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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.

Parties clash on diplomacy, security pledges

United Future Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn, candidate for the Jongno district, speaks during a campaign trail in the central Seoul district, April 8. The main opposition party is vowing to reverse most of President Moon Jae-in's policies on North Korea and foreign affairs. YonhapBy Do Je-hae Diplomacy and national security issues are being sidelined in the lead up to the April 15 general election as voters focus on the COVID-19 pandemic.The global outbreak has aggravated voters' concerns about where the country's economy is headed and how the parties are preparing to deal with the socio-economic challenges that lie ahead. Nonetheless, parties have announced their election pledges to inform voters about where they stand on core issues regarding foreign affairs and national security.Their pledges are poles apart, particularly regarding North Korea. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is still showing a heavy focus on advancing ties with North Korea, despite the current deadlock in denuclearization talks. Much of the DPK's pledges regarding North Korea reflect President Moon Jae-

Apr 13, 2020By Do Je-hae
Parties clash on diplomacy, security pledges

Election watchdog prioritizes preventing COVID-19 self-isolators from having contact with other voters

South Korea's election watchdog said Monday it will prioritize preventing those in self-isolation over the new coronavirus from having contact with other voters when they cast ballots in this week's elections.The government will allow people ordered to go into self-quarantine from April 1-14 and without symptoms of the virus to vote in Wednesday's parliamentary elections after regular voting ends at 6 p.m.Under measures revealed by the National Election Commission (NEC), self-isolators wearing face masks are to wait at designated places before being guided to make-shift polling booths after 6 p.m.Their movements and voting hours will be arranged in a way that does not overlap with those of other voters. Self-isolators will only be allowed to be outside from 5:20 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the election day.Election officials overseeing voting will wear full protective gear, including face shields, masks and surgical gloves.When self-isolators have finished voting, officials will immediately disinfect ballot stamps and polling booths.Health authorities also plan to implement stricter social dis

Apr 13, 2020

'180-seat remark' jolts general election

Badges for lawmakers of the 21st National Assembly are on display at the parliament building in Seoul, Monday, two days ahead of the general election that will make up the 300-seat Assembly. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooA liberal-minded political commentator's remarks predicting that the “pan-ruling bloc” could win 180 seats in the 300-strong National Assembly is emerging as a last-minute variable ahead of Wednesday's general election.The opposition is using it to rally conservative voters by calling it “extreme arrogance,” while the ruling party is trying to minimize any fallout from the remarks that they believe gave ammunition to its rivals to attack its campaign that has been faring well.Rhyu Si-min, a former liberal politician and head of a foundation that memorializes former President Roh Moo-hyun, said in a social media broadcast, Friday, that it would not be unfeasible for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and other liberal parties to win 180 seats in the Assembly. The main opposition United Future Party (UFP) did not miss the opportunity to take

Apr 13, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
'180-seat remark' jolts general election

Early voting finished, but voters still confused over too many parties

Officials at North Gwangju District Office examine ballot papers at a meeting room in the office, Monday, two days ahead of the April 15 general election. Courtesy of North Gwangju District OfficeBy Jung Da-minMore than a quarter of eligible voters for the April 15 general election participated in early voting conducted from Friday to Saturday. However, it seemed many of them were confused by there being “too many” parties listed on the ballot paper for proportional representation, leaving them wondering whether they voted for the actual party they wanted to.In the general election, voters enter their votes on two ballots, one for the 253 single-member constituencies, and the other for the remaining 47 proportional representation seats. Following a new electoral system aimed to give more proportional representation seats to minor parties, 35 parties ― 14 more than the previous general election ― are participating in the proportional representation vote, giving voters the longest-ever ballot paper at 48 centimeters.Adding to the complexity of the proportional represen

Apr 13, 2020
Early voting finished, but voters still confused over too many parties

NK defector hailed by Trump seeks South Korean parliament seat

In this Jan. 30, 2018, file photo, Ji Seong-ho, a North Korean defector, holds up his crutches after his introduction by President Trump during the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Donald Trump had previously condemned the cruelty of North Korean government, but after his historic summit on Tuesday with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Trump seemed to play down the severity of human rights violations in North Korea. / AP-YonhapThe crutch-wielding North Korean lauded by Donald Trump in a State of the Union address is seeking a seat of his own in the South's parliament to defend other defectors who have fled their reclusive homeland but often find themselves marginalized.Ji Seong-ho was stealing coal to feed his starving family during a devastating 1990s famine when he fell from a train wagon. The drop knocked out the then 13-year-old and a train ran him over, severing his left leg and hand. He was rushed to hospital and operated on without anaesthetic."My father was given a bag with his son's hand and leg" to bury, Ji r

