Journalist

LEE Keon-hee
  • National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lee Hak-young Pledges Policy Support for Energy Shift
    National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lee Hak-young Pledges Policy Support for Energy Shift National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lee Hak-young said on the 29th that he would do his best to reflect voices from the field in national policy so South Korea can move toward becoming a global leader in energy. Speaking at the '2026 Aju News Energy Forum' at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Lee said the National Assembly would not spare legislative and institutional support needed for a successful energy transition and for building firm energy security. Lee called the reshaping of supply chains and a redesign of South Korea's energy strategy the country's most urgent and important national tasks. He said the international community is facing unprecedented instability in global energy supply chains and a rapid push toward carbon neutrality to address the climate crisis. "Energy is no longer simply an industrial driver; it is a core issue that determines the fate of national security and the economy," he said. For South Korea, with its manufacturing-centered industrial structure and heavy reliance on energy imports, he said a rapid reorganization of energy supply chains could be both a major crisis and an opportunity for a new leap forward. Lee said he was pleased that leading experts and industry leaders had gathered at a critical time, and he expressed hope that the forum would offer clear direction for South Korea amid global competition for energy leadership and spur active discussion of effective policy alternatives.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 16:06:06
  • DP Lawmaker Park Hae-cheol Says Carbon Neutrality Is Essential to Competitiveness
    DP Lawmaker Park Hae-cheol Says Carbon Neutrality Is Essential to Competitiveness Rep. Park Hae-cheol of the Democratic Party of Korea said April 29 that carbon neutrality to respond to the climate crisis is “no longer a choice but a necessity,” citing rapidly rising electricity demand as the artificial intelligence industry expands. In a written congratulatory message for the “2026 Ajunews Energy Forum” held at the Press Center in Seoul’s Jung District, Park said, “We are now standing before the huge wave of a major energy transition.” He said the reshaping of global supply chains and securing energy security have become key tasks that will determine national competitiveness. Park said power demand is increasing quickly with the rapid growth of the AI industry, heightening the need for a stable energy supply system and the construction of an intelligent power grid. He added that policymakers should carefully consider a public-led restructuring of supply chains and concerns that the public interest could be undermined during the energy transition. “Energy transition is not simply a change in fuels,” he said, calling it a process that innovates the broader industrial structure and creates future growth engines. Park said he hopes the forum will help lay the groundwork for South Korea’s push to become a leading energy power.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 15:31:52
  • Democratic Party recruits Ha Jeong-woo, taps Jeon Eun-su for June 3 by-elections
    Democratic Party recruits Ha Jeong-woo, taps Jeon Eun-su for June 3 by-elections The Democratic Party has recruited Ha Jeong-woo, a former senior presidential secretary for AI future planning, and selected Jeon Eun-su, a former presidential spokesperson, ahead of the June 3 National Assembly by-elections. The party is widely seen as putting figures from the Lee Jae-myung administration at the forefront to rally its base. At a recruitment ceremony at the National Assembly on the 29th, party leader Jeong Cheong-rae said Ha, nicknamed “HaGPT,” was “a talent I wanted to bring in no matter what,” adding he would have made repeated appeals to do so. Jeong described Jeon as “a capable person” who grew up outside the capital region and has a strong commitment to balanced development, noting she had been recruited ahead of the 22nd general election. He urged both to “win,” signaling they would receive nominations. The party said it is using three tracks for strategic nominations in the by-elections: outside recruitment, internal selection and redeploying existing figures. Ha falls under outside recruitment, while Jeon was chosen internally, it said. Ha is being mentioned as a candidate in Busan’s Buk-gu Gap district, and Jeon in South Chungcheong Province’s Asan Eul. Byun Sung-wan, head of the party’s Busan chapter, and Lee Jung-moon, head of its South Chungcheong chapter, attended the event. After Jeong’s remarks, Ha said he would return to his “warm hometown of Busan” and deliver development, calling the moment a “golden time” for major change and a leap forward. “If we use physical AI, Busan can become the very center of global maritime AI,” he said. Jeon said she had stayed connected to people through her work as a teacher, lawyer and spokesperson. “Now I will face the public directly and solve difficulties on the ground,” she said. The party has already made strategic nominations for Kim Nam-jun, a former presidential spokesperson, in Incheon’s Gyeyang Eul, and Kim Nam-kuk, a Democratic Party spokesperson who previously served as a digital communications secretary, in Gyeonggi Province’s Ansan Gap. If Ha and Jeon are confirmed, the number of figures from the Lee administration fielded by the party would rise to four. The by-elections will be held in 14 districts and are being dubbed a “mini general election.” Vacancies include five previously confirmed seats and nine additional openings due to reasons including President Lee’s inauguration, the resignation of presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik, and rulings that voided election wins, as well as seats vacated by runs for metropolitan mayor and governor posts. Of the 14 districts, 13 were previously held by the Democratic Party. 2026-04-29 12:19:14
