Latest news with #Kweon
Korea Herald
15-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Bangladesh marks 54th Independence Day in Seoul
The Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul commemorated the country's 54th Independence Day on Monday, honoring Bangladesh's struggle for freedom and celebrating enduring bilateral ties with South Korea. The event served as a solemn reminder of Bangladesh's nine-month Liberation War in 1971 and the sacrifices made by its people. Delivering remarks at the celebration, Tarazul Islam, charge d'affaires at the Bangladesh Embassy, paid homage to the valiant freedom fighters and martyrs of the war, as well as those who lost their lives in the July 2024 protests against discrimination. 'The people of Bangladesh have long strived for an independent and prosperous country, free from discrimination, subjugation and injustice,' said Islam. He highlighted Bangladesh's transformation into one of the world's fastest-growing economies, driven by robust growth, social advancement and a dynamic workforce. 'Persistent, robust economic growth and remarkable progress in various social sectors have led to significant improvements in people's overall living standards,' according to Islam. Islam also underscored the expanding Bangladesh-Korea partnership, noting that bilateral trade has surpassed $3 billion and that Korean companies are active investors in Bangladesh's infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. 'Korean companies are producing automobiles, home appliances and many other goods in Bangladesh,' he said. Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs at South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kweon Ki-hwan reaffirmed Korea's commitment to Bangladesh, highlighting decades of cooperation dating to 1973 in politics, economy and people-to-people exchanges. 'We both endured painful colonial rule but preserved our unique languages and cultures, and this made it possible for our people to unite and fiercely defend our identities,' said Kweon, drawing parallels between the two nations' histories. 'From the early days of Bangladesh's garment industry, Korea has worked closely with Bangladesh,' he said, referencing the landmark partnership between Desh Garments and Daewoo Corp. in 1979 that laid the foundation for the country's garment sector. 'Currently, more than 13,000 Bangladeshi workers are actively contributing to Korea's manufacturing, agriculture, livestock and construction sectors through the Employment Permit System,' underlined Kweon. Korea introduced the work permit system in 2004 to systematically manage the foreign workforce in Korea and resolve labor shortages at local small and medium-sized companies. The program will allow up to 130,000 foreign workers in 2025, involving 17 partner countries, permitting E-9 visa holders to work in the manufacturing and construction sectors. 'They (Bangladeshi workers) have become valued members of Korea's workforce and an integral part of our industries,' said Kweon. sanjaykumar@
Korea Herald
18-03-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Ruling party proposes axing taxes for second homes outside Seoul
Tax breaks floated to foster growth in non-Seoul areas in seemingly election-conscious announcement The ruling People Power Party on Tuesday announced plans to exempt owners of second or additional homes outside Seoul from taxes. Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the People Power Party's floor leader, said at a meeting of the party leadership that lifting taxes for buyers of homes in non-capital regions could be a way of fostering an even growth across Korea, whose population is heavily concentrated in Seoul. "Some bold policy changes are necessary to even out the trend of Seoul-centered growth while the rest of the country is quickly losing population," Kweon said. According to the ruling party's plans, non-first-time buyers of homes outside Seoul would not be subject to the increase in taxes faced by second-home owners in the capital. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the capital city's population is estimated at 9.6 million as of 2024. That means about a fifth of Korea's 51.7 million are living in Seoul. The People Power Party's policy proposal on Tuesday is seen as an election-conscious move, with the Constitutional Court due to give its verdict on suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment shortly. Boosting growth in areas outside Seoul had been a central issue in the policy agendas of both the People Power Party and rival Democratic Party of Korea in the 2024 general election. In a gathering of the People Power Party's members on Monday, Rep. Kwon Young-se, the party's chair, said his party "has to stay united to claim victory in whatever comes our way" alluding to a possible presidential election.
