South Korea - The Korea Times

Founder quits minor party

Ahn Cheol-soo, a co-founder of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday, to announce that he will leave the party following a rift with current party leader Sohn Hak-kyu over how to reform the party. The software mogul-turned-politician, who returned to politics earlier this month, plans to create a new political party dedicated to pragmatic and centrist politics. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

Jan 29, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Korea, China coordinating response to virus epidemic

People buy face masks at a shop in Seoul, Tuesday. AP-YonhapBy Do Je-haeSeoul and Beijing are closely coordinating their responses to the spread of a new lethal coronavirus, with the heads of the countries' foreign affairs discussing measures regarding the evacuation of Korean nationals in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha called for Beijing's support for the evacuation of Koreans on a chartered plane, during a phone call with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi late Tuesday. “They exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, including the protection of South Koreans in China regarding the new coronavirus, necessary support for the Chinese side, and high-level exchanges between the leaders of Korea and China,” the ministry said in a statement.“Minister Kang requested China's continued cooperation for the safety of Korean residents there, including their repatriation. The Korean government will also provide the necessary supplies and other cooperation to China in the hope th

Jan 29, 2020By Do Je-hae

Korea, China coordinating response to virus epidemic

Journalist-turned-lawmaker appointed PM chief secretary

Kim Sung-sooBy Kang Seung-wooRep. Kim Sung-soo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has been named the chief of staff of the Prime Minister's Secretariat.Given that he cannot hold two positions simultaneously, the 63-year-old resigned his seat at the National Assembly, Wednesday. The first-term lawmaker, who won the seat as a proportional representative for the party four years ago, had already announced he would not seek a second term in the upcoming general election slated for April 15. According to the DPK, new Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun offered the position to Kim, hoping he could play a bridging role between the party and opposition parties, helping the government include opposition figures in the Cabinet, and Kim willingly accepted.“The prime minister appointed Kim as his chief of staff because Kim is a man with outstanding sense of balance and a reasonable personality,” an official of the Prime Minister's Secretariat said.“Due to the confirmation process, it is expected to take a month-and-a-half before Kim takes office.”A former reporter, K

Jan 29, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Journalist-turned-lawmaker appointed PM chief secretary

#MeToo brings down young politician of ruling party

Won Jong-gun speaks at a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. He was one of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's "hand-picked" new members for the April 15 general election. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoIntroducing a 27-year-old man as the latest member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) last month, Chairman Lee Hae-chan called him “the future” of the party.That future now looks bleak. On Monday, a former girlfriend of Won Jong-gun revealed photos of her legs covered in bruises, claiming they were “the evidence of his rape.” She also, in detail, accused him of sexually abusing her and forcing her to carry out a sexual act in front of a camera.“I'm not afraid of being sued for defamation, because everything I said here is an undeniable fact,” she wrote on a popular website. This made headlines within hours.The next day, Won, who had been widely promoted as the party's new representative for people in their 20s and 30s for the April 15 general election, announced that he will not seek his future in politics anymore. But he

Jan 29, 2020By Jung Min-ho

#MeToo brings down young politician of ruling party

Ruling party's approval rating lowest since Moon's inauguration: Gallup

Seoul to keep up momentum for China diplomacy

President Moon Jae-in hugs Chinese Ambassador Qiu Guohong at an aiport in Chengdu, China, in December 2019 before taking off to Seoul. Courtesy of Cheong Wa DaeBy Do Je-hae The spread of the coronavirus originating from Wuhan, China, has brought additional diplomatic challenges for Seoul. The “Wuhan virus” has aggravated the hostility toward China felt by some Koreans following China's criticisms of the encroachment on its national sovereignty with its opposition to the 2017 deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), a U.S. missile defense system deployed in Korea. Cheong Wa Dae's online petition site has been flooded with demands from Korean citizens to ban the entry of Chinese nationals after Seoul confirmed its fourth case of the coronavirus. As of Tuesday morning, more than 500,000 people supported a “temporary ban” on the entry of Chinese nationals. The presidential office has been hesitant to respond to the roaring calls for the ban, although they are supposed to respond to petitions with more than 200,000 supporters. Some of the supporte