  • Jung Cheong-rae Says Party Will Seek to Restore Kim Yong’s Honor After Nomination Exclusion
    Jung Cheong-rae Says Party Will Seek to Restore Kim Yong’s Honor After Nomination Exclusion Jung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said Kim Yong, a former deputy director of the party-affiliated Democratic Research Institute who was excluded from nominations for the June 3 parliamentary by-elections, would have “a day to be used in a bigger role” before long. In a Facebook post on April 28, Jung wrote, “I will work to restore Kim Yong’s honor,” adding, “I’ll see you soon. Please stay strong.” A day earlier, the party’s strategic nominations committee said it decided not to nominate Kim, saying his candidacy could affect the by-elections. Kim was sentenced to five years in prison in an appeals court on charges of receiving money from a group of private developers tied to the Daejang-dong development project. He was later released on bail and is awaiting a Supreme Court ruling. The committee cited concerns that nominating him could rally conservatives and drive away centrist voters. Kim held a news conference at the National Assembly on April 28 and said he “accepts the committee’s decision with gravity,” adding that he would “respect the party’s deliberations and strategic judgment and serve without seeking a post.” “If my sacrifice becomes a foundation for the success of the Lee Jae-myung government and a Democratic Party victory, I will step aside gladly,” he said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 17:21:57
  • Kim Seong-tae denies alleged salmon and drinking party, says he did not drink
    Kim Seong-tae denies alleged 'salmon and drinking party,' says he did not drink Kim Seong-tae, former chairman of Ssangbangwool, on April 28 denied allegations that he held a so-called “salmon and drinking party,” saying he did not drink and urging people to stop focusing on what he ate. He also rejected suspicions of stock manipulation involving the company. Appearing as a witness at a National Assembly hearing for a special committee investigating alleged fabricated indictments, Kim said, “I have never had a drink. I didn’t drink, so I’m saying I didn’t.” He added, “I’m close to 60. Please stop talking about what I eat.” The allegation surfaced after attorney Seo Min-seok, who previously represented former Gyeonggi Province peace vice governor Lee Hwa-young, released a transcript on March 29. The transcript raised claims that on May 17, 2023, Kim held the gathering in the office of prosecutor Park Sang-yong, who investigated the Ssangbangwool case involving alleged remittances to North Korea. On the stock manipulation allegations, Kim raised his voice, saying, “There has to be a benefit for me to manipulate stock prices. What stock manipulation are you even saying I did?” He also pushed back against claims that prosecutors conducted a lenient investigation to link President Lee Jae-myung to the North Korea remittance case, saying, “What did those vicious prosecutors supposedly go easy on?”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 14:03:50
  • Ruling, Opposition Parties Clash Over Claim Witness Met Committee Chair Before Hearing
    Ruling, Opposition Parties Clash Over Claim Witness Met Committee Chair Before Hearing Rival parties clashed April 28 at the National Assembly over allegations that Kim Seong-tae, a former Ssangbangwool chairman testifying as a witness, entered committee Chair Seo Yeong-gyo’s office before the hearing. Rep. Kim Hyeong-dong, floor secretary for the People Power Party, asked during the special committee’s comprehensive hearing that officials confirm whether Kim entered the chair’s office before 10 a.m., before proceedings began. If the witness met the chair in advance, Kim said, the testimony “could have been tainted.” Fellow PPP lawmakers Kwak Gyu-taek and Shin Dong-wook said the matter could be settled by checking CCTV footage. Seo denied the claim, saying Kim had not entered her office and calling it “nonsense.” Democratic Party lawmaker Park Sun-won said that when he entered Seo’s office at 9:18 a.m., no one was there except Rep. Cha Gyu-geun of the Rebuilding Korea Party. Cha also said he was the first to enter and that Park arrived a minute later. Kim said he did not know whether the place was the chair’s office, but said he had gone somewhere to drink a cup of water from a purifier. He added that he saw Seo for the first time at the hearing. Kim declined to answer most questions, saying he could not speak because he is on trial, but he acknowledged coercive investigations by prosecutors. On the case involving alleged remittances to North Korea, he said he is acquainted with former Gyeonggi Province peace vice governor Lee Hwa-young but “doesn’t even know” President Lee Jae-myung. Later, PPP lawmaker Na Kyung-won pressed Kim, saying that if a future special prosecutor is appointed, prosecutors could drop charges against President Lee while also holding Kim responsible for illegal gambling. Kim replied that he is already on trial on 28 charges and said, “If there’s more to do, they’ll do it.” 2026-04-28 11:51:21
