The government on Tuesday approved next year’s budget bill, which would see the biggest year-on-year increase in a decade. The bill, approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday, calls for a budget of 470.5 trillion won ($423.5 billion), up 9.7 percent from this year. This is the largest on-year increase since 2009, when the annual budget was raised by 10.7 percent from the previous year, due largely to difficulties caused by the global financial crisis. Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon holds a briefing on

President Moon Jae-in‘s naming of six new vice minister-level officials on Sunday has added fuel to speculation that a Cabinet reshuffle could occur as early as this week.  Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom at a briefing in July. YonhapOn Sunday, Moon named Min Won-ki as vice minister of science, Park Chun-kyoo as vice environment minister and Kim Yang-soo as vice minister at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Moon also named Kang Shin-wook as the new head of Statistics Korea, Kim Jong-se

President Moon Jae-in’s role as a mediator between North Korea and the US is once again gaining attention as recent developments cast doubt over the denuclearization process.On Friday, US President Donald Trump canceled Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s trip to North Korea, only a day after Pompeo’s travel plans were announced. Even before Pompeo’s trip was officially confirmed, speculation had arisen that his fourth trip to Pyongyang would bring about positive results concerning the denucleariza

Former President Park Geun-hye was sentenced to 25 years in prison with a fine of 20 billion won ($17.8 million) Friday. She had previously been sentenced to 24 years with an 18 billion won fine in the initial trial for her part in the corruption scandal that led to her impeachment last year.  Former President Park Geun-hye seen as she appears at the court on Oct. 16. YonhapPark, who has refused to appear at her trial, claiming she has lost faith in the judiciary, was not present at the ruling.

The second group of South Koreans selected for reunions with their North Korean relatives gathered in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, on Thursday. The group consisting of 326 people was set to leave for the Kumgangsan Resort in the North Korean part of Gangwon Province on Friday. On Thursday, the South Koreans were briefed on visiting North Korea. They were to set out for the North by bus early Friday and were expected to arrive at the North Korean resort in the early afternoon of Friday, when they wi

The children of a US veteran of the Korean War will be given honorary citizenship of Chilgok County, North Gyeongsang Province, the county government said Monday. According to Chilgok County, the children of 1st Lt. James Elliott -- James Elliott and Jorja Reyburn -- will be given honorary citizenships at the Nakdong River World Peace Culture Festival in October.  James Elliott (right) and Jorja Reyburn scatter their mother’s ashes on the Nakdong River in 2015. Chilgok CountyThe elder James Elli

Reports regarding Chinese President Xi Jinping’s plans visit to Pyongyang is raising new possibilities in developments surrounding North Korea. On Saturday, the Straits Times reported that Xi is set to visit Pyongyang for the Sept. 9 celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the North Korean government. Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. (Yonhap)The report remains unconfirmed, but they have raised speculations about possible changes the developments regarding No

The major political parties and the presidential office agreed to cooperate in policy negotiations, and to work together to hold a successful inter-Korean summit, the parties announced Thursday. The agreement came after a meeting among President Moon Jae-in and the floor leaders of the five major political parties at Cheong Wa Dae.  President Moon Jae-in and floor leaders discuss issues at the presidential office on Thursday. From left: Party for Democracy and Peace`s Chang Byoung-wan, Bareunmir

Fellow Koreans, decorated independence activists and their relatives, overseas Korean compatriots:Today marks the 73rd Liberation Day and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Korea government. It is a truly significant and joyous day.Thanks to the sacrifices and devotion of our forefathers who fought for independence, we are able to celebrate here today. I pay tribute from the bottom of my heart. My respect also goes to those who served the cause of independence with dist

President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday called for the establishment of an East Asian railroad community, saying that it will lay the foundation for an economic and security community in the region. “At Yongsan, once the starting point of railroads between Seoul and Sinuiju and between Seoul and Wonsan, I propose the creation of the East Asian railroad community today, encompassing six Northeast Asian countries and the United States,” Moon said in his speech at the Liberation Day ceremony held at the

The majority of South Koreans consider complete denuclearization of North Korea an unlikely outcome, despite largely agreeing with the Moon Jae-in administration’s engagement policy. In a survey of 1,000 people nationwide conducted between Aug. 10 and 12 by The Korea Herald in collaboration with the research firm JoWon Communication Innovation, 73 percent of the respondents said that North Korea is unlikely to completely denuclearize. President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sha

As the two Koreas remain silent on the dates of the summit that is set to take place sometime in September, there is growing speculation that new developments may be unfolding in US-North Korea relations. On Monday, the two sides announced that President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would hold their third summit in Pyongyang following a ministerial meeting. However, Seoul and Pyongyang left the dates undeclared, revealing only that the meeting would take place in September and

South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo on Friday denied all allegations in connection to the Druking scandal, and called for a politically unbiased investigation. Speaking to reporters in the early hours of Friday, after a grilling session that lasted nearly 20 hours, Kim said that he fully cooperated with the investigation and that it was now down to the special counsel to reach an unbiased conclusion.  South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo speaks to reporters after leaving the s

South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo is to be grilled by the independent counsel investigating allegations surrounding blogger “Druking” on Thursday. The investigators believe that Kim Kyoung-soo colluded with blogger Kim Dong-won in using illegal software to conduct an online campaign to influence public opinion in favor of President Moon Jae-in in last year’s presidential election. South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo speaks to reporters after being questioned by the special

Investigators looking into the military intelligence unit’s alleged wrongdoings are seeking an extension and more personnel for the probe, local media reported Tuesday. According to reports citing unnamed Ministry of National Defense sources, the team requested Defense Minister Song Young-moo approve a 30-day extension on Tuesday.  Defense Security Command in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. YonhapThe team of military and civilian prosecutors is looking into allegations the Defense Security Command

The independent counsel looking into the Druking scandal searched the home and office of South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo on Thursday, as it gears up to summon him for questioning. Kim has been implicated in the case since the beginning, but his status in the investigation was changed to that of a suspect just this week. According to reports, Kim could be questioned as early as the weekend. Investigators on Thursday collect materials from the National Assembly office used by South G

South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo will be summoned for questioning as a suspect in a probe into a public opinion-rigging scandal, the independent counsel said Wednesday.  South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo speaks at an event on unification on July 13. YonhapKim Kyoung-soo, a close associate of President Moon Jae-in, was questioned in an earlier police investigation as a witness. The scandal centers on allegations the main suspect, Kim Dong-won, also known by the penname Dr

The date of the third inter-Korean summit and plans for sending an envoy to North Korea remain undecided, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday. A local daily had reported that National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon is set to visit the North in the near future to discuss the possibility of holding the third inter-Korean summit in late August. President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un embrace at the inter-Korean summit on April 27. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in and North Korean lead

The National Court Administration on Tuesday disclosed additional documents linked to alleged politically influenced decisions and illegal surveilling of judges conducted by the organization. The documents, the contents of which range from public relations strategies to meetings with politicians, are likely to fan controversy the country’s judiciary has been facing since earlier this year.  (Yonhap)The National Court Administration is alleged to have influenced trials and surveilled judges under

China’s inclusion in declaring the end of the Korean War remains a possibility, a high-level Cheong Wa Dae official revealed Tuesday.While Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to seek an official end to the Korean War in the Panmunjom Declaration, there has been some contention over whether such a declaration should involve just the two Koreas and the US, or include China. “It remains to be seen whether the declaration of an end to the war will be trilateral or quadrilateral, but a four-way declaration ha