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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.

Longest ballot ever: 41 parties compete in general election

Officials at an early voting center in Yeonje District, Busan, check election procedures, March 19, with one holding a mock ballot paper that includes space for proportional representation voting. According to the National Election Commission, 35 parties have registered for the proportional representation vote and the NEC officials will have to count the votes by hand as electronic counting machines can only process shorter ballot papers listing up to 24 parties. YonhapBy Jung Da-min Voters will be given the longest-ever ballot paper April 15 to elect members for the 21st National Assembly. According to the National Election Commission (NEC), Monday, a total of 41 parties have registered 1,430 candidates to compete for the 300 seats through two ballots, one for the 253 single-member districts and the other for the remaining 47 proportional representation seats. Among the 41 parties, 35 are participating in the proportional representation vote, 14 more parties than in the 20th general election in 2016. The number of candidates selected for proportional representation seats also double

Mar 30, 2020
Longest ballot ever: 41 parties compete in general election

S. Korea seeks extra budget for cash payment to virus-hit families

President Moon Jae-in speaks during the third session of the emergency economic council at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. YonhapSouth Korea said Monday it will push for a second extra budget worth 7.1 trillion won ($5.8 billion) to provide cash to more than half of the country's households to help minimize the economic fallout from the spread of the new coronavirus outbreak.The government said the relief package for 14 million low-income households would cost 10.3 trillion won.Under the plan, 1 million won would be given to each household with four or more people that rank in the bottom 70 percent of gross income, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy.The proposed extra budget will be created by readjusting existing spending plans and cost-cutting measures, the ministry said. Local governments will shoulder 2 trillion won for the cash payment to households, it added.The country also said virus-hit smaller companies and households will be exempt from paying medical insurance, electricity and other utility bills for up to three months. (Yonhap)

Mar 30, 2020
S. Korea seeks extra budget for cash payment to virus-hit families

Moon scrambles to revive economy

President Moon Jae-in gets ready for the G20 virtual summit at Cheong Wa Dae, March 26. YonhapBy Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in is open to good suggestions from the opposition parties on how to get the country out of the grave economic situation it is in, a presidential aide said Sunday.The remark was in response to a suggestion from main opposition United Future Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn last week for a 40 trillion-won ($32.5 billion) government bond program for small business owners and SMEs affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Since we are facing a very serious economic situation, our administration will review helpful suggestions from all parties concerned, even if they are from the opposition," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok said in a briefing Sunday. Moon said last week that he would review the proposal if the UFP provided more details. The presidential office said the UFP has yet to deliver on the President's request for these. "We have not received a more specific proposal yet. We could discuss the establishment of a working-level consultative group on the issue, as

Mar 29, 2020By Do Je-hae
Moon scrambles to revive economy

S. Korea to mandate two-week quarantine for all international arrivals from Wednesday

South Korea will enforce a two-week mandatory coronavirus quarantine for all entrants from overseas starting Wednesday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Sunday, amid a steady inflow of virus cases from abroad.All entrants to the country, regardless of their nationality, should stay in quarantine, the prime minister said. Visitors without local addresses here should stay in government-designated facilities at their own expense, he said."The government has strengthened quarantine measures on entrants from Europe and the United States, but considering the unprecedented speed the virus is spreading globally, we need additional measures," Chung said during a government meeting on COVID-19.South Korea has been already enforcing both a two-week quarantine period and virus tests for all long-term arrivals from Europe, regardless of symptoms. Entrants from the U.S. were also required to self-isolate at home for two weeks."In order to effectively prevent entry to the country for unimportant purposes, such as travel, we will expand the compulsory quarantine measure to all foreigners coming in

Mar 29, 2020
S. Korea to mandate two-week quarantine for all international arrivals from Wednesday
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Battle for National Assembly seats starts with party colors

Members of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea pose during a ceremony to launch the party's election strategy committee at the National Assembly, Feb. 20. / Korea Times filePolitical parties committed to finding own colors to represent identityBy Kang Seung-wooWhenever election time comes around, there is one thing that each political party cares about as much as about candidate selection ― its party color. As party colors are used to represent their political identity and ideology, they are devoted to picking one that is “perfectly” suited to them.Ahead of the April 15 general election, other than the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), a large number of parties ― most of which have merged and renamed ― have changed their color in a bid to appeal to more voters and gain extra seats at the National Assembly. Some parties have even exchanged words over similar colors.The DPK is sticking to the blue that it used in the 20th National Assembly election four years ago. The main opposition United Future Party (UFP) ― formerly the Liberty Korea Party ― ditched the red that

Mar 28, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Battle for National Assembly seats starts with party colors

