Journalist

Song Seung-hyun
  • Democratic Primary Candidate Kim Han-jeong Urges End to Negative Attacks, Seeks Meeting With Choi Hyeon-deok
    Democratic Primary Candidate Kim Han-jeong Urges End to Negative Attacks, Seeks Meeting With Choi Hyeon-deok Kim Han-jeong, a preliminary candidate in the Democratic Party’s Namyangju mayoral primary, on April 21 proposed an urgent meeting with rival preliminary candidate Choi Hyeon-deok, calling for a “one-team” primary. Speaking at an emergency news conference at his campaign office, Kim said the primary should not be a contest over “who attacks more harshly,” but a choice of “who can change Namyangju.” He said candidates should face citizens and party members with mutual respect and a contest of policies. Kim called on Choi to agree to principles of ending negative campaigning, showing mutual respect and focusing on policy, and to run a clean primary. Kim also addressed recent attacks against him. He said an “unfair smear frame” he experienced during the nomination process two years ago was being repeated in this primary, adding that it had gone beyond political criticism to the level of damaging a person’s life and reputation. He rejected claims that he was not present at an anti-martial law rally, saying that was not true. Kim said he was overseas at the time but continued efforts to publicize the unfairness of martial law to U.S. political circles, media and think tanks. Kim said he was imprisoned while fighting military dictatorship as a university student and has never left the Democratic Party since joining in 1988. He also said he was the first sitting lawmaker to declare support when Lee Jae-myung sought the Gyeonggi governor’s post. Kim laid out a development vision for Namyangju, saying concerns are growing that while new towns are expanding, older downtown areas are stagnating. He pledged balanced growth so that Wangsuk New Town and existing areas — Jinjeop, Onam, Byeollae, Hwado, Sudong, Pyeongnae and Hopyeong — can develop together.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 15:44:23
  • Seoul mayoral rivals build campaign teams ahead of June 3 local elections
    Seoul mayoral rivals build campaign teams ahead of June 3 local elections With both major parties having chosen their final candidates for Seoul mayor ahead of the June 3 local elections, attention is turning to the campaign committees expected to drive the race. Democratic Party candidate Jung Won-oh, selected earlier as the party’s nominee, has moved quickly to assemble a large committee heavy with sitting lawmakers and has begun public campaigning. People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon has said he will also move fast to build his team. Jung on Monday visited the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak District with about 40 aides in his first official outing since launching his campaign committee. Among those attending were Rep. Lee In-young, a five-term lawmaker from Seoul and a standing co-chair of the committee, along with Reps. Park Joo-min and Jeon Hyun-hee, who had competed against Jung in the party race. Other key figures from the committee formed the previous day also joined, including co-chairs Han Jeong-ae, Nam In-soon, Jin Sun-mi, Ko Min-jung and Kim Young-ho. Jung’s committee totals more than 50 members, including 27 sitting lawmakers. Jung reiterated his push for party unity, saying he built a lawmaker-centered committee to strengthen his team. “The candidates in the party primary have experience in state affairs and in the National Assembly, and they have experience in party leadership,” he told reporters after the visit. “I invited them to help fill in what I need to build one team.” Oh, by contrast, has made few public moves since appointing Rep. Park Soo-min and former lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook as co-chairs on Saturday. Still, Oh has said he plans to ask key party figures, including sitting lawmakers from Seoul, to join as he accelerates preparations. Speaking on KBS radio’s “Jeonggyeok Sisa” on Monday, Oh said, “We should of course bring in sitting lawmakers. We will of course bring in Supreme Council member Shin Dong-wook as well.” Referring to Jung’s lineup, he added, “Even if we can’t match a ‘mammoth’ committee, we are planning around people who can work practically.” Oh’s camp told Aju Business Daily by phone that the overall structure has not yet been finalized, but said it is making full preparations to recruit lawmakers in Seoul and that sitting lawmakers could join.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 15:34:38
  • Rival parties agree to pass bill this week to clear way for US investment under trade deal
    Rival parties agree to pass bill this week to clear way for US investment under trade deal SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - A bill outlining South Korea's massive investment pledges to the U.S., a follow-up measure to a tariff-related deal between the two countries is expected to pass at the National Assembly later this week. Lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) met on Wednesday to discuss the bill and agreed to put it to a vote at a parliamentary session on Thursday. "If all goes as planned, we expect the bill to pass," the DP's Cheon Jun-ho told reporters. "We put the broader national interest first, mindful that further delays could invite even harsher U.S. tariff measures," said the PPP's Yoo Sang-beom. In January, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to raise reciprocal tariffs on South Korea back to 25 percent from 15 percent, complaining about delays in Seoul's legislative process for the trade deal that was reached during his visit to South Korea last fall. Meanwhile, the two rival parties failed to reach a consensus on another bill to merge several central and southern provinces including Daejeon and Daegu, as each side weighs what advantages it might gain ahead of local elections slated for early June. 2026-03-04 17:11:39
  • JTBC Apologizes After Japanese Flag Graphic Airs During Korea-Japan Curling Match
    JTBC Apologizes After Japanese Flag Graphic Airs During Korea-Japan Curling Match JTBC, which holds exclusive broadcast rights to the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, issued an official apology after a Japanese flag graphic aired during the women’s Korea-Japan curling match. In a statement posted on its website on Feb. 16, JTBC said that at about 11:23 p.m. on Feb. 15, a Japanese national flag graphic briefly appeared on an advertising screen during a live broadcast of the match. JTBC said the error was the production team’s fault and apologized for causing discomfort to viewers. It said it would strengthen checks and oversight to prevent a repeat. The incident occurred during the live broadcast of the women’s curling round-robin fifth match between South Korea and Japan at the Cortina Curling Stadium in Italy. After the fifth end ended, an unrelated Japanese flag graphic aired for about 10 seconds during a commercial break.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-16 12:18:00