  • Moon Jae-in urges dialogue for Korean Peninsula peace; Lee Jae-myung vows no hostile acts
    Moon Jae-in urges dialogue for Korean Peninsula peace; Lee Jae-myung vows no hostile acts Former President Moon Jae-in on April 27 voiced concern over strained inter-Korean ties and said the Lee Jae-myung government should help ensure the Korean Peninsula becomes “a land of sustainable peaceful coexistence and prosperity,” not confrontation. President Lee also reaffirmed his intention to pursue a policy of peaceful coexistence without hostile acts. Moon made the remarks at the National Assembly during a ceremony marking the eighth anniversary of the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration, saying, “Protecting and building peace on the Korean Peninsula ultimately depends on our own capabilities.” It was his second visit to the Assembly since leaving office in May 2022, following his attendance at the same event last year. Moon called the Panmunjom Declaration “a historic declaration” that included improving inter-Korean relations, easing military tensions, substantially reducing the risk of war and building a peace regime on the peninsula. “The spring of peace on the Korean Peninsula in 2018 did not come on its own,” he said. “Even though North Korea’s response remains cold and hostile, this is precisely the time to be patient and stay the course. If we do, opportunities for dialogue will surely return.” Lee did not attend due to scheduling conflicts, but Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ik-pyo read his message. Lee said, “Eight years ago today, the Korean Peninsula was filled with the feeling of spring,” and that the two leaders had shown the world “a hopeful path forward.” “Unfortunately, that promise was not kept,” Lee said, adding that peace must still be made to take root amid “severance and hostility.” He said the “people’s sovereignty government” would not pursue absorption-based unification and, under the principle of “no hostile acts of any kind,” would steadily push a coexistence policy in which the two Koreas live peacefully and grow together. The Panmunjom Declaration was issued after a summit on April 27, 2018, at Panmunjom between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. It included goals such as a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, a declaration ending the war and the establishment of a joint inter-Korean liaison office. This year’s event was co-hosted by the Council for the Inheritance and Development of Democratic Governments’ Korean Peninsula Peace and the Ministry of Unification, and sponsored by the Democratic Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The council is a group formed last year by the Korean Peninsula Peace Forum, with participants including the Kim Dae-jung Foundation, the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation and Forum Sasae. Attendees included Moon and his wife; Hong; National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik; Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae; Unification Minister Chung Dong-young; Kim Dae-jung Foundation Chairman Kwon Noh-kap; Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman Cha Sung-soo; and Korean Peninsula Peace Forum Chairman Lim Dong-won.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 15:27:20
  • Jung Cheong-rae says Yoon Suk Yeol should have faced death penalty request in North drone case
    Jung Cheong-rae says Yoon Suk Yeol should have faced death penalty request in North drone case Jung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said prosecutors should have sought the death penalty for Yoon Suk Yeol, who was asked to be sentenced to 30 years in prison in a first trial over a North Korean drone infiltration case. Speaking at an on-site Supreme Council meeting in Anseong on the 27th, Jung said that if North Korea had used the incident as a pretext to start even a limited clash, “countless people would have lost their lives.” Earlier, the special prosecutor for the insurrection case said on the 24th it was seeking a 30-year prison term for Yoon, who is accused of ordering an operation to send drones into Pyongyang. Jung also noted that it was the eighth anniversary of the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration, saying South and North Korea found a path to pursue peace together eight years ago, but that it “collapsed under Yoon Suk Yeol’s dictatorship.” He added, “We cannot stop the path to peace. War must not break out on the Korean Peninsula.” “Peace is the economy, and it makes our people richer,” Jung said, adding that under the Lee Jae-myung government there are signs the “Korean Peninsula risk” is easing and shifting toward a “Korean Peninsula premium.” Jung also urged Choo Mi-ae, the party’s candidate for Gyeonggi governor, Park Chan-dae, its candidate for Incheon mayor, and Woo Sang-ho, its candidate for Gangwon governor, who were selected as candidates in border regions, to “do their best” to manage the situation. He added that relief payments for damage from high oil prices caused by the Middle East war began that day, saying the Democratic Party would work with the government to ensure the program is carried out without gaps.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:54:17