Apr 13, 2020
NK defector hailed by Trump seeks South Korean parliament seat

Main opposition expels controversial candidate

Cha Myung-jin, main opposition United Future Party's candidate for Bucheon-C constituency in Gyeonggi Province, speaks during a campaign stop in the district, Friday. His party decided to expel him, Monday, for continuous inappropriate remarks. YonhapBy Kim RahnA banner of United Future Party candidate Cha Myung-jin, center, and those of Democratic Party of Korea candidate Kim Sang-hee / Captured from Cha's FacebookThe main opposition United Future Party (UFP) expelled Cha Myung-jin, one of its candidates, Monday, over his continuous inappropriate remarks.The expulsion was a reversal of its previous decision to recommend his voluntarily leaving from the party for the candidate running in the Bucheon-C district of Gyeonggi Province after a previous controversy. Following the expulsion, Cha was deprived of his candidacy for the general election, according to the Election Law.Early last week, he caused a stir in a televised debate by claiming bereaved family members of the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster victims engaged in “promiscuous conduct” with a volunteer in a tent set up at

Apr 13, 2020By Kim Rahn
Main opposition expels controversial candidate

U2 leader asks S. Korean president to support Ireland in fight against coronavirus

U2 rock band frontman Bono Vox meets Pope Francis at the Vatican in this Sept. 19, 2018 file photo. /Vatican Media REUTERS-YonhapSEOUL ― Bono, the lead vocalist of Irish rock band U2, has sent a letter to South Korean President Moon Jae-in asking for support in his country's fight against the novel coronavirus, the presidential office here said Sunday.In the letter, Bono asked for South Korean protective equipment and diagnostic kits and said he would personally pay for it, according to Cheong Wa Dae.In a reply sent Friday, President Moon said he would have the health authorities discuss the issue and he hoped Ireland will overcome the crisis, the presidential office added.President Moon and Bono met in December last year, when U2 had its first solo concert in South Korea as part of its Joshua Tree Tour.The 59-year old Irish musician is one of the world's best-known philanthropic performers, spearheading human rights movements across the globe.Ireland had reported nearly 9,000 virus infections as of Sunday afternoon (Korean time), with 320 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns

Apr 13, 2020By Kim Ji-soo
U2 leader asks S. Korean president to support Ireland in fight against coronavirus

Self-isolators without coronavirus symptoms allowed to vote

YonhapSelf-isolators will be allowed to cast ballots in the upcoming parliamentary elections if they do not show symptoms of coronavirus infection, authorities said Sunday."People who were ordered to go into self-quarantine from April 1-14 and show no symptoms on the day of voting can cast ballots," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said in a press briefing. "Wearing face masks, they should go to polling stations on foot or by car, while using mass transportation is strictly banned."South Korea has been seeking ways to permit those in self-isolation over the new COVID-19 to vote in the April 15 general elections while minimizing the risk of infecting others. They were not allowed to take part in early voting held Friday and Saturday. The polls will be held from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday.The minister said those in self-quarantine will be accompanied by health officials from their isolation facilities to polling stations at a separately designated time in a bid to keep them from meeting other voters. (Yonhap)

Apr 12, 2020By Kim Ji-soo
Self-isolators without coronavirus symptoms allowed to vote
  • S. Korea mulls easing social-distancing rules

Moon delivers hopeful Easter message amid pandemic

President Moon Jae-in and First Lady Kim Jung-sook look around Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican in October 2018. Moon delivered a message for Easter, Sunday, encouraging the Koreans to draw strength from the nation's wealth of experience in overcoming adversity. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae ASEAN+3 virtual summit to take place Tuesday By Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in encouraged Koreans to draw strength from the nation's wealth of experience in overcoming adversity in a hopeful Easter message, Sunday, amid the ongoing struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic. "Resurrection is a mystery for believers, but even for the general public, resurrection is a message of hope. It's the hope that comes to us after overcoming death," Moon said. "Korean history is one of resurrection. We achieved independence from colonial rule, democracy from dictatorship and economic growth from absolute poverty. All of this, we have done on our own, while trusting and encouraging one another."He thanked the people for their efforts and sacrifice to contain the virus. "Like Jesus Christ, who changed a h

Apr 12, 2020By Do Je-hae
Moon delivers hopeful Easter message amid pandemic

Rival parties tangle over record voter turnout

Voters maintain distance from each other as they line up for early voting at a polling station in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, Saturday, ahead of the general election, to be held Wednesday. YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooThe rival parties were encouraged by the record turnout in early voting for the general election this week, with each arguing the outcome will be in their favor. The surprise turnout came amid prospects that the COVID-19 pandemic would have people staying at home instead of voting.Against this backdrop, the parties ramped up campaigning over the weekend in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province ― collectively the country's most-contested region where more than half of the 43.9 million registered voters live. The three areas also presumably have the highest number of swing voters for the general election, Wednesday.“This highest-ever voter turnout shows the burning passion of the people to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic crisis with the government and the ruling party and to make the Republic of Korea greater,” said Hyun Geun-Taek, election camp spokesman of the ruling Dem

Apr 12, 2020By Yi Whan-woo
Rival parties tangle over record voter turnout
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