The government will finalize a decision on adjusting the infectious disease level of COVID-19 as virus cases are clearly on a downward trend, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Friday. The novel coronavirus is currently classified as "Class 1 infectious disease," the highest in the four-tier classification that falls under the same category with diseases like the Ebola virus and the Middle East respiratory syndrome, and the government is considering downgrading it by one notch. The move

Former President Park Geun-hye openly endorsed a key aide for mayor of her hometown of Daegu in June's local elections Friday, in her first political move since returning to her hometown last month following a presidential pardon. Park, who was pardoned in December after spending four years and nine months in prison on a 22-year sentence for corruption, appeared in a YouTube video to declare her support to lawyer Yoo Yeong-ha of the People Power Party (PPP), who is considered her closest aide. &

Request for prime minister nominee hearing submitted Thursday

New floor leader to work with Yoon government and pursue merger before local elections

Yoon’s transition committee reviews inviting BTS at inauguration ceremony

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol was en route to the US military base Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek on Thursday, his spokesperson said, as tensions have been running high over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. The base, located some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, serves as the headquarters of the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea. His visit comes as North Korea has ratcheted up tensions by conducting an intercontinental ballistic missile test last month. (Yonhap)

The incoming administration of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will maintain the current government structure, including the gender ministry, as it seeks to focus on addressing pending state affairs, transition team Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo said Thursday. Ahn said the transition team will announce a nominee for gender minister when it unveils a list of candidates for ministers. "It was judged that it would be better to focus on current state affairs rather than making an early decision and push

A performance by K-pop sensation BTS is not being planned for President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol’s inauguration ceremony next month, the presidential transition committee said Wednesday, denying an earlier remark by an ex-lawmaker involved in the ceremony preparation. “We have made no proposal or contact with BTS’ agency in relation to the inaugural ceremony,” the public relations office of the transition committee said in a message to the media. It added the remarks from

Transition team Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo on Wednesday called for China‘s cooperation for stability on the Korean Peninsula, as he met with Beijing’s top envoy to Seoul. Ahn and Ambassador Xing Haiming met at the transition team‘s office and discussed bilateral relations at a time of heightened tension surrounding North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. “One of my concerns is that North Korea (recently) test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile and sig

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol’s delegation discussed the possible deployment of US strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, as they agreed on the need for extended deterrence against Pyongyang’s nuclear threats, the chief delegate said Tuesday. In their 40-minute meeting in Washington, the delegation and the US side recognized North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons as threats, and agreed on strengthening the bilateral all

Kim Eun-hye, former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min to be key contenders at People Power Party

Many still intend to run in local elections despite calls for generational shift

Cabinet approved partial reserve fund for relocation on Wednesday

A pet dog is likely to appear in a postage stamp commemorating the presidential inauguration for the first time, transition team officials said Wednesday. The issuance of a commemorative postage stamp featuring President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and his pet dog Tory is said to be in the review stage in time for his inauguration slated for May 10, they said. The possible inclusion of Tory in Yoon's postage stamp may be designed to arouse public interest in the issue of pet animals in a nation where th

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol said Wednesday he plans to upgrade relations with Germany as he met with the country's top envoy to Seoul. Yoon noted during the meeting with Amb. Michael Reiffenstuel that Germany is South Korea's biggest trading partner among the member states of the European Union. "I plan to further upgrade our cooperative relations with Germany," he said at his office, noting that Germany has contributed greatly to South Korea's economic and scientific development s