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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.

Hasty policies on coronavirus aggravate public concerns

A teacher in Suwon conducts a trial run of virtual class. YonhapBy Do Je-hae The Moon Jae-in administration made some highly-anticipated announcements this week regarding education and monetary assistance for struggling families amid the social crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. But the announcements have only led to more questions rather than providing answers, resulting in mounting public concerns about this administration's capacity for effective responses to various socio-economic challenges resulting from the coronavirus outbreak.In particular, the Ministry of Education's announcement Tuesday about beginning the school year for elementary, middle and high schools with online classes starting April 9 has angered parents, teachers and students. “It is inevitable to delay the opening of the school year. I ask for the understanding of the many families that will face inconvenience,” Moon said during a Cabinet meeting on the day the online class decision was announced.As the pandemic is not going to go away any time soon despite an active social distancing campaign,

Apr 1, 2020By Do Je-hae
Hasty policies on coronavirus aggravate public concerns

'I want my tuition back'

University students stage a protest in front of the Korean Association of Private University Presidents in Seoul, Wednesday, asking their tuitions to be reimbursed. Amid the new coronavirus outbreak, many universities shut their campuses down and offered online lectures but many students said they didn't like them.

Apr 1, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
'I want my tuition back'

Satellite parties face challenges in winning support

Lee Nak-yon, left, chief of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) election campaign committee, speaks during a joint meeting of the DPK and its satellite party, Civil Together, at the DPK's regional branch office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geunBy Jung Da-min The nation's two major parties have created “satellite parties” in a bid to win more proportional representation seats for the April 15 general election, but it seems the paper parties are having difficulty winning the public support they expected.Earlier this year, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) created satellite parties ― the Civil Together and the Future Korea Party, respectively ― to try and win more proportional representation seats under the new electoral system designed to give more of these to minor parties. While the DPK and the UFP are also participating in the main vote for 253 constituencies, their satellite parties are only putting forward candidates for the 47 proportional representation seats. T

Apr 1, 2020
Satellite parties face challenges in winning support

Calling for one-day session over 'Nth room' case

Rep. Sim Sang-jeung, chairwoman of the minor opposition Justice Party, stages a one-person demonstration at the National Assembly, Seoul, Tuesday, to call on members of the Assembly to convene a provisional session to discuss and pass laws designed to prevent cyber sexual exploitation and that would ensure punitive measures against perpetrators, an issue raised by the so-called “Nth room” case. The Assembly has virtually remained idle since the extra session that ended in mid-March, with most lawmakers busy campaigning ahead of the April 15 general election. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

Mar 31, 2020
Calling for one-day session over 'Nth room' case

Political heavyweights struggling in surveys

By Kang Seung-wooMany public polls have found that a large number of high-profile veteran politicians are struggling to punch their ticket to the National Assembly, with many of their challenges coming from political rookies.Rep. Park Jie-won of Minsaeng PartyThe general election is scheduled to take place April 15 to choose who will make up the 300-strong 21st National Assembly.Rep. Park Jie-won of the minor opposition Minsaeng Party is facing a situation that he has never before encountered in his almost 30-year political career. The four-term lawmaker is behind Kim Won-I ― a former deputy mayor for political affairs at the Seoul Metropolitan Government ― in the electoral district of Mokpo, South Jeolla Province.A survey by local cable broadcaster JTBC, Monday, showed that Kim was leading Park by 7.3 percentage points ― 38.3 percent to 31 percent. Both candidates worked for the Kim Dae-jung administration from 1998 to 2003, with Park serving as chief of staff and Kim as an administrative official. Another poll by the Joongang Ilbo released Tuesday revealed that Kim even had a lead

Mar 31, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Political heavyweights struggling in surveys

High-profile defector, veteran liberal politician in rare match in Gangnam

Kim Sung-gon of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, left, and Tae Ku-min of the main opposition United Future Party pose after formally registering as candidates running in the Gangnam-A constituency in the April 15 general election, at a regional branch of the National Election Commission in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, March 26. Yonhap :This is the third in a series on battleground districts for April 15 general election. ― ED.By Jung Da-min A “rare” competition between a high-profile North Korean defector and a veteran liberal politician is being held in Seoul's Gangnam-A district in the April 15 general election. Thae Yong-ho, a former senior North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea in 2016, is a candidate on the ticket of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP). He is running in the election under his new name Tae Ku-min.Standing against Thae from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is Kim Sung-gon, a former four-term lawmaker who held the National Assembly secretary-general position in 2018. The race between the two has drawn attention for its symbolic

