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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.

New NK test escalates tension on peninsula

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a latest media footage YonhapMoon, Trump talk over phone Saturday By Do Je-hae Tension is rising on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea reportedly conducted a “very important test” at a missile site. A statement by North Korea's Academy of National Defense Science issued Sunday said the test took place at the Sohae satellite launching grounds on Saturday afternoon. Although North Korean state media did not specify exactly what was tested, the report has fueled concerns of military tension ahead of North Korea's proposed “year-end” deadline for resuming nuclear negotiations. The U.S. has been keeping tight surveillance on North Korea lately, deploying the RC-135S Cobra Ball aircraft which tracks missile launches. “The Academy of the National Defense Science of the DPRK made a report on the successful result of the test of great significance to the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea,” said a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), referring to North Korea by its official nam

Dec 8, 2019By Do Je-hae
New NK test escalates tension on peninsula
  • Moon, Trump agree on need to maintain dialogue momentum over North Korea
  • N. Korea says it carried out 'very important test' at satellite launch site
  • Trump warns N. Korea not to interfere with his reelection bid

INTERVIEW Korea's anti-corruption efforts an inspiration for other Asian countries

Thomas Kalinowski, an associate professor at Ewha Womans University's Graduate School of International Studies. He recently had an interview with The Korea Times over the government's anti-corruption policies and international evaluations of them. Courtesy of Thomas KalinowskiBy Jung Da-min Anti-corruption is an important pillar for the Moon Jae-in government's policies. This is especially because Moon had won the 2017 presidential election under the slogan of “eradicating deep-rooted evils,” while also vowing to reform law enforcement agencies and eliminate long-running social ills that permeate everyday life. As Moon's tenure has recently passed the halfway point, however, critics say his administration has to set new key strategies to accurately diagnose and fight a “Korean model of corruption.” Looking at various international indices of corruption levels can help, and such indices that give comparisons between Korea and other countries include German nonpartisan think tank Bertelsmann Stiftung's Transformation Index (BTI) and their Sustainable Governance

Dec 8, 2019
[INTERVIEW] Korea's anti-corruption efforts an inspiration for other Asian countries

INTERVIEW 'More female leaders needed in disaster recovery'

Sachiko Asano, co-leader of Training Center for Gender & Disaster Risk Reduction headquartered in Tokyo, speaks during her lecture at Japan's Cabinet Office in Tokyo, Dec. 2. Korea Times photo by Park Ji-wonBy Park Ji-wonTOKYO ― A Japanese disaster response expert stressed the importance of empowering female members in local communities to take a leadership role in disaster recovery as it leads to preventing further damage and deaths.“I have been saying to local Japanese community leaders ― mostly men ― who are in charge of recovery operations for victims of natural disasters, that women, who actually carry out most care work for the victims, should become leaders to save more senior citizens, women and children. Otherwise, all lives will be in danger,” Sachiko Asano, co-leader of Training Center for Gender & Disaster Risk Reduction (GDRR), a nongovernmental organization aiming to promote disaster recovery response systems based on gender equality in Japan, told reporters from around the Asia-Pacific region at Japan's Cabinet Office in Tokyo, Dec. 2. She held a le

Dec 8, 2019By Park Ji-won
[INTERVIEW] 'More female leaders needed in disaster recovery'

New CEO vows to lead AIA Korea to 'new level of growth'

Peter ChungBy Lee Kyung-minAIA Korea has appointed Peter Chung, director of regional business development covering Thailand and Korea, as its new CEO, the company said Friday.Chung, who will replace outgoing CEO Cha Tae-jin, will take office on Jan. 1.“I am pleased to take over the role and I will focus on leading AIA Life Korea to a new level of growth and success through the continued execution of strategic priorities,” Chung told The Korea Times.The company said that Chung has a good understanding of the Korea insurance market, an expertise gained after having served as the chief strategy and marketing officer at AIA Korea from April 2016 to November 2017. He played a leading role in launching AIA Vitality in Korea and securing a key strategic partnership with SK, it added. “We are proud to have Peter leading our operations in Korea. With his passion and track record of success spanning over 25 years across life insurance, technology and consulting, I am confident Peter will help us scale our business here to next level of growth and success,” said Bill Lis

Dec 6, 2019By Lee Kyung-min
New CEO vows to lead AIA Korea to 'new level of growth'

Speaker's compensation proposal may draw lukewarm response

Members of a civic group opposing National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang's proposed bill on a possible compromise with Japan over the forced labor issue protest in front of the National Assembly on Yeouido in Seoul, Thursday. YonhapSeoul, Tokyo still at odds over historical issues By Jung Da-min National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang's proposal of a bill on a possible compromise deal to close a compensation issue on wartime forced labor has been questioned for its feasibility. The speaker's proposal includes compensation for surviving South Korean victims of forced labor during Japan's occupation of the Korean Peninsula, as well as the victims of Japan's sex slavery during the wartime era.Speaker Moon has been active in presenting various ideas that could end the “compensation issue.” The key takeaways of Moon's idea was a plan to collect “donations” from Japanese and South Korean businesses, and financial contributions from individuals from the two countries to provide funds.But with South Korean plaintiffs still demanding compensation and full apologies fr

