Controversy is brewing over first lady Kim Jung-sook’s expenses over the past five years, particularly over the cost of her clothes, shoes, jewelry and accessories. Some have accused Kim and the presidential office of abusing their power and spending billions of won of taxpayer money on rare and fashionable items for Kim during President Moon Jae-in's five-year term, requesting Cheong Wa Dae to disclose information on its off-the-record expenses. Local civic group Korea Taxpayers' Associ

Politics March 28, 2022

South Korea's liberal Democratic Party of Korea elected a new floor leader Thursday, hinting at a new direction for the party ahead of the local elections in June. Rep. Park Hong-keun, a three-term lawmaker for the liberal party, was elected as the new floor leader during a general meeting of Democratic Party legislators at the National Assembly. He beat out Rep. Park Kwang-on in a run-off ballot. The floor leader election was widely touted as a rivalry between forces surrounding former Gyeong

Politics March 25, 2022

With less than 70 days remaining until the local elections, finger pointing and infighting are brewing inside the conservative People Power Party even after its victory in the latest presidential election. The internal feud comes as core members of the People Power Party clash with traditional conservative faction heavyweights on how the government should run under President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and how the party should prepare to make nominations and devise strategies for the upcoming local el

Politics March 24, 2022

South Korea's political parties are set to launch nomination committees for the June local elections, returning to full election mode as early as next week. The liberal Democratic Party of Korea plans to set up an internal committee on managing nominations by Friday, a day after the party elects a new floor leader to succeed Rep. Yun Ho-jung, who now stands as a leader of the emergency steering committee for the liberal party. The internal committee, to be comprised of 20 appointees, will be t

Politics March 23, 2022

The prosecution appears to be on a collision course with the Ministry of Justice on how the new administration should lead the agency and what rights should be given for the ministry in overseeing the prosecution. Sources said Tuesday the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office recently submitted a report to the Ministry of Justice asking the justice minister to be stripped of its power to lead prosecutorial investigations. The report was filed ahead of the ministry’s meeting with the president

Social Affairs March 22, 2022

South Korea's political parties are readying for another key election in June, with the Democratic Party of Korea looking to stage a comeback following its narrow defeat in the presidential election. For the local elections set for June 1, parties are competing to win 17 gubernatorial and metropolitan mayoral posts and thousands more local administrative, legislative and educational chief posts. All Koreans born before June 2, 2004, are eligible to vote. The last local elections ended in a lan

Politics March 21, 2022

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol on Sunday confirmed the relocation of the presidential office to the Defense Ministry compound in Yongsan-gu, central Seoul, vowing to put an end to the "imperial" presidency. In a press briefing held at the transition team’s office, Yoon said his team has decided to relocate the presidential office from the current Cheong Wa Dae compound in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, to fulfill his promise of returning the area to the general public and communicatin

Politics March 20, 2022

A key election watchdog official offered to resign after facing criticism over mismanaging the 20th presidential election held earlier this month. National Election Commission Secretary-General Kim Se-hwan said in an email to the commission’s employees that he seeks to resign from his post immediately in assuming responsibility for the problems voters experienced during the latest election, the watchdog said Wednesday. The notice comes after the NEC faced widespread criticism for its lac

Politics March 16, 2022

When President Moon Jae-in took office in 2017 following the impeachment of his predecessor Park Geun-hye, many, including myself, thought the liberal Democratic Party of Korea would dominate politics for at least a full decade. Some even expected the party to rule for the next 20 years, and the general consensus was that it would be extremely difficult for the conservative bloc to make a quick comeback. But just five years later, the conservatives are about to take back power. As a reporter w

Politics March 16, 2022

South Korea’s political circle is again discussing a special counsel inspection on the controversial Daejang-dong land development scandal, but whether it will actually start remains in question. The liberal Democratic Party of Korea’s suggestion on the matter is starkly different to that of the People Power Party, fanning the possibility that it may never materialize. The scandal revolves around former Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party and President-elec

Politics March 15, 2022

Following its defeat in the 20th presidential election, the liberal Democratic Party of Korea is experiencing an extreme leadership divide as it struggles to reform ahead of another election in June. Since its narrow defeat in the presidential election, the Democratic Party has gone into emergency mode, starting with a leadership overhaul. Rep. Song Young-gil stepped down as chairman of the party, and its Floor Leader Rep. Yun Ho-jung took the helm, heading the emergency steering committee, w

Politics March 14, 2022

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday vowed to strengthen ties with the United States during his term, highlighting the need to expand cooperation between the two countries based on their alliance. In a meeting with Christopher Del Corso, charge d’affaires ad interim at the US Embassy in Seoul, Yoon said South Korea and the US will have to adjust its relationship to reflect that the countries are “sworn by blood” to help each other. He emphasized that the US is South Korea&

Foreign Affairs March 11, 2022

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and his aides are working to move the presidential office from where it is now in Cheong Wa Dae to the government complex by the Gwanghwamun area in Seoul, as he had promised during his campaign. The project would be one of the first initiatives Yoon will push in starting his presidential transition committee, which will officially launch within the next two weeks. The committee is expected to have around 200 officials, including many experts and officials who took

Politics March 11, 2022

With Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative People Power Party elected as the next president of South Korea, attention is turning to who will make up his transition committee. People’s Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo, who dropped out of the presidential race in support of Yoon, has been mentioned as a likely figure to head the committee, which is expected to be launched earlier than usual. The committee will be tasked with helping Yoon get to work immediately upon his inauguration on May 10, and

Politics March 10, 2022

The Democratic Party of Korea faces a perilous path ahead after the defeat of its candidate Lee Jae-myung, as possible investigations and political actions could undermine its dominant position in South Korean politics. Lee's defeat signifies that voters have eventually chosen to prioritize holding the current administration to account, underscored by Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative People Power Party over Lee's assertions that he would be able to bring about a national recovery. Although Le

Politics March 10, 2022