The ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the government revised the Housing Lease Protection Act to restrict jeonse (rent-free lease) deposit increases to 5 percent, but in practice landlords will find it effectively impossible to raise deposits without tenants’ consent. In revising the law last month, they added a new article banning landlords from raising deposits by 5 percent or more, but did not specify that tenants must accept increases within that amount. Recently, the Ministry of L

Since taking office last month, Unification Minister Lee In-young, a student activist-turned-lawmaker known for his accommodating approach to North Korea, has been eager to make a breakthrough in stalled inter-Korean relations. He has pitched, in particular, small-scale trade with the North as a “creative” way to enhance inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation while avoiding violating international sanctions imposed on the recalcitrant regime for its nuclear and ballistic missile tes

Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon and his Sarang Jeil Church are largely responsible for the resurgence of COVID-19. This is undeniable. They flouted social distancing instructions, obstructed contact tracing and refused testing. They deserve condemnation. But the government and the Democratic Party of Korea cannot be immune to responsibility for their failure to contain the virus. New infections are increasing rapidly and throughout the country. Now is the time for the entire nation to unite to beat the ep

In a briefing about Saturday’s talks between top South Korean and Chinese officials, Cheong Wa Dae said the two sides agreed to finalize Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “early visit” to South Korea once the novel coronavirus situation here stabilizes. Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo, confirmed that South Korea is at the top of the list of countries Xi will travel to, said presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok. Yang held a four-hour m

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is seeking to authorize the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to track people’s financial accounts in connection with their real estate transactions. Rep. Huh Young said last week he will propose an amendment to the real estate transaction report law to grant such authority to the ministry. Currently, the prosecution, the police, and the National Tax Service can access people’s financial information after obtaining court warrants. T

In a meeting with US Ambassador Harry Harris on Tuesday, South Korea’s Unification Minister Lee In-young called for an upgrade to the two countries’ joint “working group” on matters related to North Korea. Lee said the operation and functions of the working group should be revamped in a way that “facilitates the development of inter-Korean relations and Korean Peninsula peace policy.” He added that it was time for “Working Group Version 2.0.” Des

Blunt anti-Japanese remarks by Kim Won-woong, head of the Heritage of Korean Independence, are fanning split in public sentiment about history issues. 　 His words, which are close to sophistry, infuriate most members of the public, but the ruling Democratic Party of Korea chimes in with him.　 In an address to mark the 75th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945) on Aug. 15, he said that Syngman Rhee (1875-1965) colluded with those who had collaborated wi