The Korea Herald

Minor progressive parties agree to create new party

Nov 18, 2011

Three minor opposition parties will form a new progressive party as part of efforts to boost their chances in next year’s parliamentary elections, their leaders said, while the main opposition party is working hard to form a broad alliance with other liberal forces and civic groups.Leaders of three minor parties -- the Democratic Labor Party, the People’s Participatory Party and a party made up of defectors from the Progressive New Party -- announced that they will hold a convention to set the n
Korea to set up ASEAN diplomatic mission

Nov 18, 2011

Korea will establish a mission dedicated to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Jakarta in the first half of next year, President Lee Myung-bak said Thursday.“In order to strengthen economic cooperation with the increasingly important ASEAN, I will dispatch an ambassador to Jakarta who will deal exclusively with ASEAN affairs,” Lee was quoted by news reports as saying at the 2011 ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Bali, Indonesia. “I hope that the new ASEAN mission will contribute
GNP moving for FTA vote next Thursday

Nov 18, 2011

Speaker hints at invoking authority to put the Korea-U.S. FTA ratification bill to voteThe Grand National Party was Friday moving to bring the U.S. Free Trade Agreement ratification motion to a floor vote, raising the likelihood of violence with the opposition which has vowed to block the bill by any means.“When the time comes, the party shall bring the bill to the plenary session,” said Rep. Hwang Young-cheul, the party’s floor spokesperson, in a radio interview. “We expect parliamentary speake
S. Korea, Indonesia to deepen defense industry cooperation

Nov 17, 2011

BALI, Indonesia -- South Korea and Indonesia agreed Thursday to strengthen defense industry cooperation and work closely together to carry out Indonesia's major economic development blueprint, South Korea's presidential office said. President Lee Myung-bak met with Indonesian President S
New conservative party in the making

Nov 17, 2011

Park Se-il moves to form a center-right political party ahead of next year’s electionsAmid moves to create alternative political parties ahead of general elections next year, a former right-wing lawmaker seeks to form a new party embracing both conservatives and moderate liberals.Park Se-il, president of the Hansun Foundation, who has spoken for right wing conservatives and often raised issues about North Korean human rights, drew attention last week by saying that he was preparing to create a n
President Lee to meet leaders of ASEAN, Japan and China

Nov 17, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak arrived in Indonesia on Thursday to attend summit talks with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan and China, where leaders will discuss how to strengthen regional economic and diplomatic cooperation.His six-day trip includes a state visit to the Philippines, during which Lee will seek to bolster bilateral economic cooperation, Seoul officials said.As the ASEAN meetings come on the heels of other multilateral summits including the recent Asia Pacific Economic
Parties head for showdown over FTA

Nov 17, 2011

GNP likely to push Assembly vote on Korea-U.S. trade dealA showdown between ruling and opposition lawmakers looms over the parliamentary ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, as rival political parties showed little willingness to compromise. The governing Grand National Party on Thursday decided to force the bill through, a move likely to lead to an ugly brawl among legislators on the parliamentary floor. “We shouldn’t allow any more delay (in the ratification of the FTA.) We hav
DP demands written ISD commitment

Nov 16, 2011

GNP may push for vote on Korea-U.S. FTA bill on Nov. 24The Democratic Party on Wednesday refused to make any concession in its opposition to the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, rejecting President Lee Myung-bak’s offer to seek revision of a disputed part of the deal after its ratification. The liberal main opposition party, instead, demanded written commitments from both the Korean and U.S. governments that they will open talks immediately to delete or suspend clauses on the controversial Inves
Main opposition party refuses to accept Lee's renegotiation offer on U.S. FTA

Nov 16, 2011

SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition Democratic Party decided Wednesday to reject President Lee Myung-bak's offer to demand renegotiation on a key clause of the free trade agreement with the United States if the deal is ratified first, its spokesman said.The decision is expected to further
U.S. open to talks over ISD settlement: official

Nov 16, 2011

The United States is willing to discuss the controversial issue of investor-state dispute (ISD) settlement with South Korea once their free trade agreement (FTA) takes effect, a U.S. trade official said Tuesday."We are prepared to consult with Korea on any issue they may raise pertaining to KORUS af
Ahn Cheol-soo in political spotlight

Nov 15, 2011

Decision to donate wealth interpreted as preliminary step to enter politicsEntrepreneur-turned-professor Ahn Cheol-soo is back into the political limelight after he unveiled his plan on Monday to donate a large portion of his wealth to society.Although he insisted that it has long been his plan to fulfill his social responsibility as part of the privileged upper echelon, the decision was construed as another dramatic move to raise his political profile ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Lee says will seek ISD revision

Nov 15, 2011

President tells opposition Seoul will ask U.S. to revise disputed FTA clause if Assembly passes bill President Lee Myung-bak offered Tuesday to open a new round of negotiations with the U.S. on a set of controversial clauses in the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, once the parliament ratifies the treaty. Lee made the proposal to Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, during a meeting with party leaders at the National Assembly. “The president said he would make a re
Korean NGOs in full bloom

Nov 15, 2011

Korea had to wait until after the military-backed authoritarian regime collapsed in the late 1980s to see nongovernmental organizations in full bloom.Under three decades of dictatorial rule, it was not expected for a civil society independent of the government’s sway to come into existence.The Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice set up in 1989 was the first major nongovernmental organization in the country. In the 1990s, more civic groups with influential voices, including the Korean Federa
Civic activists make inroads into politics

Nov 15, 2011

Discontent with establishment tears down wall between political circle, civil societyHundreds of participants looked upbeat about the prospects of the organization they were launching in Seoul last Thursday.Having named their group the “Country I Dream Of,” they pledged to realize the dream through active political participation. Their immediate concern was apparently next April’s parliamentary elections, in which many of the participants are planning to run.The group, which often goes by the Ko
Lee says will seek ISD revision

Nov 15, 2011

(Yonhap News)President tells opposition Seoul will ask U.S. to revise disputed FTA clause if Assembly passes billPresident Lee Myung-bak offered Tuesday to open a new round of negotiations with the U.S. on a set of controversial clauses in the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement, once the parliament ratifies the treaty. Lee made the proposal to Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, during a meeting with party leaders at the National Assembly. “The president said he wo