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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.

DPK floor leader pledges to launch special counsel probe into martial law plan

Rep. Lee In-young, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a parliamentary speech at the National Assembly, Monday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonRep. Lee In-young, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) pledged Monday to push for the launch of a special counsel investigation to look into the former administration's alleged move to enforce martial law to crack down on protestors opposing the Park Geun-hye administration, and allegations that Hwang Kyo-ahn, chairman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) was involved in the scheme.“The DPK will use every possible measure to make a historical judgment about [the alleged martial law plan] by holding a parliamentary hearing at the National Defense Committee or launching a special counsel investigation,” Lee said during a parliamentary speech at the National Assembly, Monday. Stressing that it will be a threat to democracy if the martial law plan is real, Lee also urged the government to find facts on the document related to the plan released by a human rights organization recent

Oct 28, 2019By Park Ji-won
DPK floor leader pledges to launch special counsel probe into martial law plan

S. Korea proposes inter-Korean talks over removal of Mount Geumgang facilities

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects Mount Geumgang with his wife Ri Sol-ju in this photo released by the North's state-run Korean Central Television on Aug. 23. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungSouth Korea proposed to hold working-level talks with North Korea after Pyongyang notified Seoul of its decision to discuss the fate of South Korean-built structures and facilities on Mount Geumgang, Seoul's Ministry of Unification said Monday.A few days ago, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered his staff to remove all South Korean facilities from a resort on Mount Geumgang in North Korea.“The unilateral action on South Korean property goes against the public sentiment and may tarnish inter-Korean relations, so it is necessary for the relevant authorities of the two countries to have a candid consultation and resolve the issue in a reasonable manner,” the ministry said in a statement.Tourism to the mountain was suspended in 2008 after a South Korean female tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier. “Details, such as the location, timeline and schedule over the (possible) w

Oct 28, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
S. Korea proposes inter-Korean talks over removal of Mount Geumgang facilities

Moon plans to hold bilateral meetings at APEC

In this July 11 file photo, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs David Stilwell arrives at Narita International Airport outside of Tokyo. AP-YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulPreparatory works are underway for President Moon Jae-in to hold summits with “important counterparts” on the sidelines of his participation at next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering in Chile, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.In a briefing, Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Ko Min-jung confirmed the South Korean leader will attend this year's gathering. “From Nov. 15 to 17, President Moon will visit Santiago, Chile, as the President will participate in this year's APEC meeting,” Ko told reporters.“In the meantime, preparatory works are underway for President Moon to hold several bilateral summits with leaders of important allied nations,” the presidential said in the briefing without elaborating further.Key highlights of Moon's summits in Chile are expected to include face-to-face meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President

Oct 28, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
Moon plans to hold bilateral meetings at APEC

Lee becomes Korea's longest-serving PM in 30 years

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon delivers a congratulatory speech at the naming ceremony of New Zealand's brand new auxiliary vessel HMNZS “Aotearoa,” which is the indigenous Maori name of the country, held at Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in Ulsan, Oct. 25, attended by officials from South Korea and New Zealand. YonhapBy Jung Da-min Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon has become the longest-serving prime minister of South Korea's since 1988, Monday.This marked the 881st day of his term, after he took office on May 31, 2017, surpassing Kim Hwang-sik, who served as prime minister between 2010 and 2013 during the Lee Myung-bak administration. “The honor is more than I deserve,” Lee said on the way to his office. “Some economic figures have improved but there are still people suffering economic difficulties. … The Moon Jae-in administration will make efforts to come closer to those in need, those in the lower class.”One thing being closely watched is whether Lee will run for a National Assembly seat in the April general election on the ruling Democratic P

Oct 28, 2019
Lee becomes Korea's longest-serving PM in 30 years

Spread of African swine fever becomes political issue

Rep. Lee In-young, second from left, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), speaks during a meeting of the party's supreme council at the National Assembly, Oct. 14. YonhapBy Jung Da-min With South Korea reporting 14 confirmed cases of African swine fever (ASF) at pig farms ― all in areas bordering North Korea ― speculation that wild boars from the North were the cause of the spread has gained further public support. Some people have claimed that the pigs could have crossed the border either through water or ground routes. South Korea's first outbreak of the highly contagious disease which is fatal to pigs was in mid-September, several months after the North reported an outbreak around mid-June. Lawmakers including the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) floor leader Rep. Lee In-young called on North Korea to cooperate in efforts to prevent the spread of ASF. “We need to cooperate with North Korea for more fundamental and extensive preventive measures against the spread of ASF,” Lee said during a meeting of the DPK supreme council at the National A

