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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 expands communication with chaebol

President Moon Jae-in listens to an explanation about a smartphone-linked scuba diving product produced by a Korean startup during a visit to the N15 industrial lab in Seoul, last week. YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulApproval ratings of President Moon Jae-in remained relatively high in the first week of this year on the back of public approval for his signature “engagement-focused” North Korea policy.But his lackluster and not-that-impressive domestic policy, particularly the apparent failure of its economic policies after its decision to hike the minimum wage and cut the workweek hours has taken its toll. Moon's approval rating lowered to 47.1 percent in mid-December, the lowest since he took power in May 2017, according to local pollsters. While his approval rating saw a slight rebound, political analysts said a further upturn is dependent upon the President's wider rapprochement toward economic issues.“What the President has to do is spend more time focusing on local economic issues. If he handles them well, that will help him maintain his political support. Moon has to re

Jan 6, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
Moon expands communication with chaebol

KAI fails to export Surion to Philippines

By Lee Min-hyungSurion helicopterKorea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has failed to win a bid to export its Surion helicopters to the Philippines, the nation's defense procurement agency said Sunday.“Later last month, the Philippines government notified the South Korean embassy in the Philippines that it decided to import the U.S.' UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters,” an official from Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Agency (DAPA) said.The Philippines made the notification sometime between Dec. 27 and 28, the official said.Sikorsky, the U.S.-based helicopter manufacturer, won the bid worth 250 billion won ($222.4 million) apparently due to its low-price bidding strategy, the DAPA official said.According to reports, the U.S. company offered to provide 16 Black Hawk helicopters at the same price for 10 Surion choppers.“A number of factors may have been considered, but KAI is likely to have failed to win the contract for the weak price competitiveness.”

Jan 6, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
KAI fails to export Surion to Philippines

Defection of NK diplomat challenges Trump-Kim summit

Seen above is an online letter from Thae Yong-ho, former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, Saturday. Thae wrote the message to Jo Song-gil, North Korea's acting ambassador to Italy who went missing in November. / Screen capture from Thae's online blogUS, Italy have yet to confirm Jo Song-gil's whereaboutBy Lee Min-hyungJo Song-gil, former North Korean acting ambassador to ItalyThe disappearance and alleged request for asylum by former North Korean defector Jo Song-gil are posing a challenge for North Korea and the United States as they prepare to meet, as the former acting ambassador to Italy is reportedly seeking asylum in the United States.Washington remains mum over these reports from the Italian media, apparently wary of the fallout from the issue ahead of their possible second summit set to take place in the near future.The U.S. Department of State declined to confirm anything on the reports on Friday that Jo, who has reportedly been in hiding for weeks, has expressed hopes to settle in the U.S.The 44-year-old North Korean diplomat has been missing with his f

Jan 6, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
Defection of NK diplomat challenges Trump-Kim summit

YouTube _ new battlefield for Korean politicians

A captured image shows Rhyu Si-min, the chief of Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, in the first episode of his newly launched YouTube talk show “Rhyu Si-min's Alileo,” Friday. / YonhapBy Park Ji-wonYouTube is becoming a new battleground for Korean politicians as conservative and liberal bigwigs are opening their own channels to promote their ideas about current issues. Former Welfare Minister Rhyu Si-min, a popular liberal politician, and Hong Joon-pyo, former leader of the biggest conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP), have found a following among Korean voters with their broadcasts.Rhyu released the first episode of his YouTube talk show titled “Rhyu Si-min's Alileo” under the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation's official channel and a podcast in Podbbang, Korea's leading podcast platform, on Saturday. He has been serving as the head of the foundation since October.In the first episode, Rhyu invited Moon Chung-in, mentor to President Moon Jae-in on foreign and North Korea affairs, and they discussed North Korean issues. The video went viral and was viewed about 1.54 million ti

Jan 6, 2019By Park Ji-won
YouTube _ new battlefield for Korean politicians

Civil servants believe their sense of ethics improved; citizens disagree

The Government Complex Seoul. A study showed a majority of the public believe public servants' sense of ethics has not improved. / Korea Times fileBy Kim RahnMost public servants believe their sense of ethics has improved, but a majority of the public disagreed, a study showed, Sunday.The Sejong Center for Public Leadership Studies under the Korea Institute of Public Administration released the study after surveying 700 citizens, 18,747 incumbent public servants, 112 retired public servants and 89 experts comprised of scholars and activists.When asked whether Korean public servants' sense of ethics has improved, 80.3 percent of the incumbent civil servants, 77.7 percent of the retired ones and 76.4 percent of the experts said yes.However, only 38.4 percent of the citizens said so.Regarding whether public officials carry out their duties fairly, 69.8 percent of the current servants, 88.4 percent of the retired ones and 53.9 percent of the experts agreed. But a mere 18 percent of the citizens agreed.Sixty-six percent of the citizens said they could not trust public officials because of

Jan 6, 2019By Kim Rahn
Civil servants believe their sense of ethics improved; citizens disagree