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The Independent
17-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Protests intensify as Yoon Suk Yeol impeachment ruling nears
Political tension is on the rise as South Korea's Constitutional Court prepares to rule on president Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, with rival parties and protest movements deepening divisions. The ruling, expected this week, has sparked protests across the country, with both supporters and opponents of Mr Yoon taking to the streets in large numbers. Kweon Seong-dong, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), stated that the party would accept the court's decision, regardless of the outcome. 'Our party's official stance is that it will respect the Constitutional Court's final verdict, in line with the president's intention to do so as exhibited during his final remarks at the impeachment trial,' Mr Kweon told a press conference at the National Assembly on Sunday. His comments followed concerns that some ruling party lawmakers had encouraged pro-Yoon protesters to disrupt court proceedings if the verdict favoured impeachment, reported Korea Herald. When asked about PPP lawmakers joining pro-Yoon rallies, Mr Kweon dismissed the notion of restricting their actions, saying it was not 'desirable to control each individual lawmaker over their remarks'. His comments came as 82 PPP lawmakers filed a petition on 12 March demanding that the Constitutional Court dismisses the motion to impeach Mr Yoon. Amid this political standoff, opposition leaders have urged lawmakers from both sides to commit to respecting the court's ruling. Ahn Cheol-soo of the PPP called for rival parties to jointly affirm their acceptance of the verdict, warning that public disorder could escalate if they failed to do so. Former lawmaker Kim Doo-kwan also suggested a bipartisan press conference after the ruling to demonstrate political unity. Protests have intensified in the lead-up to the verdict. On Saturday, demonstrators demanding Mr Yoon's reinstatement gathered near the Constitutional Court in central Seoul, with police estimating the crowd at 6,000. Meanwhile, left-wing groups and opposition lawmakers have been staging daily marches across the city, calling for the impeachment to be upheld with police estimating that some 42,500 protesters gathered in front of gate calling for Mr Yoon's removal. The Constitutional Court's verdict carries significant political consequences. If six or more of the nine justices vote to impeach, Mr Yoon will be permanently removed from office, triggering a snap presidential election within 60 days, reported the Korea Times. If less than six justices vote for impeachment, Mr Yoon will retain his position. The opposition Democratic Party argues that failing to remove Mr Yoon would set a dangerous precedent, enabling future presidents to use martial law to suppress dissent. Representative Park Chan-dae, the party's floor leader, called for a swift decision, citing concerns over prolonged uncertainty damaging South Korea's economy and social stability. "As the ruling on impeachment is delayed, social anxiety and confusion are increasing, and economic damage is also growing.' He added: "The extreme right's intimidation of the Constitutional Court has gone too far, and violent incitement continues unabated. The longer the ruling is delayed, the greater the harm will become uncontrollable, and our society will spiral into extreme confrontation." Mr Park, along with other members of the Democratic Party marched from National Assembly to emblematic square in Gwanghwamun. The controversy over Mr Yoon's impeachment has also affected broader governance. The PPP and Democratic Party remain at odds over key policy issues, including budget allocations and pension reform. However, a rare bipartisan agreement emerged over the weekend, with opposition lawmakers indicating they would accept the PPP's proposal to raise the income replacement ratio as part of pension reforms. The impeachment trial has also left prime minister Han Duck-soo in limbo. He has been suspended from duties since December after lawmakers passed a separate impeachment motion against him. The PPP has pushed for the Constitutional Court to rule on Mr Han's case first, arguing that delaying his reinstatement is damaging governance. Two justices have been appointed since the impeachment motion against Mr Yoon was ratified, leaving one seat still vacant on the nine-member court.