Mar 31, 2020
High-profile defector, veteran liberal politician in rare match in Gangnam

Moon urges legal punishment for quarantine breach

President Moon Jae-in called Tuesday for stern legal measures against those flouting coronavirus quarantine rules. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in called Tuesday for stern legal measures against those flouting coronavirus quarantine rules, a day before the policy of imposing 14-day mandatory self-isolation on all arrivals from abroad takes effect."If the quarantine measure is violated, resolute and strong legal measures should be taken to protect the safety of the community," he stressed, speaking at a weekly Cabinet meeting.Although South Korea's response to COVID-19 has won praise, with signs of "gradual stabilization" in the situation here, he said, "There's still a long way to go for a solid stable stage."He added, "We need more powerful measures and thorough control over the growing influx of overseas infections." Moon pointed out that "a small hole breaks down the bank" and warned against any activity to make the people's anti-virus efforts "come to naught."South Korea confirmed 125 additional cases on Monday and four more deaths."Pay special attention to reducing the number of dea

Mar 31, 2020
Moon urges legal punishment for quarantine breach

14 million households to get up to W1 million in relief funds

President Moon/ YonhapBy Do Je-hae The government will provide up to 1 million won ($820) in disaster relief money per family as a part of measures to ease the financial burden of lower-income households struggling with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. The government will draw up a supplemental budget bill in the coming weeks to deliver the cash relief.President Moon Jae-in announced the measure while presiding over the third Emergency Economic Council (EEC) meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. This is the first time for the government to introduce a policy to financially support people's living costs during a national crisis.The central government, in cooperation with local administrations, will provide the 1 million emergency payment to families with four or more members in the bottom 70 percent of the gross income index. A one-person household will receive 400,000 won, a two-person family, 600,000 won, and a three-member household, 800,000 won. About 14 million households will be eligible to receive the money, according to Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki.Some local government chi

Mar 30, 2020By Do Je-hae
14 million households to get up to W1 million in relief funds

PHOTOS April 15 election

Material promoting the April 15 parliamentary elections hangs over Cheonggyecheon stream in central Seoul, Monday. The elections will select 300 lawmakers, representing the 21st National Assembly. They will wield a great influence on the course of President Moon Jae-in's key policies during his remaining two years in office. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulA makeshift gate is set up with a message that reads “Your vote, your voice.” Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulSouth Korea's election watchdog said Monday it has decided to stop the absentee ballot process for next month's general election for citizens living in more countries and territories due to the coronavirus pandemic. The National Election Commission said the process will be suspended at 41 more diplomatic missions around the globe, meaning eligible South Korean voters cannot cast absentee ballots for the April 15 elections. The decision will raise the number of affected missions to 65 in 40 countries, including the United States. The number of affected voters is estimated at 80,500, which accounts for 47 pe

Mar 30, 2020
April 15 election [PHOTOS]

'Kim Chong-in effect likely to be limited'

Kim Chong-in, the chief of the United Future Party's campaign committee, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Sunday. / Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-hanBy Kang Seung-wooKim Chong-in, a veteran politician who helped President Moon Jae-in and his predecessor Park Geun-hye win presidential elections, has returned to politics again ahead of the upcoming general election, looking to rediscover his winning touch with the main opposition United Future Party (UFP).However, it remains to be seen if the 79-year-old and the newly created conservative party will end the April election on a winning note during a situation that is unfavorable to him in many ways, according to critics.Kim decided to join the UFP as head of its campaign committee last week after party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn's repeated requests. “As I played a part in Park and Moon winning their elections, I feel sorry about that,” Kim said in a press conference at the National Assembly, Sunday, indicating that both did not govern the country as he expected.“For that reason, I decided to

Mar 30, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
'Kim Chong-in effect likely to be limited'
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