my timesThe Korea Times
South Korea

Politics

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
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.

PM says suffrage is foundation of democracy amid outrage over ballot shortages

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Tuesday he seriously takes the shocking shortage of ballot papers at dozens of polling stations in last week's nationwide local elections, stressing that suffrage is the foundation of democracy. Kim made the remark at the start of a youth policy meeting with related ministers, saying he was ashamed of the incident. "We should have been more sensitive to such issues and should've responded more quickly to come up with solutions, but we couldn't. It was truly regrettable and it reinforced our sense of responsibility," Kim said. Ballot shortages led to the temporary suspension of voting at 26 stations in Seoul and elsewhere in the June 3 elections, something unheard of in Korea's election history. The incident sparked public outrage and younger voters in their 20s and 30s have been holding protests around a ballot counting place in Seoul's southern district of Jamsil for the fifth day on Tuesday. President Lee Jae Myung has pledged a thorough investigation and measures to overhaul the National Election Commission.

Jun 9, 2026By Yonhap
PM says suffrage is foundation of democracy amid outrage over ballot shortages

PM calls for crowd control measures ahead of BTS concert in Busan

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok told officials Tuesday to ensure crowd control and crack down on tourist overcharging, scalped tickets and other illicit practices ahead of the upcoming BTS concert in the southeastern port city of Busan. Kim made the remark at the start of a Cabinet meeting, saying a number of foreigners are expected to visit Busan for the concert, set for Friday and Saturday, and it would be an occasion to showcase Korea's level of art performances and tourism and culture. "Some 260,000 people attended the Gwanghwamun concert back in March, and a large attendance is expected this time as well," Kim said, referring to the BTS concert in Seoul. "The culture ministry, the interior ministry and other agencies should cooperate with local governments and make sure to manage large crowds. We also have to make sure to prevent and crack down on such illicit practices as accommodation rip-offs and scalped tickets." The Busan concert is part of a world tour that began in April after the group's much-anticipated comeback. The tour includes 85 concerts in 34 cities around the world unti

Jun 9, 2026By Yonhap
PM calls for crowd control measures ahead of BTS concert in Busan

New assembly speaker vows stern response to ballot shortage

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik on Tuesday pledged a swift parliamentary response to an unprecedented shortage of ballot papers that disrupted voting in parts of Seoul during last week's local elections. Rep. Cho made the remarks in his meeting with presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik at the National Assembly, saying he takes the issue seriously, according to Jang Hyeon-ju, senior secretary of parliament for public communication. "We regard the incident involving the National Election Commission as a grave issue, and the National Assembly will thoroughly and promptly carry out all possible measures," the assembly speaker was quoted as saying. Kang echoed Cho's stance, describing the incident as a "serious" issue in which "citizens' voting rights — the very foundation of democracy — were infringed upon." He called on the National Assembly to play an active role in addressing the issue, urging bipartisan cooperation in launching a parliamentary probe into the incident. On Monday, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the main opposition People Power Party each submitted

Jun 9, 2026By Yonhap
New assembly speaker vows stern response to ballot shortage

Drug test required for successful civil service applicants before appointment

Successful civil service applicants will be required to undergo a drug test before their official appointments, the Ministry of Personnel Management said Tuesday. The Cabinet approved a revision of related regulations Tuesday to add a drug test to the physical examination required of those who pass exams for general civil service and foreign service positions, according to the ministry. The pre-appointment drug test is already in place for police and firefighter positions. Six kinds of narcotics, including methamphetamine, cannabis, opium and cocaine, will be screened in the physical examination and only those who are cleared in the drug test can be appointed as civil servants. The revision takes effect one week after the Cabinet approval. "Drugs have infiltrated our daily lives and we take it as a serious social problem," said Choe Dong-seok, head of the personnel ministry. "We will continue to improve measures aimed at preventing drugs from spreading into the civil service so as to build a trustworthy public service."

Jun 9, 2026By Yonhap
Drug test required for successful civil service applicants before appointment

FULL TEXT President Lee Jae Myung’s congratulatory message for 2026 Korea Times Forum

My sincere congratulations on the opening of The Korea Times Forum. I would like to express my deep appreciation to Seung Ji-soo, vice chairman of The Korea Times, and all its staff for organizing this meaningful event. I also extend a warm welcome to all distinguished participants, including Sir Martin Sorrell, chairman of S4 Capital, and James Kim, chairman and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM). Today, the world stands in a whirlwind of profound transformation. As global supply chains are being reshaped and geopolitical uncertainties continue to grow, the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution is rapidly rewriting the rules of the market and reshaping the landscape of industrial competition. In this era of profound change, where opportunities and challenges coexist, the future of our businesses and the lives of our people will depend on how we respond. Against this backdrop, I find it especially meaningful that this forum is being held under the theme, “Made in Korea : Global and AI enablement.” I hope it will serve as an opportunity to explore ways to act

