South Korea - The Korea Times

Main opposition, leftist parties win seat apiece in parliamentary by-elections

Rep. Jeong Jeom-sig of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, second from right, celebrates at his election campaign office in Tongyeong's Buksin-dong area in South Gyeongsang Province after claiming a parliamentary seat representing Tongyeong-Goseong in Wednesday's bi-elections, April 3. YonhapThe main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and the leftist Justice Party each won one parliamentary seat in Wednesday's by-elections, in what could be a barometer of public sentiment ahead of next year's general elections. The elections were held to pick two lawmakers and three local councilors in three provinces, including South Gyeongsang Province in the country's southeastern region.Voter turnout for the by-elections as a whole reached 48 percent, according to the election watchdog. The turnout for parliamentary elections came to 51.2 percent.The elections were seen as a litmus test of voter sentiment ahead of the nationwide parliamentary elections slated for April 2020.The main focus was placed on two parliamentary seats up for grabs in districts of South Gyeongsang Province ― the ind

Apr 4, 2019

Main opposition, leftist parties win seat apiece in parliamentary by-elections

By-elections a wake-up call for Moon, ruling party

'Jim Rogers can be used to restart inter-Korean projects'

By Kim Yoo-chulFrom the beginning of his presidency, President Moon Jae-in has consistently embraced the use of “engagement-driven” rapprochement to improve inter-Korean relations with a promise to achieve North Korea's complete denuclearization.As a backdoor approach, President Moon should utilize Singapore-based American investor Jim Rogers to help North Korean leader Kim Jong-un introduce a market economy, according to a former top aide of the late Hyundai Group Founder Chung Joo-young.J.W. Park, a special assistant to the late Hyundai Founder Chung Joo-young and a chairman of Maytech Consulting Group, speaks during a recent interview. Korea Times photo by Kim Yoo-chul“It doesn't matter where Jim Rogers starts in North Korea. But what matters is earning profits from investments in the North. There are lots of large uncertainties remaining for businesses. But if Rogers has success as a foreign investor, that will not only motivate potential foreign investors but also have an impact on lowering the risk of overplaying inter-Korean rapprochement,” J.W. Park sa

Apr 3, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul

'Jim Rogers can be used to restart inter-Korean projects'

Moon seeks advice to boost economy

President Moon Jae-in holds a meeting with former senior economic officials at Cheong Wa Dae, Wednesday. The meeting was arranged to seek advice on how to boost the economy, the presidential office said. Participants included Jeon Yun-churl, former chief of the Board of Audit and Inspection, former Bank of Korea Governor Kim Choong-soo, former Fair Trade Commission chief Kang Chul-kyu and former BOK Governor Park Seung. YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulPresident Moon Jae-in met with former senior economic officials to explore the best possible ways to revive the local economy amid growing worries over the South Korean economy losing steam, which has bred fear of a possible downturn.Cheong Wa Dae said President Moon's Wednesday meeting with them was intended to collect views for identifying and addressing forthcoming opportunities, threats and challenges to the local economy.Eight former senior government officials and economic experts including former Prime Minister Chung Un-chan and former Bank of Korea (BOK) Governors Park Seung and Kim Choong-soo, attended the luncheon at the presidential off

Apr 3, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul

Defense minister awarded US decoration for promoting peace

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo stands to attention after receiving the Legion of Merit, a top U.S. government decoration given to foreign military personnel, from his former counterpart, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, at the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Ministry of National DefenseBy Park Ji-wonSouth Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo has received a top U.S. military award for strengthening the alliance between the countries and promoting peace while working as chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the defense ministry said Wednesday.U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, who served as Jeong's counterpart, conferred the Legion of Merit, an award given to foreign military officials with exceptionally meritorious conduct, on Jeong in Washington D.C., Tuesday. The U.S. military commended Jeong for his role in cementing the relationship between South Korea and the U.S. and promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to the ministry.Dunford praised Jeong for his close cooperation with the U

Apr 3, 2019By Park Ji-won

Defense minister awarded US decoration for promoting peace

Gov't steps up preparation for video reunions of separated families

Officials prepare for video reunions of families separated in the 1950-53 Korean War, at the Korean Red Cross headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyung, Joint Press CorpsThe government is speeding up preliminary works for the video reunions of families separated during the 1950-53 Korean War, starting repairs and maintenance on designated venues for the event.The Ministry of Unification started work Wednesday on 13 reunion venues across the country. It will be completed by the end of this month, the ministry said.Work includes replacing and repairing some outdated telecommunications devices here, as the two Koreas have not had video family reunions since November 2007.“We are unable to use network, telecommunication and video devices of the past, so it is necessary for us to carry out the overall renovation,” Jung Jae-eun, chief of the Korean Red Cross' inter-Korean affairs office, said.He said it has not been decided whether North Korea will use the same network equipment for the event.“The two sides need more contact for working-level negotiations a

