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Special counsel raids police, lawmakers in ex-first lady probe
A special counsel team raided the national police agency as well as the offices and homes of current and former lawmakers Tuesday as part of its investigation into corruption allegations involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee, legal sources said. In a statement to the media, the team said it was executing a search warrant at the Korean National Police Agency to obtain relevant materials in cooperation with the agency. The team also dispatched prosecutors to a police station in Chuncheon, about
July 8, 2025 -
People Power Party lawmakers briefed by Israeli envoy in Seoul
Rafael Harpaz, the Israeli ambassador in Seoul, held a closed-door briefing with People Power Party lawmakers on Tuesday at the invitation of Rep. Yu Yong-weon. According to the Israeli Embassy, the briefing focused on the recent Israel-Iran conflict and its implications for the Korean Peninsula and the surrounding region. Among the lawmakers who attended Tuesday's briefing is Rep. Kim Jung-jae, who heads the People Power Party's policy committee. Yu, who arranged the briefing, said in a press s
July 8, 2025 -
South Korea eyes further negotiations as US sets new tariff deadline
After the White House's announcement of steep tariff hikes on 14 countries, South Korea looked to Washington for further negotiations, hoping to blunt the impact before the measures take effect next month. Unveiling a new deadline of Aug. 1, which had previously been July 8, the letter signed by US President Donald Trump indicated that most South Korean goods entering the US will be charged a tariff of 25 percent. The rate would not stack on top of sector-specific tariffs — such as for cars, aut
July 8, 2025 -
Lee's Cabinet picks to face hearings starting next week
President Lee Jae Myung's Cabinet nominees will face the scrutiny of the National Assembly starting from July 14. The main opposition People Power Party on Tuesday launched a committee to prepare for the confirmation hearings about to get underway. The People Power Party said experts in respective fields will participate in the committee for outside input. Rep. Song Eon-seog, the People Power Party's floor leader, said the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the Lee administration were feared t
July 8, 2025 -
Lee asks ruling, opposition parties to join hands to improve people's livelihoods
President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday asked the ruling and opposition parties to join hands to revive people's livelihoods, calling them partners to move toward a better life for the people. Lee made the remarks at a Cabinet meeting, expressing his gratitude for the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party forming a consultative body to discuss how to proceed with election pledges. Lee asked "the ruling and opposition parties to gather their wisdom in a way that helps peop
July 8, 2025 -
Govt. to monitor financial volatility after Trump's tariff letters
The government will closely monitor domestic and offshore financial markets for any increased volatility as US President Donald Trump's letters to major trading partners on his tariff plans may have exacerbated market uncertainties, Seoul's vice finance minister said Tuesday. "Under close cooperation with relevant agencies, we will closely monitor developments related to US tariffs and their impact on financial markets and the real economy," First Vice Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il said in an e
July 8, 2025 -
Presidential office to hold response meeting as Trump unveils tariffs, extends deadline
The presidential office said it will hold a response meeting with relevant ministries Tuesday to discuss measures for tariff negotiations with the United States, as US President Donald Trump said Washington will impose 25 percent tariffs on South Korean goods but extended a deadline for the talks. Kim Yong-beom, presidential chief of staff for policy, will preside over the meeting at 1:30 p.m., which will be attended by senior aides, the minister of government policy coordination and senior offi
July 8, 2025 -
Cardinal hopes for historic moment: Pope with leaders of two Koreas
Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik on Monday expressed hopes for a historic moment where Pope Leo XIV and the leaders of the two Koreas meet together, in a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at his office in Seoul. Cardinal You, who also serves as the prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy at the Vatican, conveyed his wishes of the pope, Lee and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to take a photo together, in hopes of thawing inter-Korean relations. "At the final line (of my memo to the
July 7, 2025 -
Lee asks new PM to actively address prolonged med school crisis
President Lee Jae Myung on Monday asked new Prime Minister Kim Min-seok to "actively deal" and come up with solutions for the government's prolonged standoff with the medical community over medical school quotas and health care reform. Woo Sang-ho, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, told a press briefing that Lee made the request during a luncheon with Kim, following the new prime minister's inauguration ceremony held in the morning. "There was a report that the prime minister
July 7, 2025 -
Lee’s approval rating hits 60% a month into term: poll
President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating has surpassed 60 percent for the first time since taking office on June 4, according to a Realmeter poll released Monday. The survey, conducted from June 30 to Friday on 2,508 respondents aged 18 and older, found that 62.1 percent said Lee was “doing well” in handling state affairs. Meanwhile, 31.4 percent said he was “doing poorly,” and 6.5 percent responded that they were “not sure.” Lee’s approval rating has risen for four consecutive weeks. Compared
July 7, 2025 -
Lee's office considers splitting Finance Ministry
South Korea is poised to undergo a major government reorganization, with President Lee Jae Myung's office currently reviewing the State Affairs Planning Committee's proposals, one of which could strip the Ministry of Economy and Finance of its power to set out the government's annual spending plans. The presidential office "received the State Affairs Planning Committee's government reorganization proposal on Thursday, and the proposal is currently undergoing an internal review," Lee's spokespers
July 7, 2025 -
Ahn Cheol-soo quits party reform post to enter leadership race
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the main opposition People Power Party announced Monday that he will step down as head of the party's new Innovation Committee, and said he will run for party chairmanship instead. Ahn attributed his resignation to internal conflict, reportedly having clashed with floor leader Song Eon-seok, who also serves as the party’s interim leader, over the composition of the committee. Ahn was tapped to lead the innovation body on Thursday after receiving approval from the party's em
July 7, 2025 -
PM inaugurated at ceremony in Sejong
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok was inaugurated Monday at a ceremony in the central administrative city of Sejong, where he plans to remain the rest of the week to focus on regional development issues. Kim's inauguration took place four days after the National Assembly confirmed his nomination in a vote boycotted by the main opposition People Power Party, making him the first prime minister under President Lee Jae Myung. During the ceremony at the government complex in Sejong, 109 kilometers south o
July 7, 2025 -
Assembly cuts foreign aid amid scrutiny over surge under Yoon Suk Yeol
The National Assembly has cut 80 billion won ($59 million) from the budget that was previously allocated for South Korea's official development assistance projects in foreign countries, including some 35 billion won in loans headed for Cambodia. The news came along with the passage of the 31.8 trillion won extra budget bill on Friday, which gained Cabinet approval Saturday. Liberal lawmaker Rep. Kim Seung-won said in a Facebook message Saturday that the ruling Democratic Party of Korea will "rec
July 6, 2025 -
Opposition to launch reform committee to reverse postelection free fall
The main opposition People Power Party is set to launch an innovation committee this week in an attempt to regain voter trust after its defeat in the June 3 presidential election — a loss that exposed deeper fractures within the party and accelerated a drop in public support. Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, who has been appointed to lead the People Power Party’s reform committee, said last week that he plans to finalize the lineup of committee members over the weekend and officially launch the committee Mon
July 6, 2025