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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.

Moon calls for 'better democracy,' alluding to prosecution reform

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a national ceremony to commemorate the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests of 1979 at Kyungnam University in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday.President Moon Jae-in stressed Wednesday that South Korean people are still eager for "better democracy" and urged "powerful government institutions" to care about the public's demands.He was attending a national ceremony to commemorate a historic incident in the annals of the country's democracy: the Busan-Masan Democratic Protests of 1979."Now, the people are calling for more democracy and better democracy," the president said in his speech at the ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the public uprising against the authoritarian rule of President Park Chung-hee.He added, "All powerful government institutions should bear the common sense in mind that they exist for the sake of the people, not for the sake of their organizations." "Our democracy has been developing and growing with no break. When democracy was in crisis, the people saved democracy with action," he said.His remarks came amid the

Oct 16, 2019
Moon calls for 'better democracy,' alluding to prosecution reform
  • Cho's departure may not be enough for turnaround

Parties clash over establishment of special probe unit for high-ranking officials

Rep. Lee In-young, center, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly, Tuesday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonThe ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said Tuesday it plans to push forward with plans to create an independent prosecution unit to investigate high-ranking government officials. The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) fiercely opposes the idea, claiming it is a move by the ruling bloc to extend its power.Stressing former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's announcement relating to the reform of the prosecution just a few hours before his resignation, Rep. Lee In-young, floor leader of the DPK, said, “The DPK will complete the prosecution reform no matter what.” “We will sincerely discuss it with other political parties who joined us in fast-tracking reform bills. We will collect views and opinions on pending bills including ones for the reform of the prosecution and electoral reform before seeking to implement legislation,” Lee said.The remarks came after LKP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn made it clea

Oct 15, 2019By Park Ji-won

Cho's departure may not be enough for turnaround

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with his senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. YonhapMoon focusing on jobs, economy to improve public sentimentBy Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in accepted former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's resignation after he served just 35 days in the post where he was in charge of the President's key policy goal of prosecution reform.But it remains unclear whether Cho's departure will help President Moon regain popularity amid declining public support for his administration since the ex-minister's nomination in early August. It is expected that Cheong Wa Dae will continue to be dogged by the aftermath of Cho's resignation, which came the same day the minister unveiled measures to overhaul the prosecution. Whether the President Moon will be able to maintain his move to reform the prosecution is another question. Since Moon nominated Cho in early August, Cheong Wa Dae equated him with “judiciary reform” and repeatedly underlined that he was the right person to lead the prosecutorial reform. The vacancy in the justice minister post has raised

Oct 15, 2019By Do Je-hae
Cho's departure may not be enough for turnaround
  • Moon calls for 'better democracy,' alluding to prosecution reform

Russia says talks underway for Putin's Seoul visit

South Korean National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang, left, shakes hands with Valentina Matviyenko, chairwoman of Russia's upper house Federal Council, during a meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, Oct. 14, after attending the 141st assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulA senior Russian politician said Tuesday talks were underway to make Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Seoul happen.“The South Korean government suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin visit Seoul. We're well aware of this. Talks are underway in Kremlin on the specifics of Putin's Seoul visit,” Valentina Matviyenko, chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council, was quoted as saying during her meeting with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang in Belgrade, Serbia.In June this year, President Moon asked Putin to visit Seoul “at the earliest possible date” during the South Korea-Russia summit on the sidelines of their participation in the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. Speaker Moon also asked the Russian politician to “persuade” North Korea to

Oct 15, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
Russia says talks underway for Putin's Seoul visit

Moon vows to push prosecution reform forward

President Moon Jae-in offers a public apology over the growing fuss on Justice Minister Cho Kuk's alleged involvement in financial crimes at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chul, Park Ji-wonPresident Moon Jae-in offered a public apology over the growing fuss relating to the deepening investigation into corruption allegations on Justice Minister Cho Kuk and his family.“I was hoping Minister Cho would lead the reform of the country's prosecutors' office, but this is looking unlikely. Consequently, I am very sorry for causing a lot of conflict among the public,” Moon said at the start of a meeting with senior presidential aides at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday, according to press pool reports.But President Moon asked his secretaries and relevant government agencies to move forward with plans for completing the reform of the country's prosecutors' office.President Moon had stood firmly and sternly by Cho, one of his top lieutenants, who he appointed 35 days ago despite strong resistance from opposition parties. But the growing controversy over Cho dented the popularity of Moo

Oct 14, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
Moon vows to push prosecution reform forward

Moon offers public apology over Cho Kuk scandal

President Moon Jae-in speaks at the start of his weekly meeting with senior Cheong Wa Dae adies, Monday. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in apologized publicly Monday for a huge social conflict over the issue of Justice Minister Cho Kuk, who has offered to resign."I am very sorry for, as a result, having caused a lot of conflicts," he said at the start of his weekly meeting with senior Cheong Wa Dae aides.The statement came an hour after the justice ministry's announcement of Cho's decision to step down.Moon said South Korean society has suffered a great deal of trouble from the Cho case.However, he added, it has served as a chance to raise public awareness of the urgent need for prosecution reform.Cho's resolve to reform the prosecution especially has created "big traction" for the reform drive, Moon added.He vowed to continue the campaign "to the last" despite Cho's resignation. (Yonhap)

