New ruling party head faces bumpy roads for overhaul
Posted : 2021-05-03 16:45
Updated : 2021-05-03 17:02
Rep. Song Young-gil, second from left, the new chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, presides over the party s Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, Monday. Yonhap
By Jung Da-min
With about 10 months left before the next presidential election slated for March 2022, Rep. Song Young-gil, the new chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), is tasked with instituting reforms so that the party will not see a repeat of the crushing defeat in the April 7 mayoral by-elections for Seoul and Busan.
Posted : 2021-04-04 16:50
Updated : 2021-04-04 16:52
A voter casts his ballot for the Seoul mayoral by-election at a polling station in Seoul Station, Friday, the first day of the two-day early voting period for the April 7 by-elections. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Jung Da-min
Both the ruling and main opposition parties have claimed the high early voting turnout in Wednesday s by-elections would work to their advantages, helping their candidates win the Seoul and Busan mayoral races.
While the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said the high early voting turnout showed the DPK supporters solidarity and high participation in favor of its candidate Park Young-sun, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) said people would have voted for its candidate Oh Se-hoon to judge the policy failures of the ruling bloc.
Posted : 2021-03-09 16:43
Updated : 2021-04-01 00:49
Rep. Lee Nak-yon of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea holds a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday, as he steps down from the party s chairman post in a move to prepare for the next presidential election set for March 9, 2022. Yonhap
By Jung Da-min
With just a year left before the next presidential election set for March 9, 2022, Rep. Lee Nak-yon, a potential candidate from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), stepped down from his post as party chairman, Tuesday.
Lee resigned as the DPK s internal regulations stipulate that a party member who plans to run in the presidential race must quit major leadership posts within the party, such as chairperson or Supreme Council member, at least a year before the election.
Posted : 2020-12-24 16:42
Updated : 2020-12-24 18:14
Chung Kyung-shim, a professor at Dongyang University and wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Wednesday. Chung was detained after being sentenced to four years in prison and fined with 500 million won ($453,992) for forging her daughter s academic records. Yonhap
By Jung Da-min
The prison term handed down to the wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, announced after her conviction for multiple criminal acts, is an unfavorable factor for President Moon Jae-in and the ruling party which defended Cho.
The court decision adds to criticism of the Moon government for its ethical lapses, as a number of high-ranking officials have also been embroiled in influence-peddling scandals. The controversy surrounding Cho, in particular, has been so far the biggest considering he was trusted by the President to lead prosecutorial reform and the prosecution s investigation