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[News analysis] Korean voters rebuked the PPP, but withheld mandate for Democrats

Gwangju Biennale to select artistic director through open call for first time

The Gwangju Biennale Foundation will select the artistic director of the 17th Gwangju Biennale through an open international call, replacing its longstanding recommendation-based appointment system. Under the previous system, artistic directors were selected from a pool of candidates recommended by a small committee. The foundation said the new approach is intended to create a "more open selection process," while placing greater emphasis on curatorial vision, exhibition content and planning capa

Laneige opens first global flagship store in Myeongdong

Laneige, a beauty brand under AmorePacific, has opened its first global flagship store in Myeongdong on Friday. Laneige Seoul is designed for consumers to experience up-to-date technology and the brand's "Open to Wonder" philosophy. With hyper-personalized beauty services and products, the brand aims to provide a unique consumer experience, the company said. At the Lip Sleeping Mask Swirl experience, inspired by an ice cream bar, consumers can choose two out of ten scents. The machinery — equipp

Pres. Lee Likely to Choose Successor of Prime Minister Kim Among 3 Figures

[Politics] : President Lee Jae Myung is said to be considering three candidates as the successor to Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who is expected to tender his resignation soon to run for chair of the ruling camp. According to officials of the top office and the ruling Democratic Party on Thursday, Lee is likely to ... [more...]

Ruling party concedes key battlegrounds after tight race

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea largely prevailed in Wednesday's local elections, but it was not a win without costs, as the party lost some key battlegrounds. In particular, the ruling party's narrow yet crucial loss in the Seoul mayoral election prompted a blame game within the liberal camp, raising questions as to whether the results indeed represent a clear victory for the party. The Democratic Party envisioned wins in tight races involving Seoul mayoral candidate Chong Won-o, Daegu may

Oh’s win brings relief to conservatives, but People Power Party faces deeper doubts

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s reelection gave the main opposition People Power Party its most important victory in Wednesday’s local elections, but results also revealed the limits of its support in the capital. Oh retained the Seoul mayoralty after a close race against Democratic Party of Korea candidate Chong Won-o. He framed the result as a basis for conservative recovery, saying Seoul would serve as “a platform for conservative revival,” “a source of hope for the conservative bloc” and “a basis f

It comes down to real estate: Housing concerns earn Oh fifth-term victory

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon secured a historic fifth term Wednesday in one of the closest and most-watched races of South Korea's local elections, with some analysts pointing to housing concerns and property values as decisive factors behind his narrow victory. The conservative People Power Party candidate won 49.15 percent of the vote, edging out Democratic Party of Korea challenger Chong Won-o, who garnered 48.13 percent. The result defied preelection surveys and exit polls that had largely suggest

Single vote decides local council seat in South Chungcheong Province

The single closest contest in Wednesday's local elections unfolded in South Chungcheong Province, where Democratic Party of Korea candidate Gi Ho-yeop edged out his conservative rival by just one vote in a race for a provincial council seat. According to the National Election Commission on Thursday, Gi received 11,594 votes in the Nonsan City No. 1 constituency for a seat on the South Chungcheong Provincial Council, defeating People Power Party candidate Yoon Gi-hyeong by a single vote. The two

Hyundai, Nvidia in talks on Korea AI center: report

Hyundai Motor Group, Nvidia and the South Korean government may establish an artificial intelligence technology center in the country, with a major industrial development zone in North Jeolla Province emerging as a leading candidate for the project, according to local media reports Thursday. The Korea Economic Daily reported that the parties are in the final stages of discussions regarding the timing and location of the proposed facility, citing industry and government sources. If established, t

Prosecutor-turned-politician Han Dong-hoon revives political career with by-election win

Han Dong-hoon, who ran as an independent candidate, won the National Assembly by-election in Busan's Buk-A district on Wednesday, defeating rivals from both major parties and securing his first elected office. According to the National Election Commission, Han garnered 42.96 percent of the vote, ahead of Democratic Party of Korea candidate Ha Jung-woo with 41.26 percent and People Power Party candidate Park Min-sik with 15.76 percent. The victory marks Han's first entry into the National Assembl

