Rival parties adopted a consenting report Wednesday after an one-day confirmation hearing on home affairs minister nominee Yoo Jeong-bok, paving the way for his appointment to the Cabinet post.The adoption of the report came only hours after Yoo, 56, underwent the parliamentary hearing, in which he vowed to take "fundamental" measures to guarantee a safe living environment for the public against what he called rampant crimes and natural disasters."By comprehensively analyzing factors that could

South Korea's new government will continue prioritizing its relations with the United States over China, Seoul's foreign minister-nominee said Wednesday, stressing the importance of the alliance between the two countries.Yun Byung-se made the remarks in a report submitted to independent lawmaker Park Joo-sun ahead of his parliamentary confirmation hearing. "The U.S. is our country's first-priority diplomatic partner and China comes next," the nominee said in the report. "In case of Japan and Rus

A pro-North Korean newspaper in Japan called on South Korea's new administration Wednesday not to follow in the footsteps of a "failed president" and engage in dialogue without setting any preconditions.The article carried on the Chosun Sinbo, which is the official paper of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, is noteworthy because it is the first time that Pyongyang – even indirectly – has commented on the new Park Geun-hye administration, which took power on Monday.The media o

North Korea warned Wednesday that the United States is now within the range of its strategic rockets and atomic weapons, and stressed it is now a country that can protect itself from foreign aggression.An article carried by Uriminzokkiri, North Korea's propaganda Web site, said that the U.S. should not think it is safe because it is on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.The report, monitored in Seoul, said that if Washington persists in trying to suffocate North Korea with hostile policies, the

Prime Minister Chung Hong-won, who began his official duties on Wednesday, donated 100 million won ($92,081) to a local charity organization in a gesture to take care of citizens in need and prioritize the lives of the people.Chung, 68, was formally appointed by President Park Geun-hye as her first prime minister on Tuesday after the National Assembly approved his nomination earlier in the day.After paying a visit to the national cemetery as his first official duty, he visited the Community Ches

GYEONGJU, South Korea (Yonhap News) -- A small amount of coolant leaked from a nuclear power plant under repair earlier this week but there were no reports of injuries, the plant's operator said Tuesday.Eleven workers were hurriedly evacuated after the leak was reported at the Wolseong nuclear power plant near the southeastern provincial city of Gyeongju shortly after noon on Sunday, the state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power said.Laboratory tests later found only negligible amounts of radioactiv

A defector-turned-official working for the Seoul Metropolitan Government was indicted Tuesday on charges of carrying out espionage activities for the communist regime, prosecutors said.The 33-year-old spy, only identified as his surname Yoo, is accused of handing over the information of some 200 defectors living in Seoul to Pyongyang's spy agency, they said. The suspect, who has a Chinese nationality, arrived in South Korea in 2004, disguising himself as a North Korean defector, they said. In 20

Prosecutors said Tuesday they have sought fines and asked for summary judgments against two of their own on charges of copying and circulating a digital photo of a female suspect who had sex with a trainee prosecutor during questioning.The scandal centers around allegations that a trainee prosecutor engaged in sexual acts with a suspect charged with theft during questioning at his office last year. A photo of the 42-year-old suspect later spread through the Internet and the woman asked police to

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appears to have replaced his chief official in charge of domestic security affairs, a Seoul intelligence source said Tuesday, in what could be part of his moves to cement his power.Ri Myong-su, the North's minister of people's security, has not been seen in public for months, raising speculation that he might have been purged."To my knowledge, North Korea recently appointed Choi Bu-il, deputy chief of staff at the North's military, to the minister of people's secu

President-elect Park Geun-hye on Sunday named transition team spokesman Yoon Chang-jung as a Cheong Wa Dae spokesman.According to news reports, vice chairman of the social network news service Wikitree Kim Haing was also named as a presidential spokesperson. Kim had served as the spokesperson for the party established by Rep. Chung Mong-joon of the Saenuri Party in 2002. Chung was then an independent lawmaker, and the party was dissolved in 2004. The main opposition Democratic United Party immed

Outgoing President Lee Myung-bak said Sunday that he is proud that he had to opportunity to work for the great people of South Korea, as he ended his five-year term and arrived at his retirement home in southern Seoul."There were difficult times, but I was a happy worker," Lee told the roughly 1,300 people who greeted his arrival at his retirement home in Nonhyeon-dong after he left the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae for the last time as its executive chief."Thanks to you, I worked happily. I

PATTANI, Thailand (AP) – Police say suspected insurgents detonated two bombs that wounded 10 people and staged a series of minor attacks in nearly 30 spots in Thailand's violence-plagued south.Police Col. Tongsuk Jaranpong says the militants set off an improvised bomb in a garbage can in the city of Pattani on Saturday night. The explosion slightly wounded three police officers who had been called to inspect a suspicious item.Tongsuk says seven civilian security officers suffered minor injuries

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – A series of early morning attacks hit eastern Afghanistan Sunday, with three separate suicide bombings in outlying provinces and a shootout between security forces and a would-be attacker in the capital city of Kabul.The attacks were a reminder that insurgents are still going on the offensive even as U.S. and other international forces draw down. All four attacks Sunday appeared to target Afghan forces, who have been suffering higher casualties this year. Afghan soldier

