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.

Main opposition chief apologizes for candidates' disparaging remarks

Kim Chong-in, cente, head of the main opposition United Future Party's election committee, apologizes with other party members at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday, for inappropriate remarks made by two candidates against a 'certain age group' and bereaved family members of the Sewol ferry disaster. YonhapBy Jung Da-min The main opposition United Future Party (UFP) has apologized for a series of inappropriate remarks made by two of its candidates, who disparaged bereaved families of victims of the Sewol ferry disaster and specific age groups, respectively.The party also decided to expel them from the party, a decision the candidates strongly protested against.Kim Chong-in, co-head of the UFP's election committee, held a press conference at the National Assembly, Thursday, to apologize over the incidents.“I am so sorry for disappointing and angering the public over indiscreet remarks by two candidates of the UFP,” he said. “This is not a matter of whether their remarks were true or not. They used words that should not come from a candidate of a political party

Apr 9, 2020
Main opposition chief apologizes for candidates' disparaging remarks

Early voting to begin Friday

An election official sets up poll booths for early voting for next week's general election at a gym in Daejeon, Thursday. The early voting begins its two-day run, today. / YonhapGovernment exploring measures for those in self-quarantineBy Kang Seung-wooEarly voting for next week's general election will start nationwide Friday, the National Election Commission (NEC) said Thursday. According to the election watchdog, 3,508 polling stations will be set up nationwide and eligible voters can cast their ballots anywhere from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday.Those who need to vote ahead of the April 15 election only have to bring their resident identification card, driver's license or passport.The quadrennial election to make up the 300-strong National Assembly comes as the government is engaged in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. To contain the spread of the coronavirus, it has been pushing for strict social distancing, urging people to avoid indoor gatherings.Amid concerns over possible infection at polling stations, the NEC will enforce strong quarantine measures, which star

Apr 9, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Early voting to begin Friday
  • Gov't considers temporarily lifting coronavirus self-isolation rules on poll day

Partnership for COVID-19 detection kit

GC Medical Science President Ahn Eun-uk, left, poses with M-Monitor CEO Jeon Hyo-seong after signing a strategic partnership deal over COVID-19 diagnostics kits, at the former's headquarters in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. Following the partnership, GC Medical Science will produce M-Monitor's Isopollo coronavirus detection kits and sell them overseas. Courtesy of GC Medical Science

Apr 8, 2020By Nam Hyun-woo
Partnership for COVID-19 detection kit

Rival candidates slammed for 'biased' views on homosexuality

Ko Min-jung, left, the candidate from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, and Oh Se-hoon from the main opposition United Future Party stage election campaigns in the Gwangjin-B constituency in Seoul, Wednesday. The rival candidates have received criticism for “biased” remarks about homosexuality during their televised debate aired Sunday. YonhapBy Jung Da-min Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) and former presidential spokeswoman Ko Min-jung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), both competing for Seoul's Gwangjin-B constituency, have been mired in controversy over their “biased” remarks against sexual minorities.During their televised debate organized by the National Election Broadcasting Debate Commission recorded on Sunday, Oh said, “What is your take on the issue of homosexuality? I oppose it.” Then Ko replied, “The matter of homosexuality requires a national-level consensus.” The two candidates' remarks went viral online and drew criticism. The minor opposition Justice Party, wh

Apr 8, 2020
Rival candidates slammed for 'biased' views on homosexuality

Candidates depend on distinctive online campaigns

Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat who is running in Seoul's Gangnam-A District in the April 15 general election under the name Thae Gu-min, raps in a YouTube video posted Tuesday. / Captured from Thaeyongho TVBy Kang Seung-wooCandidates running in the April 15 general election are adopting what they hope are eye-catching online campaigns amid the coronavirus pandemic that is limiting offline contacts with voters.Although campaigning officially began last week, candidates are finding it difficult to appeal to voters on the streets as they used to, as many people are following government guidelines and avoiding outdoor activities to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In addition, even while campaigning in public, candidates and their supporters are wearing face masks, making it harder for people to recognize them ― particularly, political rookies. As a result, they have moved their campaigns online.Thae Yong-ho, a high-profile North Korean defector running in Seoul's Gangnam-A District on the main opposition United Future Party's (UFP) ticket under the name “Thae Gu-min,&

