South Korea - The Korea Times

A new momentum?

Presidential National Security Office (NSO) chief Chung Eui-yong, right, talks with the office's second deputy Kim Hyun-chong at the start of an event held in Cheong Wa Dae, Nov. 28. YonhapCheong Wa Dae mulls replacing top security lineup By Kim Yoo-chulAs inter-Korean relations have grown frosty, Cheong Wa Dae is considering reshuffling the presidential National Security Office (NSO).Officials at the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and former presidential aides told The Korea Times Monday that Cheong Wa Dae was “on track” to complete “some reshuffling” of the NSO by the end of this year with NSO chief Chung Eui-yong and other presidential aides at the top security office being put on the possible replacement list.The key rationale is that President Moon, his administration and the ruling DPK are asked to save the party from possible defeat in the elections next April. Since Moon took power in 2017, the former human rights lawyer has been vigorously pushing his “engagement-centric” North Korea policies by intentionally downplaying the signif

Dec 2, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul

Speaker's proposal raises doubts

Speaker's proposal contains some serious faults Protesters against Moon Hee-sang proposal YonhapBy Do Je-hae The prolonged Korea-Japan standoff is starting to cool after Cheong Wa Dae decided to delay its ending of a military-intelligence sharing pact with Japan.There has been some residual tit-for-tat between the two after Korea's surprise decision on the temporary maintenance of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). But the Moon administration is being cautious, not wanting to disrupt resuming negotiations with Japan, according to a senior diplomatic source. Both countries see the need to place priority on enabling a summit between President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later this month. To significantly improve bilateral ties, however, it would be necessary for both sides to come to some level of compromise on the wartime forced labor row ―- a key point of contention. Japan has consistently called on Korea to bring a resolution to the two countries' differences on the 2018 Supreme Court rulings on compensation for Korean victims of

Dec 1, 2019By Do Je-hae

Political wrangling heightened at LKP's filibuster attempts

Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Rep. Lee In-young speaks during a press conference, Sunday, held at the National Assembly to condemn the main opposition Liberty Korea Party's attempt to stage a filibuster to prevent the passing of contentious bills on electoral reform and launching a special investigative body against high-ranking officials' corruption. Korea Times photo by Ko Young-kwonBy Jung Da-min The stalemate in negotiations between the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) over two fast-tracked revision bills on electoral reform and a corruption investigation unit has put the passage of 199 other bills on hold.DPK floor leader Lee In-young said Sunday that the party will strengthen cooperation with four minor parties to solve the issue of passing the pending legislation. He strongly condemned the LKP's attempt to shut down the National Assembly by filing for a filibuster on the 199 bills scheduled for votes on at the plenary session. “The LKP's attempt to control the National Assembly by putting all 199 bills on t

Dec 1, 2019

Political wrangling heightened at LKP's filibuster attempts

Companies give National Assembly failing grade

Nation mixed on bill to ban convicted celebs

Jung Joon-young was sentenced to six years in prison by the Seoul Central District Court, Friday after being found guilty of multiple counts of rape and filming and sharing the crimes with other entertainers through a mobile chat service. / Korea Times fileBy Kim Hyun-binA possible revision of the Broadcasting Act that aims to ban celebrities with criminal records from TV screens or other entertainment activities is emerging as a hotly-debated issue here, drawing mixed responses. On July 25, Rep. Oh Young-hun of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) along with nine other lawmakers submitted a revision bill to the act stipulating that broadcast regulations should ban celebrities from appearing on TV programs, specifically those sentenced to prison terms for sexual crimes, driving under the influence (DUI), gambling or illegal drug use.“An increasing number of celebrities are getting involved in illegal acts such as drug use, sex crimes and illegal gambling so there needs to be a ban on these individuals as they have an influence on viewers. There should be restrictions when

Dec 1, 2019By Kim Hyun-bin

National Assembly at red light

A traffic light turns red in front of the National Assembly, Sunday. Tension among the political parties has heightened lately after the main opposition Liberty Korea Party's attempted to stage a filibuster, announced Nov. 29. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea boycotted the plenary session the same day. The stalemate has occurred because the two have not agreed on two fast-tracked bills on electoral reform and the setting up of a special investigative body to look into corruption among high-ranking officials. Korea Times photo by Ko Young-kwon

Dec 1, 2019

Lawmakers likely to raise own salaries again

The National Assembly building. / Korea Times file By Jhoo Dong-chanLawmakers are likely to raise their own salaries for next year despite there being nearly 200 bills still pending at the National Assembly. Last year, not only the ruling Democratic Party Korea but also the main opposition Liberty Party Korea approved a bill to increase their annual salaries by 1.8 percent.Their bipartisan efforts faced strong opposition from the public, but the National Assembly Secretariat, the legislature's administration body, said the salary rise was less than the average pay increase rate of ministers and vice ministers.Each South Korean lawmaker is receiving 151.76 million won ($128,610) for their 2019 annual salary. This includes nearly 50 million won in expenses for legislative activity, which is exempt from taxation.It is the 10th―highest among the world's law-making bodies. Rep.

