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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.

Kim Jong-un supporters slam subway ads rejection

Members of the welcoming committee of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s planned visit to Seoul call for Seoul Metro to approve their request to place ads to welcome Kim, during a press conference in Sinchon, Seoul, Monday. / Korea Times photo by Jung Hae-myoungBy Jung Hae-myoung A student group has denounced Seoul subway operator's rejection of its request to place ads on subway stations to welcome North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his anticipated visit, claiming the rejection came from negative public opinion caused by conservative civic groups and media. The Welcoming Committee of the Great Man ― referring to Kim ― said the conservative daily Chosun Ilbo and some other conservative groups are discouraging their efforts to create a peaceful mood between the two Koreas, at a press conference in Sinchon, western Seoul, Monday.The committee has raised 3 million won ($ 2,667) since Nov. 30 to place ads at subway stations. Its plan was reported by the Chosun Ilbo soon after, before the committee actually made the request through an ad agency.When the committee filed for the re

Dec 24, 2018
Kim Jong-un supporters slam subway ads rejection

Moon's approval rating hits record low

President Moon Jae-in drinks a cup of tea at the headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul, Thursday, after having a meeting with ministry officials. / YonhapBy Park Ji-wonPresident Moon Jae-in's approval rating dropped to a record low last week, a poll showed Monday.According to a survey by pollster Realmeter, 47.1 percent of the public said they approved of Moon's performance, down 1.4 percentage points from last week. Amid an ongoing controversy over the alleged surveillance of civilians by Cheong Wa Dae, the approval rating fell to the lowest in three weeks, according to Realmeter. A total of 46.1 percent said they were discontent with Moon's performance, down 0.7 percentage points on a weekly basis. The weekly survey was conducted from Dec. 17 to Dec. 21 on 2,513 adults throughout the country.Former Cheong Wa Dae official Kim Tae-woo is suspected of covertly monitoring civilians under orders from the presidential office. Cheong Wa Dae flatly denied the allegation claiming the presidential office didn't give the go-ahead for those activities. Cheong Wa Dae filed a

Dec 24, 2018By Park Ji-won
Moon's approval rating hits record low

Video conferencing reunions could happen next year

North Koreans walk on a pedestrian bridge that crosses Pothong River in Pyongyang, Dec. 16. AP-YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulSouth Korea plans to hold reunions of families separated by the division of the two Koreas using video conferencing, a spokesman at the Ministry of Unification said, Monday.“South Korea will be developing discussions with North Korea to make an event of family reunions using video conferencing, happening early next year. We are working on it,” ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said in a media briefing at the government complex in downtown Seoul.Baik said the decision came after Seoul agreed with Washington to move forward with inter-Korean exchange programs created for humanitarian purposes. Special U.S. envoy for North Korean issues Steve Biegun visited South Korea recently to meet with his South Korean counterparts to coordinate discussions on both countries' negotiations with North Korea.For years, Seoul has been calling for regular meetings between separated families including using video conferencing, but the reunion programs often fell victim to fragile

Dec 24, 2018By Kim Yoo-chul
Video conferencing reunions could happen next year

Cheong Wa Dae vows stern countermeasures on surveillance claims

Seen above is a screen capture of the Facebook page of Cho Kuk, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs. Cho uploaded the photo on Sunday to show his strong willingness to continue fighting against the ongoing controversy surrounding a claim that Cheong Wa Dae ordered its officials to conduct illegal surveillance on civilians. / Screen capture from FacebookBy Lee Min-hyungCheong Wa Dae has vowed to “sternly” deal with any unverified claims surrounding the widening allegations that the presidential house carried out illegal surveillance on citizens and politicians.The controversy reached a climax last week when the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) unveiled the so-called “surveillance documents” allegedly written by Kim Tae-woo, a former special investigator from Cheong Wa Dae. Kim recently returned to his original prosecution post for reportedly interfering with a police investigation related to his acquaintance.Cho Kuk, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, hinted Sunday that he would stand at the forefront to counter the ongoing al

Dec 24, 2018By Lee Min-hyung
Cheong Wa Dae vows stern countermeasures on surveillance claims

Seoul, Tokyo escalate diplomatic tension

From left are Kim Yong-kil, director-general for Northeast Asian affairs at the South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kenji Kanasugi, director-general for the Japanese foreign ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs bureau. / YonhapBy Lee Min-hyungSeoul and Tokyo are escalating diplomatic tensions, with both sides showing any sign of coming to terms on conflicting agendas, such as the former's recent court ruling ordering a Japanese firm to pay compensation for South Korean workers forced to work during the 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.To deal with the mounting conflict, both sides on Monday held a director-level meeting to narrow their differences on sensitive diplomatic issues. Kim Yong-kil, director-general for Northeast Asian affairs at the South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with his counterpart, Kenji Kanasugi, director-general for the Japanese foreign ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs bureau.This is the first time both countries have held face-to-face negotiations over Seoul's Oct. 30 Supreme Court ruling. At that time, the court

