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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.

Ruling camp musters big names for support in election

Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, second from right, and party leaders wave hands to travelers heading back home for the Lunar New Year holiday at Yongsan Station in central Seoul, Thursday. YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooThe Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is looking to its bigwigs to run in constituencies that the party sees as strategically important to outstrip its rival parties in the April 15 general election.The ruling party has so far asked former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon to run in central Seoul’s Jongno District, and ex-South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Doo-kwan to run in Yangsan-A — a provincial constituency.The party has also been requesting former presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok to re-consider his decision not to run in the elections. Some officials said Im should compete in the Gwangjin-B constituency where former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will seek a seat for the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP).On Thursday, Lee agreed to run in Jongno — the country’s most “sought-after” district — after stepping down as the prime mi

Jan 23, 2020By Yi Whan-woo
Ruling camp musters big names for support in election

Protest against Harris

Members of a civic group based in Busan hold a protest performance against U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris in front of the U.S. consulate at the city, Wednesday, calling on him to leave the country. The ambassador has been facing mounting protests here, especially from liberals, for his controversial remarks on President Moon Jae-in's plans to resume inter-Korean cooperation. / Yonhap

Jan 22, 2020

LKP leader proposes one-on-one meeting with President Moon

By Jung Da-min Liberty Korea Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn delivers a speech during his New Year's press conference at the party headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapMain opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) leader Hwang Kyo-ahn has proposed a one-on-one meeting with President Moon Jae-in to discuss major political and social issues.“To unify public opinion, I propose a one-on-one inter-party summit with the President,” Hwang said during his New Year's press conference at the party's headquarters in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Wednesday. “I have proposed such a meeting many times but there has been no response. I strongly urge the President to drop his attitude of avoiding communication with the opposition leader, an attitude which causes him to be criticized for ignoring other people.”Hwang strongly criticized Moon's message during the President's New Year's conference for lacking understanding of people's economic difficulties as well as people's concerns regarding the North Korean nuclear issue and the possible rift in the South Korea-U.S. alli

Jan 22, 2020
LKP leader proposes one-on-one meeting with President Moon

Jasmine Lee seeking Assembly seat as proportional representative

Jasmine Lee, the head of the minor progressive Justice Party's Special Committee on Human Rights for Immigrants, joins a campaign against Japan's wartime sex slavery in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Jan. 15. YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooJasmine Lee, after serving as then-conservative ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker from 2012 to 2016, will seek a National Assembly seat again ― this time as a proportional representative of the minor progressive Justice Party.Justice Party officials said Wednesday Lee signed up for its screening of proportional representation candidates for the April 15 general election. She joined the party last November after leaving the Liberty Korea Party (LKP), the rebranded Saenuri Party following the impeachment of its leader and then president, Park Geun-hye.“We've been told Lee is very likely to pass the screening and secure a slot in the candidate lineup,” a party official said on condition of anonymity.The high chance of Lee's passing the screening comes from the fact that party Chairwoman Sim Sang-jeung herself recruited Lee, a Philippine-b

Jan 22, 2020By Yi Whan-woo
Jasmine Lee seeking Assembly seat as proportional representative

Yugoslavia-born pianist Ivo Pogorelich vows to show evolving performance

Pianist Ivo PogorelichBy Park Ji-wonControversial Yugoslavia-born, Croatian pianist Ivo Pogorelich, 61, has returned to play for Korean audiences after a 15-year long hiatus, pledging to show how his performance has evolved through time by playing sonatas by Beethoven.“You could see my past and present at once. Those who are familiar with me and my music in the past will find out what has evolved over the years, and I hope that the younger audience who are unfamiliar with my name and playing will be able to see the various charms that my music world has,” Pogorelich said in a recent email interview with The Korea Times.The artist will play his favorite repertoire: Beethoven's piano sonata No. 11, Op. 22; Bach's English Suite No. 3, BWV 808; Chopin's 'Barcarolle' and prelude; and Ravel's “Gaspard de la Nuit” during his upcoming recital at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul, Feb. 19.Making his debut in 1981, Pogorelich, who last performed in Korea in 2005, has been avoiding the international limelight for many years for unknown reasons until recently, which many critic

