The Korea Herald

Cheong Wa Dae slams plan for savings banks victims

Aug 10, 2011

Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday disapproved of a parliamentary move to compensate the victims of failed mutual savings banks for their lost savings beyond the legal limits.Rival parties agreed Tuesday to seek a special law to reimburse individual customers and bond investors in nine suspended savings ban
‘I gave W300b in political funds to Kim Young-sam’

Aug 10, 2011

Former president opens mouth about illicit political fundraising, a safe at Blue House Former President Roh Tae-woo claims to have given billions of won in political funds to Kim Young-sam, then a leading presidential candidate from the ruling party and his eventual successor, to help his presi
Opposition camp rejects nominees Kwon and Han

Aug 9, 2011

The parliamentary judicial committee refused to endorse the justice minister and prosecutor-general nominees on Tuesday after opposition parties boycotted the hearings.“The hearings on the two nominees are not yet over,” said Rep. Park Young-sun of the main opposition Democratic Party.“We shall not
Parties near deal on savings bank losses

Aug 9, 2011

Government opposes plan to compensate depositors beyond statutory limitLawmakers from rival political parties are pushing to fully compensate the financial losses of depositors at nine savings banks that collapsed this year, stirring another round of controversy over populism. Representatives of the
Sohn sees synergy in Moon’s rise

Aug 9, 2011

Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, feels the most heat from Moon Jae-in’s rise in political stature, but his aides say their potential rivalry will not harm the DP leader.They hope that any competition between Sohn and Moon galvanized through next year’s parliamenta
Assignments yet to be done

Aug 9, 2011

Confidant to late President Roh raises profile as potential opposition standard-bearerIt was supposed to be a gathering of senior civic and religious leaders to call for the merger of liberal and progressive opposition parties in preparation for the parliamentary and presidential elections next year
Lee vows to revamp disaster prevention, raise safety bars

Aug 8, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak on Monday vowed to revamp the national disaster prevention system and tighten safety standards, noting that last month’s deadly downpours could be repeated next year due to climate change.“The government’s priorities include comprehensive reexamination of existing disaster-pr
Justice minister-nominee pledges neutrality

Aug 8, 2011

Justice-minister nominee Kwon Jae-jin faced a parliamentary grilling, particularly over whether he would maintain political neutrality in next year’s elections despite his close ties to the president.“I will by all means defend the prosecution’s political neutrality and independence,” Kwon said at t
Free meals poll sets up left-right clash

Aug 7, 2011

Free school lunch vote to set tone for welfare policy, impact Seoul mayor’s political futureThe Seoul Metropolitan Government’s announcement last week that it will hold a referendum on Aug. 24 on how much to expand its free school lunch program has signaled the start of a fierce campaign.In the vote
Parties fix session, without FTA bill plan

Aug 5, 2011

Rival political parties reached an agreement Friday on the schedule of the parliament’s disputed August provisional session, but the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement bill will not be included in the agenda, party officials said.Reps. Hwang Woo-yea and Kim Jin-pyo, respectively floor leaders of the ru
Controversy rekindled over airport sale

Aug 4, 2011

Ruling camp pushes to sell 15 percent stake to low-income earnersThe government’s plan to sell a stake in Incheon International Airport Corp. has reignited a years-old controversy as to why the well-performing airport should be handed over to private hands. The presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae,
GNP pushes for means-tested tuition fee cuts

Aug 4, 2011

Plans up to 21% cut for those outside the top 30% of earnersThe government and the ruling party have set out a plan to drastically slash fees for most of the country’s university students.“The government has come up with a plan to cut tuition fees by up to 21 percent for those outside the top 30 per
Chief prosecutor nominee denies evading tax, military duty

Aug 4, 2011

Chief prosecutor nominee Han Sang-dae was grilled by lawmakers on Thursday concerning allegations that he evaded military service, dodged taxes through a false contract and registered a false address, most of which he denied.Han was judged fit to join the army in 1980 during his junior year in unive
No Agent Orange found at former U.S. base in Bucheon

Aug 4, 2011

A joint investigation team said Thursday that no traces of Agent Orange were found at a former U.S. base in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, where toxic chemicals were allegedly dumped in the 1960s, officials said Thursday.The team comprised of civil, government and military officials reached the conclus
Chief prosecutor nominee denies suspected wrongdoing at hearing

Aug 4, 2011

The chief prosecutor nominee faced tough questions at a confirmation hearing on Thursday over his ethical qualifications for the job, including allegations that he dodged the mandatory military service.President Lee Myung-bak appointed Han Sang-dae, the current chief of the Seoul Central District Pr