AJU PRESS - ASIA NEWS HUB

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Lee Da-hui qhsfid70@ajunews.com

People Power Party Picks Lee Jeong-hyeon for Jeonnam-Gwangju Special City, Yang Jeong-mu for North Jeolla Governor The People Power Party’s nomination management committee on Tuesday made single-candidate nominations for Lee Jeong-hyeon, a former nomination committee chair, as its candidate for mayor of the planned Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, and for Yang Jeong-mu, a former party chapter chair for Jeonju Gap, as its candidate for governor of North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province. Committee chair Park Deok-heum said at an afternoon news conference at the party’s central headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, that Lee is “the right person” to lead “change and a new leap forward” for the newly launching integrated special city, citing his national government experience and political skills. Ahn Tae-uk, a former Gwangju party chair who had applied for the Jeonnam-Gwangju post, withdrew his application. Park said he expects Ahn to continue supporting the party “for a new leap forward and victory,” noting a by-election is expected in Gwangju’s Gwangsan-eul district. The by-election is expected after Min Hyung-bae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, was ultimately selected as the party’s candidate for mayor of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City. The committee also made single-candidate recommendations for Cha Hwa-yeol as its candidate for mayor of Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi province and for Lee Nam-hyung as its candidate for head of Seoul’s Gwanak district. For the June 3 parliamentary by-elections, the party nominated Kim Min-kyung in Asan-eul, South Chungcheong province; Kim Seok-hoon in Ansan Gap, Gyeonggi province; and Oh Ji-seong in Gunsan-Gimje-Buan-gun Gap, North Jeolla province. Park said more discussion is needed on the nomination for Pyeongtaek-eul in Gyeonggi, where Cho Kuk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, is running, adding that a decision will be made “within a day or two.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 18:00:19
South Korean Ruling Party Candidates Sideline Jang Dong-hyeok as Local Election Tensions Grow People Power Party candidates running in the June 3 local elections are increasingly keeping their distance from party leader Jang Dong-hyeok, as internal disputes over nominations continue and his recent U.S. trip draws criticism. In key battlegrounds including Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and the Daegu-North Gyeongsang region, candidates and lawmakers are moving to set up their own campaign committees, effectively sidelining the central leadership. Jang on the 22nd began his first regional outreach since returning from the United States. He traveled to Yangyang in Gangwon Province to support Gov. Kim Jin-tae, who is running for another term, but faced blunt criticism in person. Meeting Jang at a fishing village community center in Yangyang County’s Susan-ri, Kim said he initially believed he could win by working hard on his own, but added that the party needed to provide support. He said that after spending all day on the campaign trail, he often felt alarmed whenever news from the central party surfaced. Kim said about 300 party candidates are running in Gangwon Province and likely feel the same way. He added that some candidates urged him to speak even more forcefully when meeting Jang. Kim said he hoped Jang would “return to the great Jang Dong-hyeok of the past” and called on him to “take responsibility and resolve” the situation. As Kim’s remarks were interpreted by some as a call for Jang to step back or resign, Jang dismissed that reading, saying he did not know what Kim meant by “take responsibility and resolve it.” Jang said he was working to achieve the best possible result in the local elections and that this was his responsibility. He said he took Kim’s comments as words of concern for the party and would consider what the central party should do to win. It was Jang’s second local-election visit after Incheon. On April 6, he held an on-site meeting of the party’s top leadership in Incheon but was rebuked by Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, who said Jang was becoming “a burden to the public.” Jang had planned to hold another on-site leadership meeting in Gangwon on the 22nd, but it was replaced with a campaign pledge event. The party leadership plans to launch a central election committee once nominations are finalized. But with regional groups pressing ahead with separate campaign organizations, Jang’s standing is narrowing. Lawmakers in Gyeonggi Province have said they will launch a province-level campaign committee. At a news conference at the National Assembly the previous day, they said the Democratic Party had already finalized its candidates and was campaigning across Gyeonggi, while the People Power Party had not even decided on its candidates. They said they would immediately form a Gyeonggi campaign committee and that the province would move first in a crisis to serve as a forward base for winning the greater Seoul area. Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon, Busan mayoral candidate Park Hyung-joon and North Gyeongsang Gov. Lee Cheol-woo also signaled plans to form separate campaign committees.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 16:05:27
