[Bills in Focus] Aircraft tariffs exemption, national pension reform

Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Customs Act Proposed by Rep. Park Soo-young (People Power Party) ● Proposed by Rep. Park, this bill aims to extend tariff exemptions on imported aircraft parts until the end of 2029 to alleviate costs in aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, which rely heavily on global supply chains. Under the current law, import tariffs on aircraft parts are fully exempt until the end of this year. Starting next year, the exemption rate is set to decrease by 20 percent

Oct. 28, 2024

Yoon's office reviews economic impact of Israel's attack on Iran, safety of S. Koreans in Middle East

SEOUL, Oct. 27-- South Korea's presidential office on Sunday held a meeting to discuss the economic impact of Israel's recent attack on Iran, and measures to protect and evacuate its nationals in the Middle East in the event of an emergency. Early Saturday, Israel's military conducted strikes against various targets in Iran, including missile manufacturing facilities, in response to Iran's missile attack earlier this month, according to foreign media reports. The office of

Oct. 27, 2024

First lady’s controversies to top agenda at meeting of party leaders

Controversies surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee are likely to top the agenda at the upcoming second meeting between the leaders of the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party, observers said Sunday. People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon and Democratic Party Rep. Lee Jae-myung recently agreed to hold a second round of talks, following up on their first official meeting in early September. The date for the second meeting, however, is yet to be announced. The agreeme

Oct. 27, 2024

Govt. plans to unveil road map to tackle low birth rate, aging population

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration plans to unveil a population strategy road map next year, coinciding with the launch of a new ministry dedicated to addressing South Korea’s declining birth rate and rapidly aging population, the presidential office announced Sunday. You Hye-mi, senior presidential secretary for low birth rate issues, underscored the initiative, noting that "with the establishment of the ministry of population strategy and planning, defining the ministry’s vision

Oct. 27, 2024

Yoon calls for measures to protect Koreans amid escalating Iran-Israel conflicts

  President Yoon Suk Yeol called for all-out measures to protect Korean nationals amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, the presidential office said Saturday. Earlier in the day, Israel launched a series of airstrikes against Iran in return for the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile barrage on Israel earlier in the month. "The top priority is to protect Korean nationals (in Iran and Israel), and all necessary measures should be drawn up to prepare for worsening situations

Oct. 26, 2024

Pyongyang erects blockades along inter-Korean railways

In a latest development in North Korea’s isolationist policy, new blockades were being built along inter-Korean railways running along the east and west sides of the Korean Peninsula to fortify the border areas, South Korea's Unification Ministry confirmed Friday. Kim In-ae, vice spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification in Seoul, said in a briefing that North Korea "had already built barriers at the undermined sections of Donghae lines through additional construction projects.&quo

Oct. 25, 2024

Opposition slams Yoon's suggestion to send offensive weapons to Ukraine

South Korea's main opposition party lawmakers on Friday rallied in the halls of the National Assembly to condemn President Yoon Suk Yeol for his proposed shift in Ukraine aid policy in response to North Korean troop deployment by Russia. “The Yoon administration is reportedly considering providing ‘offensive weapons’ to Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops. This is an incredibly dangerous idea that treats people’s lives like pawns i

Oct. 25, 2024

Yoon's national security adviser in Washington for three-way talks: Seoul

Shin Won-sik, national security adviser for President Yoon Suk Yeol, is scheduled to attend a trilateral meeting of the top national security aides representing South Korea, the United States and Japan, according to the presidential office on Friday. "Shin is on a trip to the US to attend the meeting there scheduled on Friday," an official of the presidential office said on condition of anonymity. The three-way meeting is meant to discuss "ways to maintain continuity in the cooper

Oct. 25, 2024

Yoon's approval rating matches all-time low: Gallup Korea

President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating fell 2 percentage points to 20 percent in the fourth week of October, matching the record-low previously recorded in the second week of September, according to a weekly estimate by Gallup Korea on Friday. Additionally, the number of South Koreans who disapproved of the job Yoon was doing hit 70 percent -- an all-time high. The pollster's survey conducted Tuesday to Thursday on 1,001 respondents indicated that issues surrounding Yoon's wife

Oct. 25, 2024

Yoon says S. Korean-made arms will safeguard Poland

President Yoon Suk Yeol said weapons manufactured in South Korea will safeguard Poland's national security, as Yoon hosted a state dinner for Polish President Andrzej Duda Thursday, according to Yoon's office on Friday. Yoon was quoted by his office as saying that South Korea and Poland recognize the significance of national security, adding he was confident that South Korean-made arms will protect the land and air of Poland, and Polish-made drones will safeguard South Korea's lan

