South Korea - The Korea Times

Parties to clash on contested election constituencies

Two former prime ministers and 2022 presidential hopefuls_ Lee Nak-yon, left, of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), and Hwang Kyo-ahn, right, of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) _ will clash in the strategically-critical Jongno district in the April general election. / YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooAt least four constituencies in Seoul have emerged as hotly-contested districts in the April 15 parliamentary election, with potential presidential hopefuls and other high-profile figures ready to take on their respective opponents.The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) have confirmed their candidates in 37 of 49 constituencies across the nation’s capital as of Sunday.The four — Jongno, Gwangjin B, Dongjak B and Songpa B — are drawing more attention than the other 33. This is because their candidates, according to political sources, best represent the liberal and conservative sides of Korean politics and that voter sentiment there can influence the course of the campaign in Seoul.Dubbed as the country’s &ldq

Mar 15, 2020By Yi Whan-woo

Parties to clash on contested election constituencies

Moon declares Daegu region as special disaster zone

An empty market in Daegu, March 15 YonhapBy Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in designated Daegu and surrounding areas in North Gyeongsang Province as special disaster zones Sunday in order to facilitate quick and effective emergency assistance for the nation's largest COVID-19 hotspot. “President Moon approved the designation of Daegu-Gyeongbuk (North Gyeongsang) as a special disaster zone at 2: 10 p.m.,” said presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok in a statement. The designation enables residents in the affected area to receive stronger state-level monetary and administrative support, including tax benefits. This is the first time for Korea to implement this measure due to an infectious disease, not a natural disaster as in previous cases. The last time the Moon administration designated a special disaster zone was after a fire in April 2019 in Goseong, Gangwon Province, which spread to nearby cities including Sokcho, Inje, Donghae and Gangneung. Cheong Wa Dae's announcement of the designation ― recommended by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun at the request of Daegu Mayor Kwon Y

Mar 15, 2020By Do Je-hae

Moon declares Daegu region as special disaster zone

Quarantine for travelers from Europe strengthened

Moon declares virus-hit Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province as special disaster zones

DaeguPresident Moon Jae-in declared the southeastern city of Daegu and the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province as special disaster zones Sunday, paving the way for state support for the regions hit hard by the new coronavirus.The move came as nearly 90 percent of coronavirus cases were reported in Daegu, South Korea's fourth-largest city, and the surrounding province. Earlier, they were designated as "special management zones" over COVID-19 infections.Moon approved the declaration proposal after Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun's recommendation following a related government meeting, according to his office Cheong Wa Dae.The declaration of special disaster zones will allow the government to spend state money to support 50 percent of the expenditures needed for damage recovery. The move will also permit affected people to receive state support in livelihood costs and exemption in paying utility bills and public health insurance fees.It marked the first time that South Korea designated a certain area as a special disaster zone due to infectious disease, not natural disasters.South Korea

Mar 15, 2020

Moon declares virus-hit Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province as special disaster zones

Nomination committee head quits

Kim Hyong-o, head of the candidate nomination committee of the main opposition United Future Party, leaves the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday, after announcing he would resign from his post amid controversy over the committee's nominations. Some active lawmakers, who failed to win nominations for the April 15 general election, protested the committee's decisions, some of which were reversed by the party leadership. / Yonhap

Mar 13, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Ruling party to join progressive 'big tent'

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Lee Hae-chan speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. The DPK announced it will join a progressive coalition of civic groups and minor liberal parties to create a separate party to run for the proportional representation seats in the April 15 general election. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geunOpposition parties condemn DPK for creating 'quasi-satellite' party By Jung Da-min The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) announced Friday that it will join a progressive coalition of civic organizations and minor liberal parties to create a separate party in a bid to gain more proportional representation seats in the upcoming general election.The decision runs counter to the ruling party's initial stance that big parties should not set up “paper parties” under the revised electoral system which gives more proportional representation seats to minor parties. It said the decision was an inevitable response to the same tactic being used by the main opposition party.The DPK put the issue to a vote of 789,000

Mar 13, 2020

Ruling party to join progressive 'big tent'

At worst case, COVID may reach up to 20% of global population: expert

Former Korean singer Lee Ji-yeon, now living in the United States, wears a mask to protest discrimination against Asians following the coronavirus epidemic outbreak. The disease originated in Wuhan, China, but is spreading throughout the world, causing acts of racism against Asians in western countries. Now Europe is under siege and the U.S. has slammed its doors on Europeans for fear of contagion. Dr. Hakim Djaballah, a virology expert, tells The Korea Times that up to 20 percent of the global population may be infected in a worst case scenario. From Lee's Instagram account By Oh Young-jin Dr. Hakim Djaballah, former head of Pasteur Institute Korea, has shared his expertise with readers of The Korea Times since the global coronavirus epidemic began. In his latest interview, the New York-based scientist advises Korea to check whether recovered patients might still carry enough viral load to spread it to others. “A systematic follow-up and virus testing is critical t

Mar 13, 2020By Oh Young-jin

At worst case, COVID may reach up to 20% of global population: expert

Coronavirus: Can S. Korea be a model for virus-hit countries?

