The Korea Times

Korea raises concerns over Chinese structures in West Sea, Beijing calls them ‘aquaculture’

Tensions between Korea and China flared again this week as the two sides sparred over Chinese structures installed in the West Sea during a high-level dialogue held Wednesday in Seoul, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the heart of the dispute are fixed installations built by China in the Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ), an area where the exclusive economic zones of both countries overlap in the West Sea. Korea expressed “deep concern” over the structures, saying they could infringe upon its maritime rights and destabilize regional security. “The government emphasized that Korea’s maritime rights and interests must not be infringed,” the ministry said in a statement. Chinese officials, for their part, reiterated that the facilities are intended solely for marine farming and are unrelated to issues of sovereignty or maritime boundaries. Although the two sides failed to resolve their differences during the meeting, they agreed to continue discussions through two newly established subcommittees. One will focus on sensitive issues such as the West Sea structures and il

Apr 24, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Korea raises concerns over Chinese structures in West Sea, Beijing calls them ‘aquaculture’

Politics

Ahn joins final four: PPP confirms lineup for second-round primary

The People Power Party (PPP) confirmed the four contenders who will advance to the second round of its presidential primary, narrowing the field and setting the stage for the June 3 snap presidential election. In Tuesday’s announcement, former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, former Justice Minister and party leader Han Dong-hoon, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo were confirmed as the candidates moving forward. While the top three had been widely expected to qualify, Ahn's advancement over Na Kyung-won reflected growing support for reform-minded candidates among PPP voters. The two-day poll, conducted from Sunday to Monday, surveyed 4,000 voters identified as PPP supporters or politically unaffiliated. Supporters of rival parties were excluded to ensure the integrity of the poll. The party has said that rankings and vote shares will remain confidential to avoid influencing the next phase of voting. Ahn, who backed the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, focused his campaign on reform and expanding the party’s reach. His presence in the final four, along

Apr 22, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Ahn joins final four: PPP confirms lineup for second-round primary

Politics

Lee Jae-myung’s support rating rises above 50% for first time

Presidential contender Rep. Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has surpassed the 50 percent mark in public support, widening his lead over a fractured conservative bloc, a poll showed Monday. In a Realmeter survey conducted from Wednesday to Friday, which polled 1,504 people nationwide, Lee received 50.2 percent support, marking a 1.4 percentage point increase from the previous week. Trailing far behind were Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (PPP), who received 12.2 percent support, former Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon with 8.5 percent and former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo at 7.5 percent. All three are actively campaigning in the PPP primary, but none has emerged as a clear challenger capable of consolidating conservative support. Although acting President Han Duck-soo was excluded from this week’s Realmeter poll due to party primary rules, his potential entry into the race continues to generate speculation across political circles. In a separate KSOI poll commissioned by CBS and conducted during the same period as Realmeter’s, Han ranked second with 10.6 perc

Apr 21, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Lee Jae-myung’s support rating rises above 50% for first time

Politics

Back to Cheong Wa Dae? Lee Jae-myung’s proposal sparks debate over public access

Presidential contender Rep. Lee Jae-myung’s proposal to move the presidential office back to Cheong Wa Dae has reopened a divisive national debate — not only about public access to the symbolic site but also about how presidential power should be situated in Korea. In the liberal Democratic Party of Korea’s first televised primary debate on Friday, Lee said that if he is elected, he would continue using the current presidential office in Yongsan District for the time being but move to Cheong Wa Dae “after necessary repairs are made.” He said he eventually wants to move the presidential office to Sejong City, the nation's administrative capital. But he added that moving directly to Sejong is unrealistic at this point, calling Cheong Wa Dae "a feasible interim step.” Cheong Wa Dae was the presidential office and the president's official residence from 1948 to 2022. Some former presidents, including Kim Young-sam and Moon Jae-in, suggested moving out of the compound in an effort to break away from the insular, top-down culture long associated with the presidency. But attempts re

Apr 20, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Back to Cheong Wa Dae? Lee Jae-myung’s proposal sparks debate over public access

Defense

Korea braces for defense cost-sharing pressure following US-Japan talks

U.S. President Donald Trump's pressure on Japan for a bundled deal combining trade and security signals that Korea, which will begin its own negotiations with the U.S. next week, may face similar demands on defense cost-sharing and nontariff barriers. Concerns are rising that the U.S.-Japan talks in Washington on Wednesday (local time) could be a preview of scheduled meetings on tariff issues between Korean officials, including Economy and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun, and their U.S. counterparts. During a 50-minute meeting with Japanese Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, Trump reportedly raised the issue of defense spending contributions, signaling his intent to link economic and security matters in a single negotiation framework. While Japan focused on reducing steep tariffs on steel and cars, Trump’s comments suggested that support for U.S. troops stationed abroad was also part of the discussion. Following the meeting, Trump revived his preferred phrase, “one-stop shopping” — a concept he had also referenced

Apr 17, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Korea braces for defense cost-sharing pressure following US-Japan talks

Politics

Korea's top economic officials head to US for tariff discussions

Korea will send its top economic and trade officials to Washington next week for high-level talks with the United States aimed at reducing tariffs, marking the start of formal negotiations under the U.S. Donald Trump administration’s revamped trade strategy. Economy and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is scheduled to attend the Group of 20 finance ministers’ meeting and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual gathering in Washington next week. During his trip, he plans to meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss trade issues, including the recent 90-day suspension of reciprocal tariffs on key allies. The Ministry of Economy and Finance said Wednesday that the U.S. Treasury had proposed holding a meeting with Choi during his trip to Washington for the G20 and IMF gatherings. While such meetings are typically centered on monetary and currency issues, trade is also expected to be on the agenda, reflecting its growing prominence in bilateral discussions. Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun is also planning to visit Washington, where meetings are being arranged with U.S.

