Liberal party looks to push bill to final vote Friday

Japanese politicians anger Koreans, as president-elect readies delegation to Japan to restore relations

President Moon Jae-in formally appointed a former veteran International Monetary Fund official, Rhee Chang-yong, as new head of the Bank of Korea (BOK) on Thursday after the National Assembly adopted a report on his confirmation hearing. Rhee, former director of the Asia and Pacific department at the IMF, was nominated last month to succeed former BOK Gov. Lee Ju-yeol, whose term ended on March 31. During a parliamentary hearing, Rhee said the BOK will continue to tighten its monetary policy to

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has proposed the transition team of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol to ease the country’s taxes on property, it said Wednesday. 　 The Seoul city government said it delivered its property tax revision scheme to the transition team on Tuesday. The proposal asks the transition team to bump up the minimum value of property in the highest tax bracket from the current 500 million won ($404,000) to 900 million won. Officials from the Seoul city government expl

Prosecutors continue to oppose the bill while Yoon distances himself from prosecution-related controversy

The leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea has ruled out Reps. Song Young-gil and Park Ju-min from the Seoul mayoral candidate selection, sparking an internal feud over whether it was fair to exclude key figures without undergoing primaries. The internal nomination committee of the liberal party decided late Tuesday to exclude Song and Park from the list of possible nominees in the upcoming local elections, hinting the party will search for another candidate to bear its flag and compete wi

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday called for more efforts to help improve mobility for the disabled, saying society's indifference is blamed for their mobility problems. "We must blame ourselves for our lack of interest for disabled people's right to move," Moon said in a message to mark the 42nd Day of People with Disabilities. "A world without discrimination is the path we should go." "The pace of disabled and non-disabled people is also different, but we are living t

National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug has put an overseas travel plan on hold, an official said Wednesday, amid the ruling Democratic Party's push for legislation that would deprive the prosecution of its investigative powers. The decision was seen as aimed at giving the DP more time to consider the controversial legislation without rushing as the party has vowed to pass the bills through the National Assembly before Park departs on a 10-day trip to the United States and Canada later this w

The foreign minister's official residence is being considered as a new venue for incoming President Yoon Suk-yeol's residence, officials said Wednesday. The official residence of the Army chief of staff had originally been considered a top candidate for Yoon's residence following his plan to relocate the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae to the defense ministry compound in Yongsan, central Seoul. But officials said the Army chief's home is too outdated and run-down for a presidential residence.

A larger than previously planned number of people will be invited to attend President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's inaugural ceremony slated for early next month amid eased virus restrictions, according to Yoon's transition team Tuesday. Some 41,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony, including political leaders, citizens and bereaved families of sailors killed in North Korea's sinking of the Cheonan warship in 2010, the transition team said. The transition team said more people than previo

Following Yoon’s nomination of close confidant, opponents claim Yoon forming “republic of prosecutors”

Democratic Party starts deliberations to have the bill passed within weeks

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday thanked people and medical workers for their efforts to battle COVID-19 as South Korea removed all social distancing measures, except a mask mandate, and returned to normal life. "With social distancing fully lifted, people regained their daily lives," Moon told a Cabinet meeting. "I sincerely thank people, epidemic prevention and medical workers for their cooperation." Starting Monday, restaurants, cafes and many other business establishments

President Moon Jae-in paid his respects Tuesday to those killed in a 1960 pro-democracy civil uprising that led to the ousting of South Korea's first President Syngman Rhee. Moon offered flowers and burned incense before holding a moment of silence at a national cemetery in northern Seoul that holds the remains of 186 people killed in the "April 19 Revolution." In a message posted on social media, Moon said the civil uprising proved that all state authority shall emanate from people. &

Ahn expected to create ‘pro-Ahn force’ and run for party leader next June