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Han Seong-sook seen as ‘pragmatic’ pick for PM after disappointing election for Democrats

Parties seek parliamentary probes over ballot shortage

South Korea’s state institutions and political parties moved Monday to address ballot paper shortages reported during last week’s local elections. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea submitted its request for a parliamentary probe to the National Assembly. Rep. Cheon Jun-ho, the party’s senior deputy floor leader, said the NEC had been aware of the shortage in advance but failed to respond in a timely manner, causing confusion at polling stations and fueling unnecessary suspicion over the fairn

Democratic Party to Hold Party Convention on Aug. 17 to Elect New Leader

[Politics] : The ruling Democratic Party(DP) will hold a party convention on August 17 to elect a new leader. DP Secretary-General Jo Seung-lae unveiled the date in a news conference held at the National Assembly on Monday. Jo said if the number of candidates for party leader exceeds four, the party will hold a ... [more...]

Ruling party power struggle unfolds

A power struggle over the ruling Democratic Party's leadership appears likely to unfold, with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok hinting at a major role within the party as lawmakers split over the June local election results. Among those considered a contender against current chair Rep. Jung Chung-rae in the primary, expected to be held in mid-August, is Kim Min-seok, who offered to step down as prime minister Sunday and is seeking to return to the party as a four-term lawmaker. Announcing his resigna

US officials visit Busan church, hold talks with pastor tied to anti-impeachment movement

A delegation of senior US government officials visited a church in Busan over the weekend and met with a pastor known for organizing rallies against the impeachment and removal from office of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to church officials Monday. Segero Church said the US delegation included Riley Barnes, assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, Julie Turner, acting deputy assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, and White Hous

Jensen Huang's K-pop playlist includes a hit and a surprise

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has revealed three of his favorite K-pop songs, naming global smash hit "Golden" by fictional girl group Huntrix of Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" and the unexpected choices of Hwasa's "Good Goodbye" and "So Cute." During an appearance on popular South Korean television program "You Quiz on the Block," set to air Wednesday, Huang was asked about his interest in K-pop and the music he listens to at work. "Who doesn't love 'Golden?'" Huang said in a teaser video released Su

Bolivian Congress gives Paz power to use troops against crippling protests

Bolivia's legislature gave the green light Sunday for President Rodrigo Paz to use the military to clear roadblocks that have crippled key cities for weeks. A month of heated demonstrations calling for the center-right Paz to step down have paralyzed the Andean nation, with blockades causing severe food and medicine shortages. Endless lines at the pump have also led many to sleep in the vehicles to not lose their place. A bill relaxing the country's strict rules surrounding states of emergency p

PM nominee vows to put top priority on improving people's livelihoods

Prime Minister nominee Han Seong-sook said Monday she will put top priority on improving the people's livelihoods, if confirmed as the country's No. 2 official. President Lee Jae Myung designated Han as successor to outgoing Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Sunday. An information technology expert, Han has served as Lee's first minister for medium-sized enterprises and startups. The prime minister's replacement comes as Kim is preparing to run for leader of the ruling Democratic Party. "If I'm giv

Kang takes bronze in WT Rome Grand Prix

Kang Sang-hyeon, a member of Korea's men's heavyweight national team, claimed a bronze medal in the Men's +80kg division at the first event of the 2026 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series. The competition was held at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. On the second day of competition, Kang demonstrated why he is regarded as a leading athlete in the heavyweight division, but narrowly missed out on a place in the final. On Saturday, Kang faced Simone Alessio (Italy) in the semifinals of the Men's +80kg di

Starbucks US HQ apologizes to victims of May 18 Uprising over 'inappropriate' marketing campaign

Starbucks’ US headquarters on Sunday officially apologized to victims of the Gwangju Democratic Uprising and their families for a Starbucks Korea promotional event that evoked memories of the military crackdown on the 1980 pro-democracy movement. The May 18 Memorial Foundation said it received a written response from the US headquarters expressing regret over the incident, calling it an “inappropriate marketing campaign” that should never have happened. “We apologize for the pain caused to the v

Protests over Ballot Shortage Continue for Third Day Near Seoul Counting Center

[Politics] : Public backlash over a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections continued to grow Sunday, with demonstrations entering a third consecutive day near a vote-counting center in Seoul's Songpa District. Protesters have remained near Olympic Park, which served as a counting center, demanding a ... [more...]

