Rival parties on Thursday called on the government to come up with measures to respond to Japan's plan to discharge radioactive water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea starting next year.    The ruling People Power Party (PPP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) voiced concerns over the plan in unison during an annual parliamentary audit session on the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, calling it a "matter of people's safety." &

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will be abolished and its core functions will be subsumed by other ministries, according to the reform plans announced by the Ministry of Interior and Safety on Thursday. The plans also include the creation of a new body to address issues concerning overseas Koreans, and elevation of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs' status. The government will aim to pass the proposed amendment to the Government Organization Act at the Na

President Yoon Suk-yeol discussed security issues related to North Korea’s successive ballistic missile provocations in a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida early Thursday evening. “President Yook Suk-yeol had a 25-minute phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida about the recent North Korean ballistic missile launch from 5:35 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday,” the presidential office said in a written statement following the talks. “The two leade

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) was set to hold an ethics committee meeting Thursday to decide on an additional penalty for former Chairman Lee Jun-seok over his harsh criticism of President Yoon Suk-yeol and the party. Lee has openly gone up against President Yoon and his core associates, after the PPP suspended his party membership in July over allegations of sexual bribery and an attempted cover-up, and launched an emergency leadership committee that automatically removed him from office.

The presidential National Security Council strongly condemned North Korea's launch of two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Thursday, warning of strong countermeasures as demonstrated by the redeployment of a US aircraft carrier into South Korean waters. President Yoon Suk-yeol was briefed immediately after the launch and the NSC held a meeting presided over by National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han, according to the presidential office. Thursday's launch was the Nort

Democratic Party calls investigations “attempts to smear and embarrass Moon”

The government is speeding up the abolition of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, a pledge made by President Yoon Suk-yeol when he was a presidential candidate. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said Wednesday that it is preparing a reform plan of the government organization law, focusing on abolishing the Gender Ministry. If approved, the plans will see the Gender Ministry become a division under the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Vice Minister Han Chang-seob reported the govern

The International Federation of Journalists has condemned the ruling People Power Party in Korea over its criticism and filing of a defamation suit against public broadcaster Munhwa Broadcasting Corp. which reported on President Yoon Suk-yeol’s alleged use of foul language in New York last month. In a statement Tuesday, the IFJ said the "censuring of MBC and other Korean media" was a “clear violation of press freedom.” MBC has been sued by the conservative party for d

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Wednesday called for a sense of urgency to cope with economic difficulties at home and abroad, as the economy is grappling with soaring inflation and recession fears over rising interest rates. "The government will continue to achieve growth and development of our economy by overcoming this internal and external environment with the attitude of strictly responding 24 hours a day," Han told a Cabinet meeting. Consumer prices grew at a slower pace on-year f

An opposition lawmaker claimed Tuesday that Starbucks Korea had prior knowledge that its recent giveaway merchandise contained a toxic substance for over a week before the information was made public. The company came under fire in July after formaldehyde, a carcinogen, was detected in its "summer carry bags," which it provided to customers who purchased 17 drinks between May and early July. According to Rep. Lee Su-jin of the main opposition Democratic Party, Song Ho-seop, CEO of St

President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday appointed a former senior finance ministry official as health minister, his office said. The appointment came after the National Assembly adopted a confirmation hearing report on Health Minister nominee Cho Kyoo-hong, after two previous nominees withdrew their nominations over allegations of various irregularities. The parliamentary committee on health and welfare unanimously approved Cho's nomination following last week's hearing, saying he is qual

Interpretations of versatile Korean term may be “in the mind of the beholder”

Political grudges squeeze out economic issues at parliamentary inspection

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Tuesday urged former President Moon Jae-in to comply with an investigation by the state auditor into the death of a South Korean fisheries official killed by North Korea near the western sea border in 2020. The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has asked Moon to answer questions in writing in connection with the case, but Moon rejected the request as "very disrespectful," according to Rep. Youn Kun-young of the main opposition Democratic Party (

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Tuesday it was "inappropriate" for him to comment on reports that his predecessor Moon Jae-in objected to the state auditor's questioning of him over North Korea's 2020 slaying of a South Korean fisheries official. Yoon was responding to reports that Moon balked at a written questionnaire sent by the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) to seek clarification on the circumstances that led to the official's death and the then government's c