South Korean golfer Park In-bee captured the Honda LPGA Thailand with a near-flawless final round of play on Sunday, erasing a four-shot deficit for her first win of the season.Park shot a five-under 67 on Sunday at Siam Country Club's Pattaya Old Course for a four-round total of 12-under 276, beating Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand by one shot. Park mixed in six birdies with a bogey.Jutanugarn, 17, stood on the 18th tee with a two-stroke advantage over Park, 24, but committed a disastrous triple b

South Korea's teachers union on Sunday rejected the labor ministry's ultimatum that called for a rewriting of its bylaws that would prevent fired educators from staying on as members.The moves comes as Seoul said last week that the union must make changes to its rules and warned that failure to do so would result in the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) losing its rights as a formal labor union that can engage in legitimate negotiations with schools. Under current labor law only

　　　　새정부 출범을 하루 앞둔 24일, 여야는 정부조직법 개편안 처리를 놓고 난항을 거듭하고 있다정부조직법개편안이 통과가 늦어지면서 박근혜 당선인의 대통령 취임 후 개편안이 통과되는 초유의 사태가 불가피해졌다. 새누리당과 민주당은 몇 주간 협상을 벌였지만 방송관련 업무를 새로 생기는 미래창조과학부로 넘기자는 여당의 입장과, 방송공정성을 위해 방송통신위원회에 남겨야 한다는 야당의 입장차이를 줄이지 못했다. 박기춘 민주당 원내대표는 “민주당은 협상 타결을 위해 양보하고 인내하며 노력해 왔다“며 ”협상에 진전이 없는 것은 박근혜 당선인의 결재정치, 불통정치, 나홀로 정치의 책임이 크다“고 밝혔다. 새누리당은 일요일 오후 긴급회의를 열어 비보도방송 관련 부분만 미창부로 이전하는 절충안을 내놨다. 황우여 원내대표는 “오는 2월26일에는 총리 인준 절차와 정부조직법 의결이 꼭 이뤄져야 한다”고 야당에 재차 촉구했다. 황 대표는 그러면서 “야당이 비보도 방송을 미래창조부에서 통신과 융합해 관장

박근혜 정부 장관내정자들에 대해 잇단 의혹이 제기되는 가운데 부실검증논란이 다시 한번 일고 있다. 이미 민주당은 김병관 국방장관 내정자, 황교안 법무장관 내정자를 부적격 판정을 내린 바 있으며 현오석 경제부총리 내정자도 각종 의혹에 휩싸였다. 현 후보자는 2005년 당시 25세였던 딸에게 10억을 호가하는 서울의 아파트를 증여하기 직전 은행권에서 수억 원의 담보대출을 받는 형식으로 증여세를 1억 여 원 가량 줄인 의혹을 받고 있다.또, 민주당 이언주 의원은 2011년 저축은행사태 당시 현 후보자가 자신과 부인의 명의로 된 2억 원 예금을 솔로몬저축은행과 경기솔로몬저축은행의 영업정지 전 인출한 사실을 문제삼고 있다. 이중국적 논란에 휩싸였던 김종훈 미래부장관 내정자에 대해서는 통합진보당 이석기 의원이 CIA에 깊이 관여된 사람이라며 장관직에 적격성을 의문하고 나섰다. 새로운 의혹이 제기 된 것은 아니지만, 정무수석지명자인 이정현 전 한나라당의원의 과거행보에 대해서도 논란이 일고 있다.

박근혜 정부에서 유독 성균관대 출신 인사들의 약진이 눈에 띈다.서강대학교 졸업생인 박 당선인이 발표한 내각과 청와대 인선 24명 중 성대 출신은 모두 6명으로, 서울대(7명) 다음으로 많았다.내각에선 정홍원 국무총리 후보자와 황교안 법무장관 내정자가 성균관대 법학과 졸업생이고, 비서실장을 비롯한 청와대 인사 4명이 전부 성균관대 출신이다. 비서실장 내정자인 허태열 전 한나라당 의원은 성대 법학과, 유민봉 국정기획수석 내정자는 성대 행정학과 출신이다.곽상도 민정수석 내정자는 성대 법학과를 이남기 홍보수석 내정자는 같은 대학 신문방송학과를 나왔다.나머지 11명 중에는 육군사관학교가 3명, 연세대학교가 2명이며, 이명박 정부에서 득세했던 고려대학교 출신은 단 1명만이 발탁됐다.(코리아헤럴드 최희석 기자)　<관련 영문 기사>Sungkyunkwan alumni gain grounds in Park government By Choi He-suk Graduates of Sungkyunkwan U

PYEONGCHANG (Yonhap News) – The 10th Special Olympics World Winter Games wrapped up Tuesday in PyeongChang, after eight days of celebrating the dreams and hopes of those with intellectual disabilities, and urging the international community to help improve the lives of the intellectually disabled.The closing ceremony kicked off at 7 p.m. at Yongpyong Dome in PyeongChang, about 180 kilometers east of Seoul. More than 3,000 athletes and officials from 106 countries took part in this year's event,

The head of South Korea's third largest conglomerate, SK Group, appealed a lower court ruling Tuesday that sentenced him to four years in jail for embezzling 46.5 billion won ($42.8 million) in company funds.Court officials said lawyers representing Chey Tae-won submitted a request for an appeal at 5 p.m. with the paperwork expected to be forwarded to the Seoul High Court in due time. The 53-year-old businessman was found guilty of embezzling the money from SK Group affiliates and funneling it i