President Yoon Suk-yeol, center, bangs a gavel as he convenes his first Cabinet meeting at the Sejong government complex in Sejong City Thursday. [NEWS1] President Yoon Suk-yeol named two women to fill his education and health minister posts, aiming for a bit of gender balance in his male-dominated Cabinet. Park Soon-ae, a professor at Seoul National University's (SNU) Graduate School of Public Administration, was tapped as education minister and deputy prime minister for social affairs, said the presidential office Thursday. Kim Seung-hee, a former lawmaker and former head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, was named minister of health and welfare. The presidential office said that Park, as a public administration expert, "is expected to improve the efficiency of education administration and lead the implementation of key state affairs in the education field." It added that having recently served as a member of the presidential transition team's legal, political and … [Read more...] about Yoon Suk-yeol picks women for his final two Cabinet appointments
Outgoing speaker says national divisions need healing
Outgoing National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug holds a farewell press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS] Outgoing National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug called for an end to "hostile politics" and the "national divide over ideology, regionalism, generation and gender" as he wrapped his two-year term Thursday. "Our politics right now is too accustomed to division, hatred and hostile accusations," said Park in a farewell press conference at the National Assembly. "Let's look level-headedly at whether we're not only listening to one side. We must listen to the voice of the silent majority, the rational majority." Looking back on his past two years as parliamentary speaker, Park noted he had prioritized "dialogue, compromise and people's livelihoods." But he continued, "Even with these efforts and principles, we did not reach the level of the people's expectations." Park noted a particular regret over the handling … [Read more...] about Outgoing speaker says national divisions need healing
K-eco gets a presidential award
Chairman Ahn Byung-ok of the Korea Environment Corporation (K-eco), flanked by K-eco executives, holds a presidential citation for disaster management. [K-ECO] The Korea Environment Corporation (K-eco) received a presidential citation for disaster management, the government agency said in a statement Thursday. K-eco, based in Seo District, Incheon, announced in a press release that it was the only organization among 339 eligible for the prestigious award that received it this year. The award was largely for its Continuity of Operation Plan also known as COOP, which was designed in February 2021, and comprehensive disaster response manual. K-eco said it particularly received high marks in award categories such as contribution to national development, “improvement of people’s lives” and customer satisfaction. K-eco Chairman Ahn Byung-ok vowed to continue to develop his agency’s disaster management system to protect people’s lives and property, and to provide “uninterrupted … [Read more...] about K-eco gets a presidential award
North tested nuke trigger, says presidential office
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday that the South Korean military conducted joint missile drills with U.S. forces after North Korea launched three ballistic missiles earlier that day. [USFK] North Korea tested a triggering device in preparation for a nuclear test, a presidential official said Wednesday, as the United Nations Security Council is set to meet Thursday in New York to vote on U.S.-led fresh sanctions on the country. “Operational tests of a nuclear detonation device in preparation for a seventh nuclear test at Punggye-ri have been detected,” said Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of the National Security Office, at a briefing with reporters on Wednesday. “The possibility of an imminent nuclear test in the next day or two is low, but after that, there is certainly a possibility.” Kim added that tests of the device took place in a different location than Punggye-ri, a remote mountainous area in North Hamgyong Province that was the site of all six … [Read more...] about North tested nuke trigger, says presidential office
Boy band Victon’s official fan community opens on Weverse
Boy band Victon's fan community opened on Weverse Thursday. [WEVERSE] Boy band Victon’s official fan community opened on global fan community platform Weverse on Thursday. The band’s launch on Weverse comes days before it makes a comeback to the music scene with its EP “Chaos” on May 31. According to its agency IST Entertainment, “Chaos” is the second part of the “Time Trilogy,” which began with its last EP “Chronograph” in January. To celebrate the opening of Victon’s community, Weverse is holding a hashtag event from May 30 to June 6. Fans can post photos or videos of Victon members with the hashtag #VICTON_Oclock and 12 participants will be randomly chosen to receive autographed polaroid photos of the members. Victon debuted in 2016 and has released songs “I’m Fine” (2016), “Time of Sorrow” (2018), “Mayday” (2020) and “What I Said” (2021). The band consists of seven members: Seungwoo, Seungsik, Chan, Sejun, Hanse, Byungchan and Subin. BY LEE JAE-LIM … [Read more...] about Boy band Victon’s official fan community opens on Weverse
[CELEB] SEVENTEEN is staying strong even seven years in
S.COUPS, member and leader of boy band SEVENTEEN [PLEDIS ENTERTAINMENT] There's a saying that most K-pop idol groups disband or significantly lose popularity around the seven-year mark, but the curse does not seem to apply to boy band SEVENTEEN. In fact, the band is seeing its highest sales since debuting in 2015. Its upcoming fourth full-length album “Face the Sun” sold over 2 million copies in preorders alone as of May 20, setting a new record for the group. While fans of other K-pop acts that debuted sometime in 2015 fret over potential disbanding, since most agency contracts are seven years long and due for renewal this year, SEVENTEEN fans do not have to worry about that either. Last year, all 13 members — S.COUPS, WONWOO, MINGYU, VERNON, WOOZI, JEONGHAN, JOSHUA, DK, SEUNGKWAN, HOSHI, JUN, THE8 and DINO — renewed their contracts with Pledis Entertainment in advance, a great relief for SEVENTEEN’s fandom, dubbed CARAT. SEVENTEEN will release its fourth full-length … [Read more...] about [CELEB] SEVENTEEN is staying strong even seven years in