Assembly passes confirmation motion for Supreme Court justice nominee

The Korea Times - Sep 17, 2026

The National Assembly on Thursday passed the confirmation motion for Supreme Court Justice nominee Kim Sung-soo. During a plenary session, the Assembly endorsed the confirmation motion for Kim in a 227-28 vote, with 13 abstentions. Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae last month recommended Kim to President Lee Jae Myung for appointment as the successor to former Supreme Court Justice Lee Heung-ku. Kim's parliamentary confirmation hearing took place Monday and rival parties adopted his confirmation hearing report Wednesday. Kim will become the first Supreme Court justice to take office since the launch of the Lee administration if the president approves his appointment.

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Seoul city to hike Han River ferry fares for weekends starting next year

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Confirmation hearing reports adopted for justice, defense minister nominees

Confirmation hearing reports adopted for justice, defense minister nominees

Parliamentary confirmation hearing reports were adopted for the justice and defense minister nominees Thursday amid objections from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). The parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee adopted a confirmation hearing report for Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won as the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) forged ahead despite PPP lawmakers' boycott, protesting that allegations surrounding Kim were not fully addressed. "None of the allegations raised during the hearing have been resolved," PPP Rep. Park Hyeung-soo said before walking out of the session. The DPK argued that the nominee sufficiently explained himself during Tuesday's confirmation hearing, including claims that he illegally lobbied the food and drug safety ministry to speed up approval for a COVID-19 treatment in 2021 at a broker's request. Kim, a two-term lawmaker, served as a judge at the Jeonju District Court and the Suwon District Court before joining the presidential office under the liberal Moon Jae-in administration, where he worked in the office of political affairs

Korea's 2nd Nepal relief team to return; efforts to locate 9 missing Koreans to continue

Korea's 2nd Nepal relief team to return; efforts to locate 9 missing Koreans to continue

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FM Cho heads to Washington for talks with Rubio on investment, Hormuz, N. Korea

FM Cho heads to Washington for talks with Rubio on investment, Hormuz, N. Korea

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Ieodo Int'l Seminar highlights need for practical cooperation amid gray zone threats

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BIFF names Chinese auteur Zhang Yimou as Competition jury chief

BIFF names Chinese auteur Zhang Yimou as Competition jury chief

Renowned Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou has been tapped as jury president for the main Competition section of the upcoming Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), organizers said Thursday. Zhang will lead a seven-member jury that also includes Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan, Japanese director Kei Ishikawa, Vietnamese producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc and Korean director July Jung, according to BIFF. Also serving on the jury are Korean actor Choi Hee-seo and Kazakhstani actor Samal Yeslyamova, it added. The jury will choose the winners for the Busan Award among 13 films shortlisted for the Competition section that was first introduced last year. Zhang has won top prizes at prestigious film festivals, including the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival for his directorial debut "Red Sorghum" (1987) and the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival for "The Story of Qiu Ju" (1992) and "Not One Less" (1999). He also received the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival for "To Live" (1994). The 31st edition of BIFF, Asia's biggest film fest, will run in the southeastern po

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Filmmaker Park Hoon-jung wins top prize at French festival with 'Tristes Tropiques'

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Wendy, fromis_9 agency warn of legal action over privacy violations

Wendy, fromis_9 agency warn of legal action over privacy violations

ASND, the agency representing Red Velvet’s Wendy and girl group fromis_9, warned of possible legal action over repeated invasions of privacy and threats to the artists’ safety. In a notice posted on its social media accounts Tuesday, the agency said Wendy and fromis_9 had faced repeated incidents. It urged fans to refrain from approaching the artists, bringing vehicles too close when delivering letters and gifts or stepping into the road to block vehicles, saying such actions could endanger the artists and others. The agency also asked fans to respect the artists’ private spaces, refrain from illegally obtaining their personal information and stop lingering around its offices. Legal action could be taken against anyone who misuses the artists’ personal information, invades their privacy, repeatedly loiters around company premises or enters without permission, it warned. Wendy debuted as Red Velvet’s main vocalist in 2014, but left SM Entertainment in 2025 after 11 years, but announced that she would continue her activities with Red Velvet. She joined ASND in April 2025. Fromis_

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Condoleezza Rice, Lee Kyung-chul receive inaugural Lee Hong-koo Diplomacy Award

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Korean, US troops conduct annual explosive ordnance disposal drills

