Opposition leader’s rise alarming ruling party’s front runnerIn the early morning of April 28, a throng of lawmakers were gathering at the entrance of the National Cemetery in Seoul, waiting for their party leader to arrive.When Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, showed up around 8:30 a.m., they extended their hands for him to shake and followed him to the tomb of late

BERLIN -- President Lee Myung-bak said Monday that he was willing to invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-il to the world’s largest nuclear summit to be held in Seoul next year if Pyongyang “firmly agrees” with the international community to denuclearize. President Lee Myung-bak speaks during a news conference after a summit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Monday. (Yonhap News)“If

President says existence of nuclear arms on Korean Peninsula will delay reunificationBERLIN -- President Lee Myung-bak and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday discussed ways to strengthen economic ties, especially for the development of renewable energy, during their talks here in the German capital.Lee’s talks with Merkel came after the Korean president held a summit meeting earlier in the

Conservative says his party needs changeLee Hoi-chang, leader of the conservative minority Liberty Forward Party, has turned in his resignation in the hope of overcoming the party’s prolonged political stagnation.“I am stepping down to give way to changes in our party,” Lee said in the Supreme Council meeting held on Monday morning.“Political circles are undergoing sweeping changes and the LFP nee

(Lee Hoi-chang offers to resign as minor conservative party chief. Yonhap News)Lee Hoi-chang, leader of the conservative minority Liberty Forward Party, offered his resignation on Monday, in an attempt to catalyze the party’s reform moves.“Our party is to face up to the ongoing changes within the political circles,” Lee said.Lee, who has held the LFP leader post since 2008, also suggested that the

Developments may bolster Park Geun-hye ahead of major electionsA major power shift has taken place within the ruling Grand National Party amid calls for reform and concerns over the impact last month’s electoral debacle could have on the general elections slated for April next year.The shift became clear Friday as Rep. Hwang Woo-yea, seen as a “neutral non-mainstreamer,” was elected party floor le

President Lee replaces four other Cabinet membersPresident Lee Myung-bak on Friday named one of his closest aides and incumbent labor minister as the new finance minister-designate in a partial Cabinet shakeup.Lee also nominated another four minister-designates of agriculture, environment, labor and land, mostly former or incumbent senior government officials, replacing a third of Cabinet members.

Following the aftermath of the April by-elections and recent turmoil over the Korea-EU Free Trade Agreement bill, political parties face a major leadership shift, including for the floor leader seats.The ruling Grand National Party held an in-party election on Friday, and the main opposition Democratic Party is scheduled to follow suit next Friday, according to officials.The last inter-party issue

Hwang not affiliated with any faction; Lee Ju-young picked as chief policymakerRep. Hwang Woo-yea was voted floor leader of the ruling Grand National Party in a party election Friday.In the initial vote held in the early afternoon, Hwang won 64 votes out of 159, closely beating his rival An Kyung-ryul, who won 55 votes.The two front runners were then put to a final vote, in which Hwang won 90 vote