Political parties failed to agree on a date for the last plenary meeting of the June parliamentary session, as the dispute over the main opposition Liberty Korea Party’s push for the dismissal of Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo dragged on.On Monday, floor leaders -- Lee In-young of the ruling Democratic Party, Na Kyung-won of the Liberty Korea Party and Oh Shin-hwan of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party -- gathered for a meeting convened by National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang on

HANAM, Gyeonggi Province -- Prospects of an all-out strike by mail delivery workers of the state-run Korea Post surprised the country last week. In a nation heavily reliant on fast-speed delivery services, postal workers’ first-ever strike in the 135 year history of the Korea Post would have brought 245 post offices nationwide to a standstill.Unlike most strikes here that call for a wage hike or an upgrade in employment status, the Korean Postal Workers’ Union urged for a bigger pool

American actress and singer Kim Basinger on Friday urged South Korea to stop dog meat consumption, joining a protest organized by a local animal rights group.“It (South Korea) is the only country that raises dogs for consumption. You have companion animals here as well. … It boggles the mind that you can raise them to eat for human consumption and then you walk them,” Basinger said at a press conference Thursday.“I chose Seoul because you have a great opportunity to ring

Lawmaker Ha Tae-keung of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party on Thursday alleged that Japan smuggled hydrogen fluoride and materials used to develop biochemical weapons to North Korea.According to Ha, Japan made over 30 shipments of hydrogen fluoride, materials for biochemical weapon development and other strategic items to North Korea between 1996 and 2003. Strategic items refer to goods and technologies regulated from exports, to maintain national security and international peace.Ha cited a

GWANGJU -- Gwangju Metropolitan City is well known as the site of the May 1980 Democratization Movement and a “city of gastronomy” for its savory dishes. The southwestern city is now poised to become a “city of water sports” as it hosts the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships.With a record 72,000 people -- professional and amateur athletes, members of the media and related officials -- from 193 countries participating, the 18th biennial championships look set to bolste

The Korean Postal Workers’ Union has decided to scrap its plans for an all-out strike initially scheduled to take place this week, narrowly avoiding what would have been the country’s worst-ever delay in postal services, the union said Monday.“It was a difficult decision, but the government said it will make improvements (to prevent) deaths due to excessive workloads. We have also agreed to accept the government’s settlement out of concern that the public would be affecte

A 55-year-old homeless man has been arrested on charges of threatening a member of the far-right Our Republican Party with a utility knife, police said Monday.According to Jongno Police Station, the suspect stepped inside the party’s tent at Cheonggye Plaza in central Seoul on Sunday morning, took out the weapon and threatened the victim to remove the tent. The suspect and victim engaged in a quarrel after the suspect complained about the tent.Party members reported the case to police and

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the main opposition Liberty Korea Party on Sunday geared up for a full-fledged battle in the parliamentary confirmation hearing for Prosecutor-General nominee Yoon Seok-youl.The nomination of reform-minded Yoon has drawn fierce objection from the opposition bloc, which opposes the Moon Jae-in administration’s drive to reform the prosecution and adjust the authority of the police and the prosecution.With tensions running high, both the Democratic Par

The 2019 IYF World Culture Camp, the largest cultural camp for undergrads worldwide, kicked off over the weekend in the southern port city Busan, with an aim to offer character education and exposure to Korean culture. Inviting some 4,000 participants from about 60 countries, the annual event offers a wide variety of programs this year, including performances by distinguished musicians, lectures, visits to tourist attractions, and academic sessions.“A strong mindset capable of overcoming d

Main opposition Liberty Korea Party Floor Leader Na Kyung-won has accused the Moon administration of “abusing democracy to achieve absolute power,” continuing the conservative bloc’s attack of President Moon Jae-in.“I can’t erase the thought that the Moon administration is abusing democracy to achieve absolute power rather than standing for citizens’ freedom and basic rights. This coincides with what the Economist referred to as ‘new dictatorship,’

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Floor Leader Lee In-young on Wednesday suggested changes to the National Assembly law in order to prevent another monthslong parliamentary deadlock, and called for the implementation of a political recall system to penalize underperforming lawmakers.“The parliament must automatically open on the first of every month to prevent the National Assembly from ending empty-handed after discussing the schedule,” Lee said during a parliamentary speech at the N

Is it safe to live with people with mental disorders? This is the question many South Koreans are asking after a series of highly publicized crimes committed by people with psychological conditions.In a country where mental illness has long been stigmatized and patients removed from the community, reports of traffic accidents and crimes committed by those with mental illness are viewed with great alarm.But mental health groups and advocates question whether the mental health information is even

As interested parties struggle to decide next year’s minimum wage, the Korea Employers Federation said Monday that various economic indicators show the rapid increase in minimum hourly wage has taken a toll on companies, laborers and the government.Discussion at the Minimum Wage Commission has been stalled since members representing management left the meeting after the commission voted down a proposal to change the minimum wage by industry.“The recent sharp rise in minimum hourly wa

The floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties on Friday agreed to extend the terms of special parliamentary committees on judiciary and political reform until the end of August, signaling the end of an 84-day political deadlock.The main opposition Liberty Korea Party also reached an internal consensus to unconditionally resume participation in parliamentary committees, wrapping up a protest that lasted nearly three months and brought the National Assembly to a standstill.In the wake of

The ruling and minor opposition parties on Tuesday reaffirmed convening the June extraordinary parliamentary session as planned and put the National Assembly back to work amid the main opposition party’s last minute withdrawal.“Liberty Korea Party has turned away from coexistence and chose to take the arrogant, self-righteous and destructive path. They have betrayed the public’s calls for normalization of the National Assembly,” said Lee In-young, floor leader of the ruli

Hwang Kyo-ahn, chairman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, on Monday argued that he had not lied about his son’s qualifications after his remarks on the matter during a lecture sparked controversy. “If I had said a score that was higher than the actual score -- that would have been a lie. But I am not sure if the other way round is (a lie),” Hwang told reporters after a meeting at the National Assembly. Last week, Hwang spoke about his son, who landed a job at a c

In the midst of a yearlong standoff between the government, labor and management over South Korea’s ratification of fundamental International Labor Organization conventions, trade unions are increasingly questioning the Moon Jae-in administration’s willingness to approve three of the four pending ones. With the arrest of Kim Myung-hwan, president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Friday, the relationship between the government and the unions looks set to worsen in the comi

Main opposition Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn on Thursday sought to put the brakes on snowballing controversy over his speech targeting foreign laborers here, where he said that they “should not be given the same wage.”“It was meant to optimize the minimum wage standard,” Hwang said, regarding his comments made Wednesday.Hwang said it is “unfair” to ensure foreign workers receive the same level of wage as locals, citing the payment of taxes as jus

Professor Sung Young-chul of Pohang University of Science and Technology, who is recognized as an expert in the biotech industry, has donated 10 billion won ($8.5 million) to the International Vaccine Institute, the organization said Wednesday.Sung’s donation is the biggest single donation made to the IVI by an individual donor. It will be delivered via the Korea Support Committee.The contribution will go toward funding various vaccination projects for children in developing countries acro

The police have requested an arrest warrant for Kim Myung-hwan, the chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, on charges of planning and carrying out illegal protests in front of the National Assembly in March and April, the police said Tuesday.The latest move comes at a sensitive time, amid heightening tensions among labor, management and the government over South Korea’s pending ratification of four core International Labor Organization conventions.The hard-line Korean Confed