Oct 14, 2019
Moon offers public apology over Cho Kuk scandal

Scandal-hit justice minister steps down

 By Jung Min-hoJustice Minister Cho Kuk stepped down on Monday amid an intensifying investigation into a corruption scandal involving him and his family members, which caused a sharp drop in President Moon Jae-in’s approval ratings.Cho announced his resignation at 2 p.m. in a statement, three hours after he revealed plans to reform the prosecution system.Since his appointment in September, hundreds of thousands of people have held street rallies in Seoul to protest -- or support -- the decision.Meanwhile, prosecutors have been investigating whether his wife forged a college presidential citation to help her daughter enroll in a medical school, among many other allegations.Under his leadership, the Ministry of Justice has pushed the reforms, including improving oversight of prosecutors’ investigations, barring overly prolonged or late interrogations and limiting investigations from spilling into other probes.Just three hours earlier, Cho held his second-ever press briefing as a justice minister on measures to reform the prosecution.Cho stressed the importance of refor

Oct 14, 2019By Jung Min-ho
Scandal-hit justice minister steps down

Justice minister pushes for prosecution reform

Justice Minister Cho Kuk announces a gist of the ministry's prosecution reform plan at Gwacheon Government Complex in Gyeonggi Province, Monday. YonhapJustice Minister Cho Kuk on Monday announced plans to put prosecution reform on the agenda at an upcoming Cabinet meeting, reaffirming his drive to reform the investigative agency that critics claim abuses its power for political reasons."South Korea's power come from the people. No power can stand above the people. An organizational culture that is for the people and that is people-centric should established at the prosecution," Cho told a press briefing at the Gwacheon Government Complex in southern Seoul. The measures aim at balancing out the prosecution's investigative power by leaving only three special investigative units that focus on corruption scandals involving high-ranking officials. The remaining units will use the name "anti-corruption investigative unit" instead of the current "special investigative unit."The current name, which has been used for around 46 years, has fostered the notion that the special investigative unit

Oct 14, 2019
Justice minister pushes for prosecution reform

Moon's approval rating hits new low amid 'Cho Kuk' setback, poll shows

President Moon Jae-in faces a dilemma over calls to dismiss Justice Minister Cho Kuk over a widening corruption scandal. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in's approval rating dropped again to its lowest level, a weekly survey showed Monday, amid a lingering public outcry over Justice Minister Cho Kuk, whose family is under a criminal investigation in a fraud and corruption scandal.According to Realmeter, the rating fell 3 percentage points on-week to 41.4 percent. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.2 percentage points.It marked the lowest in its weekly survey of public support for Moon since the president took office in May 2017. Commissioned by cable news channel YTN, Realmeter conducted a phone survey of 2,502 people nationwide, aged 19 or older, over four business days last week. No poll was conducted on Hangeul Day, a national holiday that fell on Wednesday.The proportion of people critical of Moon rose 3.8 percentage points to 56.1 percent from a week earlier.Realmeter pointed out that controversies over the justice minister remained a key political issue, as media continued to chur

Oct 14, 2019
Moon's approval rating hits new low amid 'Cho Kuk' setback, poll shows
  • Rallies held for and against Justice Minister Cho Kuk
  • Feminism, Meninism and Moon
  • Cheong Wa Dae, government, ruling party pledge to join hands for prosecution reform
  • Moon pledges efforts for national unity, harmony

Cheong Wa Dae, government, ruling party pledge to join hands for prosecution reform

Justice Minister Cho Kuk, sixth from left, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, seventh from left, ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Lee Hae-chan, sixth from right, Cheong Wa Dae chief policy secretary Kim Sang-jo, fourth from right, and senior officials of Cheong Wa Dae, the government and the DPK take a group photo before participating in a tripartite meeting between the three bodies to discuss ways to seek prosecution reform at the National Assembly, Sunday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonCheong Wa Dae, the government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) pledged to cooperate to seek prosecution reform, urging the National Assembly to pass relevant bills.Stressing that he will wrap up the prosecution reform, Justice Minister Cho Kuk said during a tripartite meeting at the National Assembly Sunday, “It is better not to begin the reform rather than doing it in a halfhearted way. I ask the DPK, the administration and the presidential office to join hands together and share wisdom.” Cho also added that he and the prosecution agreed to push for the revision of regul

Oct 13, 2019By Park Ji-won
Cheong Wa Dae, government, ruling party pledge to join hands for prosecution reform
  • Moon's approval rating hits new low amid 'Cho Kuk' setback, poll shows
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