Lee Jun-seok faces challenge over special committee for upcoming legislative elections

Ruling party asks promises to be kept and let its lawmaker lead judiciary committee

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Thursday he expects historical issues between South Korea and Japan to be resolved smoothly from a standpoint of future-oriented cooperation. His comment came amid news reports he could meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a NATO summit in Spain later this month for what would be the two countries' first summit in over two years. "We're preparing for it, but it's difficult to say it's been fixed," Yoon told reporters at

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Thursday that under no circumstance will violence be allowed in an ongoing nationwide strike by cargo truckers. Thousands of unionized truckers have been on strike since Tuesday to demand solutions to their rising costs amid soaring fuel prices. "Things that can be resolved through dialogue will have to be resolved," Yoon told reporters as he arrived at the presidential office, referring to talks led by the transport ministry. "But under no circumstanc

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Thursday he does not believe former President Lee Myung-bak should be kept in prison for decades, given similar instances in the past. Speculation has grown that Lee, who is serving a 17-year prison sentence for corruption, could be pardoned on the occasion of Liberation Day on Aug. 15, after the 81-year-old former president reportedly filed for a suspension of his sentence over health issues last week. "Don't you think it isn't right to have him imprisoned for

Ruling People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok was to return home Thursday from a trip to Ukraine. Lee and a group of PPP lawmakers visited the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and other cities ravaged by Russia's invasion and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials for discussions on various support measures. The delegation was scheduled to arrive at Incheon International Airport around 4 p.m., officials said. (Yonhap)

Unlike Europe, South Korea does not ban expressions of hatred against individuals or groups, unless it is tantamount to defamation. This may change soon, as some lawmakers move to protect former President Moon Jae-in from loud, vulgar rallies outside his retirement home. On Wednesday, a total of 15 lawmakers from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, to which Moon belongs, proposed a legislative motion to revise the demonstration law to ban hate speech during protests – the firs

From managing sizable social media accounts, leaving positive comments on web portals to prioritizing a favorite politician over a party, political fandoms are getting more organized and louder online

Ukrainian president requests Lee to convey his request for military aid to Yoon

Woo Sang-ho merely a referee to oversee the internal feud, experts say

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Wednesday that a potential pardon for jailed former President Lee Myung-bak "is not an issue to talk about now." Yoon made the remark to reporters upon arrival at the presidential office following news reports that Lee filed for a suspension of his sentence and could be included in beneficiaries of a presidential pardon that could be carried out to mark Aug. 15 Liberation Day. "This is not an issue to talk about now," Yoon said when asked to comme

Former President Lee Myung-bak, now serving a 17-year prison time for corruption, has filed for a suspension of his sentence, citing health issues, prosecution sources said Wednesday. The 81-year-old's petition was filed with the Anyang branch of the Suwon District Prosecutors Office, 23 kilometers south of Seoul, on Friday, they said. The prosecution office said it will hold a deliberation committee meeting and decide whether to release Lee from the Anyang Correctional Institution. Lee, wh

President Yoon Suk-yeol named ambassadors to the United Nations, Japan, China and Russia on Tuesday. Yoon appointed Hwang Joon-kook (62), former ambassador to the United Kingdom, as ambassador to the United Nations, and Yun Duk-min (63), former head of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, as ambassador to Japan. Chung Jae-ho (62), a professor of foreign affairs at Seoul National University, was appointed ambassador to China, while Chang Ho-jin (61), a chair professor at Korea Maritime &

Beleaguered party looks to retired, reputable heavyweights

A personnel vetting unit under the justice ministry officially went into operation Tuesday, taking over the role of looking into the qualifications of senior position candidates from the presidential office, officials said. Following up on his campaign promise, President Yoon Suk-yeol abolished the office of the presidential senior civil affairs secretary that had been in charge of vetting candidates for Cabinet seats and other senior government jobs amid illegal surveillance accusations. Instea