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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.

Teleconference on COVID-19 response

Rep. Lee Nak-yon, right, the chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, listens to comments at the National Assembly, Tuesday, from Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung on the screen during a video teleconference between the ruling party, the central government and local governments. They discussed the latest situation related to COVID-19 and hospital bed shortages in each region amid the third wave of infections here. / Yonhap

Dec 15, 2020
Teleconference on COVID-19 response

Will apology for ex-presidents set turning point for main opposition party?

Main opposition People Power Party (PPP) emergency committee chief Kim Chong-in speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly, Tuesday. Kim apologized over the crimes of two former presidents from the conservative camp, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, who were convicted of corruption and put behind bars, vowing to push ahead with reform of the party. Yonhap'PPP needs to take further action and create real change to earn public's trust'By Jung Da-minThe main opposition People Power Party's (PPP) apology for crimes committed by jailed former presidents from the conservative camp may help the party embrace some centrist voters but is insufficient to gain the public's trust in its reform pledge, analysts said. PPP interim chief Kim Chong-in held a press conference at the National Assembly, Tuesday, and apologized for the crimes of the former presidents, Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, who were convicted for corruption and put behind bars, vowing to the public that the party would push ahead with reforms to become an alternative that can hold the liberal ruling bloc in check

Dec 15, 2020
Will apology for ex-presidents set turning point for main opposition party?

Main opposition leader apologizes over convictions of ex-presidents

Kim Chong-in, interim leader of the main opposition People Power Party, apologizes during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapThe interim leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) offered an official apology Tuesday for two former presidents affiliated with the conservative party, who were convicted of corruption.Kim Chong-in made the public apology during a press conference at the National Assembly, holding the party accountable for failing to keep the convicted former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak in check. "Two former presidents of South Korea are simultaneously in a state of imprisonment," Kim said. "I am here to give an earnest apology to the people with regard to this issue."The PPP leader added, "Any wrongdoing by a president constitutes wrongdoing by the ruling party."Our party could not fully accomplish its duty, as the then ruling party, to lead the country in the right direction, and committed the grave mistake of failing to detect and prevent problems by the reigning power," Kim said. "I bow deeply and give my apo

Dec 15, 2020
Main opposition leader apologizes over convictions of ex-presidents

Moon to stress OECD's role in global economic recovery, vow Seoul's contribution

President Moon Jae-in delivers a video message at his office in Seoul for the virtual Climate Ambition Summit, Sunday. Courtesy of Cheong Wa DaePresident Moon Jae-in will deliver a video message to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) convention and reaffirm South Korea's resolve to help develop multilateralism, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.Joining the official event to be held online later in the day in celebration of the occasion, Moon is to note the OECD's role so far as a signature body in the global economic field, it said. The OECD was founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.Moon will point out that the OECD has promoted fair and transparent competition by setting more than 450 international standards in various sectors such as climate, governance, fiance, investment, trade and anti-corruption.He also plans to explain about the government's push for the Korean version of New Deal aimed at fostering sustainable and inclusive growth. He will then pledge Seoul's commitment to continue

Dec 14, 2020
Moon to stress OECD's role in global economic recovery, vow Seoul's contribution

Moon's approval rating hits record low amid virus resurgence

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with his senior aides, at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Yonhap'Promoting K-quarantine' may backfire for PresidentBy Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in's popularity is faltering in line with the resurgence of COVID-19 infections, with his job approval rating on a downward spiral following the mishandling of a series of state affairs, including botched real estate policies and a feud between Justice minister Choo Mi-ae and top prosecutor Yoon Seok-youl. This is dealing a fatal blow to Moon and his administration as he has relied heavily on the government's handling of COVID-19 as the backbone for his support at the beginning of the year, when the nation was lauded in the global media for its exceptional response to the pandemic.The sweeping victory of his Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in the April general election was also on the back of the strong coronavirus response from the administration. Moon's support rate even rose to 71 percent in early May according to Gallup Korea.However, the COVID-19 surge in recent weeks has dampened public trust in P

Dec 14, 2020By Do Je-hae
Moon's approval rating hits record low amid virus resurgence