Jun 9, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
[FULL TEXT] President Lee Jae Myung’s congratulatory message for 2026 Korea Times Forum

Protest over ballot shortage continues for 5th day

Protesters continued to rally outside a vote-counting facility in Seoul for the fifth day Tuesday, demanding a re-run of last week's local elections over ballot shortages at some polling stations. As of 10 a.m., some 200 protesters surrounded SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Songpa Ward, according to an unofficial police estimate. The number was sharply down from about 2,000 on Monday afternoon. Tens of thousands of people had amassed at the stadium over the weekend to protest the ballot shortages and block election officials from removing ballot boxes. The lack of ballot papers temporarily suspended voting at 26 polling stations nationwide on Wednesday, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). While the protests over the weekend had largely focused on demanding a new election, protesters claiming electoral fraud could be spotted Tuesday, with signs that read, "Stop the steal." Under the election law, a petition must be made to the election watchdog to invalidate a local election and run a new election. If the election watchdog rejects the petition, a lawsuit can be filed in c

Jun 9, 2026By Yonhap
Protest over ballot shortage continues for 5th day

Supreme Court chief justice accepts election watchdog head's resignation amid ballot shortage controversy

The Supreme Court chief justice has accepted the resignation of the head of the country's election watchdog, sources said Monday, following an unprecedented shortage of ballot papers that disrupted voting in some areas of Seoul during last week's local elections. According to the sources, Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae dismissed Roh Tae-ak, chairperson of the National Election Commission, from his post amid public backlash over the commission's poor handling of ballot distribution for June 3 local elections. Roh offered to resign Friday, saying he feels "deeply responsible for the whole situation." Ballot shortages were reported at more than a dozen polling stations in Seoul during the local elections, including in the southeastern districts of Songpa and Gangnam, prompting temporary suspensions of voting there. Some voters reportedly left without casting their ballots after waiting in long lines.

Jun 8, 2026By Yonhap
Supreme Court chief justice accepts election watchdog head's resignation amid ballot shortage controversy

Ruling party to pick new leader at national convention in August

The ruling Democratic Party or Korea (DPK) plans to hold a national convention in August to elect a new leader, officials said Monday, following its landslide victory in last week's local elections. The DPK leadership reached a consensus to hold the convention on Aug. 17, Rep. Jo Seoung-lae, secretary general of the party, told reporters at the National Assembly after a meeting of the party's supreme council. The new leader will replace Rep. Jung Chung-rae, a four-term lawmaker who has come under growing pressure within the party after the DPK lost key battlegrounds in the recent elections, including the Seoul mayoral race and a parliamentary by-election in Busan, despite winning 12 of the 16 mayoral and gubernatorial seats. Rep. Jung is widely expected to seek another term. Other potential contenders include Prime Minister Kim Min-seok who offered to resign last week, and Rep. Song Young-gil, a former DPK leader who returned to the National Assembly as a six-term lawmaker after winning a seat in the recent by-elections. If four or more candidates run for the party leader, the DPK will ho

Jun 8, 2026By Yonhap
Ruling party to pick new leader at national convention in August

President urges prudent approach on sharing excess corporate gains

President Lee Jae Myung acknowledged on Monday that a new social debate has emerged over how to share companies’ excess profits, calling for a cautious approach because the issue could have far-reaching implications for the nation's industrial policy. The president said the debate should be elevated to the international level, warning that any unilateral action by Korea could prompt companies to relocate overseas and also weaken foreign investment. Speaking at a press conference marking his first year in office, Lee made the remarks while addressing a labor-management dispute at Samsung Electronics over how to share the massive operating profits generated amid the global artificial intelligence boom. “It is an agenda that can seriously affect the nation’s industrial policy and it must be dealt with in a prudent manner,” the president said. He said that the excess corporate gains involve contributions from multiple stakeholders, including workers and investors, as well as taxpayers whose money was used to provide subsidies or other benefits. “The issue is not something that can b

Jun 8, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
President urges prudent approach on sharing excess corporate gains

Lee vows to secure 'absolute competitiveness' in advanced technologies in his 2nd year

President Lee Jae Myung said Monday the government will work to secure "absolute competitiveness" in advanced technologies to nurture the country into an industrial powerhouse. The president made the remarks while outlining his policy vision and goals for his second year in office at a press conference marking the first anniversary of his inauguration on June 4 last year. "By mobilizing all government and private-sector resources, (the government) will secure absolute competitiveness in the advanced technology sector," Lee said, adding the government will soon unveil a large-scale investment project to that end. The planned investment project will bring about a transformative change in the country's growth strategy, the president noted. The government will also explore new sectors, besides the semiconductor industry, that can serve as growth engines for future generations, he added. Lee, however, noted that "fruits of growth" should not be limited only to certain companies, regions or sectors. "The results and opportunities generated through the resources of the entire community should be

Jun 8, 2026By Yonhap
Lee vows to secure 'absolute competitiveness' in advanced technologies in his 2nd year
previous page
678910
next page

Most Read in South Korea