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Police raid National Assembly, other offices in probe into 2024 knife attack on Lee
Police raided the National Assembly, the intelligence agency and other offices Thursday as part of an investigation connected to a knife attack on President Lee Jae Myung in 2024 when he was the opposition leader. A police investigation team searched the parliamentary intelligence committee, the National Intelligence Service and the National Counter Terrorism Center to secure evidence. The investigation is related to the knife attack Lee sustained during a visit to the southeastern city of Busan
Feb. 12, 2026 -
Blame game as Lee's lunch with rival party chiefs falls through
A blame game quickly ensued after a luncheon planned between President Lee Jae Myung and the leaders of Korea's two largest political parties fell through shortly before noon Thursday. The ruling bloc expressed disappointment over People Power Party chair Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok's decision not to attend the luncheon. Jang, meanwhile, condemned the liberal bloc's unilateral push for judicial reform — designed to allow constitutional appeals of Supreme Court rulings and double the number of justices
Feb. 12, 2026 -
National Assembly special committee for US investment bill stalls over partisan rifts
The inaugural meeting of a special parliamentary committee dedicated to Korea’s proposed US investment cooperation bill was derailed by partisan clashes over an unrelated legislative dispute Thursday. Launched Monday, the committee was created to speed deliberations on the ruling Democratic Party-backed measure, formally titled the Special Act on Strategic Investment Cooperation with the United States and widely known as the US investment special bill. But the first plenary session at the Nation
Feb. 12, 2026 -
NIS still believes Kim Ju-ae on NK succession path
Kim Ju-ae, the daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, is on course to be the official second in line for power, South Korean lawmakers said Thursday, citing a National Intelligence Service briefing at the National Assembly. "The NIS assesses that North Korea is in the stage of designating Kim Ju-ae as the successor," Rep. Lee Seong-kweun of the main opposition People Power Party told reporters after the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee. The spy agency cited Kim Ju-ae's recent pub
Feb. 12, 2026 -
Top court chief justice voices opposition to controversial judicial reform bills
Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae on Thursday said two judicial reform bills pushed by the ruling Democratic Party could cause "great harm" to the public, effectively expressing opposition to the controversial bills. On Wednesday, the parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee approved the bills that would allow for constitutional appeal for cases finalized by the Supreme Court and increase the number of justices at the top court to 26 from the current 14. "I have repeatedly said it
Feb. 12, 2026 -
Lee set to host luncheon with leaders of ruling, opposition parties
President Lee Jae Myung is set to host a luncheon with the leaders of the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party on Thursday to discuss the economy and other pending issues. Lee will meet with DP leader Jung Chung-rae and PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok at Cheong Wa Dae, marking the first three-way meeting since September last year. The luncheon was arranged to discuss ways to improve people's livelihoods and exchange "candid" views on a broad range of state affairs withou
Feb. 12, 2026 -
S. Korea, Italy agree on efforts for cultural exchange in high-level talks
Senior diplomats of South Korea and Italy agreed Wednesday on efforts to encourage bilateral cultural exchange during talks held in Seoul, the foreign ministry said. First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo met his Italian counterpart, Maria Tripodi, during the two countries' second strategic dialogue, which took place after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's visit to Seoul last month for summit talks with President Lee Jae Myung. The two officials noted that cultural and people-to-people
Feb. 11, 2026 -
Lee offers condolences over deadly school shooting in Canada
President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday expressed condolences over a deadly school shooting in Canada, voicing hope that the country will heal from the tragedy. "On behalf of the Republic of Korea, I convey my heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families and to the people of Canada who are mourning this profound loss," Lee wrote on the social platform X, using South Korea's official name. "I sincerely hope that the people of Canada, united as one under the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney,
Feb. 11, 2026 -
Parties clash over Yoon’s martial law ahead of ruling
The ruling and opposition parties clashed Wednesday at the National Assembly over former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024, exposing political divisions that still run deep ahead of a court ruling scheduled next week on charges he led an insurrection. During a government interpellation session, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea argued that the episode underscored the need for constitutional reform to curb the concentration of presidential power, while the main
Feb. 11, 2026 -
Lee to host ruling, opposition leaders for bipartisan reset
President Lee Jae Myung will hold a luncheon meeting with the leaders of the ruling and main opposition parties on Thursday to discuss bipartisan cooperation on livelihoods and state affairs. Lee will sit down at Cheong Wa Dae with Rep. Jung Chung-rae of the Democratic Party of Korea and Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok of the People Power Party for the first time since September last year. “This meeting is intended to discuss measures for bipartisan cooperation aimed at restoring people’s livelihoods and s
Feb. 11, 2026 -
YouTube-based outlets increase access to Cheong Wa Dae amid embargo debate
The presidential office is planning to expand its press corps to include additional YouTube outlets, but unchecked coverage by such channels is fanning criticism and concerns. Questions are mounting over why these YouTube-based news channels face no clear disciplinary rules despite often violating basic reporting norms, including embargoes on the President’s itinerary, which is regulated for security and diplomatic issues. So-called YouTube outlets often focus on live broadcasts and rapid conten
Feb. 11, 2026 -
PM warns administrative integration unlikely without legislation by end-February
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Wednesday that proposed administrative integration among several regional governments would be impossible if related special bills fail to pass the National Assembly by the end of the month. Rep. Hwang Myung-sun of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea raised concerns during a parliamentary interpellation that deliberations on the special bills have made little progress at a subcommittee of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee due t
Feb. 11, 2026 -
Democratic Party shelves merger talks ahead of local elections
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea has halted talks on a merger with the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, shifting the discussions to after the June 3 local elections in a move that reflects mounting internal friction and competing strategic calculations. Party Chair Rep. Jung Chung-rae — speaking at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday — said the leadership had agreed to suspend merger discussions and instead "push for integration after the elections,”
Feb. 11, 2026 -
DP puts merger talks with minor party on hold until after local elections
The leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) said Tuesday that discussions on a possible merger with the minor liberal Rebuilding Korea Party will be put on hold until after the June local elections, apologizing to party members for internal friction caused by the proposal. "We decided to end discussions on the merger ahead of the local elections," DP chairman Jung Chung-rae said in a briefing after a supreme council meeting. "It is true that my proposal caused concerns and worries both within
Feb. 10, 2026 -
Seoul downplays concerns over nontariff barriers with US
Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan on Tuesday reaffirmed Seoul’s position that there would be no tariff hike on South Korean goods if a special act on investment in the US clears the National Assembly in March, expressing confidence that such progress could stabilize bilateral trade tensions. During a parliamentary questioning of government officials, Kim underscored his meeting with his counterpart, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and that the two "remain in continuous dialogue.” “The commer
Feb. 10, 2026