Jan 28, 2020By Do Je-hae

Seoul to keep up momentum for China diplomacy

Running out of protective gear

In this Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 photo, ambulance crew members in protective gear get into their ambulance in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province. AP-YonhapBy Zhuang PinghuiChinese hospitals are running out of protective gear to handle the deadly coronavirus outbreak and many have appealed to the public for donations.With some factories shut down for the Lunar New Year break, hospitals ― including in major cities like Beijing and Guangzhou ― have put out the call for more supplies, even as authorities coordinate across the country to increase production to cope with the epidemic.More than 2,800 cases of the pneumonia-like virus have been confirmed on mainland China, with more than 80 deaths, since the outbreak began in Wuhan in December.In the capital on Monday, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, which specialises in cardiology, appealed to the public for protective supplies to “protect frontline medical personnel”. Beijing had reported 72 confirmed cases of the disease as of Sunday.The hospital said in a statement it needed supplies to help with prevention and control of the viru

Jan 28, 2020

Korean stocks plunge on coronavirus fears

Parties' '1st pledge' shows election strategies

Rep. Cho Jeong-sik of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea announces the party plans to provide free WiFi services to all people across the country by 2022, as the party's first pledge for the April 15 general election, at the National Assembly in Seoul, Jan. 15. / YonhapBy Kim RahnPolitical parties are coming up with campaign pledges ahead of the April 15 general election, and each party's “first promise” gives an indication as to their main priorities and their target demographics.The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has presented a “free WiFi for all” pledge, as a part of its focus on improving people's livelihood and welfare. The pledge is also targeting the younger generations in their 20s to 30s who use a large amount of mobile data.According to the promise, the party would work with the government to provide public WiFi at 53,000 locations across the country such as bus terminals, museums and traditional markets, by 2022. “We expect the public WiFi networks to help all people save on telecommunication fees,” Rep. Cho Jeong-sik, head of

Jan 25, 2020By Kim Rahn

Moon says no progress in nuclear talks with North Korea in 2019 'regrettable'

President Moon Jae-in on Jan. 22 gives a national address in hanbok at Cheong Wa Dae ahead of the country's Lunar New Year holiday called "Seollal." Courtesy of Cheong Wa DaePresident Moon Jae-in said Friday lack of progress in denuclearization talks between North Korea and the United States was the most regrettable thing for him last year, along with a slower-than-expected improvement in the living conditions of South Koreans.He especially mentioned the no-deal Hanoi summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-un during a phone interview with an SBS radio program."If there had been some headway in the North Korea-U.S. dialogue, (we) could have advanced peace on the Korean Peninsula and South-North cooperation," he said.He also cited separated families living on the other side of the border of the two Koreas, as he was speaking on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, called Seol in Korean. It's one of the biggest annual celebrations for Koreans.Moon recalled his mother who died in late October last year at the age of 92.Moon's mother fled North Korea dur

Jan 24, 2020

Moon says no progress in nuclear talks with North Korea in 2019 'regrettable'

Hormuz decision raises more questions

Members of civic groups hold a news conference in front of Cheong Wa Dae, Wednesday, to oppose the government's decision to send the Cheonghae unit to the Strait of Hormuz. YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooThe government’s decision to send a naval unit to the Strait of Hormuz still remains a contentious issue in political circles as critics claim it requires fresh approval.The defense ministry announced, Tuesday, it will temporarily expand the anti-piracy Cheonghae unit’s area of operations from the Gulf of Aden to the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf to ensure the safety of Korean ships there — although it will not join the U.S.-led International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC).According to the law, in order to send a military unit overseas, the government needs to submit a bill for approval to the National Assembly, and if the bill is passed, it should be endorsed at a Cabinet meeting again and finally receive approval from the president.Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) believes the decision does not require parliamentar

Jan 23, 2020By Kang Seung-woo

Gangnam launches new logo 'ME ME WE GANGNAM'

A shirt with the ME ME WE GANGNAM logo/ Courtesy of Gangnam-gu Office By Kim Se-jeong Gangnam District Office has recently launched a new logo, “ME ME WE GANGNAM.”According to the office, the three white, black and yellow shapes incorporated in the logo launched a week ago imply communication among one another and harmony.“The logo is important to identify a place and shows important values for the place. Good examples are 'I ♡ New York' or 'I am sterdam' and these were our inspirations,” said a district official. “The message we want to convey through this new logo is that Gangnam is a community where people respect each other and is a good place to live and visit.”The logos will decorate bus stop benches, garbage trucks and city guidebooks among others. The district said it will also use the logo on souvenirs such as T-shirts, hats, mugs and bags. Gangnam is the first district to make such an endeavor in Seoul. As Korea's most international district, Gangnam offic

Jan 23, 2020By Kim Se-jeong

Politics