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LATEST NEWS

Security cooperation still possible even after GSOMIA ends, says Moon
Railway union launches indefinite walkout nationwide
Unique ondol found at Gyeongbokgung pavilion
With Samsung’s lead, Korean TV makers dominate global market
Samsung SDI pledges to reduce wage gap with contractors
Korean, Japanese lawyers demand action for forced labor victims
BTS will not be exempted from military service: culture minister
[Editorial] Generational change
S. Korea’s producer prices slip for 4th month in Oct.
[Kim Myong-sik] Suggesting plebiscite on energy denuclearization

Today Foreign Affairs

Security cooperation still possible even after GSOMIA ends, says Moon

As an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan is set to expire Friday at midnight, South Korean President Moon Jae-in underscored that Tokyo has given Seoul just cause to terminate the agreement. Speaking at a question-and-answer session that was televised live on Tuesday, Moon also said he would work until the last minute with Japan to avoid the termination of the 2016 General Security of Military Information Agreement -- but that Tokyo still has to act first to normalize trade.In August, Kor

Railway union launches indefinite walkout nationwide

The unionized workers of state-run rail operator Korail and its affiliated companies began an indefinite strike at 9 a.m. Wednesday.A crowd bustled in front of the ticket boxes at Seoul Station on Wednesday afternoon, several hours after the Korean Railway Workers’ Union started their general walkout. Three to four Korail staff were ushering customers to the self-service kiosks while many stood confused, waiting for help. Seo Jung-min, 32, who travels to Seoul from Busan at least twi

Today
Social affairs
Korean, Japanese lawyers demand action for forced labor victims

South Korean and Japanese legal professionals on Wednesday called for action to enforce Korean Supreme Court rulings holding Japanese firms responsible for compensating Koreans forced to work in their factories during Japan’s colonial rule of Korea. The legal professionals, representing six Korean and seven Japanese lawyers’ groups, jointly released a statement urging the Japanese companies to respect the rulings and the Japanese government not to impede the compensation process. It

Today
Social affairs
Lawmakers criticize US negotiation tactic, calling it diplomatic discourtesy

US Ambassador Harry Harris and his negotiation team for a defense cost-sharing deal have come under fire for what lawmakers here called “diplomatic discourtesy” as they continue to demand that South Korea pay more for the upkeep of US troops stationed here. The US team, led by James DeHart of the State Department, left the negotiation table earlier than planned Tuesday, the second day of talks in Seoul with the South Korean delegation for the third round of the 11th Special Measures

Today
Foreign Affairs
[Newsmaker] Moon’s televised town hall meeting draws mixed reactions

President Moon Jae-in’s television appearance on Tuesday is being met with mixed reactions from the public and political arena. On Tuesday, Moon took part in an unscripted question-and-answer session televised live on major terrestrial and cable networks. The program invited 300 members of the public -- selected to represent South Korea’s demographics -- to pose any question to the president. Although the program gave members of the public a chance to address the president direc

Today
Politics
Railway workers begin strike, demanding higher wages

DAEJEON -- Railway workers across South Korea went on strike Wednesday calling for higher wages and greater recruitment, potentially affecting a majority of rail services nationwide.The collective action by the unionized workers came as overnight negotiations with the railway operator fell through.Around 30 to 70 percent of passenger trains, including the KTX bullet train, intercity subways and the Saemaeul and Mugungwha services, as well as cargo trains, are forecast to be affected by the strik

Today
Social affairs
Moon vows to maintain security cooperation with Japan despite looming GSOMIA expiry

President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday his government will try "till the last moment" to avoid the termination of an accord with Japan on exchanging military information but he made clear that depends on Tokyo's stance on its export restriction against Seoul. Although the agreement, known as GSOMIA, is schedule to come to an end this weekend, South Korea will maintain partnerships with Japan on regional security, he added.US officials have voiced worries about potential negative impact on

Today
Foreign Affairs
Esper refuses to speculate on US troops reduction in S. Korea

WASHINGTON -- US Defense Secretary Mark Esper refused to speculate when asked Tuesday whether the US would consider reducing troops in South Korea short of a deal on defense cost-sharing.Esper was asked the question during a briefing with reporters near Manila, the Philippines, after the US walked out of defense cost-sharing negotiations with South Korea in Seoul.The US is reportedly seeking an increase of Seoul's contribution to $5 billion from the current $870 million for this year to support

Today
Defense
2 S. Koreans seized by Houthi rebels released

Two South Koreans who were seized by Houthi rebels in Yemen earlier this week have been released, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. The two, whose identities were withheld, were among 16 people on three boats seized by the rebels Monday for allegedly violating their territorial waters.All of them were released, along with their vessels, early Wednesday morning (Korea time) and are safe and well, the ministry said, adding the families of the two Koreans were informed of the release. The two Ko

Today
Foreign Affairs
Moon says volunteer military system needs time

South Korea needs to move to a volunteer military system, but the switch from the current conscription system will need time and preparation, President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday. “(A volunteer system) is something our society must move toward. But at present, the conditions are not right to introduce a volunteer system, (the change) needs to be planned in the mid- to long-term,” Moon said, speaking in a live televised question-and-answer session with 300 selected civilians. Moon

Nov 19, 2019
Politics
National Assembly passes 89 bills on people's livelihoods, economy

The National Assembly passed 89 bills related to people's livelihoods and the economy Tuesday in the midst of lingering partisan tensions over key reform proposals. A plenary session was held to put the non-controversial bills up for vote amid persistent political wrangling over key political and judiciary reform bills that were placed on the fast-track despite objections from the main opposition party.It was the second plenary meeting dedicated to passing legislation during the ongoing parliame

Nov 19, 2019
Politics
Govt. to allow individual tourists to visit inter-Korean truce village

South Korea is pushing to allow its citizens to make individual visits to the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone, which separates the two Koreas, the unification ministry said Tuesday.The Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Promotion Council approved the 1.4 billion won ($1.2 million) expenditure plan to set up a new system to manage visits to Panmunjom, including the launch of a new website for online application for such visits, according to the ministry. The area has been

Nov 19, 2019
Politics
Pyongyang says denuke talks with US ‘impossible’ unless US drops hostile policy

North Korea’s chief nuclear negotiator said Tuesday dialogue with the United States will be “impossible” unless it abandons its hostile policy against the communist regime. Kim Myong-gil, the roving ambassador at the North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, also emphasized again that the US should not try to involve a third party in their relationship, according to an interview with Korean Central News Agency. “As we have already reiterated several times, the DPRK-US d

Nov 19, 2019
North Korea
Gangwon governor calls for resumption of Kumgangsan tours

The South Korean government should resume tours to North Korea’s Kumgangsan, Gangwon Province Gov. Choi Moon-soon urged Tuesday. “Resumption of the Kumgangsan tours is the deepest wish of the Korean people, and a matter of survival for Gangwon Province and its Goseong County,” Choi said at a press conference held at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club. “The tours will help North Korea to open up to the outside world and usher in peace and stability on the Ko

Nov 19, 2019
Social affairs
[Newsmaker] State broadcaster accused of demoting reporters over critical coverage of ex-minister

The national public broadcaster KBS is accused of unfairly punishing its reporters for running unfavorable stories on Cho Kuk, a close Moon Jae-in aide and former justice minister.A KBS labor union said in a statement Monday that nine reporters who covered criminal suspicions surrounding Cho faced unwarranted demotions last week. The reporters at the broadcaster’s radio news bureau have been reassigned to non-reporting positions and night shift jobs, according to the statement. “This

Nov 19, 2019
Social affairs

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