The Korea Times - Home

Site Map PDF Subscription Register LogIn
Site Map PDF Subscription Register LogIn

Wed, August 23, 2017 | 16:58

National > Politics >

DPK floor leader vows to support Moon's reform policies

Rep. Woo Won-shik, the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), vowed to push for multiple reform bills that have been or will be submitted to back the Moon Jae-in government’s policies to eradicate deep-rooted irregularities and corruption in society. In a press conference to mark his first 100 days in office, Wednesday, Woo said that he will make all-out efforts to reform the prosecution, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and public broadcasters. “We will seek bills to set up an independent investigative body for corruption by high-level public officials, halt the ...

Politics | 2017-08-23 16:41

Released ex-PM may become pivot of liberal bloc

Han Myeong-sook, a former prime minister during the liberal Roh Moo-hyun administration, was released from prison Wednesday after finishing her two-year term for taking illegal political funds. The return of a key figure of the Roh administration may play a pivotal role in the liberal bloc especially with the presidency of Moon Jae-in who served as Roh’s chief of staff. Upon ...

Politics | 2017-08-23 16:37

Moon urges independence of public broadcasters

President Moon Jae-in stressed the importance of the independence of public broadcasters and called for efforts to enhance freedom of speech, which in his view regressed during the former conservative administrations. He made the remarks in a meeting with officials from the Korea Communications Commission at the Government Complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday, wher...

Politics | 2017-08-22 20:23

Christian lawmakers oppose religious tax

Seventy-two percent of lawmakers who proposed a bill to delay a tax on religious groups say they are Christian, according to the National Assembly Monday, drawing public ire for advocating their own interest groups. According to the Assembly’s report, 18 out of the 25 lawmakers who sponsored the bill were Christian; five were Buddhist; one was Catholic and one an atheist. The lawmakers from the four major parties submitted a bill Aug. 10 to postpone the implementation of the revision to the tax law until 2020, claiming that the government has yet to devise criteria and procedures for taxing ...

Politics | 2017-08-21 17:53

Parties desperate to find young talent

Political parties are using various programs to reach out to young voters in preparation for the local elections slated for June next year. This is also to attract young political hopefuls for a smooth generational change in their respective parties in the long-term. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), which has emerged as the most popular party largely thanks to strong popular support for President Moon Jae-in, is seeking to consolidate its position through more young political hopefuls. Opposition parties - Liberty Korea Party (LKP), People’s Party, Bareun Party and Justice Party -...

Politics | 2017-08-21 17:03

District court chief named for Supreme Court chief justice

Kim Meong-su, head of the Chuncheon District Court, has been tapped for Supreme Court chief justice, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday. He will be appointed if the National Assembly endorses his appointment after a confirmation hearing. President Moon Jae-in named Kim, 58, for chief of the top court. It is rare for an incumbent district court head to be named for the position, which ...

Politics | 2017-08-21 16:54

Moon Jae-in to receive policy briefings beginning Tuesday

President Moon Jae-in will receive a series of policy briefings from ministries and other government organizations beginning Tuesday, government officials said Monday. This will be the first policy briefings for Moon since he took office in May.

Politics | 2017-08-21 16:30

Moon sheds light on dark history

The southern part of the Korean peninsula, once trampled by Japanese imperialism from 1910 to 1945 and ruled with an iron hand until 1993, has innumerable unresolved cases of human rights atrocities. The 1950-53 Korean War drenched the soil with blood. Researchers estimate that around 1 million civilians were killed by the government-led massacres during the war. As depicted ...

Politics | 2017-08-21 16:21

'Tainted eggs pose no major health concern'

The government said Monday that five insecticides it has identified so far in the contaminated egg scandal do not pose health problems as if ingested they are removed from the body within a month. The five chemical agents fipronil, bifenthrin, flufenoxuron, etoxazole and pyridaben are used to kill pest infestations. This is in line with doctors’ assessments last Friday that t...

Politics | 2017-08-21 15:04

Moon vows to create quality jobs, boost birthrate

President Moon Jae-in reaffirmed his promise to create quality jobs and overcome the low birthrate crisis during a question and answer session with citizens at Cheong Wa Dae, Sunday. He said he will push to reduce the maximum working time to 52 hours per week, down from 68 hours, while expanding parental leave.

Politics | 2017-08-20 22:13

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Gimje Horizon Festival