Journalist

Kim Bongcheol
  • Lee Jae-myung stays cautious on Middle East war, focuses on constitution and farmland law
    Lee Jae-myung stays cautious on Middle East war, focuses on constitution and farmland law President Lee Jae-myung maintained a cautious stance Tuesday, offering no substantive public comment on the fast-changing situation in the Middle East. At a Cabinet meeting and emergency economic review session at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee received a briefing from Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on a fire involving a South Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz and on the course of the Middle East war. On the ship incident, Cho said a fire broke out at about 8:40 p.m. on May 4 but was quickly put out, and all crew members were confirmed safe. He said the vessel would be towed to a nearby port to assess damage. On the war, Cho said U.S. President Donald Trump had announced a temporary suspension of the “Freedom Project,” adding that the outlook would depend on developments including progress in U.S.-Iran negotiations. Lee did not elaborate, asking only whether Trump had officially said the war and attacks would be halted or ended. Cho replied that he had, but said it could be viewed in two ways: an attempt to avoid the 60-day limit under the U.S. War Powers Act by ending the war and then restarting it, or a genuine effort to find an exit strategy. Lee responded briefly: “I understand.” Lee instead focused his remarks on domestic issues. After receiving a report on a survey of farmland ownership and possible reforms, Lee called for stricter enforcement of the Farmland Act. “In an effective way, people who do not actually farm should not be able to own farmland,” he said, calling that “the clear intent of the Constitution and the Farmland Act.” He criticized the current system, saying, “If you make a law and then make it so people can break it, that is not a law.” He said the structure allows people to buy farmland and leave it idle, and if caught, avoid penalties by appearing to farm once every few years. Lee said that if someone is found subject to disposal and still does not farm the next season, the land should “immediately” be subject to disposal again. He said reforms should ensure that law-abiding citizens do not feel they are being penalized. On constitutional revision, Lee said South Korea has undergone major political, economic and social changes since the current Constitution was revised in 1987, but the Constitution has remained unchanged for more than 40 years. He said the current framework makes it difficult to fully reflect the level of democracy, people’s living conditions and the country’s future. “Your body has grown, but the clothes don’t fit,” he said. “Then don’t we need to alter the clothes?” Lee added that a full revision would be difficult because of the burden and conflicting political interests, but said it was not an option to delay everything and urged a practical approach: “Let’s do as much as we can.” With less than a month to go before the June 3 local elections, Lee warned that there must be no efforts to distort public opinion by spreading false information, obstructing decision-making, buying votes with money, intervening with power, or manipulating and rigging the process. 2026-05-06 14:20:29
  • South Korea to Send Special Envoy Yang Kyung-sook to Costa Rica President’s Inauguration
    South Korea to Send Special Envoy Yang Kyung-sook to Costa Rica President’s Inauguration The government will dispatch former lawmaker Yang Kyung-sook as President Lee Jae-myung’s special envoy to the inauguration of Costa Rican President Laura Fernandez on May 8. According to a written briefing issued Tuesday by senior Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung, Yang plans to meet with Fernandez to explain the Lee administration’s governing philosophy and foreign policy and to deliver Lee’s message on developing ties with the new Costa Rican government, along with a presidential letter. Kang said Yang will attend inauguration-related events, including a reception hosted by Costa Rica’s foreign minister and an inaugural reception hosted by the incoming president. Kang said Yang will also convey the Lee government’s intent to strengthen practical cooperation in areas such as the economy, infrastructure and education.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 11:07:18
  • President Lee Calls for Step-by-Step Constitutional Amendments Ahead of Assembly Vote
    President Lee Calls for Step-by-Step Constitutional Amendments Ahead of Assembly Vote President Lee Jae-myung said Tuesday that pursuing constitutional change in stages, as agreement is reached, is the most realistic approach. