Journalist

Jo HyunJung
  • PPP Floor Leader Song Eon-seok Slams DP Leader Over Oppa Remark to Child
    PPP Floor Leader Song Eon-seok Slams DP Leader Over 'Oppa' Remark to Child Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, on May 4 criticized Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae over a campaign incident in which Jeong urged a first-grade elementary school child to call Ha Jeong-woo, the Democratic Party’s candidate in the Busan Buk-gu Gap parliamentary by-election, “oppa.” In a Facebook post, Song called it “the DNA of the ‘Democratic Molestation Party,’” and said it was “clear child sexual abuse” and “a violation of children’s rights.” He added, “Tomorrow is Children’s Day,” and urged Jeong and Ha to reflect on their understanding of children’s rights ahead of the holiday. The controversy began after cameras captured Jeong during a visit the previous day to Gupo Market in Busan, where he appealed for support for Ha and pressed a first-grade girl to say, “Jeong-woo oppa.” The People Power Party has continued to attack the Democratic Party over the incident, calling it “sexual harassment of a child” and “child abuse.” Jeong apologized on May 4, saying he was sorry to the child and the parents after the situation at Gupo Market put them at the center of the controversy, but the dispute was not expected to subside quickly. Song also lashed out at the Democratic Party, citing a list of names — Park Won-soon, Oh Geo-don, Ahn Hee-jung, Jeong Bong-ju, Min Byung-doo, Park Wan-ju and Jang Kyung-tae — and saying the party’s “long-standing sexual violence DNA” had carried over to Jeong, whom he called an “oppa-forcing offender.” He added, “Did you even teach a lesson to Ha, who just joined the party?” Song repeated that forcing a child to say “oppa” was “clear child sexual abuse” and a violation of children’s rights, and said Ha should stop meeting voters in Busan with that mindset and “pack up and leave Busan.” He also suggested they seek consulting to change their views. 2026-05-04 14:36:17
  • South Korea secures over 74 million barrels of crude oil for May, presidential aide says
    South Korea secures over 74 million barrels of crude oil for May, presidential aide says SEOUL, April 24 (AJP) - South Korea has secured more than 70 million barrels of crude oil for May, according to presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik. During a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul on Friday, Kang said, "South Korea has secured about 74.62 million barrels of crude oil, which is equivalent to roughly 87 percent of last year's monthly average," adding that the government is "making every effort" to secure additional supplies amid the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. He also said that the country is diversifying the shipping routes and sources of its oil imports, adding that additional supplies from Africa and North America have reduced reliance on the Middle East from 69 percent to 56 percent. Stressing that the government is closely monitoring supplies of petrochemical products such as naphtha, plastics and vinyl bags on a daily basis, Kang said South Korea plans to import 23.99 million barrels from Saudi Arabia and 16 million barrels from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in May via alternative routes that do not involve the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply. He also said that about 2.1 million tons of naphtha secured through a special envoy's visit would be brought in stages starting at the end of this month, expressing some optimism about supply conditions in about a month or so. But he remained cautious, saying the impact of higher prices "may only be beginning," citing rising global oil and raw material prices. "We cannot let our guard down," he said, adding that inflation would weaken purchasing power and slow the domestic recovery. He also pledged to implement a supplementary budget to support those hit by soaring oil prices. 2026-04-24 17:53:03
  • Blue House: South Korea Secures 74.62 Million Barrels of Crude for May
    Blue House: South Korea Secures 74.62 Million Barrels of Crude for May Cheong Wa Dae said April 24 that South Korea has secured 74.62 million barrels of crude oil for May — about 87% of last year’s monthly average imports — easing concerns about supply disruptions as the war in the Middle East drags on. Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, said at an emergency economic briefing at the Chunchugwan press center that the government is “staking everything” on securing alternative crude supplies. He said South Korea has diversified not only suppliers but also tanker routes, and has obtained additional volumes from the Americas and Africa, cutting reliance on the Middle East by 13 percentage points, from 69% to 56%. For May, the government plans to import 23.99 million barrels from Saudi Arabia and 16 million barrels from the United Arab Emirates via alternative routes not involving the Strait of Hormuz. Kang called it the result of a rapid joint response by the government and private sector, saying the recovery trend is continuing on the back of strong semiconductor exports