  • Han Byung-do Seen as Front-Runner for Second Term as DP Floor Leader After Rivals Bow Out
    Han Byung-do Seen as Front-Runner for Second Term as DP Floor Leader After Rivals Bow Out As the Democratic Party prepares to elect a new floor leader on May 6, a string of decisions by potential contenders not to run has boosted the chances of Han Byung-do winning a second term. Han, who previously served as floor leader, formally entered the race on April 23 at the National Assembly, saying, "I am confident I can do well going forward." If elected, he would become the party's first floor leader to serve consecutive terms. Rep. Baek Hye-ryeon wrote on Facebook on April 27 that she would not run, saying the top task is "the success of the Lee Jae-myung government and victory in local elections through party unity." She added that she would "do my best" in the role assigned to her. Rep. Park Jeong also announced a day earlier that he had decided not to run. In a post titled "I have decided not to run for floor leader this time," Park said winning the Democratic Party's June 3 local elections and parliamentary by-elections must come first, adding that the party should deliver a "complete defeat" to "far-right forces." Baek and Park had been seen as possible candidates after both lost to Han in a floor leader by-election held in January following the resignation of Kim Byung-ki. Rep. Seo Young-kyo, who also competed against Kim in that earlier contest, said a day earlier that she had considered running but would sit out this time to focus on her duties as chair of a special committee for a state investigation and as chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. Some in the party have voiced concerns about Han serving another term. Rep. Kim Yong-min said on April 24 that the ruling party should move more dynamically to support the administration's success when the president's approval rating is high, arguing that a second term for the floor leader runs counter to the energy and momentum the party needs. He said he hoped "a new figure" would emerge in the party. Kim also argued a day earlier that the share of party member votes reflected in the floor leader election, currently 20%, should be increased to 50% so members' views carry more weight. The floor leader elected this time will have authority over matters including the allocation of standing committee posts for the second half of the year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-27 10:21:52
  • Democratic Party calls 30-year sentence request for Yoon Suk Yeol in Pyongyang drone case anti-state crime
    Democratic Party calls 30-year sentence request for Yoon Suk Yeol in Pyongyang drone case 'anti-state crime' The Democratic Party on April 24 called prosecutors’ request for a 30-year prison term for Yoon Suk Yeol, indicted over allegations he ordered a drone operation into Pyongyang, “a deserved response to an anti-state crime.” Some party figures said prosecutors should have sought life in prison. Spokesman Kim Nam-guk said Yoon “used the nation’s survival and the lives of its people as chips in a gamble to maintain his power.” Earlier, the special counsel team asked the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 36, presided over Chief Judge Lee Jeong-yeop, to sentence Yoon to 30 years at the closing hearing in the first trial. Kim said it would be recorded as “an indelible disgrace” that the commander in chief, who should protect lives, “artificially stoked the risk of war on the Korean Peninsula” and tried to undermine the constitutional order. He said the alleged “Pyongyang drone insertion” operation went beyond abuse of power and amounted to “aiding the enemy,” calling the offense serious. Kim said the operation was aimed at stirring a “North wind” to justify declaring martial law, sending a key military asset into enemy territory and, in the process, giving North Korea grounds for retaliation that put border residents and the public under the threat of war. “Now only the judiciary’s stern judgment remains,” Kim said, urging a ruling “based solely on law and principle” so that “power does not again threaten the people by taking security hostage.” Rep. Kim Byung-joo, a former four-star general, wrote on Facebook that the request was too light and that seeking life in prison “would not have been excessive.” Rep. Kim Yong-min also said prosecutors should have sought the maximum penalty of life in prison, saying history should record the fate of someone who “schemed for war” to keep power. Yoon is accused of ordering an operation around October 2024 to send drones into Pyongyang to militarily provoke North Korea with the aim of declaring martial law. The special counsel has concluded the operation heightened military tensions between the Koreas and that a deployed drone crashed, leaking military secrets related to the operation and capabilities and harming military interests.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-24 16:39:19