트럼프식 '투자의 민주화'...퇴직연금을 사모펀드에 개방하면?

[선데이 모닝 인사이트] 트럼프 2기 출범, AI의 발달, 기후변화 등 글로벌 사회의 불확실성이 커졌습니다. 는 매주 일요일 오전, 깊이 있는 시각과 예리한 분석으로 불확실성 커진 세상을 헤쳐나갈 지혜를 전달합니다. 도널드 트럼프 미국 행정부가 개인 퇴직연금(이하 401K)에 대체투자 편입을 확대하는 방안을 추진하면서 미국 금융시장의 논쟁을 촉발했다. 대상은 사모펀드·사모 대출·부동산·원자재·디지털 자산 등이다. 트럼프 행정부는 이를 "투자 기회의 민주화(Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets)"라고 부른다. 기관투자자에게 주로 열려 있던 비상장 자산 투자 기회를 일반 근로자에게도 제공하겠다는 취지다....

IU targeted in online trolling over election disruption

Singer and actress IU has been targeted by online comments urging her to support protesters over election disruptions, in what some describe as coordinated online trolling. Her social media account has recently been flooded with comments requesting that she prepay coffee and snacks for demonstrators who have gathered to protest against ballot paper shortage incident during the June 3 local elections. Some users cited IU’s previous actions, when she provided prepaid food and drinks for attendees

Protest over ballot shortage continues after voting disruptions

A protest over voting disruptions caused by a ballot paper shortage during the June 3 local elections continued into Saturday. Protesters remained gathered outside the Handball Gymnasium at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, eastern Seoul, on Saturday afternoon. The venue was being used as a vote-counting center. Roughly 3,000 demonstrators were present as of 1:30 p.m., according to an unofficial police estimate. The protest initially took place at a polling station in Songpa-gu. It, however, shifted to

DP to Seek Parliamentary Investigation into Ballot Shortages on June 3

[Politics] : The ruling Democratic Party(DP) says it will seek a parliamentary investigation into the National Election Commission’s(NEC) shortage of ballot papers during the June 3 local elections. Speaking to reporters on Friday, DP floor leader Han Byung-do said his party will push for bold reforms to make sure ... [more...]

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

[Editorial] Losing Seoul mayor’s race should be a wakeup call for Democrats

New Assembly speaker elected; 14 new lawmakers make Assembly debut

The National Assembly on Friday elected six-term liberal lawmaker Rep. Cho Jeong-sik as its new speaker of the country's unicameral legislature. Cho, who was selected in the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's internal contest on May 13, won 267 votes out of 276 at the plenary session held Friday. Cho will hold the post for the 22nd National Assembly until May 2028. Cho, 62, replaces five-term Rep. Woo Won-shik, whose two-year term as the speaker ended on May 29. In his acceptance speech, Cho ple

Cho Jeong-sik Elected New National Assembly Speaker

[Politics] : Ruling Democratic Party(DP) Rep. Cho Jeong-sik has been elected the new speaker for the second half of the 22nd National Assembly. Cho was elected during a plenary session Friday after securing the consent of all 276 lawmakers present at the session. In line with the National Assembly Act, which regulates ... [more...]

'Anti-Ilbe Storehouse' bill drafted to enforce removal of online hate speech

A liberal lawmaker has drafted an anti-hate speech in online spaces law that would push operators of online platforms to remove posts containing derision or hate speech. The proposed legislation was prompted by public backlash over a series of perceived mockeries of citizens of the Jeolla provinces and the Korean democratic movement. Starbucks Korea came under fire for its "Tank Day" tumbler promotion on the anniversary of the Gwangju Democratic Uprising on May 18. In 1980, the military, under m