The Korea Herald

Park denies allegations on his civic activities

Sept 27, 2011

Civil activist Park Won-soon, who seeks the liberal camp’s sole candidacy next week, set out to defend himself against financial and ethical charges posed against him.“I understand that the public may well request a certain level of frugality and integrity from a civil activist candidate,” Park said
Na within touching distance of Park

Sept 27, 2011

Lawmaker’s key strategy in mayoral race is to challenge welfare issuesNow that she has clinched the Grand National Party’s nomination for Seoul mayor, Rep. Na Kyung-won closing in on Park Won-soon, the current frontrunner.“The party shall hold its Supreme Council meeting late on Tuesday and confirm
Third way emerges in Korea’s polarized politics

Sept 27, 2011

Rival parties pressed to overhaul themselves as independent voices riseLawmakers of the ruling Grand National Party and the main opposition Democratic Party met separately at the National Assembly last Wednesday morning to discuss their final positions on the nominee for Supreme Court chief justice.
Lee calls for stern handling of bribery cases involving close aides

Sept 27, 2011

SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak called for stern handling of alleged bribery cases involving some of his close aides, saying Tuesday it has been one of his top goals to rid the administration of corruption by presidential aides and relatives.It was Lee's first comments since two
Commerce minister offers to resign

Sept 27, 2011

Choi Joong-kyung, minister of knowledge economy, offered to step down Tuesday, taking responsibility for nationwide blackouts earlier in the month, a government official said.The minister in charge of energy affairs offered his resignation to President Lee Myung-bak after a cabinet meeting, accordin
Parties seek to absorb civic candidates

Sept 26, 2011

GNP, DP strive to unify respective candidacies; Park and Lee pledge to remain independentAs the upcoming Seoul mayoral race comes down to a four-party contest ― two party-affiliated and two independent figures ― both the ruling and the opposition camp are set to unify their candidates before the act
Han River project emerges as hot issue

Sept 26, 2011

Conservative candidates lambast civic activist over remarks on weir removalPark Won-soon, the liberal civic activist leading among Seoul mayoral candidates, got his first taste of election bickering Monday, after his remarks about the Han River stirred harsh criticism from conservative rivals. The r
Lee stymied by probes on closest aides

Sept 26, 2011

President’s top aides facing possible imprisonment ahead of Seoul by-electionPresident Lee Myung-bak is facing his biggest controversy since the mass demonstrations over U.S. beef imports in 2008, with one of his top aides facing possible imprisonment over graft allegations and another to be subpoen
DP picks ex-anchor as mayoral candidate

Sept 25, 2011

Park Young-sun to compete against Park Won-soon for sole liberal candidacyThe main opposition Democratic Party selected its policy committee chief and former news anchorwoman Rep. Park Young-sun on Sunday as its candidate for the Oct. 26 Seoul mayoral by-election.In the selection process, split even
Seoul set for policy shift after by-election

Sept 25, 2011

Mayoral candidates vow greater welfare, review of ‘show-off’ projectsSeoul is set for a major shift in policy priorities, after five years under a conservative mayor who favored large construction projects aimed at giving the capital a modern makeover, while opposing universal welfare. Be they conse
DP chooses ex-anchor as mayoral candidate

Sept 25, 2011

Park Young-sun to compete against Park Won-soon for sole liberal candidacy　The main opposition Democratic Party selected its policy committee chief and former news anchorwoman Rep. Park Young-sun on Sunday as its candidate for the Oct. 26 Seoul mayoral by-election.In the selection process, split eve
Wealth under borrowed names reach 5 tril. won: lawmaker

Sept 24, 2011

Wealth hidden under borrowed names in South Korea has reached nearly 5 trillion won ($4.28 billion), a lawmaker said Saturday.Based on data provided by the National Tax Service (NTS), Rep. Lee Jong-koo of the ruling Grand National Party said that wealth held under borrowed names, including securitie
Lee, Gates discuss ways to help developing nations

Sept 24, 2011

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak met with Microsoft founder Bill Gates on Friday anddiscussed ways to help people in developing countries in Africa andother parts of the world, a focus of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The meeting took place as Lee stopped in Seattle on his way
Na throws hat in ring for Seoul mayor

Sept 23, 2011

Rep. Na Kyung-won of the ruling Grand National Party on Friday made her Seoul mayoral bid official, a month ahead of the by-election. Na, elected to one of the seven members of the GNP’s supreme council in July, is expected to vie against former minister of government legislation Lee Seog-yeon, who
KEPCO to introduce new bill to control power use in emergencies

Sept 23, 2011

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's state-run power company said Friday it seeks to introduce a new bill to regulate power consumption during emergencies following widespread blackouts that affected homes and businesses across the country last week. South Korea reported a nationwide power outa