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≡ Rallies On Prosecutorial Reform Held Across Seoul Saturday
Another large-scale candlelight vigil calling for prosecutorial reform was held yesterday evening in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido.
Participants demanded the establishment of a new investigative agency that operates independently from the prosecution to probe corruption allegations involving high-ranking government officials.
Meanwhile, rallies opposing the prosecutorial reform were held across the street.
The main opposition Liberty Korea Party also led a similar protest at Gwanghwamun Plaza, denouncing the Moon Jae-in administration and its prosecutorial reform plans.■[2019.10.20]
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≡ S. Korea's Economic Growth Rate To Hover At 2% This Year: Finance Minister
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki says South Korea's economic growth for the year will fall short of the government's target by 0.4 percentage points to a range of 2.0 and 2.1 percent.
Hong told reporters in Washington on Friday that Korea's economy this year is forecast to grow to the level projected by the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
The IMF and the OECD's projections for South Korea are 2 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively.
In July, the government projected its economic growth rate for this year at between 2.4 and 2.5 percent, but has recently hinted that it may be difficult to meet the target due to Japan's export restrictions and the prolonging U.S.-China trade war.■[2019.10.20]
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≡ Parliament To Start Deliberation On Govt's Budget Plan For 2020
The National Assembly will start reviewing the government's record high 513.5 trillion won budget plan for next year.
The government will give a budget speech on Tuesday to explain to lawmakers its proposal for next year's spending.
Rival parties earlier agreed to put the bill to a vote at a plenary session of the budget committee on November 29th.
However, clashes are expected between lawmakers during the review of the expansionary budget.
The Democratic Party is expected to insist on the need to boost the domestic economy while the Liberty Korea Party will likely demand a drastic cutback.■[2019.10.20]
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≡ Rights Commission Opposes To Collecting Information Of N. Korean Defectors
The National Human Rights Commission has voiced opposition to a bill that would allow the government to collect information on households of North Korean defectors.
The rights commission raised concern that it would be too much to allow the government to collect detailed information on all North Korean defectors, even if the bill's purpose is to identify vulnerable households.
The commission said it advised the health ministry to revise the proposal in a way that ensures a balance between privacy protection and state intervention.
The bill was initiated by a Liberty Korea Party lawmaker after a North Korean defector and her son were found dead in Seoul in July apparently due to hunger.■[2019.10.20]
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≡ Police Request Arrest Warrants For 9 Students Over Break-In
Police have requested arrest warrants for nine South Korean university students who were taken into custody after breaking into the U.S. ambassador's residence in Seoul.
On Friday, 17 student members of a progressive civic group entered the compound of Ambassador Harry Harris' home by climbing over the wall using a ladder.
They staged a protest criticizing the U.S.' reported demand to hike Seoul's burden for the upkeep of U.S. troops stationed in Korea.
Police said they released other students, though they will remain under investigation.■[2019.10.20]