People Power Party chief backs Kim Jin-tae in Yangyang as governor warns of voter anger Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, visited Yangyang in Gangwon Province on the 22nd to announce tailored campaign pledges and bolster Kim Jin-tae, the incumbent governor and the party’s candidate for the post. Kim, citing sour local sentiment, urged Jang to take responsibility and resolve the situation. Speaking at a party event at a fishing village hall in Yangyang County, Kim said he has met many voters who tell him, “I used to be with the red party, but thinking about the central party this time makes me so angry I won’t vote.” “At first I thought I just needed to work hard,” Kim said, “but the party has to back us up to some extent.” He warned that if such voters stay home, “we really have no hope.” Kim said there are about 300 party candidates in Gangwon Province and many feel the same way. He added that some candidates asked him to speak even more forcefully when meeting Jang. He said that even after spending all day on the trail until his feet swell, “every time central news breaks, my heart sinks.” With 42 days left until the election, he said, candidates feel the pressure. Kim, recalling their time together on the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, told Jang he hoped he would “go back to the great Jang Dong-hyeok of the past.” Jang said Gangwon’s development requires a governor who has lived alongside residents and knows the province well. Taking aim at Democratic Party candidate Woo Sang-ho, Jang said Gangwon’s forests and development cannot be entrusted to a “parachute candidate” who has lived his whole life without ties to the province. Jang credited Kim with launching the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and said Kim continues to fight what he called the Lee Jae-myung administration’s neglect of Gangwon, including by shaving his head in protest. He said the People Power Party would stand firmly with Kim and devote all its strength to Gangwon’s development. The party’s tailored pledges for Gangwon include: △ linking the Seoul metropolitan area and Gangwon within about one hour by transportation △ promoting a medical artificial intelligence-based regional development project △ building a clean methanol and critical minerals-based cluster in Taebaek △ creating a medical industry cluster in Samcheok △ establishing a hydrogen-specialized complex along the east coast. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 11:31:37
PPP Lawmaker Jin Jong-oh Says He Won’t Avoid Discipline Over Backing Han Dong-hoon People Power Party lawmaker Jin Jong-oh said Tuesday he has no intention of avoiding possible party discipline after he backed Han Dong-hoon in the Busan Buk-gap parliamentary by-election, prompting the party leadership to order a fact-finding probe. “I'm not trying to dodge this because I'm afraid of discipline,” Jin said on KBS radio’s “Jeongyeok Sisa.” He said he believes the choice is “the right one for the country,” adding that conservatives should begin building “a grand unity” and a new conservative history. Jin said he first learned through media reports that PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok had ordered a review of the facts after Jang’s trip to the United States, and that the party later contacted his office. “Since the U.S. trip itself has become so controversial, I wonder if they looked for a scapegoat and attacked me,” he said. He argued the party should be moving to put Han “on the right path,” and said it was regrettable to “cut off the sprout” at an early stage. He added that the party needs to reflect and improve. Saying he shares Han’s views, Jin addressed reports that he moved his residence to Busan to support Han. Jin said he has been traveling between Seoul and Busan, but time and costs were high, so he made a provisional contract for a small one-room apartment. Jin also criticized Jang for extending his U.S. trip while party candidates were “sweating blood” to win nominations and support. While meetings may be kept private as a diplomatic practice, Jin said, “who he met” is something that can be disclosed. On whether a party audit is needed over Jang’s trip, Jin said, “If we have to do a party audit, of course we should.” But he urged Jang’s leadership not to be swayed by forces “shaking our party,” and called on the leadership to speak transparently and fairly. Earlier, Jang on Sunday instructed PPP Secretary-General Jeong Hee-yong at a closed-door 최고위원회의 to check whether a party audit was needed regarding Jin, who had secured a place to stay in Busan to support Han and argued the PPP should not field its own candidate.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:31:19
Cho Kwang-han Drops Out of PPP Gyeonggi Governor Primary, Backs Lee Seong-bae Cho Kwang-han, a People Power Party supreme council member who had been running for the party’s nomination for Gyeonggi governor, announced Tuesday that he is ending his bid and backing Lee Seong-bae, a former announcer. The move sets up a three-way primary contest among Supreme Council member Yang Hyang-ja, former lawmaker Ham Jin-gyu and Lee. Cho told a news conference at the National Assembly that he would step down as a candidate in the party’s Gyeonggi governor primary. “For the party’s victory alone, I will return to where I need to be,” he said. Cho said he believes Lee will win the primary and “make a miracle” in the general election, adding that he is confident Gyeonggi will “make a leap to a younger province” under a “youth governor.” Cho called Lee “the only candidate who can defeat” Democratic Party candidate Choo Mi-ae. He said he will serve as Lee’s campaign chief. Lee also held a news conference at the National Assembly on Tuesday to formally declare his run for governor. He said he would be a governor who communicates residents’ voices into provincial policy and proposed a “three axes, five priorities” strategy. Lee’s three development axes include: a semiconductor and artificial intelligence cluster centered on Pangyo, Yongin, Icheon, Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek; a SMART automobile cluster centered on Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, Siheung, Gimpo and Pangyo; and a bio-medical cluster centered on Goyang, Paju, Uijeongbu, Yangju and Namyangju. He listed jobs, housing, education, transportation and culture as five priorities and said he would build living conditions based on a “15-minute living zone” concept. The People Power Party plans to hold two primary debates, then conduct voting over two days starting April 30, before announcing its final nominee on May 2.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 16:57:02