Dec 1, 2019By Jhoo Dong-chan

Lawmakers likely to raise own salaries again

Ruling party vows 'strong, emergency action' to pass key bills at parliament

The ruling Democratic Party floor leader Lee In-young speaks during the party's meeting at the National Assembly, Saturday. YonhapThe ruling Democratic Party (DP) said Saturday it'll start taking "strong, emergency action" to have key bills passed at the parliament, in response to the main opposition party's threat to start a filibuster to block votes on them.DP Rep. Lee In-young, the party's floor leader, made the remark during a meeting of party leaders at the National Assembly, which followed an attempt by the Liberty Korea Party (LKP) on Friday to use a filibuster to prevent votes on fast-track bills on electoral reform and a corruption probe unit."I think we've reached the point where we can no longer try to reach a compromise," Lee said. "In order to preserve the National Assembly and democracy, we have no choice but to respond with resolute determination based on principle and forcibly suppress the LKP's attempt to block votes on the bills."Lee apologized to people who would rather see the return of dialogue and compromise in the parliament and added: "In response to the anti-

Nov 30, 2019

Ruling party vows 'strong, emergency action' to pass key bills at parliament

Japan offers apology over inapropriate actions: NSO chief

Chung Eui-yong, right, chief of the presidential National Security Office (NSO), speaks with NSO first deputy director Kim Yoo-geun during a meeting of the House Steering Committee at the National Assembly, Friday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonJapan issued an apology over alleged “inappropriate actions” it committed after South Korea's decision to conditionally renew the General Security of Military Information (GSOMIA), presidential National Security Office (NSO) chief Chung Eui-yong told lawmakers at the National Assembly, Friday.“Before and after the announcement of the GSOMIA extension on Nov. 22, Japan took several impropriate actions. So, the government issued a strong complaint. Later that night, Japan explained the situation and made an apology through diplomatic channels and reaffirmed the agreement remained in force,” Chung said during a meeting of the House Steering Committee.Chung's remarks came a few days after the NSO chief strongly condemned the Japanese government for its alleged involvement in intentionally leaking the relevant information regarding th

Nov 29, 2019By Park Ji-won

Japan offers apology over inapropriate actions: NSO chief

Moon to replace PM, name justice minister

A poster showing a photo of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and President Moon Jae-in is displayed as a gesture to wish for peace on the Korean Peninsula, in Seoul, in this Jan. 15, 2019, file photo,. AP-YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulPresident Moon Jae-in plans to replace his prime minister and name a new justice minister as part of a cabinet reshuffle ahead of the general election in April, according to a senior lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and sources inside Cheong Wa Dae, Friday. “The changes will be announced in the first week of December. At the repeated request of senior DPK members, current Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon offered his resignation to President Moon. The party wants Lee to handle the DPK's overall election strategy,” a senior official told The Korea Times, adding Moon is set to name Choo Mi-ae, a senior ruling party lawmaker and a long-time ally, as the new justice minister.When contacted, Cheong Wa Dae sources admitted “some necessary” preparatory work was underway for a Cabinet reshuffle. “We aren't ruling out the possi

Nov 29, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul

Moon to replace PM, name justice minister

Seoul will ask Beijing to end 'THAAD retaliation'

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, walks past South Korea's Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha during a plenary session at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Nagoya, Japan, Nov. 23. Reuters-YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulChinese State Councilor Wang Yi will pay a visit here next week to discuss pending issues with his counterpart Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, the foreign ministry said Thursday.“At the invitation of Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit South Korea for two days from Dec. 4,” an official ministry statement said.Kang will have “extensive discussions” with Wang on improvements in bilateral relations and other regional and international issues, according to the statement. “They are also set to share candid views on the Korean Peninsula.”Wang's Seoul visit comes 56 months after he attended a trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of South Korea, China and Japan and Tokyo in March 2015. The statement didn't elaborate on specific topics to be touched upon at the meeting, but it

Nov 28, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul

Politics