Workers wearing protective gears disinfect a subway car as a precaution against the new coronavirus in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday. AP-YonhapA rapid surge in coronavirus cases saw South Korea become one of the world's worst-affected countries outside China, but it has since cut infection rates significantly and has one of the lowest fatality rates anywhere.As of Wednesday, it had 7,755 confirmed cases ― the fourth-highest total in the world ― but only 60 deaths, well below the World Health Organisation's global average. What has South Korea done and can it set an example? AFP takes a look.How has South Korea handled the epidemic?Instead of taking the Chinese approach of locking down affected cities, South Korea has embraced a model of open information, public participation and widespread testing. Each confirmed coronavirus patient's contacts are traced and offered tests. The infected person's movements over the preceeding 14 days ― determined through credit card use, CCTV footage and mobile phone tracking ― are also posted on government websites, with text message alerts sent to pe

Mar 12, 2020

Coronavirus: Can S. Korea be a model for virus-hit countries?

Politicians rush to volunteer for street disinfection - in vain

Hwang Kyo-ahn, chairman of the United Future Party, disinfects a street in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on March 8. YonhapBy Do Je-hae Street disinfection has emerged as a common campaigning method for some politicians who are aiming to appeal to the public with their active contribution to the national fight against COVID-19 ahead of the April 15 general election. United Future Party (UFP) Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn has been volunteering to sterilize some parts of the Jongno District, specifically in the central Seoul constituency where he is running. Hwang, a former prime minister of the conservative Park Geun-hye administration, has been carrying around disinfection equipment during the morning and evening hours in Jongno. He has done this regularly since the virus began to raise serious public health concerns here Feb. 25, according to his election camp. His Facebook is plastered with photos of him disinfecting the streets of the district and mingling with residents there. “For a long time, our economy has been shaky, and the virus has dealt a fatal blow,” Hwang wrote in a recent po

Mar 12, 2020By Do Je-hae

Politicians rush to volunteer for street disinfection - in vain

Moon: 'Pandemic an unspeakable blow to Korean economy'

President Moon Jae-inPresident Moon Jae-in called on people not to lose hope in South Korea's battle against the new coronavirus Thursday as the U.N. health agency has declared the virus outbreak a pandemic."This cannot help being a big threat to us at a time when domestically we've contained the blaze of COVID-19 and sought to curb the further spread," Moon wrote on his social media. "(The global spread of the virus) could deal an unspeakable blow to the global economy and the Korean economy."The World Health Organization declared Wednesday that the virus crisis is now a pandemic as confirmed cases are swelling across the globe.Moon stressed what South Korea needs at this juncture is to harbor hope."We need the virus of 'hope' that will overwhelm COVID-19. We should also contain the virus of 'anxiety' that runs rampant like COVID-19," he said.Moon encouraged health officials and medical workers fighting the virus and also cautioned that the outbreak may take time to be fully contained. (Yonhap)

Mar 12, 2020

Moon: 'Pandemic an unspeakable blow to Korean economy'

INTERVIEW Pandemic to mar twin engines of economy

North Korean defectors create political party

Officials of the Unification Party of North and South Koreas, a new political party launched by North Korean defectors, cheer during an inauguration ceremony at the Federation of Korean Industries Tower in Seoul, March 6. Fourth from left is An Chan-il and fifth from left, Kim Seong-min, who were elected co-leaders of the party. Courtesy of the Unification Party of North and South KoreasNew party calls for consistent policy on defector issues This is the second in a series on minor parties with specific agendas that were newly launched to target proportional representation seats for the April 15 general election. ― ED.By Jung Da-minA chronic problem North Korean defectors face in terms of receiving institutional support or protection while struggling to settle in the South is that such social policies often lack consistency and are vulnerable to political shifts, according to defectors here. They say recent years have been a rough time for many defectors. Specifically, the case last year of a destitute defector mother and her son who apparently died from starvation shocked their

Mar 12, 2020

Politics

Politics

Parties to clash on contested election constituencies

Moon declares Daegu region as special disaster zone

Moon declares virus-hit Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province as special disaster zones

Nomination committee head quits

Ruling party to join progressive 'big tent'

At worst case, COVID may reach up to 20% of global population: expert

Coronavirus: Can S. Korea be a model for virus-hit countries?

Politicians rush to volunteer for street disinfection - in vain

Moon: 'Pandemic an unspeakable blow to Korean economy'

North Korean defectors create political party

Most Read in South Korea