#SOUTHKOREA: Opposition Leader Stabbed

[world politics news]

 The leader of South Korea's political opposition was stabbed at a news conference in the southern port city of Busan, Yonhap news agency reports.

Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost the presidential elections in 2022, was stabbed on the left side of his neck on Tuesday morning.

The attacker was arrested at the scene.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Interior Min. Impeached Over Halloween Crowd Incident

[world politics news]

South Korean politicians have voted to impeach interior minister Lee Sang-min over his responses to a deadly Halloween crush last October, setting the stage for him to become the first cabinet member removed by the legislature.

As many as 159 people were killed and 196 injured in the October 29 incident, when revellers flooded narrow alleyways in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon to enjoy the first coronavirus mask-free Halloween festivities in three years.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

 

#SOUTHKOREA: Pro- and Anti-government Mass Protests Held

[world politics news]

Tens of thousands of conservative and progressive activists staged large-scale rallies in downtown Seoul on Saturday, chanting opposing slogans about sensitive political issues. The demonstrations ended without clashes.

Right-wing activists, including members of the far-right Liberty Unification Party, held a rally in Gwanghwamun against what they call pro-North Korea. sympathizers.

Police estimated about 32,000 activists participated in the event.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Agency Fines Google, Facebook $72 Million For Privacy Violations

[world politics news]

South Korea’s Personal Information and Protection Commission said it fined Google $50 million and Facebook $22 million for illegally tracking their users’ online behavior without their consent.

The combined $72 million fine was the largest penalty ever levied in South Korea for privacy violations, according to the agency.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Supreme Court Rules Against "Peak Wage" Practice; Calls It Age Discrimination

[world politics news]

The Supreme Court has ruled against the peak wage system introduced by a large number of local companies to gradually cut the salaries of senior workers several years before retirement.

The top court said the peak wage system is an illegal discrimination against workers on the basis of age, making the first ruling of its kind in a lawsuit filed by a former employee of a local research institute.

It noted that the peak wage system violates a clause of the Act on Prohibition of Age Discrimination in Employment and Aged Employment Promotion, which stipulates that workers and persons wanting to become workers should not be discriminated against on the basis of age without reasonable causes.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Opposition Party Wins Presidential Election

[world politics news]

The main opposition People Power Party’s Yoon Suk-yeol confirmed his place as South Korea's next president after his opponent, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung, conceded defeat in the early hours of Thursday morning. 

He will become the first former prosecutor to be elected president and the first president without any political experience.

The two candidates came within 1 percentage point of each other after an election marked by mudslinging and a general dissatisfaction in the electorate with both candidates.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: COVID Business Restrictions Eased Amid Backlash

[world politics news]

South Korea’s daily COVID-19 cases topped 100,000 for the first time amid its Omicron outbreak, as authorities announced a slight easing of restrictions ahead of the March 9 presidential election.

Authorities announced they would move a curfew on restaurants and cafés from 9 pm to 10 pm, amid a growing backlash

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Debate Continues On "Fake News" Bill

[world politics news]

Lawmakers Monday continued to debate the timing of a final vote on a bill on penalizing the press for “fake news,” with fierce opposition from those outside the ruling party likely pushing the date back.

In face of fierce protest from the media and opposition People Power Party lawmakers, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea was debating within its members whether to walk back from its plan to push the bill through the National Assembly within this month’s provisional session.

The bill has faced severe criticism, with opinions divided even within the ruling party. 

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Businesses That Don't Enforce Social Distance Could Lose Future Covid-19 Cash

[world politics news]

Businesses that violate social distancing restrictions will not be eligible for an upcoming fourth round of emergency cash handouts, South Korea's prime minister says.

Chung Sye-kyun warned of stern measures, including the so-called "one-strike, you're out" punishment, amid continued reports of some shops, restaurants, night clubs, and other businesses nationwide breaching a set of rules aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Governing Party Wins Parliamentary Election In Landslide

[world politics news]

By the time the polls closed on April 15th, 66.2% of South Korea's eligible voters had cast a ballot, more than in any parliamentary election since 1992. And they had voted overwhelmingly for the governing Democratic Party, largely due to their handling of the coronavirus crisis.

As much of the world remained in virus-induced lockdown, South Koreans donned face masks and plastic gloves to show that even in a pandemic, the journey to the polling booth is essential.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: All-Female Party Formed To Contest Parliamentary Seats

[world politics news]

South Korea is regularly ranked lowest in the developed world for gender equality, but for the first time a feminist party is seeking parliamentary seats at Wednesday’s election, accusing the political establishment of having failed women.