Apr 16, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Korea's top economic officials head to US for tariff discussions

People & Events

Dayeon scholarship: A story of dedication and compassion

Choi Jung-sun, 63, who once struggled to pay for her education, is now helping others pursue their dreams. Through the Dayeon Scholarship, she exemplifies perseverance, gratitude and the quiet strength of community. At 45, Choi enrolled in the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Korea National Open University (KNOU), despite already having a successful career and becoming a CEO without a college degree. Yet, prevailing social expectations around education drew her back to the classroom. “KNOU gave me the flexibility to study while working,” she said. “Becoming a Korean teacher was my childhood dream. I loved the language so much that I never had to study for exams,” Choi said in an interview with The Korea Times. But balancing full-time work with her studies was anything but easy. “Studying alone wears you down,” she recalled. It was only after joining study groups and student councils that she realized how much strength came from being part of a supportive community. After earning her undergraduate degree, Choi went on to pursue graduate studies at Dongguk Universi

Apr 15, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Dayeon scholarship: A story of dedication and compassion

Politics

Ex-opposition chief Lee Jae-myung widens lead in opinion poll

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has solidified his lead in the race for Korea’s presidency, commanding nearly half of voter support according to the latest polling, Monday. While several politicians from the conservative bloc have announced their intention to run in the June 3 snap presidential election, their combined support rate was lower than Lee's. According to a Realmeter survey conducted of 1,506 people nationwide from Wednesday to Friday, Lee held a commanding lead with 48.8 percent. He was followed by former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo at 10.9 percent, acting President Han Duck-soo at 8.6 percent and former conservative People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon at 6.2 percent. Kim and Han Dong-hoon are two of preliminary candidates for the PPP, while the acting president is being mentioned as a possible contender for the conservative bloc. Public sentiment is also advantageously inclined toward the DPK. In the poll, 58.7 percent said they should take power after the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his Dec. 3 m

Apr 14, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Ex-opposition chief Lee Jae-myung widens lead in opinion poll

Politics

D-50 to vote: Chaos intensifies as Han Duck-soo’s candidacy fades

With only 50 days left until Korea’s snap presidential election, the country’s two major political parties are struggling to finalize their candidates. Within the People Power Party (PPP), calls for acting President Han Duck-soo to enter the race have diminished, as caution grows within the party and Han remains silent. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is facing backlash over primary rules that are seen as favoring former leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung. As the June 3 election date approaches, political tensions are escalating within both camps. Early momentum to draft Han as a candidate has mostly dissipated. Initially, several lawmakers supported his candidacy, viewing him as a centrist who could unite the divided party and appeal to moderate voters. However, party leadership intervened, canceling a planned public statement urging him to run out of concern that premature endorsements might exacerbate internal divisions. Although no clear frontrunner has emerged within the PPP, some consider Han a strong challenger to face Lee. With degrees in economics from Seoul National U

Apr 13, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

D-50 to vote: Chaos intensifies as Han Duck-soo’s candidacy fades

Politics

Ex-main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung declares presidential bid

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), formally declared his candidacy for the presidential election on Thursday, saying his primary focus will be economic growth. This will be his third presidential bid following the first one in 2017 when he was eliminated in the party’s primary, and the second one in 2022 when he was the DPK candidate but narrowly lost to then-conservative candidate Yoon Suk Yeol. This year’s snap election is held as Yoon was ousted over his Dec. 3 martial law declaration. The former Gyeonggi Province governor and long-time frontrunner in most opinion polls made the announcement in a 10-minute documentary-style video titled "Now, Lee Jae-myung." Filmed at an undisclosed location in Seoul shortly after the removal of Yoon, the video served as Lee’s official campaign launch. He did not hold a separate press conference or public event. Lee emphasized economic growth, in an apparent attempt to expand his support base to centrist voters. Saying widening inequality lies at the heart of the nation's growing social conflict, he

Apr 10, 2025By Bahk Eun-ji

Bahk Eun-ji

Read more

Korea raises concerns over Chinese structures in West Sea, Beijing calls them ‘aquaculture’

Ahn joins final four: PPP confirms lineup for second-round primary

Lee Jae-myung’s support rating rises above 50% for first time

Back to Cheong Wa Dae? Lee Jae-myung’s proposal sparks debate over public access

Korea braces for defense cost-sharing pressure following US-Japan talks

Korea's top economic officials head to US for tariff discussions

Dayeon scholarship: A story of dedication and compassion

Ex-opposition chief Lee Jae-myung widens lead in opinion poll

D-50 to vote: Chaos intensifies as Han Duck-soo’s candidacy fades

Ex-main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung declares presidential bid

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