles.Hwang began his political career in the late 1990s as a secretary for the late president and pro-democracy leader Kim Dae-jung, who was then leading a liberal party. Hwang then took on several officer-level posts at the presidential office during late President Roh Moo-hyun's term.Hwang, who also worked as a policy aide for late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon in the 2011 by-election, returned to the Democratic Party in 2015. He was elected as a lawmaker in the 2016 general elections, working actively in the land and transportation committee at the National Assembly.Since his election, he has emerged as a key figure in the ruling party and has been noted for his friendly attitude and drive for planning. In 2017, Hwang contributed to President Moon Jae-in's presidential bid by taking on a key post in his election camp and also led the party's press and promotional activities.In 2020, Hwang was elect

Jan 20, 2021
[Profile] Liberal, press-friendly lawmaker tapped as culture minister

Profile Ex-national security adviser tapped as top diplomat amid stalled North Korea diplomacy

Chung Eui-yongChung Eui-yong, President Moon Jae-in's pick for foreign minister, is known for his role as national security adviser in spearheading Moon's engagement policy for North Korea that led to the first-ever summit between the United States and North Korea. Chung's nomination, announced just ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, is seen as reflecting Moon's will to revive his peace drive and help resume the nuclear diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang in his remaining time in office. "I think it's my last chance to serve the country. I take this nomination as a candidate for public office with a humble and solemn heart," Chung said in a message sent to media following the announcement. "If confirmed, I will do my utmost so that the foreign policy pursued by the Moon Jae-in government can bear fruit and the Korean Peninsula peace process can take root," he said. Moon said in a press event on Monday that he hopes the stalled nuclear dialogue with North Korea will pick up from the Singapore Declaration, referring to the agreement from the first summi

Jan 20, 2021
[Profile] Ex-national security adviser tapped as top diplomat amid stalled North Korea diplomacy

Ex-President Park tests negative for COVID-19 after being exposed to patient

Former President Park Geun-hye / Korea Times fileFormer President Park Geun-hye, now serving a 22-year prison term on corruption convictions, tested negative for COVID-19 on Wednesday after coming into contact with an infected person, the Ministry of Justice said.According to the ministry, Park came into close contact with a prison officer diagnosed later with COVID-19 while traveling by bus to a medical facility on Monday outside the Seoul Detention Center, where she has been imprisoned since March 2017.The prison officer tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, the ministry said, noting he wore a mask throughout the bus ride with Park. The polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, test was administered on Park on Wednesday morning, the ministry said.Park will be put under isolation at the outside medical facility for a certain period of time as a precaution even though she tested negative for the coronavirus, the ministry said.The Supreme Court last week upheld a 20-year sentence for Park in her high-profile corruption case, closing the yearslong saga that gripped the country and ultimate

Jan 20, 2021
Ex-President Park tests negative for COVID-19 after being exposed to patient

Moon names Chung Eui-yong as new foreign minister

Chung Eui-yong, former top security advisor to President Moon Jae-in, has been named as the new foreign minister. Korea Times filePresident Moon Jae-in has picked Chung Eui-yong, former director of national security at Cheong Wa Dae, as his new foreign minister, Moon's office announced Wednesday. He also nominated Hwang Hee, a ruling Democratic Party (DP) lawmaker, as culture minister and Kwon Chil-seung, another DP lawmaker, as SMEs and startups minister in a partial Cabinet reshuffle, according to Chung Man-ho, senior presidential secretary for public communication.The nominees face confirmation hearings at the National Assembly, the dates of which have yet to be set.If appointed, Chung will replace Kang Kyung-wha, who has served as Moon's first foreign minister. Chung had worked as Moon's top security adviser for three years since the launch of the Moon administration in May 2017. Hwang, a two-term lawmaker, previously worked at Cheong Wa Dae under the Roh Moo-hyun administration and has served as head of DP's public relations and the party's deputy floor leader.Kwon, a two-term l

Jan 20, 2021
Moon names Chung Eui-yong as new foreign minister

Foreign ministser calls for close cooperation with incoming Biden gov't for peninsula peace

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during a National Assembly meeting in this photo taken on Dec. 2. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geunForeign Minister Kang Kyung-wha called Tuesday for close cooperation with the incoming U.S. administration of Joe Biden to make headway in efforts for a lasting peace on the peninsula by building on "meaningful progress" over the last four years.Kang made the call during a meeting of government officials and scholars, which was organized to discuss a policy direction that would guide cooperation with the incoming U.S. government set to be launched on Wednesday (Washington time)."Over the last four years, South Korea and the United States have achieved meaningful progress in terms of the efforts toward the denuclearization and the establishment of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula based on close bilateral cooperation," Kang said."By continuing accumulated achievements and lessons and through close cooperation with the (incoming) Biden administration, we will make much more progress going forward," she added.Seoul seeks to cement cooperation wi

Jan 19, 2021
Foreign ministser calls for close cooperation with incoming Biden gov't for peninsula peace
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