Han intensifies call for Kim Keon Hee special probe

Han Dong-hoon, chief of the ruling People Power Party, reiterated his call for an independent inspector general's probe into first lady Kim Keon Hee in a party meeting Wednesday, saying such a probe is a crucial step for the ruling bloc to restore public trust. Han's proposal, however, immediately prompted opposition from within the ruling conservative party. "We have promised the people that we will start working to recommend candidates for a special inspector general," Han

Oct. 23, 2024

Top security officials of S. Korea, Poland express concerns over NK-Russia military ties

The top security officials of South Korea and Poland on Wednesday expressed concerns over growing military ties between North Korea and Russia and agreed to expand their nations' security and defense industry cooperation in response, the presidential office said. National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik held a meeting with his Polish counterpart, Jacek Siewiera, ahead of a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday. The two officials disc

Oct. 23, 2024

PM vows to closely communicate with Natl. Assembly to enact law for AI industry

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday the government will collaborate with the National Assembly to promptly enact a law supporting the artificial intelligence industry. Han underscored the importance of the proposed AI Act, which aims to establish a legal framework promoting the AI industry while ensuring the safe use of the technology. "(The government) will closely communicate with the National Assembly to promptly pass the AI Act," Han said during a conference in Seoul. "

Oct. 23, 2024

Yoon says will reshuffle aides if 'misdeeds' emerge

President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed to implement a staff shakeup at his office if issues involving his aides emerge, while promising that his wife Kim Keon Hee will limit her public role, according to Yoon's office on Tuesday. Yoon’s remarks followed a highly sensitive meeting with Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party and his estranged political protege. Han, the former justice minister, urged Yoon to address the growing controversies surrounding First Lady Kim, as politic

Oct. 22, 2024

Seoul to mull more Ukraine support based on Pyongyang’s level of involvement: official

South Korea may mull expanding its support to Ukraine, including supplies of “offensive” weapons, depending on the extent of how deeply North Korea engages with Russia in the war efforts, a Seoul official said Tuesday. Kim Tae-hyo, the South Korean deputy national security director, told reporters following a National Security Council meeting convened on this day that Seoul would be tuning its response to match the role Pyongyang plays in the war. “All weapons, whether defensiv

Oct. 22, 2024

Yoon meets Han amid escalating tension within ruling party

President Yoon Suk Yeol met with People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon at the presidential office amid escalating tensions with the ruling party over allegations of state meddling involving his wife, on the same day his approval rating hit yet another low. The meeting, requested by the ruling party chair and former justice minister, was expected to focus on recent allegations surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee. Han, a longtime colleague of Yoon from their days as prosecutors, urged a significa

Oct. 21, 2024

[Bills in Focus] Addressing smartphone addiction, strengthening cooperative finances

Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Act of Corporate Governance of Financial Companies Proposed by Rep. Lee Jung-mun (Democratic Party of Korea) ● In response to recent financial incidents such as the misselling of funds and large-scale embezzlements, this amendment is part of ongoing efforts to promote responsible management within the financial sector. The core objective of the amendment is to establish unified disciplinary standards for employees across all financial companies when inte

Oct. 21, 2024

Yoon, ruling party leader set to meet amid controversies surrounding first lady

President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling party chief were set to meet Monday to discuss a range of pressing issues, likely including controversies involving first lady Kim Keon Hee. Yoon and Han Dong-hoon, chair of the People Power Party, were scheduled to meet for tea at the presidential office at 4:30 p.m., with the presidential chief of staff, Chung Jin-suk, also attending, Yoon's office said. The meeting comes as Yoon and the ruling party seek to recover from declining approval ratings, w

Oct. 21, 2024

Evidence points to NK's looming troop deployment in Ukraine war

More reported evidence points to North Korean troops' presence in Russia's Far East region, as intelligence authorities of Seoul and Kyiv claim that North Korea is preparing to deploy soldiers to the front line in Ukraine in what could be Pyongyang's first major intervention in an international conflict. Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security on Saturday released a video via its official X account showing what it claimed were North Korean soldie

Oct. 20, 2024

S. Korea to include construction of 4 small modular reactors in energy plan

South Korea will include a plan to build four small modular reactors (SMRs) in the upcoming basic energy plan to be announced later this year, a senior presidential aide said Sunday. Park Sang-wook, presidential secretary for science and technology, said in an interview with public broadcaster KBS that the SMRs will be reflected in the 11th basic plan for electricity supply and demand. SMRs are ready-to-install modular reactors that are smaller in size and power output compared with traditional