Apr 3, 2019By Lee Min-hyung

Gov't steps up preparation for video reunions of separated families

South Korean vessel investigated for transferring oil to North

Seen above is a South Korean vessel suspected of illegally transferring oil to a North Korean ship in 2017. YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungThe prosecution is investigating a South Korean vessel that was allegedly used to violate United Nations sanctions imposed on North Korea.The ship is being detained in Busan as its crew is suspected of transferring oil to a North Korean tanker in 2017, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wednesday.The ministry said it impounded the vessel last October to look for evidence to prove that it was involved in the illegal activity.The 7,850-ton tanker was built in 2000 and it is suspected of having been involved in the illegal transfer in the latter half of 2017.If investigators confirm the allegations, chances are the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) may list the vessel for breaching the international sanctions imposed on the North.The foreign ministry said it is continuing to inform the council and the United States on the progress of the investigation into the crew of the vessel.“Relevant authorities are carrying out investigations into the crew o

Apr 3, 2019By Lee Min-hyung

South Korean vessel investigated for transferring oil to North

Korean voters go to polls for by-elections

Minor opposition Bareunmirae Party Rep. Lee Jae-hwan, a candidate for Wedneday's bi-election, receives a ballot at voting staion No. 9 set up at a senior citizens' community center in an apartments village in Changwon's Seongsan-gu district in South Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. YonhapSouth Koreans began to vote Wednesday in by-elections that could be a barometer of public sentiment ahead of next year's general elections.Up for grabs are two parliamentary seats in South Gyeongsang Province in the country's southeastern region and three local councilor posts in South Jeolla Province and North Gyeongsang Province.Voting kicked off at 6 a.m. and is to run until 8 p.m. at 151 polling stations, according to the National Election Commission (NEC).The turnout for early voting on Friday and Saturday reached 14.37 percent. For the parliamentary elections, the turnout for advance voting came to 14.71 percent.The main focus is on who will fill the two parliamentary seats in the southeastern province, a manufacturing hub for the auto and shipbuilding industries that is bearing the brunt of the

Apr 3, 2019

Korean voters go to polls for by-elections

Moon to appoint disputed minister nominees

Rep. Hwang Ju-hong, chairman of the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, holds the gavel after the committee adopted the hearing report on oceans minister nominee Moon Seong-hyeok at the National Assembly, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Park Ji-wonPresident Moon Jae-in is expected to proceed with the appointment of three minister nominees opposed by conservative parties before leaving for the U.S. on April 10 for his summit with President Donald Trump. Moon asked the National Assembly to adopt confirmation hearing reports for the three by April 7 ― a procedure to get the Assembly's opinions on nominees for Cabinet posts. Conservative parties last week refused to adopt the reports following confirmation hearings, citing the nominees' ideological bias and ethical lapses.Senior presidential secretary for communication Yoon Do-han indicated Tuesday that Moon will appoint them anyway despite the conservative parties' objection. Later in the day, Moon formally asked the Assembly to adopt reports on the three.They are Chin Young for interior and safety minister; Park Young

Apr 2, 2019By Park Ji-won

Moon to appoint disputed minister nominees

LKP leader takes lead in poll of presidential candidates

LKP leader Hwang Kyo-ahn, left, waves his hands during the party's street campaign for support of its candidate Kang Ki-yoon in Changwon, Tuesday, on the eve of a by-election. YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulThe leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), Hwang Kyo-ahn, maintained a clear lead in the latest opinion poll of next presidential candidates, a pollster said Tuesday.Realmeter's survey of 2,516 adults nationwide from March 25 to 29 found that the preference rate for the LKP leader rose 3.3 percentage points from the previous month to 21.2 percent, helping the former prime minister continue his lead for three straight months.Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon earned 14.9 percent, up 3.4 percentage points, Realmeter said, noting it is the first time Hwang has exceeded 20 percent in the survey.Rhyu Si-min, a liberal politician-turned-writer and head of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, was third with 12 percent, down 1.2 percentage points. Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung was at 7.1 percent, down 0.5 percentage points from the previous month, helping him secure the No. 4 spot, the

Apr 2, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul

LKP leader takes lead in poll of presidential candidates

Seoul, Washington discuss plan to send envoy to North Korea

President Moon Jae-in, left, delivers his address in Singapore, 13 July 2018, and U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference in Washington. EPA-YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulThe government is discussing with the United States a plan to send a special envoy to North Korea, Cheong Wa Dae officials said Tuesday.Kim Hyun-chong, deputy chief of the presidential National Security Office (NSO) met with U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Charles Kupperman at the White House, Tuesday (KST), and discussed ways to break the stalemate in denuclearization talks between the U.S. and the North, including sending the envoy.Kim and Kupperman also discussed the agenda for next week's summit between President Moon Jae-in and President Donald Trump, the officials said.“One of the main issues at the Kim-Kupperman meeting was how to define denuclearization and to narrow the differences between the U.S. and North Korea,” one official said requesting anonymity. “It appears they also touched briefly on the possibility of sending a special envoy to North Korea.”On the way b