Oct 27, 2019
Spread of African swine fever becomes political issue

Rallies continue in Seoul over prosecutorial reform

Protesters hold up national flags and yellow balloons at a rally calling for prosecutorial reform next to Yeouido Park, Seoul, Saturday. / YonhapConservatives stage opposing demonstrationsBy Lee Suh-yoon People calling for prosecutorial reform blanketed roads next to Yeouido Park in Seoul, Saturday, days after the prosecutors' office arrested the wife of controversial former Justice Minister Cho Kuk over various corruption allegations. This rally, the 11th of its kind, was held even after the short-lived former minister announced a set of reform measures to limit prosecutors' powers to investigate and indict and the Cabinet approved the plan. The first nine rallies took place on the doorsteps of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul. Since last weekend, the crowds have moved in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, calling on lawmakers to pass the relevant reform bills. Protesters chanted slogans like “Let's complete prosecutorial reform” and “the National Assembly should respond.” One of their key demands was the creation of a

Oct 27, 2019
Rallies continue in Seoul over prosecutorial reform

'Abe is out of touch with international legal norms'

A poster with an image of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to denounce Japan's trade restrictions is seen on a street in Seoul, Oct. 24, 2019. AP-YonhapBy Do Je-haeKorea and Japan have been locked in a historical battle over 2018 Supreme Court rulings here which ordered Japanese firms to compensate Korean victims forced to work for them during Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the peninsula. Due to Tokyo's rigid position, claiming that the ruling was a breach of international law, the two sides have not been able to engage in meaningful negotiations for a compromise. In June, Seoul proposed the so-called 1+1 plan to establish a joint fund by Korean and Japanese firms for the victims, which was rejected by Tokyo. Cheong Wa Dae has continued to stress that it will seek a resolution that is acceptable to the victims as well as the Korean public, but in reality, their voices have not been duly reflected in negotiations. Alexis Dudden, professor of history at University of Connecticut, stressed that both parties need to listen to the victims while they are still alive in a recent writt

Oct 27, 2019By Do Je-hae
'Abe is out of touch with international legal norms'

'Mount Geumgang tourism doesn't violate UN sanctions': Moon

President Moon Jae-in, fifth from left, delivers his opening speech at the start of a dinner meeting with Cheong Wa Dae press corps held in Nokjiwon at the presidential office, Friday. YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chul, Do Je-haeReopening Mount Geumgang tourism doesn't violate sanctions, President Moon Jae-in said Friday, adding his administration would pursue a new approach to make the joint inter-Korean project happen.“Regarding the Mount Geumgang tourism project, tourism itself doesn't violate the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions. But what matters is that the transfer of payment is something that would violate the economic sanctions,” President Moon said at the start of a dinner meeting with Cheong Wa Dae press corps held in Nokjiwon at the presidential office, according to press pool reports.Moon said the South Korean government would pursue a “new way” for an early resumption of the inter-Korean tour program. “Because of the ongoing UNSC sanctions, it's difficult to push forward with existing methods,” Moon said. Regarding the specifics of

Oct 25, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
'Mount Geumgang tourism doesn't violate UN sanctions': Moon

Moon orders measures to promote fairness in college admissions

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with education-related ministers at the central government complex in Seoul, Friday. YonhapBy Do Je-haePresident Moon Jae-in convened a meeting with ministers in charge of education, Friday, to order an overhaul of the university admissions system at the central government complex in Gwanghwamun. It was the first time for Moon to preside over a meeting specifically on education since he took office in May 2017. The meeting, which was not included in the regular announcement of the President's weekly schedule last week, seems to have been arranged urgently after Moon's remarks on the issue at the National Assembly earlier this week raised some confusion among those in the education sector, as well as parents and students.“The people are desperately calling for the promotion of fairness in education. The government should take this to heart as our education system is facing a crisis from a lack of public trust. More people are feeling hopeless, believing that education has become a means to inherit one's parents' socioeconomic status,

Oct 25, 2019By Do Je-hae
Moon orders measures to promote fairness in college admissions

Judicial proceedings open for Cho's cousin

Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's cousin is brought to a detention center after facing the prosecution's questioning at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, on Oct. 16. YonhapBy Kim Jae-heunThe Seoul Central District Court, Friday, held judicial proceedings to look into corruption allegations against former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's relative Cho Beom-dong, a person of interest in the scandal that involves the Cho family's suspicious investment in a private equity fund (PEF).It was held in preparation for a trial for the ex-minister's cousin, who is currently facing various charges including violation of the economic crime law. Cho Beom-dong has allegedly manipulated the stock price and embezzled the money of a company called Co-Link Private Equity. He did not appear at court as he was not required to do so. This is the second time the court held judicial proceedings for Cho Kuk's relatives. A pre-trial hearing for Chung Kyung-sim, wife of the former justice minister, was held last week Friday over charges of forgery of a private document.The cousin is said to be the d

Oct 25, 2019By Kim Jae-heun
Judicial proceedings open for Cho's cousin
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