Jan 22, 2020By Park Ji-won

Ahn Cheol-soo's 'pragmatic centrism' draws lukewarm responses

Former People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo answers reporters after paying tribute to late former presidents at the Seoul National Cemetery, Monday, officially resuming his political activities. Ahn arrived in Korea a day before after spending about 16 months studying abroad in Germany and the U.S. YonhapBy Jung Da-min Former People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo has returned to politics, declaring that he will pursue his own way as a “pragmatic centrist.” Although he was once a strong presidential candidate, expectations are mixed over whether he will be able to gain as much public attention and political power as before, especially because he has failed in almost all major events. He lost the presidential race; lost the Seoul mayoral election in 2018; and the merger of his liberal People's Party and conservative Bareun Party to create the Bareunmirae Party (BMP) has resulted in internal feuds and breakaways.Ahn returned to Korea, Sunday, after 16 months studying abroad. “I will create a party that will realize pragmatic and centrist ideologies free of the logic of po

Jan 22, 2020
Ahn Cheol-soo's 'pragmatic centrism' draws lukewarm responses

South Korea going into detail on individual tours to North Korea

Foreigners tour Pyongyang in this photo released, Jan. 17. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooSouth Korea is moving forward with its plan to allow individual tours to North Korea, coming up with a draft that it believes would not violate international sanctions. After President Moon Jae-in floated the idea in his New Year Press conference, Jan. 14, the unification ministry presented the measures, Monday, to move forward with the contentious plan, over which Seoul is at odds with WashingtonMoon proposed the individual tours to the North as part of efforts to expand cross-border exchanges.Concept of individual toursThe ministry unveiled three options regarding tours to the country and the most probable one is South Koreans purchasing tour programs run by a travel agency in a third country.In this case, after gathering tourists from the South, the travel agency will send the list to the South Korean government that will review whether to approve their visit to Pyongyang and other North Korean tourist spots such as Wonsan, Galma and Samjiyon.The government also proposed trips for families separate

Jan 21, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
South Korea going into detail on individual tours to North Korea
  • Gov't to provide support for over 500 North Korean defectors facing tough living conditions

President vows to complete overhaul of powerful agencies

President Moon Jae-in has lunch with officials at the Sejong government complex, Tuesday. YonhapBy Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in underlined the need to follow up on the recent passage of bills at the National Assembly aimed at reforming the prosecution and establishing a separate investigative body for dealing with crimes of ranking officials. “The establishment of the separate investigative agency and rearranging the investigative powers between the prosecution and the police have been sought after for more than 20 years,” Moon said during a Cabinet meeting at the Sejong Government Complex, Tuesday. “To follow up on the passage of the bills, the government's job is more important from now on. Many preparations are required to implement the bills and there is not much time left. We must ensure objectivity and political independence in pursuing the implementation.”The President instructed relevant government agencies to coordinate details of the reform plan and communicate closely about implementing the reform. The remarks were seen to indicate Moon's determi

Jan 21, 2020By Do Je-hae
President vows to complete overhaul of powerful agencies

Moon to prioritize tech innovation

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. YonhapBy Do Je-hae The government will prioritize nurturing innovative industries this year in line with President Moon Jae-in's policy to improve the country's readiness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.During this year's first regular meeting with senior presidential aides, Monday, Moon reiterated his support for high tech industries and startups and pushed for regulatory reform to expedite innovative growth. “We will revitalize the economy by exerting more effort to nurture new industries as future growth engines and expanding the trend for innovative startups,” he said.He noted the role of future technology in diversifying Korea's exports, which is one of the top pillars of the Korean economy. The President added he sees positive signs of the economy picking up.“One of the positive trends in our economy is the diversification of exports to include high value-added items such as 5G-related industries and secondary batteries. It is also positive that the export markets are being expanded t

Jan 20, 2020By Do Je-hae
Moon to prioritize tech innovation

Opposition leader sends jerky to Buddhist sector by mistake

Main opposition Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn, third from left, stands without having his hands together during an event at Eunhae Temple in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, May 12, 2019, Buddha's Birthday. YonhapBy Kim RahnThe main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) sent beef jerky to Buddhist leaders as Seollal presents but retrieved them later saying there was a mistake in delivery.According to the party and the Jogye Order, Monday, presents offered under LKP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn's name were delivered to the headquarters of the nation's largest Buddhist group last Friday ahead of the Seollal, or Lunar New Year holiday.The presents, presumed to have been purchased at department stores, were beef jerky sets.The recipients were embarrassed at the presents. One of the key Buddhist teachings suggests avoiding the consumption of meat out of respect for all sentient beings.Learning about the beef jerky delivery, the party sent staff to the Jogye headquarters later in the day and took back the presents. “The jerky was supposed to have been sent to other groups

Jan 20, 2020By Kim Rahn
Opposition leader sends jerky to Buddhist sector by mistake
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