my timesThe Korea Times
South Korea

Politics

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
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.

Moon still positive about US-North Korea talks

South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaks during his New Year press conference at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020. AP-YonhapSouth Korean leader hints at seeking exemption from US sanctionsBy Do Je-haePresident Moon Jae-in said during a New Year press conference at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday, that he remains positive about the U.S.-North Korea denuclearization talks as the leaders of the two countries are still open for dialogue.The South Korean leader also cited the need to apply for a partial exemption to U.N. sanctions for more engagement with North Korea and to move the U.S.-North Korea negotiations forward. Despite the deadlock between Pyongyang and Washington, Moon stressed a positive outlook, defying the mounting concerns that the past two years of talks between the two foes in the Korean War will ultimately fail to end North Korea's nuclear programs. “Regarding the South-North or North Korea-U.S. talks, it is neither time to be optimistic or pessimistic,” Moons said. He acknowledged the controversy regarding U.S. President Dona

Jan 14, 2020By Do Je-hae
Moon still positive about US-North Korea talks
  • Moon calls for talks with Japan over forced labor issue
  • Gov't to introduce 'much stronger' real estate regulations
  • Moon vows to speed up prosecution reform

Seoul City to hike fees for Gwanghwamun Square to curb rallies

Right-wing groups gather for a rally against President Moon Jae-in at Gwanghwamun Square, Jan. 11. / Yonhap By Lee Suh-yoon Rally organizers will have to start pay three times more than the usual fees to book Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square for street protests, according to a pending proposal that is being considered by the city government. Currently, the city charges 40,000 won ($35) an hour for the 4000 square meter pedestrian space at the square ― 10 won per square meter. If the revision is passed through a citizen committee, the hourly fee will rise to 30 won per square meter, or 120,000 won per hour for the whole square. The increase could be adjusted in the committee discussions. Our Republican Party, a far-right political group, recently had to pay 18,000 won a day for tents occupying around 54 square meters. According to the new proposed rules, they would have to pay 143,000 won.The penalty for occupying the square without booking with the city government in adva

Jan 14, 2020
Seoul City to hike fees for Gwanghwamun Square to curb rallies

Moon calls for talks with Japan over forced labor issue

Reporters raise their hands to get a chance to ask a question of President Moon Jae-in during his New Year press conference at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. YonhapBy Jung Da-min President Moon Jae-in has said Seoul and Tokyo should work together to solve the thorny issues between them, including the issue of compensation for wartime forced laborers.In the New Year's press conference at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday, Moon talked about the series of tit-for-tat moves between Seoul and Tokyo: The Korean top court's 2018 ruling that ordered Japanese firms to compensate Korean victims for their forced labor during the Japanese colonial period; Japan's trade restrictions to Korea in a retaliatory move; Seoul's filing of a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Tokyo over the trade issue; and Seoul's consideration of terminating the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with Japan.“But I believe, other than those issues, the Seoul-Tokyo relations are in a good state. Seoul and Tokyo are committed to developing future-oriented bilateral relations considering

Jan 14, 2020
Moon calls for talks with Japan over forced labor issue
  • Moon still positive about US-North Korea talks

Moon urges prosecution's self-reform, saying it's still too powerful

President Moon Jae-in attends the New Year's press conference at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in said Tuesday the state prosecution is still powerful despite a set of administrative and legislative measures to reform the organization.He called for Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl to push for "self-reform" while speaking at his New Year's press conference at Cheong Wa Dae.Moon avoided a direct answer when asked if he has "confidence" in Yoon. He instead said, "I think he has already gained trust from the people in such aspects of strict probes and investigation not submissive to power." When used in the context of prosecution-related issues, the word "power" usually means the presidential office.If Yoon takes the initiative in reforming "the culture" of his organization, he would receive more public trust, Moon said.He stressed that his administration's prosecution reform drive is not related to ongoing investigations into high-profile scandals involving former and sitting Cheong Wa Dae officials.The recent replacement of several senior prosecutors close

Jan 14, 2020
Moon urges prosecution's self-reform, saying it's still too powerful
  • Moon says expanding inter-Korean projects could help ease international sanctions

Moon says expanding inter-Korean projects could help ease international sanctions

President Moon Jae-in attends the New Year's press conference at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in stressed the need Tuesday to expand inter-Korean cooperation, saying it could be conducive to drumming up international support for sanctions relief for the communist neighbor.Speaking at his New Year's press conference, he made it clear that South Korea will not sit idle waiting for Pyongyang-Washington dialogue to bear fruit."If (we) broaden cooperative ties between South and North to the maximum, it would not only facilitate North Korea-U.S. dialogue but also help win international support in connection with some exemptions or exceptions to sanctions on North Korea," the president said. If Pyongyang takes "substantive" denuclearization measures, the international community should take corresponding steps including sanctions relief, he added.Both the U.S. and North Korea have an agreement on this, but at issue is the scope of sanctions to be eased or lifted and the preconditions for that, according to the president.He said his administration's push for

