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Han Seong-sook Addresses Declining Approval Ratings for President Lee Jae-myung Prime Minister Han Seong-sook stated on September 9 that she is "seriously listening to the voices of the people" regarding the recent decline in approval ratings for President Lee Jae-myung's administration.During a government questioning session in the National Assembly, Han responded to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Jae-ok about public opinion polls, saying, "We need to properly assess what we are doing well and what we are not, and seriously consider the areas that need change."Regarding the reasons for the declining approval ratings, she noted, "I believe this is a result of our inability to meet the expectations of the public in certain areas, as well as our shortcomings in explaining what we are doing well."In response to recent criticisms about the cabinet reshuffle, Han emphasized the need for hearings to provide clarification and explanations for any raised concerns, stating, "It is important to follow procedures that meet the public's expectations after undergoing a verification process that aligns with democratic principles."When addressing concerns raised by lawmaker Na Kyung-won about the qualifications of Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, and Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, Han said, "We are doing our best to recommend capable individuals, and I believe they are competent, which is why we have put them forward for nomination."In response to a question from lawmaker Lee Jun-seok regarding the rationale behind Yong's nomination, Han explained, "We considered her track record as a female lawmaker, her leadership as the head of the Basic Income Party, and her contributions as a working woman."On the issue of the proposed abolition of early voting, which is being pushed by the People Power Party, Han stated, "The National Election Commission needs to express its position, and there are aspects that need to be amended in the election law," while also acknowledging that "early voting is a very convenient system that enhances public participation."Han, who took office in July, participated in her first government questioning session on this day. When Yoon asked her what the top priority of the Lee Jae-myung administration is, she initially responded with "constitutional amendment" but quickly corrected herself to "politics that unites the people."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 19:48:00 -
12 Home Shopping Operators Approved for 7-Year Renewal Twelve home shopping operators whose licenses had expired have received a seven-year renewal.The Broadcasting and Media Communications Commission (BMCC) held its 34th plenary meeting on September 9 and approved the renewal for the twelve home shopping companies.The companies under review included Our Home Shopping, Home & Shopping, W Shopping, Shinsegae Live Shopping, CJ ENM, SSG.com, NS Shopping, GS Retail, TRN, KT Alpha, and Hyundai Home Shopping, all of which had their licenses expire between April and June of this year.The BMCC reported that all twelve companies scored above the renewal threshold of 650 points out of a possible 1,000 and met at least 50% of the criteria in the evaluation process, thus securing a seven-year renewal.The review committee was chaired by BMCC member Ryu Shin-hwan and included ten experts from various fields such as broadcasting, media, law, and accounting.The renewal committee reviewed existing conditions for renewal and streamlined those that were outdated or redundant with other laws and regulations, while also specifying necessary conditions to reflect the characteristics of each operator.Common conditions for all twelve companies included: clearly specifying the range of services provided to suppliers in contracts, prohibiting the unfair transfer of increased broadcasting fees to suppliers, and establishing fair trading practices to prevent unfair transactions and employee misconduct.Individual conditions were also assigned based on the characteristics of each operator. For Our Home Shopping, requirements included securing outside directors and internal committees, while Home & Shopping was required to maintain a direct purchase ratio of over 20% for small and medium-sized enterprises and promote cooperative management. Additionally, they were prohibited from using the same name as their TV home shopping channel on data home shopping channels.BMCC Chairman Kim Jong-cheol stated, "Home shopping is an important sales channel for small and medium-sized enterprises, and it must fulfill its role even in challenging distribution and media environments. The BMCC will also continue to implement necessary policy support to strengthen the competitiveness of home shopping operators and expand sales channels for small and medium-sized enterprises."Meanwhile, the BMCC also approved an enforcement decree of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, which imposes fines of up to 6% for illegal spam, set to take effect on October 1.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 19:40:00