Oct. 25, 2024

PPP leader's call to appoint inspector for presidential family corruption sparks internal rift

Ruling People Power Party (PPP) chief Han Dong-hoon's call for appointing an independent inspector general investigating corruption by the president's family has sparked internal conflict, driving a wedge between him and the floor leader. During a supreme council meeting Thursday, Han reiterated his calls to begin the process to appoint an independent inspector general responsible for investigating corruption by the president's spouse, close relatives and senior presidential aides

Oct. 24, 2024

Prosecutors again demand W3m fine for DP leader's wife

Prosecutors on Thursday reaffirmed their demand for a fine of 3 million won ($2,174) against the wife of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung on charges of providing free meals to several people ahead of the 2021 party election to pick a presidential candidate. The Suwon District Prosecutors Office demanded the fine against Kim Hye-kyung during the closing hearing on charges of election law violations. She was indicted for providing meals worth 104,000 won to the wives of three former and current p

Oct. 24, 2024

Critics slam this year's parliamentary audit as 'worst ever'

This year's National Assembly audit was slammed by critics on Thursday as the worst to date, with civic groups denouncing both sides of the political sphere for failing to carry out a proper audit. A monitoring group consisting of 270 different local civic groups here graded this year’s National Assembly audit a near-failing score of D-minus. The National Assembly Audit NGO Monitoring Group called this year’s parliamentary audit, which kicked off Oct. 7 and is set to wrap up Fri

Oct. 24, 2024

Yoon, Duda seek stronger defense ties

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Polish President Andrzej Duda agreed to strengthen their bilateral partnership in the fields of defense equipment, carbon-free energy and technology, as Yoon on Thursday received the Polish leader on a state visit to South Korea. Yoon conveyed Seoul's intention to complete negotiations over the second batch of South Korea's K2 tank exports during a joint press conference after the summit in his office in Seoul. "The two countries will actively support t

Oct. 24, 2024

In first, North Korea drops leaflets targeting South Korean presidential couple

North Korea on Thursday flew another batch of trash balloons toward the South, most of which landed in Seoul and nearby areas, including Yongsan where the presidential office is located, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff. For the first time since the balloon offensive began in May, the balloons carried leaflets targeting President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee. Some leaflets called Yoon a “thug” while others accused the first lady of going on extravagant

Oct. 24, 2024

DP to push bill targeting first lady for vote at next month's plenary session

The main opposition Democratic Party plans to push for the passage of a bill calling for a special counsel probe into allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee at a parliamentary plenary session next month, an official said Thursday. The DP has previously voted for two similar bills, only to see them scrapped in revotes conducted following President Yoon Suk Yeol's vetoes. A DP official told Yonhap News Agency that a new bill is likely to be reviewed in the legislation and judiciary par

Oct. 24, 2024

NIS says some 3,000 North Korean soldiers deployed for Russia

The South Korean spy agency believes up to 10,000 members of North Korean forces could be deployed in Russia’s war on Ukraine by December, according to vice chairs of the National Assembly intelligence committee on Wednesday. “To date around 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia, with an additional 1,500 to be dispatched sometime soon. By December, the number of soldiers dispatched is expected to total 10,000,” Rep. Park Sun-won told reporters after he was briefe

Oct. 23, 2024

Han intensifies call for Kim Keon Hee special probe

Han Dong-hoon, chief of the ruling People Power Party, reiterated his call for an independent inspector general's probe into first lady Kim Keon Hee in a party meeting Wednesday, saying such a probe is a crucial step for the ruling bloc to restore public trust. Han's proposal, however, immediately prompted opposition from within the ruling conservative party. "We have promised the people that we will start working to recommend candidates for a special inspector general," Han

Oct. 23, 2024

Top security officials of S. Korea, Poland express concerns over NK-Russia military ties

The top security officials of South Korea and Poland on Wednesday expressed concerns over growing military ties between North Korea and Russia and agreed to expand their nations' security and defense industry cooperation in response, the presidential office said. National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik held a meeting with his Polish counterpart, Jacek Siewiera, ahead of a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday. The two officials disc

Oct. 23, 2024

PM vows to closely communicate with Natl. Assembly to enact law for AI industry

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday the government will collaborate with the National Assembly to promptly enact a law supporting the artificial intelligence industry. Han underscored the importance of the proposed AI Act, which aims to establish a legal framework promoting the AI industry while ensuring the safe use of the technology. "(The government) will closely communicate with the National Assembly to promptly pass the AI Act," Han said during a conference in Seoul. "

Oct. 23, 2024