Jan 14, 2020
Moon says expanding inter-Korean projects could help ease international sanctions
  • Moon urges prosecution's self-reform, saying it's still too powerful

'Prosecution should participate in reform'

Lee Seong-yun, the newly appointed chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, delivers a speech during his inauguration ceremony at its headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Monday. Lee, a close aide to President Moon Jae-in, called on the prosecution to participate in the reform led by the President, while refraining from exercising its “authority.” There is speculation that his inauguration may hinder the ongoing investigation into corruption allegations involving presidential aides. Yonhap

Jan 13, 2020
'Prosecution should participate in reform'
  • Cheong Wa Dae, prosecution have head-on collision

Cheong Wa Dae, prosecution have head-on collision

Flags of the Republic of Korea and the Prosecution Service wave at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Sunday. YonhapBy Jung Da-min Tensions between Cheong Wa Dae and the prosecution are escalating without any sign of compromise, as each side passes the bucks over issues such as the prosecution's investigation into corruption scandals involving presidential aides and the justice ministry's reassignment of senior prosecutors.The head-on clash reached a peak Sunday when Cheong Wa Dae blasted the prosecution for trying to “illegally” search one of the presidential office's divisions ― prosecutors refuted this, stating they were following due process.On Friday, investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office visited Cheong Wa Dae to seize material related to allegations that the presidential office meddled in the 2018 Ulsan mayoral election to help then-ruling party candidate Song Cheol-ho, a close aide to President Moon Jae-in, win.As Cheong Wa Dae is a national security facility, investigators are not allowed to go into the

Jan 13, 2020
Cheong Wa Dae, prosecution have head-on collision
  • Parties show mixed response to prosecution reshuffle
  • 'Prosecution should participate in reform'

Justice minister slammed by senior prosecutor in open letter

Reporters surround Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on her way to her office at the ministry building in Gwacheon, Monday. / YonhapBy Lee Suh-yoonJustice Minister Choo Mi-ae was openly criticized Monday by an incumbent senior prosecutor for her recent reshuffling of top prosecutors. Jung Hee-do, a senior prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul, posted an open letter on the prosecution's intranet bulletin board denouncing Choo, calling the reassignments an attempt to make the prosecution subservient to the Moon administration's demands. “The Jan. 18 reshuffling of senior prosecutors was shocking,” he wrote. “This personnel reshuffling targets the lead investigators of specific cases, turning the prosecutor general into a mere scarecrow.”Jung added that the new assignments also did not take into account “legal procedures,” saying Choo did not take sufficient measures to get Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's opinion before announcing her decision last week. According to Article 34 of the Prosecutors' Office Law, justice ministers must list

Jan 13, 2020
Justice minister slammed by senior prosecutor in open letter

Parties trying to woo young voters

New members of the minor opposition Justice Party, who are 18 years old, hold a performance calling for legislation for young people, at the National Assembly, Seoul, Jan. 7. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geunBy Kim RahnThe political parties are coming up with strategies to woo young voters in the April 15 general election. The focus on young voters intensified after a recent law revision lowered the voting age from 19 to 18, allowing 520,000 new voters to cast their ballots to select members of the National Assembly in the upcoming election.The minor progressive Justice Party announced a set of pledges targeting 18-year-olds, Jan. 7.The party said it will seek to lower the voting age further to 16 and the age of eligibility to run in an election from the current 25 to 18; to set up a law protecting students’ human rights; to provide college students with interest-free loans for tuition; to increase conscripts’ monthly salary to 1 million won ($861); and to offer a 200,000 won monthly housing allowance to people aged between 19 and 29 who live alone and make below the ave

Jan 13, 2020By Kim Rahn
Parties trying to woo young voters

Seoul to launch electronic travel authorization for foreign visitors

Chinese tourists arrive at Incheon Airport. YonhapSouth Korea plans to launch an electronic travel authorization (ETA) system for foreign visitors next year, following the approval of a relevant law early this week by the National Assembly, the Ministry of Justice said Saturday.At a plenary session Thursday, the Assembly a revision to the Immigration Law on the introduction of the ETA system to help facilitate the entry of overseas tourists and prevent illegal stays by foreigners, the ministry said.Under the revision, citizens from visa-waiver countries will be allowed to obtain an ETA online before traveling to South Korea. Those with a valid ETA will be exempted from submitting a disembarkation card and can easily enter the country through ETA-only counters at airports.The ministry said it plans to implement the ETA system next year after completing the development of relevant systems.The ministry also said it has steadily increased the number of visa-waiver countries to boost inbound travelers and human exchanges with foreign countries. Thanks to such efforts, the ratio of visa-ex

Jan 11, 2020
Seoul to launch electronic travel authorization for foreign visitors
previous page
834835836837838
next page

Most Read in South Korea