President Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday declined to comment on whether he would grant a presidential amnesty for Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong, who is currently on parole after serving time for bribery and embezzlement. Yoon made the remarks upon arrival at his office in response to a question about speculation he is mulling wide-ranging pardons on the occasion of the Aug. 15 anniversary of Liberation Day marking the 1945 end of Japan's colonial rule of Korea, and the Samsung chief could be one of the

Yoon says he ‘waited long enough,’ vows stern response to ‘illegal’ actions

President Yoon Suk-yeol instructed officials Tuesday to pay special attention to seriously ill COVID-19 patients amid a resurgence of the virus across the country. More than 73,000 new cases were reported Tuesday as the highly contagious omicron subvariant BA.5 continues to spread, more than double the 26,299 reported a day earlier. "COVID-19 is at a crossroads of a resurgence," Yoon said during a Cabinet meeting. "We must go all-out to take care of people's lives and health

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Tuesday he believes the country has "waited long enough" for a strike at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (DSME) to end, hinting at the possibility of using force to break up the prolonged walkout. Subcontract workers at DSME have been striking since June 2, leading to a standstill in shipbuilding operations and causing up to trillions of won in losses for the company. The workers have demanded higher wages and occupied the firm's shipyard

Yoon silent to reporters on Monday while his secretaries step up

Negotiations have stalled without progress since late May

People Power Party policy chief says income, real estate taxes priority targets

Two lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), considered closest confidants of President Yoon Suk-yeol, clashed Monday over the controversial hiring of a presidential office employee, with one of them warning the other to watch his mouth. Rep. Chang Je-won opened fire on PPP floor leader Kweon Seong-dong after Kweon said he "pressured" Chang to have a person from his constituency in the eastern city of Gangneung hired at the presidential office when Chang was chief of staff for

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Monday that probes into the previous administration's 2019 repatriation of North Korean fishermen must be conducted "in accordance with the Constitution and laws." Yoon made the remarks upon arrival at his office in response to a question about ongoing probes by prosecutors and the spy agency into the Moon Jae-in administration's repatriation of two North Koreans to Pyongyang. Yoon told reporters that he "has nothing else to say but the principle that

Speaker urges parties to promptly strike deal on new committee chairs

Race highlighted by rivalry between ‘97 Generation’ and Lee Jae-myung

The Interior Ministry finalized its plan to launch a “police bureau” to supervise the police, which has recently seen its powers increased. The National Police Agency expressed their intention to accept the plan, despite criticism from police officers. 　 On Friday, Interior Minister Lee Sang-min announced the details of the launch of the new police bureau. The new bureau will have 16 members, of which 13 would be police officials, a decision made in response to the criticism t

Her candidacy rattles Democratic Party, which says she is not allowed to run

President Yoon Suk-yeol will appoint Byeon Yang-kyoon, a well-known former economic technocrat who served as budget and planning minister, as an outside economic adviser Friday, his office said. Byeon, 72, served as chief policymaker in the presidential office of former President Roh Moo-hyun from 2006 to 2007 after spending decades working at the finance ministry and serving as budget and planning minister from 2005-06. "Many people recommended him," Yoon told reporters as he arrived

Parties reach partial deal with few details yet to be signed off