'US not always right,' says Moon's adviser

Moon Chung-in, right, special adviser to President Moon Jae-in, speaks during a podcast talk show “Alileo,” aired from midnight Friday. YonhapBy Park Si-soo Moon Chung-in, a special adviser to President Moon Jae-in, took a soft jab at the United States for the stalled denuclearization talks with North Korea, saying, “The U.S. is not always right.” He made the remark during a podcast talk show “Alileo,” aired from midnight Friday, with liberal politician-turned-star writer Rhyu Si-min as host. Speaking of a negotiation deadlock between the U.S. and the North, Moon said, “The U.S. is holding hegemony, so it believes things should be done on its own terms. From South Korea's perspective, however, the U.S. is not always right.” He added, “There are issues that can be settled smoothly when South Korea takes the initiative. But the U.S. doesn't accept this, which a point of discontent for us.” He noted that “lack of trust” between Washington and Pyongyang was a main problem behind the negotiation deadlock. “The U

Jan 5, 2019
'US not always right,' says Moon's adviser

Moon to replace chief of staff, keep top security adviser

From left, Korean Ambassador to China Noh Young-min, Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Cho Yoon-je and former Culture Minister Chung Dong-chae are among candidates to replace presidential chief of staff Im Jong-seok in a new possible shakeup at Cheong Wa Dae next week at the earliest. /YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooPresident Moon Jae-in is expected to replace his chief of staff Im Jong-seok in a new possible shakeup at Cheong Wa Dae, according to multiple presidential officials, Friday.They said Moon, however, is likely to keep National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong and other security aides amid a rapidly changing political situation on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.The possible shakeup may take place next week at the earliest, the officials added.“The President mulls replacing several senior presidential aides,” an official said on condition of anonymity. “It is likely to happen next week or before the Lunar New Year holiday at the latest.”The move is seen as efforts to complete reshuffle of presidential staff as quick as possible in order to better focus

Jan 4, 2019By Yi Whan-woo
Moon to replace chief of staff, keep top security adviser

Cheong Wa Dae puts off plan to relocate presidential office

Cheong Wa Dae / YonhapThe government has decided to put off a plan to relocate the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, Cheong Wa Dae officials said Friday, largely citing the lack of space in the proposed Gwanghwamun area.Relocating the presidential office to the downtown Gwanghwamun area was a key election pledge of President Moon Jae-in who had advocated the importance of close and daily encounters with the people and working-level officials.Located at the heart of Seoul, Gwanghwamun has been and continues to be the home of many government ministries, including the foreign ministry."(The government) has come to the decision that should we relocate the office to the (government) complex in Gwanghwamun, we won't be able to find the space to replace the reception hall, the main building and helipad (of Cheong Wa Dae) in Gwanghwamun," Yoo Hong-joon told a press briefing.Yoo, a former head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, has been serving as a special adviser to the president for the proposed relocation since early last year."Therefore, the government decided to consider the relo

Jan 4, 2019
Cheong Wa Dae puts off plan to relocate presidential office

Trump says meeting with NK leader will take place 'shortly'

By Lee Min-hyungU.S. President Donald Trump has received what he calls a “great letter” from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and said the second Washington-Pyongyang summit will take place shortly.“I just got a great letter from Kim Jong-un,” Trump said in a Cabinet meeting, Wednesday (local time). “They have never written letters like that. This letter is a great letter.” Trump did not specify the contents of the letter.The remark came a day after the U.S. leader expressed his strong willingness for the second summit with Kim sometime in the near future.“I look forward to our meeting with Kim Jong-un, and we will set that up,” Trump said. “We will be setting that up in not too distant future.”Hopes for the much-anticipated summit have been renewed this year after Kim said he is willing to meet with Trump again “at any time” in his New Year address on Tuesday.At the possible second summit, both leaders are expected to discuss the ongoing deadlock in talks for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and seek a br

Jan 3, 2019By Lee Min-hyung
Trump says meeting with NK leader will take place 'shortly'

Moon reaches out to business community

President Moon Jae-in, center, is briefed over the specifics of an industrial event, aimed at promoting innovative business ideas and local startups, at Seoul Square building in downtown Seoul, Thursday. YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulPresident Moon Jae-in will invite some 200 business leaders and small business owners to a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Jan. 7 in an effort to expand communication with the business community, presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said Thursday.In late December, presidential chief of policy Kim Soo-hyun met with executives at top-tier conglomerates to address difficulties they are facing in doing business here, Kim said.“Cheong Wa Dae has been operating various channels for needs-based open communication with company executives from time-to-time,” the spokesman said in a text message to reporters. Samsung Vice Chairman Yoon Boo-keun, LG Vice Chairman Kwon Young-soo and SK President Kim Joon attended the breakfast meeting with the presidential policy chief at the Seoul Plaza Hotel, downtown Seoul. The LG vice chairman Kwon told The Korea Times that the m

Jan 3, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul
Moon reaches out to business community
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