and swift government action. He added that major foreign media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, and international investment banks have positively assessed South Korea’s response to the energy crisis and raised growth forecasts. Still, Kang warned that the impact of inflation may only be beginning. “International oil and raw material prices remain high. We cannot let down our guard,” he said. He said rising prices weaken purchasing power and can undermine a recovery in domestic demand, and pledged to ensure swift execution of the supplementary budget, including support payments for damage from high oil prices. He said the government is mobilizing all available administrative resources so companies can operate normally without worrying about raw materials and the public can maintain daily life. On naphtha, Kang said measures in the supplementary budget — including support for the gap in import unit prices — are being implemented, and that 2.1 million tons secured through a special envoy’s visit will be brought in in stages starting late this month. He said the government expects the risk indicator to shift to yellow — meaning 2 to 3 months of supply — starting about a month from now.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 16:05:11
  • Blue House: No Decision Yet on Long-Term Capital Gains Deduction for Nonresident Single-Homeowners
    Blue House: No Decision Yet on Long-Term Capital Gains Deduction for Nonresident Single-Homeowners The Blue House said Thursday that the government is discussing whether to apply a long-term capital gains deduction to nonresident single-homeowners, but that nothing has been decided. A Blue House official told reporters at the Chunchugwan press briefing room that officials are hearing a range of views and that more discussion is needed. The long-term holding special deduction reduces capital gains tax by up to 40% based on how long a property is held and up to 40% based on how long the owner has lived in it, for a combined maximum deduction of 80%. Earlier Thursday, Lee wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that to protect single-homeowners, tax relief tied to actual residence is necessary. But he argued that cutting capital gains taxes on expensive homes simply because they were held for a long time as investments, without the owner living there, is not a housing protection policy but a policy that encourages speculation. His remarks were widely read as signaling an intent to overhaul the tax system by reducing breaks for nonresident single-homeowners while expanding deductions tied to holding periods for those who live in their homes. The Blue House official said the president’s message was “at the level of principles,” stressing that one-home households should be treated more favorably than multi-homeowners, and that even among one-home households, investment-driven nonresidence should be distinguished from owner-occupied housing. 2026-04-24 15:37:18
  • Ex-PM Kim Boo-kyum declares bid for Daegu mayor
    Ex-PM Kim Boo-kyum declares bid for Daegu mayor SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on Monday declared his bid for Daegu mayor in the upcoming local elections slated for early June. At a press conference at the National Assembly, the ruling Democratic Party (DP)'s key hopeful said he will run for the mayoral post of the southern city, a traditional stronghold of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). The four-term lawmaker, who also served as interior minister under former President Moon Jae-in, said Daegu should "take the lead in abandoning" the PPP, arguing that breaking from the party is the "only way real conservatives can survive." He added that the PPP "is not a proper conservative party" in its current form. Kim blamed the PPP for Daegu's stagnation, saying the party has monopolized local power for decades while neglecting regional development. He said the city's worsening situation ultimately prompted his decision to run, after months of deliberation since being asked last fall. "I thought it would be shameful to avoid it," he said. "The responsibility I have to bear is ultimately Daegu's." "Overcoming regionalism and achieving balanced regional development is my final calling. I will find hope for Daegu's future together with Daegu citizens." 2026-03-30 14:38:39
  • More workers to get day off as Labor Day set to become public holiday
    More workers to get day off as Labor Day set to become public holiday SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) - A bill to designate Labor Day as a statutory public holiday passed a committee in the National Assembly on Thursday. If it clears the remaining legislative steps including Cabinet approval, May 1 will be observed as a public holiday, taking effect this year. Labor Day was made a paid holiday in 1994, but public officials, teachers, and platform workers such as deliverymen have not been able to take the day off because they are not classified as employees under the relevant labor laws. 2026-03-26 16:29:44
  • Ruling, opposition parties agree to pass 90 noncontroversial bills; filibuster dropped