Apr 8, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Candidates depend on distinctive online campaigns

Gov't considers temporarily lifting coronavirus self-isolation rules on poll day

Candidates' election posters on display in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoThe government is considering temporarily lifting coronavirus self-isolation measures on voting day.The National Election Commission (NEC) said Tuesday it has been talks with relevant ministries to make it possible for those who are quarantining themselves because of COVID-19 to vote in parliamentary elections on April 15.One option the NEC is considering is allowing those subject to the measures to leave their homes to vote at certain times of the day to minimize their exposure to others.In an effort to help contain the virus, the government has imposed a two-week self-isolation for all arrivals from overseas since April 1.During Sunday's KBS radio program, NEC Secretary General Park Young-soo said the people's right to health is as important as their right to vote and he is still collecting opinions.The NEC has also asked voters to wear masks when they visit polling stations and have their temperatures checked before casting their ballots.

Apr 8, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Gov't considers temporarily lifting coronavirus self-isolation rules on poll day
  • Early voting to begin Friday
  • Unfazed by virus scare, Koreans hit polls as early voting begins

Suseong-A winner to bid for bigger dream

Rep. Joo Ho-young of the main opposition United Future Party, left, shakes hands with Rep. Kim Boo-kyum of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, at the National Assembly in Seoul in this 2017 June photo. The two are competing with each other for the Assembly seat in the Suseong-A constituency in Daegu in the April 15 general election. YonhapThis is the fifth in a series on battleground districts for the April 15 general election. ― ED.By Kim RahnDaegu is considered home turf for many conservative politicians. Of the 12 districts there, Suseong-A has been considered the “heart of politics in Daegu,” with many bigwigs having run in the district, and their victories serving as a stepping stone for their political career in the Daegu and Gyeongsang region and beyond.While candidates from conservative parties had won in Suseong-A, there was a surprising result in the last 2016 general election as Kim Boo-kyum from the liberal, then-opposition, Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) won by gaining 62.3 percent of the votes, signaling a change in the region.This year, Kim is making ano

Apr 8, 2020By Kim Rahn
Suseong-A winner to bid for bigger dream

Cast your ballot!

Officials from the National Election Commission's regional branch in Busan encourage people to vote in the April 15 general election at a rapeseed flower garden in Daejeo Ecological Park, Tuesday. Yonhap

Apr 7, 2020
Cast your ballot!

DPK may seek 'consolidation' with Open Minjoo Party after election

Members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and its 'satellite' party, Civil Together, pose during a ceremony to announce joint policy pledges in a ruling party meeting room at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday, eight days ahead of the April 15 general election. YonhapBy Jung Da-min A week ahead of the April 15 general election, it seems that the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is failing to divert its high approval rating to its “satellite party,” Civil Together, created by pro-Moon Jae-in civic groups and several minor liberal parties.If Civil Together fails to get as many proportional representation seats as the DPK expects, the latter may consider approaching the Open Minjoo Party with a view to a merger, or at least a cooperative agreement, according to some analysts. The Open Minjoo Party was set up by activists and DPK politicians who failed to be selected as candidates by the DPK.Earlier this year, the nation's two major parties ― the DPK and the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) ― created “paper parties” in a bid to win

Apr 7, 2020
DPK may seek 'consolidation' with Open Minjoo Party after election

Parties turn to offering money to all people

United Future Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn, center, urges the government to provide 500,000 won per person in Korea to help cushion the financial shock stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, during his election campaign in Seoul, Sunday. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geunBy Kang Seung-wooMajor political parties are now unanimously backing a plan to provide emergency disaster relief money to every household to help them deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, a more aggressive scheme than the government's earlier plan to provide it to the bottom 70 percent of households.For some parties, this is a change from their initial stance when they called the government's cash relief plan a “vote-seeking, populist move” ahead of the April 15 general election. Now they are also apparently seeking votes from the upper 30 percent.However, it remains to be seen if such a plan is feasible as the finance ministry is worried about financial soundness following the expanded allowance. On March 30, President Moon Jae-in announced that the government would pay emergency disaster reli

Apr 7, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Parties turn to offering money to all people
previous page
809810811812813
next page

Most Read in South Korea