Ex-DP lawmaker faces arrest after Nat'l Assembly passes motion over bribery allegations SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - The National Assembly on Tuesday passed a motion allowing the arrest of Kang Sun-woo, a former lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) over alleged bribery and breach of trust. The motion was passed with 164 votes in favor and 87 against, with three abstentions and nine invalid ballots. Kang is accused of receiving 100 million Korean won (US$68,500) from Kim Kyung, a former Seoul city official in return for the DP's candidate nominations for the 2022 local elections. The money was allegedly delivered to Kang's former aide, identified only by his surname Nam. Before the vote, Kang said she had returned the money every time it was given, totaling 322 million won over five occasions, and added that she never demanded 100 million won and that it would not have been worth risking her career over that amount. She said she believed she had lived by her principles, while admitting that her conduct was "immature." In South Korea, lawmakers are immune from arrest during a parliamentary session unless the National Assembly votes to lift that protection. Since the motion was passed, Kang now faces arrest, with a hearing expected in early March. 2026-02-24 16:52:53
South Korea Women’s Curling Rallies Past China by 1, Moves Into Tie for Second South Korea’s women’s curling team pulled off a late comeback to beat China by one point in Olympic round-robin play, moving into a tie for second place. Gyeonggi Province Office, led by skip Kim Eun-ji with third Kim Min-ji, second Kim Su-ji, lead Seol Ye-eun and fifth Seol Ye-ji, defeated China 10-9 in its sixth round-robin game at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Tuesday (Korea time). After blanking the first two ends to keep last-stone advantage, South Korea scored three in the third. China answered with two in the fourth, but South Korea broke it open with four in the fifth to lead 7-2. China closed the gap with three in the fifth and a steal of one in the sixth. In the eighth, Kim Su-ji knocked three Chinese stones out of the house, and Kim Min-ji followed with a double takeout to escape trouble. South Korea took one in the eighth, but gave up three in the ninth to fall behind by one entering the 10th. In the final end, Kim Min-ji cleared Chinese stones late, and Kim Eun-ji’s last shot settled in the center of the house for two points and the win. South Korea is scheduled to play world No. 1 Switzerland at 10:05 p.m. Tuesday in its seventh round-robin game. In women’s curling, 10 teams play a round-robin, with the top four advancing to the semifinals. South Korea is tied for second with Switzerland and the United States, behind Sweden at 6-0.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-17 09:15:00
PPP leader Jang Dong Hyuk says expulsion case against Han Dong Hoon will follow procedure Jang Dong Hyuk, leader of South Korea’s People Power Party, said Tuesday that disciplinary proceedings seeking to expel Han Dong Hoon, the party’s former leader, would move forward “according to procedure,” signaling expulsion remains possible. Speaking to reporters after an on-site meeting on price trends at the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. (aT) center in Seoul’s Seocho district, Jang avoided a direct answer on Han’s case, saying, “What matters now is people’s lives and livelihoods.” Asked about Seoul Mayor Oh Se Hoon’s call for the two sides to meet “even today,” Jang said, “Enough time has been given under the procedure, and we will proceed according to procedure.” On the New Reform Party’s decision to put off cooperation on a special counsel probe, Jang said the opposition’s proposed special counsel “must be carried through,” adding that “carrying through the special counsel itself is the justification.” Explaining his early return to party duties, Jang cited South Korea-U.S. tariff talks, high prices and two special counsel issues, saying he could now move again and “couldn’t delay,” and that he believed returning “as soon as possible” was the right course. Regarding Rep. Kwon Seong Dong, who faces allegations of receiving money linked to the Unification Church and was sentenced Tuesday in a first trial to two years in prison, Jang said authorities had pursued all possible investigations into the opposition over Unification Church-related matters, but did not investigate when names of ruling-party figures were mentioned during the process. “That’s why we are demanding a special counsel,” he said. Jang added that he expects the courts to make fair decisions the public can accept and said he would watch the case through the final ruling.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 18:09:23