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Fines of up to 6% imposed for illegal spam starting next month A new law imposing fines of up to 6% of revenue on businesses that send illegal spam or fail to prevent it will take effect next month. The Broadcasting and Media Communications Commission (BMCC) held its 34th full meeting on September 9, 2026, where it approved the enforcement decree and related regulations regarding fines for illegal spam under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. The enforcement decree specifies the criteria for information and communication service providers to take action if their services are used for sending illegal spam. It establishes a fine range of 1% to 6% of related revenue, with a base amount of 10 million to 200 million won, depending on the severity of the violation. The regulations also outline the procedures for calculating fines. The base amount for fines is determined by multiplying the revenue by the applicable rate based on the type and severity of the violation. Severity is assessed based on factors such as intent, method, type of violation, and the scale and impact of the harm, categorized as high, medium, or low. Additional aggravating or mitigating factors are then applied sequentially to determine the final fine. The approved amendments to the enforcement decree and regulations are expected to be announced and implemented on October 1, following approval from the Cabinet meeting. Kim Jong-cheol, chairman of the BMCC, stated, "With the enactment of this enforcement decree and regulations, we can address the ongoing issue of illegal spam transmission. We will continue to identify and improve tasks to ensure that citizens can enjoy digital media services with greater peace of mind."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 19:36:00
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Actress Lee Na-young attends photo call Lee Na-young (actress) poses at a photo call held at Casa Damiani Cheongdam in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, September 9, 2026. 2026-09-09 19:23:56 -
Actress Lee Na-young attends photo call Lee Na-young (actress) poses at a photo call held at Casa Damiani Cheongdam in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, September 9, 2026. 2026-09-09 19:23:06 -
Silvia Grassi Damiani, vice chair of Damiani, attends photo call Silvia Grassi Damiani (vice chair of Damiani) poses at a photo call held at Casa Damiani Cheongdam in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, September 9, 2026. 2026-09-09 19:22:00 -
Silvia Grassi Damiani, vice chair of Damiani, attends photo call Silvia Grassi Damiani (vice chair of Damiani) poses at a photo call held at Casa Damiani Cheongdam in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, September 9, 2026. 2026-09-09 19:20:58 -
Jung Jeom-sik Praises Han Dong-hoon's Passion for Kim Seung-won's Vetting Jung Jeom-sik, the floor leader of the People Power Party, stated on September 9 that he views the enthusiasm shown by independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon in vetting Kim Seung-won, the nominee for Minister of Justice, very positively.In an interview on SBS's 'Joo Young-jin News Briefing,' Jung expressed this opinion. However, he noted that Han's participation in Kim's confirmation hearing is not permissible under the National Assembly Act, stating, "It is impossible to include an independent lawmaker while excluding a specific member from a negotiating group. Chairman Cho Jung-sik must facilitate a swap among independents, but both parties must agree to it."Jung also targeted Kim and Yong Hye-in, the nominee for Minister of Gender Equality and Family, saying, "Candidates for ministerial positions must possess high moral standards and qualifications, but both are viewed very negatively by the public. From the perspective of meeting the public's expectations, both are unqualified."Regarding the failure to select witnesses for Kim's confirmation hearing in the National Assembly's Legislative and Judiciary Committee, Jung criticized, "About 40 witnesses and references were requested, but only the date and document submission requirements were approved before the session was adjourned. This indicates an intention to create a hollow hearing without selecting any witnesses."In relation to his announcement the previous day to halt discussions on constitutional amendments, Jung remarked, "Fundamentally, the Democratic Party or the Lee Jae-myung administration's push for constitutional amendments seems to pursue private interests. This issue can only enter the National Assembly's discussion when it forms a national consensus."Jung also acknowledged that the People Power Party is falling short of the expectations of the public and its supporters. He stated, "We are receiving criticism for not fighting hard enough against the government and ruling party. I am working to address these shortcomings through unity within the party. This is my most significant task during my one-year term."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 19:20:10
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Ruling Party and Opposition Agree on Prosecutorial Reform Legislation 여야가 중대범죄수사청·공소청법, 형사소송법을 비롯한 검찰 개혁 후속 법안을 오는 17일 본회의에서 처리하기로 합의했다.전은수 더불어민주당 대변인은 9일 국회에서 의원총회 후 기자들과 만나 "형사소송법 개정과 관련해 처리해야 할 법안이 139건인데 이중 100건 정도는 부칙을 수정하고, 39개 법률은 개별로 발의해 각 상임위원회에서 처리하기로 했다"고 밝혔다.전 대변인은 "오는 17일 본회의가 예상된다"며 "무제한 토론(필리버스터)은 없을 것"이라고 했다. 민주당이 관련 법안을 처리해도 국민의힘이 필리버스터를 하지 않을 것이라는 의미로 풀이된다. 공소청 직제안과 관련해선 의원들 사이에 의견을 반영하고 있다고 전했다. 그러면서 "수정할 수 있는 부분은 수정할 수 있다는 입장"이라고 했다.한편 다음 달 2일 공소청과 중수청이 출범할 예정이다.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-09-09 19:20:10
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Netflix 'Scandal' revealed From left, actress Nana, director Jung Ji-woo, actor Ji Chang-wook and actress Son Ye-jin pose for photos during a press conference for the Netflix series "Scandal" at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul in Jongno District, Seoul, on Sept. 9, 2026. "Scandal" follows Lady Cho, a talented woman constrained by the rigid expectations placed on women in the Joseon Dynasty, and Cho Won, Joseon's most notorious playboy, as they engage in a daring and dangerous wager of love that also entangles a woman named Hee-yeon. 2026.09.09. 2026-09-09 19:05:17