Korean, US troops conduct annual explosive ordnance disposal drills

Korean and U.S. troops have conducted joint explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) drills designed to improve interoperability and strengthen cooperation among relevant agencies, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday. The EOD drills took place at the Army's I Corps and 9th Infantry Division in Goyang, just north of Seoul, from Wednesday to Thursday, according to the JCS. Some 200 personnel, including officials from each branch of the military, the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division and the Korea Airports Corp., participated in the drills. During the drills, EOD teams trained under simulated scenarios involving explosives planted in an urban area, with Korean and U.S. troops conducting joint operations to achieve a shared objective. The troops also took part in a seminar to share information on explosives and discuss ways to improve the EOD teams' operational capabilities in peacetime and wartime. Officials said the drills were not related to recent security developments, including the reportedly ongoing review on the possible deployment of Korean troops to the Strait of Hormuz, noting they hav

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Lee faces no-win dilemma as justice minister nominee row threatens prosecution reform

President Lee Jae Myung is facing a high-stakes dilemma over his justice minister nominee: push forward with Kim Seung-won's appointment at the cost of further eroding his approval ratings or withdraw the nomination and lose momentum on his flagship prosecution reform agenda. Political insiders suggest Lee will press ahead regardless. Analysts say he is likely to frame the standoff as a defining battle for prosecutorial reform — a direct confrontation with what his camp describes as political prosecutors resistant to change. “The (ruling) Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) appears poised to push forward with the appointment, while opposition parties are expected to gauge public sentiment following President Lee’s press conference scheduled on Friday before deciding whether to launch full-fledged street protests,” Seo Yang-ho, a political commentator and former mayor of Seoul’s Jung District, was quoted saying on a TV news program. “At its core, Kim Seung-won's nomination is not simply a Cabinet appointment; it represents a fundamental clash between forces driving President Lee

Korea plans abortion pill rollout as doctors, women's groups clash over access

Korea plans abortion pill rollout as doctors, women's groups clash over access

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Cortis' 'GreenGreen' tops 4 mil. copies in sales

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K-pop boy group Cortis has surpassed 4 million copies in sales with its second EP, "GreenGreen," becoming the second act to reach the milestone in Korea this year, its agency said Thursday. BigHit Music said the EP has sold over 4.1 million copies, based on the latest data from the weekly Circle Chart. The only other release to exceed the 4 million mark in Korea this year is BTS' fifth studio album "Arirang." According to Hanteo Chart data, "GreenGreen" began its highly successful run by selling more than 2.3 million copies during its debut week in May. BigHit Music attributed the robust sales to sustained listener interest in the EP's tracks, particularly the lead single, "RedRed," and the B-side, "YoungCreatorCrew." The record's popularity has also extended well beyond Korea. "GreenGreen" debuted at No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and has remained on the chart for 18 consecutive weeks as of mid-September. Cortis' debut EP, "Color Outside the Lines," released in September 2025, has also maintained strong sales, adding about 1 million copies this year alone to its sales total of around 2.

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Seizing the Luding Bridge

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Seizing the Luding Bridge

Held up on the banks of the Dadu River by a lack of ferries to carry its soldiers and equipment across, the Central Red Army was under imminent threat from a vast, rapidly-approaching enemy force. To open up an alternative route across the river, the Red Army's 4th Regiment was ordered to capture the Luding Bridge, 120 kilometers away.

The Long March History | Capturing Luding Bridge

The Long March History | Capturing Luding Bridge

In late May 1935, the Central Red Army reached the banks of the Dadu River in Sichuan Province. However, their attempts to cross were severely hampered by the limited number of boats available and the river's swift, turbulent current.

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Held Up at the Dadu River

The Red Ribbon on the Earth | Held Up at the Dadu River

In late May 1935, the Central Red Army reached the banks of the Dadu River in Sichuan. However, the possibility of crossing it was complicated by a severe shortage of available ferries.

Intl. media outlets highlight China's role in BRICS cooperation

Intl. media outlets highlight China's role in BRICS cooperation

Intl. media outlets highlight China's role in BRICS cooperation

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Japan’s Natuna port proposal highlights Indonesia’s balancing act on China

Japan’s Natuna port proposal highlights Indonesia’s balancing act on China

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Hong Kong’s 5-year plan, policy continuity offer investors more stability, experts say

Hong Kong’s 5-year plan, policy continuity offer investors more stability, experts say

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US Congress passes bill targeting Russia’s leading energy buyers – China and India

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Hong Kong targets gold trading, FPS-UnionPay link to boost yuan use

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Hong Kong aims to raise innovation spending to 3% of GDP by about 2030

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Police arrest man after wife found dead with knife wounds in Heng Fa Chuen

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Pinglu Canal opens with wildlife bridge for safer animal crossings

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Chinese defense minister meets attendees of Beijing Xiangshan Forum

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