Dec 6, 2019
Speaker's compensation proposal may draw lukewarm response
  • Speaker Moon's compromise deal faces strong backlash
  • Seoul, Tokyo seek 'exit strategy' over trade row

Lawmakers move to ban Tada's 'taxi business'

A National Assembly committee has passed a revision bill on outlawing the controversial taxi business of Tada, a Korean ride-hailing service operator. YonhapA National Assembly committee on Friday passed a revision bill on effectively outlawing the controversial taxi business of Tada, a South Korean ride-hailing service operator.The revision to the passenger transport service act, approved by the parliamentary transportation panel, restricts the outsourcing of drivers for the use of rental vans with 11-15 seats for tour purposes. Cars must be rented for at least six hours and users are required to possess boarding passes if vehicles are rented or returned at airports or seaports.If the bill is passed at the plenary session of the National Assembly and signed into law, it would drive Tada out of its current app-based business.If that happens, Value Creators & Company (VCNC), operator of the Tada service which is owned by the car-sharing firm SoCar, will be given one and a half years to exit the business or stay in the market with the acquisition of a taxi service platform license

Dec 6, 2019
Lawmakers move to ban Tada's 'taxi business'

Suspicion growing over Cheong Wa Dae's alleged election intervention

By Kim Jae-heunSong Byung-giSuspicion is growing that Cheong Wa Dae intervened in last year's local elections in Ulsan with those involved giving statements that differ from the explanation offered by the presidential office.In March last year, three months before the elections, the police launched an investigation into corruption allegations involving then Ulsan Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon's aides after receiving tip-off from the office of the presidential secretary for civil affairs. During the probe, Kim lost the election to Song Cheol-ho, a close friend of President Moon Jae-in. Later the aides were cleared of the allegations, and Kim claimed Cheong Wa Dae orchestrated the probe.As rumors spread and controversy arose over who gave the tip-off to the police, presidential spokesperson Ko Min-jung said, Wednesday, that a staffer at the civil affairs office received information about the alleged corruption involving Kim's aides, and then the staffer reported this to his boss Baek Won-woo, former presidential secretary for civil affairs.Ko added that Baek does not remember dealing with the cas

Dec 5, 2019By Kim Jae-heun
Suspicion growing over Cheong Wa Dae's alleged election intervention

Cheong Wa Dae hit for lax perception of election scandal

Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min, left, speaks during a session at the National Assembly on Nov. 29. YonhapBy Do Je-hae Cheong Wa Dae has been embroiled in widening allegations that its civil affairs office may have meddled in local elections last year  in Ulsan in favor of candidates from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).The allegations arose during the prosecution's ongoing investigation into controversial former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, who was the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs at the time of the local elections in April 2018. This is not the first time the presidential civil affairs office has become the center of controversy. The office under Cho's leadership came under fire last year for allegedly collecting intelligence on a wide range of government agencies and officials through the operation of a “special inspection team.” The allegation of “illegal spying” was widely seen as a harbinger of more trouble to come for Cheong Wa Dae's civil affairs office. The latest reports said the prosecution attempted a searc

Dec 5, 2019By Do Je-hae
Cheong Wa Dae hit for lax perception of election scandal

Moon picks justice minister

Justice minister nominee Choo Mi-ae, a lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, speaks with reporters at the National Assembly, Thursday. YonhapBy Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in has picked ruling party veteran Rep. Choo Mi-ae as his nominee for justice minister, Cheong Wa Dae announced Thursday.The post has been vacant since Moon's trusted aide Cho Kuk resigned Oct. 15, only 35 days after being appointed amid a widening corruption investigation into the former senior presidential aide for civic affairs. Choo's nomination comes after weeks of intense speculation about who would be Cho's successor, given the particular importance the President has placed on the post for his key policy goal of reforming the prosecution. “The justice minister nominee entered the law profession to safeguard the rights and interests of the underprivileged. During her time as a judge, she exerted every effort to make people-centered rulings,” presidential spokeswoman Ko Min-jung said during a press conference at Cheong Wa Dae. “After entering politics, she became the first woman

Dec 5, 2019By Do Je-hae

Moon meets with Chinese foreign minister

President Moon Jae-in meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. YonhapBy Jhoo Dong-chan, Do Je-haePresident Moon Jae-in expressed his eagerness to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting with China's top diplomat at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. “I would like to convey my special greetings to President Xi. It was regrettable that I was not able to meet him last month due to the cancellation of the APEC,” Moon said according to press pool reports. “Close dialogue and cooperation between the two countries will help stabilize security in Northeast Asia and overcome uncertainties in the global economy together. We look forward to deepening the dialogue and cooperation between the two countries during the Korea-China-Japan summit this month.”The presidential office has viewed Xi's visit as an opportunity to normalize bilateral relations that have deteriorated since the row over the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in Korea. Beijing's meddling in Korea's decision to deploy the system has be

Dec 5, 2019By Do Je-hae
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