Lee Jun-seok seen as being distanced from presidential office

The Supreme Court finalized a 1 1/2-year prison term for former National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Hyun-oh on Thursday for mobilizing police forces to spread pro-government opinions online between 2010 and 2012. Cho was indicted on charges of obstructing the execution of official duties for having mobilized police personnel to post tens of thousands of online comments supportive of the then-Lee Myung-bak administration while he was serving as chief of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agenc

Police on Thursday questioned a businessman in connection with allegations that he paid for sexual services as a bribe to now-ruling People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Lee Jun-seok about 10 years ago. The National Police Agency said a team of investigators questioned Kim Sung-jin, CEO of the tech company I-kaist, who is currently locked up at the Seoul Detention Center over a separate case. Lee is accused of receiving sexual services paid for by Kim in 2013. At the time, Lee was considered close

A ruling People Power Party lawmaker resigned as chief of staff to party Chairman Lee Jun-seok on Thursday ahead of an ethics committee meeting the party plans to hold over allegations Lee received sexual services as a bribe about 10 years ago and attempted to cover it up. In a text message to the press, Rep. Park Seong-min said he quit for unspecified personal reasons, but the resignation came a week before the PPP's ethics committee holds a meeting to determine whether and how to discipli

South Korea will seek close cooperation with China to peacefully address threats posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Thursday. Han made the remarks at a forum marking the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between Seoul and Beijing, amid growing concerns about the possibility of Pyongyang carrying out a nuclear test. "We will closely cooperate with China to peacefully resolve the North Korean nuclear issue," Han told the f

Nearly six out of 10 South Koreans feel first lady Kim Keon-hee has not done well in her role over the first month and a half of President Yoon Suk-yeol‘s term, a survey showed Wednesday. Data Research polled 1,000 South Korean adults Monday on Kim’s performance as first lady so far. And 56.3 percent of the respondents said Kim has either done an extremely poor job (41.4 percent) or an inadequate job (14.9 percent) in her position. In contrast, 36.6 percent said Kim has either do

First lady Kim Keon-hee is currently in Spain accompanying President Yoon Suk-yeol on a five-day trip to Europe to attend the NATO summit. After arriving in Madrid on Monday, Kim’s first official activity was a visit to the Korean Cultural Center in the capital city on Tuesday afternoon.  Later in the evening, the presidential couple attended a dinner hosted by Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.      　

SEJONG, -- Prime Minister Han Duck-soo has said it would be a lack of courtesy for China to take issue with President Yoon Suk-yeol taking part in a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Han made the remarks during a dinner meeting with reporters Tuesday as Yoon was in Madrid to attend the NATO summit. South Korea is not a member of NATO but was invited to the summit along with Japan, Australia and New Zealand as the organization's Asia-Pacific partners. China has opposed

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon was to depart for the United States on Wednesday for a nine-day visit that includes a meeting with the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), officials said. Upon arrival in Washington, Han will hold meetings with two of the World Bank's vice presidents to discuss anti-cybercrime cooperation. On Thursday, he is scheduled to meet with FBI Director Christopher Wray to discuss cooperation in personnel vetting and investigation. The trip also inclu

Police to question key figure in sexual bribery case Thursday

Party looks to unilaterally open provisional assembly, appoint new speaker

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Tuesday called for ministers to come up with measures to help stabilize inflation, as soaring prices hurt consumers' pocketbooks. "The government must make utmost efforts to manage prices in order to stabilize the livelihood of people and make every effort to reduce the cost of living for people," Han told a Cabinet meeting. South Korea is facing mounting inflationary pressure, as the protracted Russian invasion of Ukraine has jacked up crude oil and

SUWON -- A district prosecutors office was set to make a decision Tuesday on whether to grant imprisoned former President Lee Myung-bak's request to suspend his 17-year sentence handed down for corruption, officials said. The Suwon District Prosecutors Office will hold a deliberation committee meeting at 2 p.m. to determine whether to release Lee from the Anyang Correctional Institution, according to the officials. The 81-year-old former president filed the petition in early June, citing hi

S. Korea could observe first Constitution Day without incumbent speaker in 24 years

President Yoon Suk-yeol's disapproval rating has again exceeded his approval rating, a survey showed Monday. The Realmeter survey of 2,515 voters conducted from Monday to Friday showed 46.6 percent of respondents approved of the way Yoon handled state affairs while 47.7 percent gave a negative assessment of his performance. It was the second survey that put Yoon's disapproval rating above his approval rating after the first one, conducted by Rnsearch from June 18-21, in which 47.6 perc