The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is ready to pass controversial bills on Wednesday, the final day of the regular session of the National Assembly.　 The party vows to ram through its revision to the law on the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials or CIO. The revised bill neutralizes the opposition party’s veto for recommended CIO heads. In short, the ruling party is intent on getting a figure on its side appointed to head the office. In that

In a session of a parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and unification last week, ruling party lawmakers unilaterally passed a controversial bill aimed at banning the flying of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the inter-Korean border into the North. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea, which commands an overwhelming parliamentary majority, is planning to ram it through during a plenary session of the National Assembly on Wednesday. If enacted, the proposed revision to the Development of I

The court ruling and the conclusion by the inspection committee of the Justice Ministry confirm suspicions that Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae took illegitimate steps in order to get Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl dismissed. Law-breaking conduct by a handful of ministry officials and prosecutors who helped Choo could be grounds for her prosecution later. The court ruled Tuesday that her order of excluding Yoon from duty is neglect of the prosecution’s independence and political neutralit

China is renewing efforts toward concluding a free trade agreement with South Korea and Japan in an apparent attempt to erode US influence in the region by forming a framework encompassing the three Northeast Asian economic powers in its favor. During his visit to Seoul and Tokyo last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi raised the need to make an active push for the trilateral FTA. Negotiations on the envisioned deal among the three countries have made little progress since kicking off in 20