    Ruling, opposition parties agree to pass 90 noncontroversial bills; filibuster dropped The ruling and opposition parties agreed to pass 90 noncontroversial livelihood-related bills at Wednesday’s plenary session. The People Power Party said it will withdraw its filibusters on those bills. Cheon Jun-ho, floor operations deputy chief of the Democratic Party, and Yoo Sang-bum, floor operations deputy chief of the People Power Party, said they reached the deal Tuesday during talks at the National Assembly on the plenary agenda. Cheon said that of 175 bills slated for the plenary session, the parties agreed to prioritize urgent livelihood measures and pass 90 of them. He said a revision to the National Assembly Act needs further discussion and is expected to be finalized through additional talks between the floor leaders. Yoo said the parties agreed to pass the bills included in the deal by withdrawing the filibusters that had been requested. The parties’ floor leaders are set to meet later Tuesday afternoon to continue final talks on the National Assembly Act revision. 2026-01-28 16:27:18
  • Four-term lawmaker Seo Young-kyo announces bid for Seoul mayor
    Four-term lawmaker Seo Young-kyo announces bid for Seoul mayor SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - Lawmaker Seo Young-kyo of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) announced her bid for Seoul mayor on Thursday, vowing to "transform the capital into a leading global economic and cultural hub." At a press conference at the National Assembly on Thursday, months ahead of local elections slated for June 3, the four-term lawmaker said Seoul must turn into a "city where Seoul citizens are truly the owners," pledging to deliver "proven results" that directly improve residents' lives. She outlined her key campaign pledges which include supplying 300,000 new homes and setting a target of 7,000 points for the benchmark KOSPI. Other priorities include expanding support for small business owners, strengthening welfare for children and senior citizens and increasing subway services for commuters. Seo criticized incumbent Oh Se-hoon, saying he has failed to improve the daily lives of Seoul residents by focusing only on showy projects. She added she will instead encourage more citizens to participate in various city projects. Within the DP, Park Hong-geun, Park Ju-min, and Kim Young-bae have already declared their candidacy. Additional candidates including Seongdong district's mayor Jung Won-oh, who gained attention after President Lee Jae Myung's recent praise for his achievements, are also expected to join the race soon. 2026-01-15 15:58:02
  • Former president shares thoughts on martial law debacle, urges stronger democracy
    Former president shares thoughts on martial law debacle, urges stronger democracy SEOUL, December 3 (AJP) - Former President Moon Jae-in shared his thoughts on social media on Wednesday, joining others in marking last year's martial law debacle that plunged the country into political turmoil. "I am very proud of our citizens who defended democracy and demonstrated the country's remarkable democratic resilience to the world," Moon wrote on Facebook. But he pointed out, "The forces behind have shown no remorse" and urged "continued vigilance," stressing the need to strive for a "strong democracy that cannot be shaken." Apparently referring to disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol and the conservative People Power Party (PPP), Moon said, "Those responsible, who shocked and angered South Korean society, have yet to apologize." He also warned that political extremism, which fuels hatred and division, poses a serious threat to democratic values. He expressed his belief that democracy is strengthened through trials and challenges, urging everyone to remember the lessons from a year ago and work toward a "stronger democracy." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-03 11:22:51
  • Support bills for steel, petrochemical sectors set for parliamentary vote in South Korea
    Support bills for steel, petrochemical sectors set for parliamentary vote in South Korea SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - Special legislation designed to bolster South Korea’s steel and petrochemical industries cleared a key parliamentary committee on Friday, paving the way for final approval next week. The National Assembly's Industry, Trade and Energy Committee passed the so-called K-Steel Act and the Petrochemical Support Act with bipartisan backing. The measures, which advanced through a subcommittee on Nov. 19, are expected to win passage in a full National Assembly vote on Nov. 27. The K-Steel Act aims to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness as it confronts steep U.S. tariffs, cheaper Chinese imports and mounting pressure to cut emissions. The bill, introduced in August by 106 lawmakers, also includes provisions supporting South Korea’s carbon-neutrality goals. The Petrochemical Support Act would provide financial assistance to domestic petrochemical companies struggling to maintain profitability amid intensifying global competition. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-21 14:34:03