Korea Herald
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Shaving heads, on hunger strike: DP goes all out calling for Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment
The Democratic Party of Korea is going all out to call for Yoon Suk Yeol's removal, with some lawmakers going on hunger strike or shaving their heads, on top of holding daily rallies in central Seoul, to urge the Constitutional Court to uphold the suspended president's impeachment. After the court released Yoon from detention Saturday, the Democratic Party has gone into "nonstop protest" mode, taking to the streets of central Seoul to hold rallies daily. The party's lawmakers have also begun taking turns participating in a hunger strike as well as holding head-shaving ceremonies. The Democratic Party said Tuesday that it was the duty of the Constitutional Court ― which is due to make its call on whether to uphold the National Assembly's Dec. 14 impeachment of Yoon ― to "allow the country to put the unrest behind" by removing the president from office. "The Constitutional Court, as the last bastion of the Constitution and democracy, has a responsibility to clean up the mess in a way that minimizes chaos and harm to the country," Rep. Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party's floor leader, said. The court ordering Yoon's release came as a shock to the Democratic Party, which is counting on the impeachment verdict to come through as early as possible. The Democratic Party worries that the Constitutional Court may drag out the process until a ruling in one of the legal cases of party leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung is issued ― risking barring the opposition chief from running in the probable early presidential election. The Democratic Party has announced that all of its 170 lawmakers would be "protesting full-time" until the Constitutional Court's verdict on Yoon is reached. The Democratic Party also said it would file an impeachment motion against Shim Woo-jung, the prosecutor general, for not appealing the court's decision to cancel Yoon's detention warrant. The People Power Party said South Korea was paying an "extortionate price" for the Democratic Party's serial impeachment. Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the People Power Party's floor leader, said the economic costs caused by suspending high-level officials "could amount to trillions of won." "We strongly urge the Democratic Party to return to the path of serving people, and put an end to the pointless impeachment spree," he said. Kweon also argued that the main opposition party's rationale for impeaching the prosecutor general was also poorly supported. "It is the court that accepted President Yoon's request to revoke his detention. If the Democratic Party is not happy with the court's decision, why is the party attacking the prosecutor general?" the People Power Party floor leader questioned. Kweon claimed that Lee, the Democratic Party leader who is a defendant in five ongoing criminal trials, was trying not to offend the court and going after the prosecution service instead.
Korea Herald
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
PPP apologizes over martial law, slams rival party leader as 'instigator' of political turmoil
Democratic Party head Rep. Lee Jae-myung 'threat to alliance with US' Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the ruling People Power Party's floor leader, on Tuesday apologized for President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration on Dec. 3 last year and the ensuing fallout. "The People Power Party, as the ruling party, apologizes and accepts responsibility for the crisis following the Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, and the president's arrest and indictment," Kweon said in an address to the National Assembly. The People Power Party floor leader said Democratic Party of Korea leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung was contributing to the turmoil by threatening to impeach acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok after already impeaching Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was acting president for about two weeks before Choi. Kweon condemned the Democratic Party for passing a series of impeachment motions in the 2 1/2 years since Yoon was elected, accusing it of "legislative violence" and "dictatorship in the legislature." The Democratic Party of Korea has introduced 29 impeachment resolutions against Yoon's Cabinet members and other senior government officials since the president took office in May 2022. Before Yoon, there had been 21 impeachment resolutions in the 74 years following the South Korean government's establishment in 1948, Kweon said. Kweon suggested revising the Constitution to reshape the parliamentary and executive structures to even out the power dynamics. The People Power Party floor leader slammed Lee's brand of social security and economic policies -- known as the "basic income society" -- as "radically populist." In his address Monday, Lee floated terms such as "universal growth," "redistribution" and "basic income" to describe his idea of a welfare society. "Lee's extreme approach to economy peaked when he proposed handing out 1 million won to 28 million people as 'basic income' while he was mayor of Seongnam," Kweon said. On the Democratic Party leader pushing a four-day workweek as his main labor policy, Kweon said reducing the standard workweek across the board would hinder the competitiveness of certain sectors such as research and development. Kweon instead called for allowing exemptions from the legally set maximum of 52 hours per week to let chipmakers and some industries stay competitive in the global market. On Lee pledging to help grow "more global brands like Samsung," Kweon pointed out the Democratic Party leader previously campaigned on breaking up big corporations. "Lee is throwing out one populist policy after another depending on his political standing at the time," Kweon said. South Korea was able to make progress over the three years of Yoon's presidency, Kweon said. Kweon cited cost-of-living and housing price stability as one of the achievements under Yoon. South Korea has overtaken Japan and Taiwan in per-capita gross domestic product in that time, he said, exceeding $36,000. With Yoon in office, South Korea's trilateral cooperation with the US and Japan has been strengthened, restoring ties that were weakened under the former Democratic Party President Moon Jae-in administration, Kweon said. Lee taking power would be a threat to South Korea's alliance with the US, Kweon said. Kweon highlighted some of Lee's past remarks about Seoul-Washington relations, including one instance when called the US troops in South Korea "occupation forces" demanding that they withdraw from South Korea. "In the streets, rallies organized by leftwing groups aligned with the Democratic Party are still calling for US troops to leave the country," Kweon said. Kweon said that the People Power Party was committed to defending liberal democratic order and alliance with the US. Kweon has held office on the National Assembly for five consecutive terms, one of which he won as an independent candidate.