Dec 24, 2018By Lee Min-hyung
Seoul, Tokyo escalate diplomatic tension

Gloomy X-mas for President: Moon's approval rating tumbles to new low

President Moon Jae-inPresident Moon Jae-in's job approval rating dropped to a new low last week, a poll showed Monday, amid a controversy over the alleged inspection of civilians by his office Cheong Wa Dae.In the poll conducted by Realmeter, 47.1 percent of those surveyed said they approved of Moon's job as president, down 1.4 percentage points from a week earlier.The reading marks the lowest since Moon took office in May 2017. The weekly survey was conducted Monday through Friday, involving 2,513 adults throughout the nation.The president's office has been on the defensive since one of its former inspectors claimed to have inspected civilians for Cheong Wa Dae, which the president has repeatedly vowed never to do.Cheong Wa Dae strongly denies the accusation, saying the former inspector himself may have done so at his own decision and out of the boundaries set by the presidential office.The presidential office has filed a complaint with the prosecution against its former inspector.The ruling Democratic Party's approval rating gained 1 percentage point to 38 percent, while that of th

Dec 24, 2018
Gloomy X-mas for President: Moon's approval rating tumbles to new low

Two lawmakers in abuse controversies

By Kim RahnTwo lawmakers are embroiled in controversies over their alleged abuse of power and insulting of a citizen.Rep. Kim Jung-ho of the Democratic Party of KoreaAccording to media reports and aides to Rep. Kim Jung-ho of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Sunday, Kim caused a disturbance when boarding a Busan-bound plane at Gimpo International Airport last Thursday.When an airport worker asked him to show his boarding pass and ID, he showed his resident registration card through transparent plastic in his wallet. The worker asked him to take the card out to show it, but Kim refused, reportedly saying, “Why do I have to take it out? I've never had to do so before.” He told the worker that he is a member of the National Assembly's transport committee and asked the worker to prove that aviation rules require passengers to take out their ID cards.Other colleagues brought a regulation book and tried to find the rule, and Kim allegedly cursed at them and shouted, “Do you think you're so powerful to bully customers? Bring the person in charge.” He also allege

Dec 23, 2018By Kim Rahn
Two lawmakers in abuse controversies

NK condemns S. Korea over passive role in denuke talks

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, speaks to the media as he walks with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un during a break in talks at their historic June 12 U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore at the Capella Hotel on Sentosa island. / AFP-YonhapBy Park Ji-wonNorth Korea criticized the South Korean government for subordinating itself to the U.S. in lifting sanctions against the North, calling for it to be more cooperative in inter-Korean relations.Uriminzokkiri, a North Korean external propaganda outlet, released commentary Friday criticizing the South Korean foreign ministry and presidential office for prioritizing South-U.S. relations over inter-Korean relations.Citing remarks made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in early December that (the South) should get understanding and support from the international community in seeking denuclearization of the North and peace on the Korean Peninsula, the North criticized the South's attitude to push for inter-Korean projects under the sanctions against the North.“It is stupid self-praise to say this year's drastic changes in relations

Dec 21, 2018By Park Ji-won
NK condemns S. Korea over passive role in denuke talks
  • Seoul seeks wider sanctions exemptions for North Korea
  • Pompeo 'counting on' second Trump-Kim summit

DPK floor leader shields LKP ex-floor leader from hiring irregularity allegations

Rep. Hong Young-pyo, left, the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), shakes hands with Rep. Kim Sung-tae, then floor leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) at the National Assembly in this Dec. 21 file photo. / Korea Times fileBy Park Ji-wonRep. Hong Young-pyo, the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has become protective of Rep. Kim Sung-tae, his former counterpart of the largest opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), over Kim's alleged hiring scandal involving his daughter.When asked whether to launch an Assembly investigation into the alleged hiring irregularities connected to Kim, Hong told CBS during a radio interview Friday that “It is hard for me to do so. We need to fact-check first on the matter.”“Former LKP floor leader Rep. Kim Sung-tae is denying the allegation. We cannot say we will launch an Assembly investigation into the case now unless we find grounds or there is something missing during related discussions.”Hong's remarks came after he said he would launch an Assembly investigation

Dec 21, 2018By Park Ji-won
DPK floor leader shields LKP ex-floor leader from hiring irregularity allegations

Seoul seeks wider sanctions exemptions for North Korea

U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to the press earlier this month at the State Department in Washington, D.C. AFP-YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulSouth Korea has asked the United States to provide wider exemptions to sanctions on North Korea imposed by the U.N. Security Council Sanctions Committee (UNSC), as Seoul is aiming to expand joint economic and business projects with Pyongyang.A senior Cheong Wa Dae official told The Korea Times that National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong asked Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special envoy for North Korea, for wider exemptions on sanctions on North Korea during Biegun's recent visit.“At an afternoon tea meeting late Friday at Cheong Wa Dae, Chung told Biegun that wider exemptions for UNSC sanctions on North Korea are needed in a step to build trust between the two Koreas and Washington and Pyongyang ahead of the upcoming second U.S.-North Korea summit,” the official said, asking not to be identified.South Korea needs exemptions from the UNSC to carry out joint economic projects with North Korea. Common worries are that despite the on

Dec 21, 2018By Kim Yoo-chul
Seoul seeks wider sanctions exemptions for North Korea
  • PHOTOS Pentagon chief resigning after clashes with Trump
  • 'US eager to move to next stage of NK talks'
  • NK condemns S. Korea over passive role in denuke talks
  • Pompeo 'counting on' second Trump-Kim summit
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