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Seoul-Tokyo ties feared to aggravate further Last week's Cabinet reshuffle by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is raising concerns that he is moving Japan further to the right because he appointed his conservative allies as ministers. By filling most of the lineup with hard-liners, Abe is likely to keep or toughen his strong position in the ongoing trade dispute with South K..

Seoul should prove Tokyo violates free trade rules South Korea has decided to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Japan for its discriminatory trade measures. The decision comes 69 days after Tokyo imposed export restrictions on three key materials which are crucial for Korean companies making semiconductors and display panels. For Seoul, it is ine..

Ending GSOMIA can determine nation's future South Korea has refused to renew a bilateral agreement it signed with Japan in 2016 to share sensitive military information, citing "grave changes" made to their security relations by Tokyo's unilateral export restrictions of strategic industrial materials. Announcing the decision, Thursday, Cheong Wa Dae said it doesn't serve the na..

Appointment of Cho Kuk deepens political turmoil President Moon Jaein appointed the disputed nominee Cho Kuk as justice minister and five other nominees to ministerial and minister-level posts, Monday. This came after Moon conducted a Cabinet reshuffle on Aug. 9. Since then, there have been massive media reports centered on fraud and corruption allegations involving Cho's fami..

Illegal leakage of information hurts trust The embattled justice minister nominee Cho Kuk vowed to carry out the ongoing judicial reform centered on limiting the prosecution's power in a way that "no one can reverse it," if appointed, in a confirmation hearing, Friday. Reforming the prosecution is a political zeitgeist of this country at this time. Needless to say, the prosecu..

Gov. Lee's political fate will depend on top court's ruling Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jaemyung may lose his gubernatorial post if the Supreme Court upholds a lower court ruling that found him guilty of violating the election law. On Friday, the Suwon High Court ordered Lee to pay a 3 million won ($2,500) fine for making a false claim in the lead-up to last year's local elections. ..

Nominee cannot represent fairness, equality, justice All eyes are fixed on whether President Moon Jaein will appoint his trusted aide as justice minister amid mounting doubts about the nominee's qualification. Moon will make a decision soon ― although belatedly due to a political standoff between the rival parties. Even after the parliamentary confirmation hearing Friday, ju..

Abe should listen to Japanese citizens and intellectuals Rallies condemning acts to stoke anti-Korean sentiments are happening in Japan one after another. On Sunday, hundreds of Japanese citizens held a rally in downtown Tokyo to condemn acts inciting hatred against South Korea. During the rally, the participants denounced some Japanese media outlets directing anger and disgus..

Top court reaffirms no tolerance on corruption The Supreme Court's ruling in the massive corruption case involving disgraced President Park Geunhye has sent a clear message that the country should break corrupt ties between politicians and tycoons. On Thursday, the court ordered a lower court to conduct a retrial for Park, her confidant Choi Soonsil and Samsung Electronics Vic..

Strong doubts raised over college entrance system Suspicions that the daughter of Justice Minister nominee Cho Kuk may have used illicit means to get into prestigious schools are raising questions about the fairness of the current college admissions system. President Moon Jaein called for a review of the system Sunday, and then the Ministry of Education held a meeting to discu..