Today on The Korea Times Podcast: the government looks to increase the power of the National Security Law and police conclude the missing teen in Turkey joined ISIS. Plus President Park says a minor cabinet shuffle is in order and the government might backtrack on its new tax plan.
Wednesday, The Ministry of Justice said it will push for a revision to the National Security Law to give the Supreme Court the power to disband organizations deemed to be “anti-state”. If passed, the revision would likely institutionalize judicial decisions on the disbandment of organizations that are found to be enemies of the state and follows the courts decision to disband the United Progressive Party late last year.
Police concluded the missing teen in Turkey, surnamed Kim, has crossed the border into Syria to join the Islamic State. One day before his trip, Kim wrote on his Facebook page, “I want to leave my country and family. I just want to start a new life,” the police said.
President Park Geun-hye said she will carry out a small-scale Cabinet shake-up to refresh her team as she enters her third year. She said the shake-up would include the maritime minister, though she did not elaborate on how many ministries would be affected.
Strategy and Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan said the government will consider revising tax return regulations, as salaried workers protest that many of them are likely to pay more this year. “We will look into how the tax burden of each income bracket has changed to optimize taxes,” Choi said, at a hastily-arranged media briefing earlier this week.
Researchers in Seoul have found that over 90% of drivers text while behind the wheel.
It's a practice that isn't illegal in South Korea, but could lead to accidents.
KORAIL will launch the “West Gold Train” that leaves for seven “golden” destinations along the western coast of the peninsula. Each train has one car with heated floors, or ondols. The special cars have heated floors, as their name suggests, allowing guests to sit on the floor.
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