Parties bring 'old boys' back, criticized for failing to make generational shift

Kim Chong-in, right, a veteran economist and politician, shakes hands with main opposition United Future Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn who visited his residence in Seoul, Thursday, after agreeing to head the party's election strategy committee. Courtesy of United Future PartyBy Jung Da-min Ahead of the April 15 general election, political parties have promised a generational shift and announced plans to recruit younger candidates to ensure “young and new” politics. However, their recent nominations show that they are largely failing to keep their promises, much to the disappointment of the public.The main opposition United Future Party (UFP) has named Kim Chong-in, former head of the rival Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) emergency strategy committee who led the DPK to victory in the 2016 general election.Kim, 79, is a veteran economist and politician who supports the idea of economic democratization. He served five terms as a lawmaker and is well known for his political career as a “king maker” as he helped former President Park Geun-hye and incumbent President

Mar 27, 2020
Parties bring 'old boys' back, criticized for failing to make generational shift

Ruling party chief declares war on digital sex crimes

Protesters call for a strong punishment for the notorious child porn suspect, Cho Ju-bin, at their rally near Jongno Police Station in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapSouth Korea's ruling party chief on Friday declared war on digital sex crimes, vowing to push for the parliamentary passage of relevant bills by May.Lee Hae-chan, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party, made the declaration as the nation has recently been shocked by a sexual exploitation case centered on group chat rooms of the Telegram messenger service. Cho Ju-bin, a 25-year-old, has been arrested for allegedly blackmailing girls into sharing sexual videos, which were then posted in pay-to-view chat rooms.At least 74 people, including 16 underage girls, are believed to have been exploited in the case.The Democratic Party has submitted three revision bills for the Criminal Law, the Sexual Violence Crime Act and the Information and Communication Network Act to the Assembly, calling for stricter punishment of blackmailing with videos of a sexual nature.Lee said his party will push to pass the three revision bills, all related t

Mar 27, 2020
Ruling party chief declares war on digital sex crimes

FULL TEXT Joint statement from G-20 virtual summit

Leaders of the G20 major economies are holding an online summit on March 26, in a bid to fend off a coronavirus-triggered recession, after criticism the group has been slow to address the crisis. AFP-YonhapThe following is a full text of a joint statement adopted at the G-20 2020 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders Summit. It was provided by Cheong Wa Dae.The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic is a powerful reminder of our interconnectedness and vulnerabilities. The virus respects no borders. Combatting this pandemic calls for a transparent, robust, coordinated, large-scale and science-based global response in the spirit of solidarity. We are strongly committed to presenting a united front against this common threat.We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life and the suffering faced by people around the world. Tackling the pandemic and its intertwined health, social and economic impacts is our absolute priority. We express our gratitude and support to all frontline health workers as we continue to fight the pandemic.The G20 is committed to do whatever it takes to overcome the pandemic,

Mar 27, 2020By Do Je-hae
[FULL TEXT] Joint statement from G-20 virtual summit
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FULL TEXT President Moon Jae-in's remarks at G-20 summit

Presidential aides watch the G20 online summit at Cheong Wa Dae, March 26. YonhapThe following is an unofficial translation of President Moon Jae-in's remarks during the G-20 2020 Extraordinary Virtual Leaders Summit. It was provided by his office, Cheong Wa Dae.I would like to first begin by thanking Mr. Chair for his leadership in convening the Extraordinary Virtual Leaders' Summit today.The effects of COVID-19 have posed a serious threat to global healthcare systems, and have severely contracted the global real economy and financial markets. Yet, we do have the experience of having surmounted the 2008 global financial crisis. And, with G20 members united in solidarity, I am confident that we shall prevail over these difficult times.Over the last 2 months, Korea has been at the center of the COVID-19 challenge. The time is never right for complacency, yet preemptive and transparent quarantine measures, combined with the public's voluntary and democratic participation in such efforts, are bringing gradual stability.Since the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, my administration has

Mar 27, 2020By Do Je-hae
[FULL TEXT] President Moon Jae-in's remarks at G-20 summit
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Virus outbreak sparks concerns over 18-year-old voters' apathy toward April elections

A woman wearing a face mask passes by a poster about precautions against the new coronavirus in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday. For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. /AP-YonhapBy Kim Soo-yeonSEOUL (Yonhap) ― The coronavirus outbreak and the repeated postponement of the new school year have made it difficult for 18-year-old voters to receive election education at schools, spawning concerns about their apathy toward the April 15 polls.In South Korea, 18-year-old voters, or those born before April 16, 2002, will be able to cast their ballots in the upcoming parliamentary elections for the first time.In December 2019, the National Assembly passed an electoral reform bill that calls for lowering the voting age to 18 from 19 and adopting a new proportional representation system.Of 36 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

Mar 26, 2020By Kim Ji-soo
Virus outbreak sparks concerns over 18-year-old voters' apathy toward April elections
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