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Political compromise needed before Assembly voting Major political parties have begun their discussions on how to handle a set of controversial reform bills that were fast-tracked last April for early voting at the National Assembly. However, there are few prospects of an early agreement because the parties remain poles apart over them. Most of all, the main opposition Liberty..

Seoul, Tokyo should not miss opportunity to mend fences South Korean and Japanese negotiators met in Geneva, Friday, to find a solution to the dispute over Seoul's complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) about Tokyo's "unilateral" export restrictions. The negotiators failed to reach an agreement, but agreed to meet again for further talks. Chief South Korean delegate..

Time to end division, seek national harmony The brouhaha over new Justice Minister Cho Kuk appeared to end as he announced his resignation Monday. The announcement came 35 days after President Moon Jaein named Cho to lead the Ministry of Justice despite corruption allegations surrounding him and his family. Moon should not have pressed ahead with Cho's appointment because more..

Tokyo should no longer try to distort historical facts Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has shown no signs of changing his hardline stance on historical and trade disputes with South Korea. During a policy speech to a Lower House plenary session Oct. 4, he repeated his position that Seoul should keep its promise to Tokyo. His remarks certainly implied that Korea should abide..

Peace projects depend on denuclearization talks President Moon Jaein shared his vision for peace on the Korean Peninsula with the international community in a 17-minute address at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Tuesday. He put forth many ideas. What's most intriguing was transforming the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a 250-kilometer-long, 4-ki..

President Moon responsible for political chaos today One of the country's largest political rallies in recent years was held in central Seoul, Thursday, demanding the resignation of Justice Minister Cho Kuk as well as President Moon Jaein. The rally, organized by the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and affiliated conservative forces, took place four days after a sepa..

Lotte Liquor is scrambling to cope with the rumor that it is a Japanese company amid a national boycott movement against Japanese products sparked by a bitter trade dispute. The rumor has been spreading over various websites that Lotte Liquor is a Japanese firm whose major shareholder is Japan's Asahi Group Holdings. Responding to this, Lotte Liquor asserted that Lotte Liquor ..

Conservative groups mobilize elders against Moon administration Hundreds of thousands of mostly elderly citizens gathered in Gwanghwamun Square and streets near City Hall and Seoul Station, Thursday, to vent their discontent at the Moon Jaein administration, calling on Justice Minister Cho Kuk to resign over corruption allegations leveled against him and his family. Conservati..

Top suicide rate in OECD is self-portrait of gloomy society Korea's suicide rate increased in 2018 for the first time in five years. Since 2005, the nation's suicide rate has been the highest in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development except for 2017. There may be many reasons for suicides, but our society is undoubtedly going in the wrong direction. Accordin..

Prosecution reform should proceed unrelentingly A massive rally was held, Saturday, near the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul in support of the embattled Justice Minister Cho Kuk and his drive to reform the prosecution. Organizers said up to 1.5 million people gathered there, chanting slogans such as "Death to political prosecution," "Complete prosecution reform,"..