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting and emergency economic review session at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee said a National Assembly vote on a constitutional amendment bill is expected to take place Wednesday. Lee said South Korea has undergone major political, economic and social changes since the current Constitution was adopted in 1987, but the Constitution has “stood still” for 40 years. He compared it to clothing that no longer fits a country that has changed and grown, arguing it needs to be altered. He added that under the current Constitution, it is difficult to fully safeguard the country’s present level, people’s living conditions and the nation’s future. At the same time, Lee said a full-scale revision would be burdensome and hard to achieve because of political interests. He urged a practical approach: do what is possible now rather than postponing everything. Lee said it should be self-evident to prevent any attempt to declare martial law illegally — when the country is not under martial law — to maintain power or pursue private interests, and to use the military to impose dictatorship. He questioned who could oppose writing “reasonable controls” on emergency martial law into the Constitution, adding that those who do oppose it are effectively defending illegal martial law. With the anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising approaching, Lee said a tragedy like the Gwangju May 18 incident — in which weapons entrusted to protect the nation were used to kill citizens and destroy constitutional order — must never happen again. He said both ruling and opposition parties have publicly agreed to include the spirit of May 18 and the spirit of the Bu-Ma Democratic Protests in the Constitution’s preamble. He criticized opposition to doing so now, saying it makes no sense when there is a real opportunity to add it to the preamble. Lee also said strengthening local autonomy is something all citizens agree on, and urged political leaders to act on what they have long said in unison by putting it into practice in Wednesday’s vote. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 10:54:21
  • President Lee Jae-myung says ‘real estate never loses’ myth is over
    President Lee Jae-myung says ‘real estate never loses’ myth is over President Lee Jae-myung said on Tuesday that the notion that real estate prices never fall is no longer valid. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Lee shared a report saying roughly half of real estate experts and licensed brokers expect home prices to decline, adding, “Real estate never loses? That myth is gone now.” The report, citing the KB Financial Group Management Research Institute’s “KB Real Estate Report,” said expectations for price increases dropped sharply compared with a survey in January, while forecasts for declines rose. Lee wrote that “everything in South Korea is returning to normal,” citing the removal of illegal facilities in valleys and what he called a recovery in the stock market. He said normalizing the housing market is “an unavoidable trend of the times” and “a core national task that must be carried out.” Lee also shared media coverage alleging that poor progress in restoring areas damaged by wildfires was linked to unqualified firms, including paper companies, joining bids and authorities allowing what the report described as a “wildfire cartel.” Lee wrote, “Thank you for the report.” He said he instructed the Cabinet to determine how such structural corruption and wrongdoing were left in place for a long period and to review fundamental countermeasures and accountability steps. Separately, Lee on Monday pushed back against calls for fiscal tightening, sharing an analysis of International Monetary Fund data showing South Korea’s net debt ratio is far below the average for the Group of 20. Sharing an article titled, “IMF: South Korea’s net debt ratio this year 10.3% … 79.3 percentage points below G20 average,” Lee posted a message titled, “To the strange people who sing the austerity song at every turn.” Lee also cited an analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which said that if funds raised through government bonds are invested in ways that lift growth and expand social productivity, potential growth and the future revenue base, the debt ratio can instead stabilize. According to the institute’s review of the IMF Fiscal Monitor, South Korea’s general government net debt ratio is projected at 10.3% this year. That is 79.3 percentage points below the projected G20 average of 89.6%, and also well below the overall average of 80.1%. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-06 08:36:14
  • Kim Yong-beom says long-term capital gains tax break will stay; tax deferral helped cool Gangnam prices
    Kim Yong-beom says long-term capital gains tax break will stay; tax deferral helped cool Gangnam prices Kim Yong-beom, head of policy at the presidential office, said Monday the long-term holding special deduction for home-sale capital gains taxes will “of course” be maintained. Speaking at a news briefing at Cheong Wa Dae, Kim addressed a bill by Progressive Party lawmaker Yoon Jong-oh that would abolish the deduction entirely. Kim said the government is only considering adjustments and that claims it would reduce owner-occupancy are “not true at all.” Kim added, however, that officials need to consider whether applying the same 40% deduction rate to both residence and holding periods fits the goal of reshaping the housing market around owner-occupiers. “If the system is reorganized around actual residence, there may be cases worth considering for non-residence, but we need to gather more opinions,” he said, stressing that the government will do its best to ensure there are no problems protecting owner-occupiers with a single home. The long-term holding special deduction reduces taxes on gains from selling real estate held for at least three years, with the deduction rising with the holding period. For example, selling a single home held and lived in for at least 10 years can qualify for a 40% holding-period deduction and a 40% residence-period