PPP leader ends weeklong hunger strike after ex-President Park Geun-hye's visit SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Jang Dong-hyeok, the leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), ended his weeklong hunger strike on Thursday as his health condition worsened. Jang, who began the strike last Thursday, calling for independent investigations into allegations involving the Unification Church and other bribery cases, was taken to the hospital at around noon. Jang said, "I'm ending mu hunger strike for a longer and bigger fight," adding that public anger over what he called the "tyranny of the corrupt Lee Jae Myung administration" and the ruling Democratic Party (DP) would "blaze like wildfire." He decided to end the strike shortly after former President Park Geun-hye visited him at the National Assembly and urged him to stop, saying the public would recognize his sincerity. Park said, "While people may differ in their views, the public will recognize the sincerity of his fight as a politician for what he believes is right." Adding that they could meet again, she asked him to regain his health soon, saying "more difficulties could lie ahead." Several lawmakers including his fellow party members along with Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the minor centrist Reform Party, earlier visited him, urging him to end his fasting. 2026-01-22 14:29:47
Seoul elevates response to Coupang data breach, puts deputy PM in charge SEOUL, December 25 (AJP) -South Korea has elevated its response to the massive personal data breach at e-commerce giant Coupang, placing the interagency investigation under the leadership of the deputy prime minister for science as concerns grow over accountability, transparency and regulatory oversight. The Ministry of Science and ICT said Thursday that the government will expand its joint task force probing the breach and have it chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Science Minister Bae Kyung-hoon. The move follows a high-level meeting attended by senior officials from the presidential office and multiple ministries and watchdog agencies. Participants included officials from the foreign, industry and trade ministries, as well as the Fair Trade Commission, the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), the Korea Communications Commission and the Financial Services Commission. Authorities said the expanded task force will focus both on identifying the cause of the breach and on preventing secondary harm to consumers, while also preparing broader institutional reforms to prevent similar incidents at major digital platforms. The ministry criticized Coupang for publicly releasing its own conclusions about the breach before the government investigation was completed. In a statement, the ministry said it “strongly protested” the company’s unilateral disclosure, noting that key details — including the scale and mechanism of the leak — have not yet been verified by the public-private joint investigation team. Coupang said earlier Thursday that it had identified a former employee responsible for the leak, recovered all devices used, and confirmed through external forensic analysis that only limited customer data had been accessed. The company said data from about 3,000 accounts had been stored temporarily and later deleted, and that no information had been shared outside the company. However, authorities stressed that the investigation is still ongoing into how personal information linked to a total of 33.7 million user accounts was exposed, cautioning against drawing conclusions before the probe is completed. In its statement, Coupang said the former employee used stolen security credentials to access customer information and later confessed. The company said the accessed data included names, email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses, but did not include sensitive information such as payment details, passwords or customs clearance numbers. Coupang said it has secured all devices involved, including storage hardware, and pledged full cooperation with government investigators. The issue escalated further after the presidential office convened an emergency meeting of senior officials on Christmas Day, reflecting growing concern over the scale of the incident and its broader implications. The meeting was chaired by Presidential Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom and attended by Science Minister Bae, PIPC Chair Song Kyung-hee, Korea Communications Commission Chair Kim Jong-cheol, Fair Trade Commission Chair Ju Byung-gi, and officials from the National Police Agency. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and officials from the Office of National Security also joined, highlighting concerns that the controversy could affect Korea’s external relations. Officials have expressed unease over Coupang’s extensive lobbying activities in the United States. According to U.S. Senate disclosures, the company has spent at least $10 million on lobbying since August 2021. President Lee Jae Myung has called for tougher penalties for repeat data breaches, saying companies must face consequences severe enough to deter misconduct. Speaking at a policy briefing earlier this month, Lee said sanctions should be strong enough to make firms “fear going out of business” if they repeatedly fail to protect personal information. The data breach, first disclosed in November, affected 33.7 million users and has triggered mounting criticism from lawmakers and consumer groups over Coupang’s handling of the case. Political pressure intensified after Coupang founder and chair Bom Kim failed to appear at a parliamentary hearing convened to address the breach. The National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee has filed a complaint accusing him of violating legal obligations to attend hearings. The committee is scheduled to hold another two-day hearing starting Dec. 30, warning that additional legal action could follow if Kim again fails to appear. 2025-12-25 19:57:48