The party was founded last month on International Women’s Day on the back of a surge of anger over the country’s spycam porn epidemic and other crimes, and against a backdrop of an enduring pay gap and employment and childcare issues.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Parliament Unanimously Supports Cryptocurrency Law

[world politics news]

The South Korean National Assembly has voted in favor of the country’s first Cryptocurrency law.

The amendment of the Special Financial Transactions Information Act, which was submitted last November, now has crypto-specific laws that creates a framework for Cryptocurrency holders and exchanges in the country.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Healthcare Reforms Include "Points" To Urge People To Adopt Better Lifestyles

[world politics news]

The government says it will provide mileage points to people who improve their lifestyles for better health so that people can use them for the payment of medical bills or health examinations.

To enhance the public health, the government will adopt a health management service certification system so that consumers can choose to take the health management service and launch a pilot program to offer incentives for those who manage their health better in the second half.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Former Justice Minister Questioned About Halting Malfeasance Investigation

[world politics news]

Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk appeared at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office for questioning Monday.

While in charge of the Blue House# civil affairs and justice office, Cho is accused of wrongly suspending an internal investigation of former Busan Vice Mayor Yoo Jae-soo in 2017, then a senior official at the Financial Services Commission. In detention, Yoo was indicted Friday. Cho denies any wrongdoing.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Gov't Will Tax Cryptocurrency Capital Gains From 2020

[world politics news]

The South Korean government is preparing legal tools to tax capital gains from the sale of crypto assets. Specialized legislation to target digital asset deals is expected to arrive from the tax season for 2020.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: US$255 Million Settlement Proposed To Settle WWII Japanese Labor Compensation Claims

[world politics news]

The head of South Korea's parliament has proposed a US$255 million settlement to settle a feud over wartime labor compensation with Japan. Both South Korean and Japanese governments would contribute to fund, along with help from large corporations, to compensate 1,500 claimants for their forced labor during World War II. Some families have said they oppose the legislation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: Lawmaker Who Suggested War With Russia Suggests War With South Korea

[world politics news]

A lawmaker who sparked criticism earlier this year for suggesting the need for Japan to wage war with Russia has made a similarly controversial remark regarding islets controlled by South Korea, but claimed by Japan.

After a group of South Korean lawmakers visited the disputed islands, known in Japan as Takeshima and in South Korea as Dokdo, Hodaka Maruyama wrote on his Twitter account on Saturday, "Isn't war the only way to get them back?"

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Pres. Moon Jae-in Offers Olive Branch In Trade Talks

[world politics news]

South Korean President Moon Jae-in offered an olive branch to Japan to end an ongoing trade dispute Thursday, saying Seoul will "gladly join hands" if Japan wants to talk.

Moon's government has been accusing Japan of weaponizing trade to target its export-dependent economy and retaliate against South Korean court rulings calling for Japanese companies to offer reparations to South Koreans forced into labor during World War II. Tokyo's measures struck a nerve in South Korea, where many still harbor resentment over Japan's ruthless colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.

After threatening stern countermeasures and declaring that South Korea would "never lose" to Japan again, Moon has taken a more conciliatory tone over the past week as there was relief in Seoul that the impact of Japan's trade measures might not be as bad as initially thought.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: National Assembly Urges Japan To Withdraw Export Restrictions As Trade Dispute Widens

[world politics news]

South Korea's National Assembly has sent Japan a parliamentary resolution calling on Tokyo to withdraw its export curbs on the neighboring country, as a trade dispute between the two nations escalates.

The resolution was adopted unanimously Friday, hours after Japan's Cabinet approved a bill which would remove South Korea from a list of trusted trade partners. The move followed its July 4 restriction of exports to South Korea of high-tech materials vital in making chips and displays.

Pictured: South Korea House Speaker Moon hee-sang.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SOUTHKOREA: Adviser To Pres. Moon Resigns After Urging Stressed Youth To Seek Employment In Other Nations

[world politics news]

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday accepted the resignation tendered by his economic policy aide over controversial remarks related to job seekers.

Kim Hyun-chul, who advised Moon on economic policy, offered to resign on Tuesday, one day after he urged young and middle-aged job seekers to stop calling the country "Hell Chosun" and instead to go to other Asian nations to seek opportunities. His resignation was accepted immediately, Presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said in a briefing. 

"Hell Chosun" is a term, used mainly by young people, to describe South Korea's punishing and stressful social and career lifestyle, characterized by cram schools and widespread discrimination against the poor, women and minorities. "Chosun" is an ancient name for Korea.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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