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Among the 112 party lawmakers, 103 could vote, as memberships of nine lawmakers are currently suspended. Newly elected Liberty Korea Party floor leader Rep. Na Kyung Today Social affairs Labor Ministry to increase support for unemployed, working poor The Labor Ministry briefed President Moon Jae-in on its 2019 policy plans Tuesday, mainly focusing on increasing support for unemployed people and the working poor.The briefing took place at the government complex in the administrative city of Sejong.Among the goals for 2019 are strengthening of the employment safety net, eradicating workplace abuses and settling the minimum wage and shorter workweek. (Yonhap)By 2020, the ministry said it plans to provide 500,000 won ($442) in aid for up to six Today Foreign Policy US sanctions N. Korea over human rights North Korea condemns the US’ decision to impose sanctions on its high-ranking officials for human rights abuse Today Politics Moon stresses need to revive local economies President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday called on government ministries to address economic issues, stressing the importance of local economies. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting held in Sejong, Moon said that while the country’s macroeconomic indexes are stable, the country is experiencing difficulties in employment and other areas linked to people’s livelihoods. President Moon Jae-in holds a Cabinet meeting in Sejong on Tuesday. Yonhap“Inclusive growth, where everyone prospers, is impossible without solv Today North Korea S. Korea to ‘swiftly discuss’ railway, road groundbreaking ceremony with NK: ministry South Korea reaffirmed that it will swiftly discuss with North Korea holding a groundbreaking ceremony to link cross-border roads and railways by the end of the year, the South’s Ministry of Unification said Tuesday. A ministry official told reporters that the government will specify its plans to hold the ceremony by “swiftly carrying on” negotiations with the North on the matter, while stressing that the event is an agreement reached between the leaders of the two Koreas in September. (Yonhap)T Dec 11, 2018 Social affairs Gyeonggi Gov. Lee indicted for telling lies during election campaign Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung will stand trial for telling falsehoods about a series of allegations raised against him and about his family during his election campaign for the governorship. The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office indicted Lee without physical detention on charges of violating the national election law, it said.Lee has been under investigation for allegedly lying about his brother's institutionalization due to a mental illness during his campaign in the runup to the June l Today Social affairs ‘Santa’ protests Korea’s fine dust problem at Poland UN convention A man dressed up as Santa Claus appeared in front of the venue of the UN Climate Change Conference COP24 in Poland on Tuesday to raise awareness of Korea’s fine dust problem.The one-man protester, revealed to be Korea Green Foundation Chairman Choi Yul, covered himself with black dust to emphasize Korea’s poor air quality. (Korean Green Foundation)His sign reading “Stop fossil fuel, there’s no border in the sky” attracted the attention of passersby, with many stopping to take pictures and read Today Social affairs Schoolteacher under #MeToo probe found dead A high school teacher under police investigation over sexual harassment allegations was found dead in Daejeon on Monday.Apartment management staff found the man, 42, lying dead on a flower bed in an apartment complex in Daejeon’s Yuseong district on Monday and reported the death to police at 4:48 p.m., the Yuseong Police Station said Tuesday. (Yonhap)Police suspect that the man took his own life because some of his clothing was found on the 19th floor of the apartment building. He is also believ Today North Korea Politicians divided over whether Kim Jong-un can visit Seoul within this year With North Korea maintaining its silence as to whether Kim Jong-un will visit Seoul before the end of this year, speculation is rampant among political parties here as to whether the North Korean leader will deliver on his promise. In his meeting with President Moon Jae-in in Pyongyang in September, Kim pledged to visit Seoul “at an early date.” But the communist state has yet to accept Moon’s invitation to visit by the end of this year. The prolonged silence has prompted a flurry of speculation Today Social affairs Taxi drivers to hold mass rally Dec. 20 over carpool service The conflict between the country’s taxi industry and information technology giant Kakao has escalated to new heights after a taxi driver burned himself to death in protest.The taxi unions, which have staged multiple protests demanding that Kakao withdraw its plans to engage in the transportation business in South Korea, said Tuesday that they will hold another rally Dec. 20 in front of the National Assembly. Beginning Wednesday, some union members will set up tents and hold sit-in demonstrations Today Social affairs Korea to allow children on dependent visas to work in Korea The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission advised the government to find ways to allow high school graduates of multicultural families to get jobs even before they become Korean nationals.As of June, there were some 9,800 children born abroad who moved to Korea when their father or mother married a Korean national or was naturalized as a Korean, according to the rights commission. (Yonhap)Even if such children under the age of 19 pass the naturalization exam, it takes over a year before f Today Social affairs [Newsmaker] Korail CEO resigns following KTX derailment accident Korea Railroad Corp. CEO Oh Young-sik resigned Tuesday, taking responsibility for the recent series of train accidents. “I’ve emphasized the importance of train safety since I took the post in February, but I failed to keep my word as train accidents continued to occur,” Oh said.Oh added that the recent KTX derailment accident was caused partly by the problems that Korail currently faces, including the massive reduction of its labor force, privatization and separation of infrastructure and opera Today Social affairs Gas supply cut off to 4,500 households in Busan Around 4,500 households in the Marine City area of Busan had no heat or gas services for three to four hours on Monday after a construction crew damaged gas lines in the city’s Haeundae district. According to Busan City Gas and police sources, the accident occurred at 4:49 p.m. when an excavator operated by a road construction crew damaged the underground gas pipes between Marine City and Dongbaek intersection. Marine City (Yonhap)Emergency restoration work began around 5 p.m. and the gas suppl Dec 11, 2018 North Korea Joint Korean handball team to start training in Germany The joint Korean handball team at next year's men's world handball championships will start training later this month in Germany, officials from the sports ministry said Tuesday, hinting that North Korean athletes will not come to South Korea this time. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, three officials and four athletes from North Korea will join the South Koreans in Germany later this month to prepare for the 2019 World Men's Handball Championship, which will be co-hoste Today Social affairs Korean man accused of murdering Filipina wife A 59-year-old Korean man is being investigated in the death of his 38-year-old Filipina wife, police in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, said Monday. The police found the deceased victim and the suspect at their house Monday morning after receiving a call at around 7 a.m. from the suspect, saying he had killed someone. (Yonhap)The suspect appeared to have stabbed the victim and himself. He reportedly told the police that he and his wife had had an argument.According to the police, the couple MORE 15 / 159091