Oct. 20, 2024

S. Korea picks Schlumberger to analyze rock, gas in East Sea project

South Korea's state-run oil developer has selected US-based Schlumberger as a service provider to analyze the rock and gas composition of a potential gas field in the East Sea, a document showed Sunday. Schlumberger will conduct the "mud logging" operation for an excavation project in the East Sea that could potentially uncover between 3.5 billion and 14 billion barrels of gas and oil, according to Rep. Kim Won-i of the main opposition Democratic Party, who cited data from Korea N

Oct. 20, 2024

Yoon, ruling party head to hold meeting next week amid first lady controversies

President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling party chief plan to meet next week to discuss pressing issues, the presidential office said Friday, with controversies involving first lady Kim Keon Hee likely to top the agenda. Yoon and Han Dong-hoon, head of the People Power Party, will meet at the presidential office Monday, the office said, at a time when Yoon and the ruling party seek to recover from waning approval ratings as Yoon is halfway through his five-year term. The president and Han plan to d

Oct. 18, 2024

Ruling bloc divided over prosecutors' move to dismiss stock manipulation charges against first lady

South Korea's conservative ruling bloc on Friday was divided over the prosecutors' recent decision to not indict first lady Kim Keon Hee over her alleged involvement in a stock price manipulation scandal involving a local BMW dealer. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office on Thursday dismissed the charges that the first lady violated the Financial Investment Services And Capital Markets Act. The announcement came some four years after the probe into allegations that Kim's stock trading ac

Oct. 18, 2024

DP to take steps to impeach prosecutor general over nonindictment of first lady

The main opposition Democratic Party said Friday it will take steps to impeach Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung over the prosecution's decision not to indict first lady Kim Keon Hee over her alleged involvement in a stock manipulation scheme. "The (DP) leadership discussed the issue of impeaching the prosecutor general and concluded to go ahead with it," Jo Seoung-lae, a senior DP spokesperson, told reporters after a Supreme Council meeting. "The steps and timing of the impea

Oct. 18, 2024

PPP voices objections to new first lady special counsel bill

The ruling People Power Party on Friday voiced objections to a new opposition-introduced bill calling for a special counsel probe into allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, calling it an "unconstitutional wicked bill." The main opposition Democratic Party introduced the bill on Thursday, the third time it submitted such a proposal after two previous versions were scrapped following revotes triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol's vetoes. The new bill expands the scope of th

Oct. 18, 2024

Seoul envoy calls for stronger defense industry cooperation, cautions against protectionism

Seoul's top envoy to Washington cautioned Thursday against economic "protectionism" as he highlighted the need to address barriers that preclude full defense industrial cooperation between South Korea and the United States. Speaking at a think tank forum, Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong pointed to a US legal mandate requiring US naval ships to be built in America as a challenge limiting efforts to expand collaboration between the US and its foreign partners. "This issue is particula

Oct. 18, 2024

As election ends, Han urges first lady to scale back public role

Ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon on Thursday stepped up his call for first lady Kim Keon Hee to refrain from public activities and explain multiple allegations against her, which include claims of her illegal involvement in the April 10 parliamentary elections. Han’s remarks come a day after the conservative bloc won two of the five seats in the regional by-elections in its respective strongholds -- Busan's Geumjeong District and Incheon's Ganghwa County – as President Yoo

Oct. 17, 2024

First lady cleared of stock manipulation allegations

The South Korean prosecution on Thursday announced it would not indict first lady Kim Keon Hee for her alleged involvement in a 63.6 billion won ($46.6 million) investment fraud case, effectively clearing her remaining legal risks. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said in a press release it would not pursue charges against the first lady as there was a lack of evidence that Kim had been aware of what was found to be a pump-and-dump scheme when trading stocks of the targeted compani

Oct. 17, 2024

Yoon's office vows to press ahead with reforms after ruling party's by-election wins

The office of President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Thursday to push for major reform agenda items after the ruling People Power Party won crucial by-elections on its home turf. The PPP secured victories in its traditional stronghold constituencies -- Busan's Geumjeong District and Incheon's Ganghwa County -- in Wednesday's by-elections as the party seeks to recover from waning approval ratings for both Yoon and the party following its crushing defeat in the April 10 parliamentary electio

Oct. 17, 2024

Ruling party chief again calls for first lady's withdrawal from public activities

Ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon on Thursday called again for first lady Kim Keon Hee to withdraw from public activities following the party's wins in crucial by-elections the previous day. Han of the People Power Party also reiterated his call for a presidential office reshuffle to remove those considered close to Kim and exercising undue influence on state affairs. "First lady Kim Keon Hee should refrain from public activities in keeping with her promise during the presidential elec

Oct. 17, 2024