Lawmaker's wine party raises criticism

On the left is a screenshot of an Instagram post recently uploaded by Rep. Youn Mee-hyang of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, a former leader of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, in which she holds a glass of wine with five other people at a restaurant. After internet users denounced her for holding a party amid the tightened social distancing guidelines imposed by the government to combat coronavirus spread, Youn deleted the post and uploaded an apology as seen in the screenshot on the right. / YonhapBy Jung Da-minAn activist-turned-lawmaker is under fire for holding a dinner gathering over wine amid tightened social distancing regulations intended to combat further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.Rep. Youn Mee-hyang of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, a former leader of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, recently uploaded a photo of herself holding a glass of wine with five other people at a restaurant, on her Instagram. Along with the photo, Youn

Dec 14, 2020
Lawmaker's wine party raises criticism

Moon's popularity slips further

President Moon Jae-in / YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in's job approval rating has hit a new record low of 36.7 percent, the second consecutive week that it has stayed below 40 percent, a poll showed Monday.In the five-day Realmeter survey through last Friday, 36.7 percent of respondents gave a positive assessment of Moon's leadership, down 0.7 percentage point from a week earlier. The rating, in particular, dropped 4.2 percentage points in Seoul and 5.0 percentage points among those in their 20s.Moon also lost support in his traditional power base. The rating dipped 4.2 percentage points among liberal-minded voters and 3.7 percentage points among people in their 40s.The proportion of those who disapprove of Moon's job performance rose 0.8 percentage point to 58.2 percent.Public approval for the ruling Democratic Party (DP) gained 1.1 percentage point to 30.8 percent and that of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) rose 0.3 percentage point to 31.6 percent, according to Realmeter.It conducted the poll on 2,521 voters nationwide, and the margin of error is plus and minus 2 percenta

Dec 14, 2020
Moon's popularity slips further
  • Moon's remark on rental housing spark debate

Moon's remark on rental housing spark debate

President Moon Jae-in talks with Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee, center, and Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH) CEO Byeon Chang-heum, right, a nominee for new land minister, during Moon's on-site inspection of public rental housing in Dongtan in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooPresident Moon Jae-in's words during his on-site inspection of a major public rental housing complex are creating a stir, coupled with public anger at his administration's failed real estate policy to curb rising housing prices. On Friday, he visited the complex in Dongtan in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, with Land Minister Kim Hyun-mee and Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH) CEO Byeon Chang-heum, who has been tapped as Kim's replacement.With Byeon giving a tour of a 44-square-meter home, Moon confirmed Byeon's remark that the home was enough for a household with two adults and two children. This led to huge public and political criticism of Moon, with many people saying a 44-square-meter house is not nearly room enough for a four-person family.As controversy

Dec 14, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Moon's remark on rental housing spark debate
  • Moon's popularity slips further

Main opposition party leadership blamed for lacking strategy, causing internal rifts

Main opposition People Power Party's emergency committee chief Kim Chong-in, right, and floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young attend a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Sunday. YonhapBy Jung Da-minCriticism is rising over the leadership of the main opposition party, as it has made very few political accomplishments while struggling to hold the ruling bloc in check. As the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is strongly pushing ahead with the passage of controversial bills using its supermajority in the National Assembly, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has staged filibusters in an attempt to stop the DPK's moves.But the PPP's protest has had little effect. Its first filibuster to prevent the vote on a revision bill to the law on a new investigative body for high-profile corruption cases, Wednesday, finished only about three hours later when the plenary session of the Assembly ended for that night. The very next day, the DPK convened an extra session and passed the bill, as holding a second filibuster for one bill is impossible by law.As critics accused the DPK

Dec 13, 2020
Main opposition party leadership blamed for lacking strategy, causing internal rifts

Cheong Wa Dae's untimely arrogance

President Moon Jae-in, center, arrive at the National Assembly, July 16, to deliver a speech to mark the opening of the 21st National Assembly. Courtesy of Cheong Wa DaeBy Do Je-hae “Before my inauguration, I visited the four opposition parties first, and I invited the party and floor leaders to Cheong Wa Dae for talks 10 times during the 20th National Assembly. I also convened a tripartite standing consultative committee involving the government and both the ruling and opposition parties.”Which president said these words? The remarks were made by President Moon Jae-in in his speech during the inaugural ceremony of the 21st National Assembly, July 16.Considering the cold relations between Cheong Wa Dae and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), many find it hard to believe how forward President Moon seemed toward embracing the opposition at the beginning of his presidency. The recent climate in Korean politics is far from the “cooperative governance” Moon preached during his encounters with the Assembly. Recently, PPP floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young requ

Dec 12, 2020By Do Je-hae
Cheong Wa Dae's untimely arrogance
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