Prime Minister-designate Lee Nak-yon hinted on Thursday that he would play a pivotal role in strengthening the new government's communication with citizens.With his folksy demeanor and wide personal connections, the South Jeolla Province governor said he hopes to become a "premier who is loved
North Korea urged South Korea's new government Thursday to end what it called confrontational policies, including joint military drills with the United States.Rodong Sinmun, the main newspaper at the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, made the call after liberal politician Moon Jae-in was sworn
President Moon Jae-in named two outspoken professors as his top secretaries for civil and personnel affairs Thursday.Cho Kuk, a 52-year-old law professor from Seoul National University, has been appointed the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, a position often held by senior prosecutio
South Jeolla Province Gov. Lee Nak-yon, who was nominated Wednesday as President Moon Jae-in's first prime minister, is expected to contribute to the new leader's goal of national unity with his extensive network in political circles and regional base in the southwest region.The 64-year-old
President Moon Jae-in's pick for chief of staff is a former student activist reputed to have wide personal connections and good coordination skills.Im Jong-seok, 51, was at the forefront of the student-led pro-democracy movement in the 1980s and headed the country's university student organi
Moon Jae-in's term as South Korea's new head of state was officially launched early Wednesday, only one day after the nation held an unprecedented presidential by-election.Moon's presidency began even before an inauguration ceremony as his election was a result of the rare by-election th
A total of 851 people have so far been investigated for suspected election law violations related to this week's presidential polls, police said Monday.South Korean voters will go to the polls Tuesday to pick a successor for ousted President Park Geun-hye.Among the suspected violators booked in
The deployment of the THAAD missile defense system in South Korea could raise cost-sharing questions in the United States despite Washington's agreement to pay for it, a congressional report has said.The Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, dated April 4, came a few weeks before U.S. Pre
South Korea's leading presidential candidates continued to remain vigilant Monday, crisscrossing the country in last minute efforts to rally support.Their official 22-day campaigning period was set to end at midnight, and the top five candidates seemed intent on living the last day of their camp
Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Thursday ordered the election watchdog to "sternly" deal with illegal electioneering as the presidential campaign heats up with the vote just 12 days away.During a regular Cabinet meeting on pending state affairs, Hwang voiced concerns over inte
U.S. troops in South Korea began installing the equipment for an advanced missile defense system at a site in a southeastern region of the country, facing fierce protests from local residents.The overnight, unannounced operation came just six days after U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) secured the land in S
South Korea's major business lobby Sunday urged presidential hopefuls to observe market economy principles to create an atmosphere favorable to businesses that leads to more investments in facilities and jobs, which it said is the top priority of any presidential hopeful. The Kore
Senior diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan will meet this week seeking to chart new ways to rein in North Korea as the communist country appears to be on the verge of another nuclear provocation.The meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Tokyo will bring together chief negotiators on the
A former top diplomat on Friday disclosed a document to back up his claim that Seoul officials consulted North Korea before a key U.N. vote in 2007. It added fuel to a political fire that has engulfed presidential front-runner Moon Jae-in, who was then a chief presidential aide.In October, Song Min-
Presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo of the conservative Liberty Korea Party is in hot water after controversy erupted over his suspected involvement in a potential sex crime about four decades ago.Hong initially wrote about his role in the crime that took place while he was in university in an auto
South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Tuesday held talks with a visiting Angolan minister over bilateral cooperation on an array of issues, including North Korean provocations, Seoul officials said.During his meeting with Angola's Foreign Minister Georges Rebelo
Presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo claimed Tuesday that the North Korean regime of Kim Jong-un is "afraid" he will take power because of his strong commitment to national defense.The nominee of the center-left People's Party made the claim in response to a North Korean media report that disp
Presidential front-runner Moon Jae-in and the close second Ahn Cheol-soo continued to exchange vicious attacks Tuesday as the upcoming election has apparently become a two-way race.In most recent polls on the May 9 election, the two liberal candidates together garnered more than 80 percent of all vo
A U.S. State Department official said Monday there is no hiccup in the ongoing deployment of a cutting-edge missile defense system in South Korea, dismissing concern about a political setback."There hasn't been any change, and there hasn't certainly been anything about the decision-making p
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will arrive in South Korea on Sunday for a high-stakes visit to reaffirm the robust security alliance and warn against North Korea's possible provocations, Seoul officials said.Pence's three-day visit here has been arranged amid rising tensions, with Pyongyang