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Sat, July 22, 2017 | 19:52

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Parties making final negotiation over extra budget bill

The ruling and opposition parties made a last-ditch effort to narrow their gaps over the government-proposed supplementary budget bill, Friday. The chance for the passage of the bill has grown as the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and two minor opposition parties are in favor of it despite protests by the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP). In the 11.2 trillion ($ 9.74 billion) won extra budget plan, the allocation of 8 billion won to create 12,000 public service jobs has been the bone of contention.

Politics | 2017-07-21 16:54

Top court justice urged to break silence over 'blacklist of judges'

Criticism is mounting against Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae as he continued to ignore calls for judicial reform Friday despite the resignation of a senior judge who demanded that he immediately initiate the long-stalled task. Yang has been dismissing calls from judges nationwide to clarify allegations that the top court under his direction created a “blacklist of judges.” The alleged systematic effort was to suppress “anti-conformist” voices within the judiciary by denying promotions to those critical of the judicial administration and Chief Justice Yang. He has about two months ...

Investigations | 2017-07-21 16:24

Assembly approves government reorganization

The National Assembly approved a government reorganization plan, including the creation of a new ministry covering small- and mid-sized enterprises as well as startup companies, Thursday. Under the plan, the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning will be renamed, roughly translated, the Ministry of Science, Technology and ICT. The Ministry of the Interior will also be r...

Politics | 2017-07-20 16:53

London holiday scam fools Korean tourists

Lee Myeong-hui, 47, never thought she would be swindled in a booking scam. After making a full payment of 2.09 million won ($1,856) for accommodation in London, she was no longer able to reach her hosts. She soon discovered she wasn’t the only one - she found 14 others scammed by the same hosts running a guesthouse in downtown London. The 15 victims claim they have been conne...

Investigations | 2017-07-20 16:52

KAI chief quits over corruption allegations

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) President and CEO Ha Sung-yong resigned Thursday amid ongoing investigations by the prosecution targeting the company and himself over corruption allegations in a number of major defense projects. Ha’s stepping down followed the resignation of Chang Myoung-jin, the head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Wednesday, over ...

Defense Affairs | 2017-07-20 17:37

Documents disclosures spark conflict

Political strife is brewing over documents the former Park Geun-hye government left behind at Cheong Wa Dae because they contain sensitive information about the former administration, including “unlawful orders” made by top aides to Park. The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), which was the ruling party under the Park government, claims the document disclosure by the Moon Jae-in administration is political retaliation, as the papers can influence the ongoing trials of Park and other figures involved in the presidential corruption scandal that removed her from office.

Politics | 2017-07-20 16:51

[INTERVIEW] Marrying US technology with defectors' North Korea expertise

How do we know that what we know about North Korea is true? Kim Byeong-uk, a North Korean defector and president of the Seoul-based think tank North Korea Development Institute, has been wrestling with the question on the credibility of information about the reclusive state since he returned to Seoul on Sunday from a three-week trip to the United States.

Investigations | 2017-07-20 13:20

Ex-special envoy calls for resumption of Rajin project

Rep. Song Young-gil, who was President Moon Jae-in’s special envoy to Russia, called for the resumption of a three-way logistics project between the two Koreas and Russia, Thursday. Lashing out at former President Park Geun-hye’s decision to withdraw from the so-called Rajin-Khassan project, the four-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said the country shoul...

Foreign Affairs | 2017-07-20 16:31

Decision on broadcasting court proceedings delayed

The Supreme Court delayed a decision on whether to allow live broadcasts of court proceedings, as the justices failed to agree on the particulars citing far-reaching consequences. The nation’s top court said Thursday its justices were unable to reach an agreement on whether broadcasts should be allowed at all, and, if they should, to what extent. The next meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday. “The meeting was postponed as the justices had differing opinions. They will convene a meeting next week to further discuss the issue,” a member of the judicial circle said. Currently, taking pictures ...

Investigations | 2017-07-20 15:13

Landmine detection

A soldier belonging to the 1st Army Corps conducts a landmine detection mission using a mine detector near the Imjin River in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. The military mobilized about 220 soldiers for mine detection and clearance in preparation for the possibility of mines planted by North Korea being swept away in the rainy season. / Yonhap

Photo News | 2017-07-20 17:04

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