Former Justice Minister Choo makes history as Korea's first female governor

Veteran liberal politician and former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, 67, shattered another political glass ceiling, becoming South Korea's first woman elected to lead a provincial or metropolitan government after winning the Gyeonggi governorship. The Democratic Party of Korea heavyweight secured victory defeating People Power Party candidate Yang Hyang-ja in a rare contest between two female candidates. Choo won 55.04 percent of the vote, comfortably defeating Yang, who secured 39.37 percent. The

Progressives increase hold on education policy

With progressive candidates increasing their number of education superintendents across the country, the balance of power in education policy is set to shift further toward the progressive bloc. The number of progressive superintendents, which stood at nine after the previous elections four years ago, rose to 11 in Wednesday’s election. Incumbent Seoul Metropolitan Education Superintendent Jung Geun-sik was declared the winner at around 8:40 a.m. Thursday, securing a second term after earning 30

Jensen Huang to meet executives from Krafton during Seoul visit: sources

The head of US chip giant Nvidia Corp., Jensen Huang, is expected to meet with executives of Krafton Inc., a local game developer, during his visit to Seoul this week, industry sources said Thursday. Huang is reportedly meeting Krafton's Executive Director Chang Byung-gyu, and other senior managers from the company, though the exact dates have yet to be confirmed, the sources said. The two companies are likely to discuss gaming partnerships related to Nvidia's RTX Spark, a type of semiconductor

BTS stays atop Billboard’s global chart with ‘Swim’

BTS added yet another week to its chart-topping run on the Billboard Global excl. US chart with “Swim,” according to the latest ranking dated June 6. “Swim” has spent 8 weeks at No. 1, tying the record BTS set with 2020 hit “Dynamite” and extending the most weeks atop the chart for a track from this year. The group also has the most No. 1 songs on the chart at eight, which is “double the total of its closest competitors; Bad Bunny, Blackpink and Taylor Swift,” according to Billboard. The main tr

Oh Se-hoon wins 5th term as Seoul mayor

Oh Se-hoon of the conservative opposition People Power Party is set for a fifth term as Seoul mayor, edging out a liberal rival in the most closely watched contest in South Korea’s local elections. As of 9:54 a.m. Thursday, with 97.7 percent of votes counted, Oh secured 48.94 percent, ahead of Democratic Party of Korea candidate Chong Won-o, who had 48.34 percent. Oh had trailed the liberal candidate since vote counting began the previous day, but rapidly closed the gap on the back of ballots fr

DP’s Chong Won-o Concedes Defeat to PPP’s Oh Se-hoon in Seoul Mayoral Election

[Politics] : Ruling Democratic Party mayoral candidate Chong Won-o has conceded defeat in the June 3 election to Seoul’s incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party. At his election camp office at around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Chong said he humbly accepts the outcome and acknowledged having ... [more...]

Ballot shortage not grounds for reelection: election watchdog

The National Election Commission said Thursday that the shortage of ballot papers during Wednesday's Seoul mayoral election does not invalidate the results, saying it was not one of the grounds that would suspend or nullify the final outcome. Some voters at 14 polling stations, particularly in the southern part of Seoul — eight in Songpa-gu, two in Gangnam-gu, two in Seocho-gu, one in Gwangjin-gu and one in Dongjak-gu — reported that they were unable to vote because NEC officials had run out of

Incumbent mayor Oh Se-hoon leads Seoul race in dramatic late surge

People Power Party candidate and incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is leading the closely contested Seoul mayoral race in Wednesday’s local elections. As of 8:00 a.m. Thursday, with 95.83 percent of votes counted, Oh secured 48.77 percent, narrowly ahead of Democratic Party of Korea candidate Jung Won-oh, who had 48.51 percent. Oh, who had trailed the liberal candidate since vote counting began the previous day, rapidly closed the gap as ballots from conservative-leaning districts south of the Ha

Independent Han Dong-hoon Secures Narrow Win in Busan By-Election

[Politics] : Independent candidate Han Dong-hoon narrowly won the parliamentary by-election in Busan's Buk-A district, one of the most closely watched races of the June 3 local and by-elections. According to the National Election Commission, the former chair of the People Power Party secured 42-point-99 percent ... [more...]

PPP's Choo Kyung-ho Wins Daegu Mayoral Race

[Politics] : Main opposition People Power Party candidate Choo Kyung-ho was elected mayor of Daegu in one of the key battleground races of the June 3 local elections, defeating Democratic Party candidate Kim Boo-kyum. According to the National Election Commission, Choo secured 52-point-73 percent of the vote as of ... [more...]