deduction, making 80% of the capital gain tax-exempt. Last month, President Lee wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that “normalizing the abnormal practice of cutting taxes for people who speculated for a long time on homes they don’t live in” is not a “tax bomb.” He said that to properly protect single-home owners, it would be right to reduce tax breaks tied to non-resident holding periods and increase breaks tied to resident holding periods. Kim said Lee had signaled plans to rationalize the tax system by differentiating among categories such as multiple-home owners, non-residents and ultra-high-priced homes, and that ministries and related organizations are studying options. Kim also said the presidential office believes the deferral of heavier capital gains taxes on multiple-home owners — set to expire May 9 — helped bring more homes to market and contributed to price declines in premium apartment areas such as Seoul’s Gangnam district. He said listings increased after the government announced it would end the deferral, and prices fell particularly in high-priced apartment areas including Gangnam’s three districts and Yongsan. Kim said that since Jan. 23, sale listings in the three Gangnam districts and Yongsan have risen about 46%, and price gains have turned into declines. He called it a meaningful change that high-end apartment areas fell first, an unusual pattern that also matters in terms of easing asset inequality. He said sales of Seoul apartments held by multiple-home owners in March rose 32% from a year earlier, and 73% of buyers were people without homes. He said it was also positive that transactions were centered on end-users such as young people. Looking ahead, Kim said some decline in listings is inevitable after the deferral ends, but he argued the same pattern seen in 2021 is unlikely to repeat because strong measures such as lending rules and the land transaction permit system are already in place. On the government’s pledged plan to supply 60,000 housing units, Kim said it will begin as announced. 2026-05-04 17:37:25
  • Lee Jae-myung to Host Children’s Day Event at Cheong Wa Dae
    Lee Jae-myung to Host Children’s Day Event at Cheong Wa Dae President Lee Jae-myung will host a Children’s Day event May 5 at the Cheong Wa Dae main building and Nokjiwon lawn, the presidential office said. It will be the first Children’s Day invitation event since the presidential office returned to Cheong Wa Dae. Children invited include those from areas facing population decline, multicultural families and neighborhoods near Cheong Wa Dae. About 200 children and guardians are expected, including children Lee and first lady Kim Hye-kyung have met through visits to disability welfare centers and child care facilities, as well as children and families connected through meetings with patients with rare diseases. Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik and Senior Secretary for Social Affairs Moon Jin-young will attend, along with Health and Welfare Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong, the office said. Children will tour the main building and hear an explanation of Cheong Wa Dae’s history. They will also visit the Sejong Room and Chungmu Room with the presidential couple, rooms familiar to the public through live broadcasts of Cabinet meetings. The group will then move to Nokjiwon, near Sangchunjae, for free play time. For the day, the lawn will be set up as a pop-up playground with swings and a small airplane ride, and will offer activities including cupcake-making for healthy eating and hand-washing lessons. Cheong Wa Dae said it planned the event so that “our children can dream together of a hopeful and bright future” as Children’s Day is celebrated again at the complex.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 17:05:44
  • Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik orders steps to curb favoritism in highway rest stops
    Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik orders steps to curb favoritism in highway rest stops Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, on Monday ordered steps to recover improper gains and refer suspected violations for investigation following controversy over a group of retired Korea Expressway Corp. employees operating highway rest stops. He also instructed the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to conduct a comprehensive inspection of all public institutions and draw up measures to prevent preferential treatment for former officials. Kang made the remarks during a senior aides meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, according to a written briefing by deputy spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong. Citing cases in which the retirees’ group, Doseonghoe, operated highway rest stops unrelated to its founding purpose and distributed what he described as excessive profits, Kang called it “an act that abandoned the responsibilities of a public institution.” He also directed the Ministry of Economy and Finance to check all public institutions for similar cases and prepare measures to prevent a recurrence. Kang separately ordered stronger measures against illegal online gambling by youths. Citing a 2025 survey by the Korea Center on Gambling Problems, he said about 157,000 youths — 4% of all adolescents — had experienced illegal gambling. He warned it was a “threat to social safety” that could go beyond addiction to lead to dropping out of school, family conflict and secondary crimes. Kang said a “youth gambling self-reporting system” being run by eight provincial and metropolitan police agencies, including the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency, was judged to significantly reduce repeat gambling. He asked the National Police Agency to actively review expanding the program nationwide. He also instructed the National Police Agency, the Education Ministry and other related agencies to devise specific steps to raise self-reporting, including reduced penalties or lighter school discipline.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 16:27:18
