-
PPP contenders wary of Yoon Suk Yeol's shadow lingering over party
Candidates vying for the People Power Party's presidential nomination voiced concerns over former President Yoon Suk Yeol's continued activities despite his removal from office, with some in the conservative bloc saying that his continued visibility -- and his avid supporters -- could sabotage the party ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Such concerns were raised after Yoon was spotted meeting with lawyers who defended him at the Constitutional Court in his impeachment trial. On April 4,
April 22, 2025 -
Han Dong-hoon’s presidential campaign raises W2.9b in 11 hours
Over 2.9 billion won ($2 million) was raised for former People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon’s presidential campaign, concluding the fundraising event after just 11 hours, his representatives said Monday. Han is currently running in the ruling conservative party’s primary, vying for its nomination for the June 3 presidential election. His team said that the total amount raised came to 2.94 billion won, as of 7:55 p.m. on Monday, reaching the maximum limit that a candidate may raise un
April 22, 2025 -
PPP set to shortlist 4 contenders for presidential election
The People Power Party was set to shortlist four contenders on Tuesday for the June presidential election, as part of the first round of its primary process based on public polling. The results will be determined using surveys conducted by five polling agencies from Monday to Tuesday, covering a combined total of 4,000 respondents. The party's election commission will announce the top four contenders around 7 p.m. In the second round, two candidates will be selected through a process that equall
April 22, 2025 -
South Korean presidential hopefuls offer condolences on Pope Francis' death
South Korea's presidential hopefuls offered condolences on Monday following the death of Pope Francis, each reflecting on how the late pontiff's message of peace, compassion and justice resonated with Korean society. Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the leading contender from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, highlighted the pope’s call to “end all wars,” delivered just a day before his passing. He also recalled the pontiff’s 2014 visit to Korea, when he baptized bereaved relatives of the Sewol
April 21, 2025 -
Seoul offers condolences on Pope Francis’ death
Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo visited Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul on Tuesday to pay tribute to Pope Francis, as the cathedral had prepared a condolence altar following the pontiff’s death the previous day. According to the Prime Minister's Office, Han said after offering his respects, “The late Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, left behind a profound spiritual legacy and teachings for Catholics and people around the world.” “We are deeply
April 21, 2025 -
Democratic Party of Korea says Han Duck-soo should let new government handle US trade deals
Han Duck-soo, who is serving as South Korea's acting president due to Yoon Suk Yeol having been from removed from office on April 4, does not have the authority to make trade deals with the US Donald Trump administration, the Democratic Party of Korea said Monday. The Democratic Party of Korea's task force for trade security held its first meeting Monday and said the acting president would be "stepping out of his lane" if he tries to realize any high-stakes negotiations with the US. Task force h
April 21, 2025 -
Lee Jae-myung pledges to eliminate 'Korea discount,' achieve 5,000-point Kospi
Liberal presidential front-runner Rep. Lee Jae-myung vowed Monday to usher in a new era free from the so-called "Korea discount," pledging to double the nation's benchmark Kospi index to surpass 5,000 points if elected. Lee said Monday that his market reform push could put an end to the long-standing phenomenon of South Korean stock undervaluation due to weaknesses in corporate governance and a lack of market transparency, known as the "Korea Discount." He added that enhancing minority sharehold
April 21, 2025 -
Na Kyung-won under fire for using viral Coldplay clip for own political campaign
Five-term People Power Party Rep. Na Kyung-won has outraged fans of British rock band Coldplay here for using clips from the band's recent Seoul concert to promote her own presidential campaign. Na’s official YouTube channel uploaded Monday a short-form video tagged with @coldplay that included scenes from the band’s concert held Friday at Goyang Sports Complex, northwest of Seoul, as part of its "Music of the Spheres" world tour. The band had returned to play in Korea after eight years. Friday’
April 21, 2025 -
Policy Watch: Hong Joon-pyo maps out vision for welfare transformation
Hong Joon-pyo, the recently resigned Daegu mayor and a presidential contender for the conservative People Power Party's nomination, has unveiled a welfare reform plan titled “Welfare Transformation 100+1.” Framing it as a shift from cash handouts to future generation empowerment, Hong emphasized opportunity over cash benefits, particularly for the vulnerable. Central to Hong’s plan is keeping welfare costs in line with economic growth. “We’ll set an appropriate welfare-to-GDP ratio so future gen
April 21, 2025 -
Policy Watch: Kim Kyoung-soo pledges to disband prosecutors' office, separate functions
Kim Kyoung-soo, a former lawmaker and governor of South Gyeongsang Province who is now vying to be the liberal Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, pledged Monday to disband South Korea's current prosecutors' office with the goal of separating the public prosecution from politics. Kim said he would divide the prosecutors' office into two separate agencies according to its two functions -- investigation and prosecution or indictment -- adding that prosecutorial reform is key to ens
April 21, 2025 -
S. Korea, US to hold 2+2 trade talks Thursday: acting president
South Korea and the United States will hold "2+2" trade talks involving their finance and trade ministers in Washington on Thursday, acting President Han Duck-soo said, in what will be the first round of high-level negotiations to ease US tariffs. The meeting, scheduled for 8 a.m., or 9 p.m. in South Korea, will bring together Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun from the South Korean side and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer from
April 21, 2025 -
Ex-Democratic Party leader Lee vows to expand research budget
Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung pledged to expand South Korea's research and development budget on Monday, vowing to make the country a global leader in an era of intensifying technology competition. Lee, who declared his presidential bid earlier this month and is leading opinion polls for the June 3 presidential election, made the pledge in a Facebook post marking Science Day. "We need to invest much more boldly. Only investment and an overwhelming level of technology can lead the
April 21, 2025 -
Former Democratic Party leader Lee widens lead in presidential election poll
A former leader of the Democratic Party, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, has widened the lead among potential candidates for the June 3 presidential election, a poll showed Monday. South Korea will hold a presidential election on June 3 as the Constitutional Court removed former President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his failed martial law bid. According to the survey conducted by Realmeter on 1,504 adults aged over 18 from Wednesday to Friday, Lee topped the list with 50.2 percent, surpassing the 50 perc
April 21, 2025 -
People Power Party holds 1st round of primary
The People Power Party on Monday kicked off the first round of its primary to shortlist four potential candidates for the June presidential election. The PPP will conduct public opinion polls on eight contenders by Tuesday, as the election will be held on June 3 after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted on April 4 over his failed martial law bid. In the second round, two candidates will be selected through a process that combines 50 percent party member votes and 50 percent public opinion
April 21, 2025 -
Lee Jae-myung surges ahead in Democratic Party of Korea presidential primaries
Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's former chair and most likely nominee, is on a winning streak in the major liberal party's three-way presidential primary. Lee on Sunday secured another victory in the North and South Gyeongsang provinces, with a whopping 90.81 percent of primary voters choosing him. Lee's two primary challengers, former South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyung-soo and Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong-yeon, trailed far behind at 5.93 percent and 3.26 percent, res
April 20, 2025