The nominee to head the country's spy agency vowed Wednesday to significantly bolster the agency's intelligence capabilities on North Korea amid rising tensions in the wake of Pyongyang's missile launches. "If I can serve as the director of the National Intelligence Service, I will sharply reinforce intelligence capabilities on North Korea, such as early detection of provocation signs," Kim Kyou-hyun said during his confirmation hearing. "I will reform and reform ag

The office of President Yoon Suk-yeol strongly condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches as a grave provocation Wednesday as Yoon ordered measures to ensure the US "extended deterrence" commitment to South Korea. The presidential office released the statement shortly after Yoon presided over a National Security Council meeting to discuss North Korea's launch of three ballistic missiles, including a presumed intercontinental ballistic missile, earlier in the day. "The pa

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Tuesday that in the process of appointing public officials, he will work to give "bold opportunities" to women, amid calls for his administration to enhance gender equality.    Yoon made the remarks during his meeting with outgoing leaders of the National Assembly at his office in Seoul, according to presidential spokesperson Kang In-sun.    "I will work hard to give bold opportunities to women when it comes to public personnel a

President Yoon Suk-yeol said it is necessary for Korea’s future energy sources to be a “rational” mix of nuclear power, renewable energy and natural gas to achieve carbon neutrality amid global supply chain instability and rising energy prices. Yoon attended the 28th World Gas Conference held at Exco in Daegu on Tuesday, his first public attendance at an international event since taking office. The World Gas Conference is the world’s largest international event in the

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Tuesday met with Rep. Yun Ho-jung, a co-chair of the Democratic Party of Korea’s interim leadership committee, in a gesture seeking cooperation from the country’s main opposition party. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Han visited Yun first before he met with leaders of the ruling People Power Party. This move showed his enthusiasm to cooperate with the opposition party, at least on the surface. Overall, Han’s first encounter with the main opposition

Lee Jung-hyun, once a big name in the conservative bloc, is seeking a return to politics after a five-year hiatus, this time running for the governor of South Jeolla Province. Lee, a former head of the main conservative party and a close aide of ousted former President Park Geun-hye, had left politics after Park’s impeachment in 2017. Having left the central arena, Lee has returned to his political hometown. “I wanted a fresh start, working my way upward,” Lee told The

Democratic Party candidate faces uphill battle in southern port city

The justice ministry will set up a new organization in charge of personnel vetting of civil servant candidates, officials said Tuesday, in line with President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's pledge to abolish the office of senior presidential secretary for civil affairs. The ministry issued a public notice on its push for a partial revision of the law governing the ministry's organizational structure to establish the new organization in charge of vetting senior public officials, Cabinet members

President Yoon Suk-yeol has ranked among US magazine Time's 100 most influential people of 2022, its website showed Tuesday. Yoon, who was inaugurated two weeks ago, was chosen in the category of leaders. He was introduced as a "a former prosecutor with little foreign policy experience" who is "determined to take on the challenge" of North Korea's nuclear weapons program. "On the campaign trail, Yoon, of the conservative People Power Party, called for a tougher

Health minister nominee Chung Ho-young withdrew Monday amid controversy over his children's school admissions and other issues. The former chief of Kyungpook National University Hospital has been under pressure to step down from both the ruling and opposition parties. "I will serve as a nest egg for the success of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties," he said in a statement. Chung was nominated in April to head the healt

At his first major diplomatic event, president gets called out for his male-heavy Cabinet

President Yoon Suk-yeol’s first regular Cabinet meeting on Thursday to go without two ministers due to delayed appointment of health and education ministers

Over 126,000 foreign nationals, 80 percent Chinese, eligible to vote in June 1 elections

Ruling party’s Heo targets new tourism assets in gubernatorial bid

Gubernatorial candidate emphasizes environment and residents' needs