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Assembly likely to put regional merger bills to vote later this month
The National Assembly is likely to vote later this month on special bills to merge major cities and provinces into single administrative entities, in a move that would reshape the upcoming local elections in June. The parliamentary public administration and security committee passed the merger bills during a plenary session Thursday, clearing the way for a floor vote at a full Assembly session. The proposed legislation seeks to integrate Daegu with North Gyeongsang Province, Busan with South Gye
Feb. 17, 2026 -
Lee vows to be 'president for all' in Lunar New Year greeting
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hye Kyung delivered a Lunar New Year’s greeting to the public Tuesday, pledging to move steadily toward a future shaped by the people’s aspirations. In a 3-minute holiday message, Lee vowed to serve as a “president for all,” saying he would “take the future of South Korea envisioned by the people as a milestone and move forward step by step without wavering.” The video was titled “A More Special Lunar New Year Together for Everyone.” Appear
Feb. 17, 2026 -
Lee's approval rating rises for 3rd consecutive week: poll
President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rose to 56.5 percent last week, a survey showed Monday, driven by the government's efforts to stabilize the property market, a survey showed Monday. The rating was up 0.7 percentage point from the previous week, while the negative assessment fell 0.2 percentage point to 38.9 percent, according to the survey by Realmeter, commissioned by a local business news outlet. Realmeter attributed the increase to Lee's ongoing push to curb home prices by ending an
Feb. 16, 2026 -
Conservatives' 'street right-winger' dilemma
South Korea’s main opposition People Power Party is facing a deepening dilemma over whether to sever ties with former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached and removed from office over his martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024. The conservative party has been weighing its stance for months amid mounting calls to draw a clear line with Yoon. Critics say maintaining visible ties with the disgraced president could bolster the ruling Democratic Party’s argument that the bloc remains associate
Feb. 15, 2026 -
Undocumented migrant children left in legal limbo as birth registration bills stall
Multiple bills aimed at establishing a birth registration system for undocumented migrant children born in South Korea remain pending in the National Assembly, leaving thousands of children without legal recognition and access to basic services, despite growing calls for legislative action. At least two proposals pending in the parliament seek to create a legal framework allowing the registration, certification and amendment of birth records for non-Korean children, who are currently excluded fr
Feb. 15, 2026 -
S. Korea seeks to form working-level team for preliminary review of US investment projects
South Korea is preparing to form a team of working-level specialists to back a newly launched government committee tasked with the preliminary review of potential investment projects in the United States as part of a trade deal between the two countries, trade authorities said Sunday. The move comes shortly after the Korea-US strategic investment memorandum of understanding implementation committee held its inaugural meeting Friday to explore potential projects, as the National Assembly also see
Feb. 15, 2026 -
Rise of YouTube politicians tests S. Korea's democratic resilience
A YouTube “silver play button” has become an unlikely new status symbol in South Korean politics. As lawmakers seek more direct ways to reach voters, the silver button, awarded to channels with over 100,000 subscribers, has become a mark of success. But the shift to direct communication carries both political opportunity and hidden costs. In the 300-seat National Assembly, lawmakers are increasingly using the US-based video platform to bypass traditional media and speak directly to voters, with
Feb. 14, 2026 -
Lee says real estate policy aimed at reclaiming 'unfair privileges' from speculation
President Lee Jae Myung said Saturday his administration's push to stabilize the real estate market is intended to reclaim "unfair privileges" linked to investment and speculation, stressing that the government is not forcing homeowners to sell their houses. In a post on social media platform X, Lee said his policy direction is aimed at ensuring those benefiting from speculative practices bear corresponding due responsibilities. "While we protect those who own homes for living purposes, those wh
Feb. 14, 2026 -
Trump gov't releases maritime plan codifying 'historic' shipbuilding cooperation with S. Korea, Japan
US President Donald Trump's administration unveiled an action plan Friday to rebuild America's shipbuilding industry, pledging to continue "historic" cooperation with South Korea and Japan, and proposing a strategy enabling the first ships in a contract to be built in an allied foreign shipyard. The White House released "America's Maritime Action Plan," as Seoul and Washington are pushing to strengthen cooperation under the former's "Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA)" proposal as pa
Feb. 14, 2026 -
Ex-DP chief Song Young-gil's guilty verdict overturned
The Seoul High Court on Friday overturned an earlier guilty verdict against Song Young-gil, former five-term lawmaker and chair of the Democratic Party, over allegations of receiving illegal political funds and being involved in a bribery scandal during the 2021 Democratic Party convention. Friday's ruling overturned the lower court's January 2025 guilty verdict. Song has been on bail since June last year after serving part of a two-year jail term. Evidence against Song was deemed inadmissible i
Feb. 13, 2026 -
Assembly forges ahead with regional merger bills
The National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee approved special bills aimed at launching three megacities in non-capital regions Thursday night. With the committee approval, the bills are in the final stretch of the passage, as the liberal bloc aims to pass the bills at the National Assembly by the end of this month. The legislation aimst o merge South Chungcheong, South Jeolla and North Gyeongsang provinces with nearby metropolitan cities: Daejeon, Gwangju and Daegu, respe
Feb. 13, 2026 -
Liberal lawmaker reprimanded over gifts from officials at daughter's wedding
Rep. Choi Min-hee, a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, has been reprimanded by the party's ethics panel over alleged acts of improper solicitation and abuse of power. The liberal party's ethics panel found that Choi violated her duty to maintain dignity as a lawmaker. A warning is the lightest of the four disciplinary actions the party can impose on its lawmakers. Her warning will be finalized after the party's supreme council approves the independent panel's decision. T
Feb. 13, 2026 -
Navy chief removed from duty over alleged role in Yoon martial law episode
South Korea’s Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Kang Dong-gil has been removed from duty over allegations of involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 3, 2024 martial law declaration, the Defense Ministry said Friday. According to the ministry, Kang is accused of having been involved in the formation of the martial law command structure at the time, when he was serving as head of the Military Support Headquarters under the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the martial law episode. “The ministry pla
Feb. 13, 2026 -
Lee signals limiting existing loan extensions for owners of multiple homes
President Lee Jae Myung on Friday raised questions about whether it is fair to extend existing loans for owners of multiple homes, hinting at possible measures to restrict such financial benefits in an effort to stabilize the property market. Lee signaled stronger steps to curb housing prices in a message on the social media platform X amid complaints from homebuyers facing tight lending regulations when purchasing new homes in the Seoul metropolitan area. "It seems problematic to provide financ
Feb. 13, 2026 -
S. Korea launches committee for preliminary review of US investment projects
South Korea launched a government committee Friday to begin a preliminary review of potential investment projects in the United States as part of a trade deal between the two countries, the industry ministry said. The Korea-US strategic investment memorandum of understanding implementation committee held its inaugural meeting to explore potential projects, as the National Assembly also seeks to legislate a special bill to support possible investments, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry
Feb. 13, 2026