  • Unification Ministry Pledges Cooperation as North Korean Women’s Club Visits South for AFC Semifinal
    Unification Ministry Pledges Cooperation as North Korean Women’s Club Visits South for AFC Semifinal The Unification Ministry said it will communicate and cooperate while respecting the framework of an international tournament as North Korea’s Naegohyang Women’s Football Club plans to visit South Korea to compete in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Champions League (AWCL). A ministry official told reporters on the 4th at the Government Complex Seoul that the government will provide necessary support because a North Korean team is coming. The visit will mark the first time in eight years that North Korean athletes have come to South Korea to play. The official said the event should be viewed both as an international match and a club competition, stressing that it does not appear to be something the government is directly involved in. “From the government’s standpoint, it is important that this event gets off to a good start,” the official said, adding that Seoul will respect the structure so the tournament can be run through the AFC as an international competition and set a positive precedent. The comments were seen as signaling that the government will keep its role limited because the tournament is organized by the AFC, an international body, rather than the result of direct exchanges between the two Koreas. Cheong Wa Dae also said in an afternoon notice that it welcomes Naegohyang’s participation in the AWCL semifinal and that the government will work with the AFC and Suwon FC so the team can play its match smoothly. The Korea Football Association said Naegohyang’s trip has been confirmed for the AWCL semifinal against Suwon FC Women. 2026-05-04 14:45:15
  • Lee Jae-myung urges public input on timing, process for special counsel probe of alleged illegal prosecution
    Lee Jae-myung urges public input on timing, process for special counsel probe of alleged illegal prosecution President Lee Jae-myung said Monday that a national consensus has formed around the Democratic Party’s push for a special counsel to investigate what it calls politically motivated, fabricated indictments by prosecutors. Hong Ik-pyo, the presidential senior secretary for political affairs, told reporters in a briefing at the Chunchugwan press center that a parliamentary investigation had already revealed much of the alleged illegal conduct and improper investigations carried out under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and what he described as political prosecutors. Hong said establishing the truth through a special counsel and restoring judicial justice is “something that must be done.” However, Hong said Lee asked the ruling Democratic Party to decide the specific timing and procedures only after gathering public opinion and going through a deliberative process. The Democratic Party on April 30 introduced the “Special Counsel Act on Fabricated Indictments Under the Yoon Suk Yeol Administration.” The bill would authorize a special counsel to investigate 12 cases, including Lee’s criminal cases, and grant the special counsel the power to withdraw indictments. 2026-05-04 11:54:15
  • North Korea Calls Japan’s Planned Security Document Revisions a ‘Blatant Challenge’
    North Korea Calls Japan’s Planned Security Document Revisions a ‘Blatant Challenge’ North Korea on Monday criticized Japan’s push to revise its “three major security documents,” calling it a “blatant challenge to international peace and humanity,” Yonhap News Agency reported. The Workers’ Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun carried the remarks in an article titled, “Evolving into a war state and war merchant will only recreate the shameful fate of the old Japanese empire.” The paper said Japan was exploiting rising regional tensions to move quickly toward becoming a “war state” and “war merchant,” and described the effort as a “sinister scheme” by “Japanese reactionaries” to pursue what it called ambitions of renewed aggression. It said the planned revisions focus on increasing defense spending, lifting restrictions on arms exports and expanding what it called offensive military capabilities. The paper argued that Japan’s drive to export weapons is aimed not only at profit but also at reviving its arms industry and improving the war-fighting capability of the Self-Defense Forces. It warned that what it called the “reckless rampage” of a former aggressor state would face a “merciless counterattack” from an angered international community. Japan is seeking to revise by year’s end its National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Program, with China’s expanding Pacific presence in mind.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-04 10:50:38