The Korea Times

Lee returns from overseas trip with economic security gains, domestic tests ahead

President Lee Jae Myung returns home Monday after wrapping up the longest overseas trip of his presidency, an 11-day tour encompassing Germany, the United States and three South American countries that focused on securing artificial intelligence (AI) partnerships and broadening supply chains for critical minerals and energy. The trip offered the clearest picture yet of Lee’s economic diplomacy. Rather than centering on traditional security issues, he sought to strengthen Korea’s position in the global AI race while expanding access to strategic resources needed for semiconductors, batteries and other advanced industries. Attention now turns to whether those diplomatic gains can be translated into domestic policy and tangible economic results. Lee began the tour on July 24 in San Francisco, where he unveiled the San Francisco AI Declaration and laid out his vision for Korea’s role in the global AI industry. “Korea will become an indispensable player in the global AI supply chain,” Lee said. “Building on our world-leading expertise in memory chips and manufacturing capabilities

Aug 2, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Lee returns from overseas trip with economic security gains, domestic tests ahead

Defense

Rising defense exports test supply chain resilience

An explosion at Hanwha Aerospace’s missile production facility in Daejeon in June has renewed concerns about the resilience of Korea’s defense supply chain, where many critical weapons components often rely on a single qualified manufacturer. Although authorities have not confirmed any impact on production or export deliveries, defense officials and industry sources say the accident has exposed a long-standing vulnerability at a time when Korea's defense exports are growing faster than ever. The issue resurfaced following last month's explosion at Hanwha Aerospace’s Daejeon facility during a process to clean explosive residue from molds used to manufacture missile propellant. Authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the accident and ordered a partial halt of the facility's operation. The Daejeon facility was producing components for various weapons systems, including Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, long-range surface-to-air missiles and Cheongung-II systems, also known as KM-SAM Block II. Authorities and the companies have not reported any disruption to deliverie

Jul 24, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Rising defense exports test supply chain resilience

Politics

5th-term Seoul mayor fights for political survival

Just weeks after winning an unprecedented fifth term as Seoul mayor, Oh Se-hoon now finds himself fighting for his political survival after a Seoul court fined him 10 million won ($6,820) Wednesday for violating the Political Funds Act, a sentence that would cost him his mayoralty if upheld. Under the special counsel law's "6-3-3 rule," the case must clear the appeals court within three months and the Supreme Court within another three. With the first ruling handed down Wednesday, the appeals court would technically be required to rule by Oct. 22, with the Supreme Court completing its review by Jan. 22. If that timetable holds, Oh could learn within six months whether he remains Seoul mayor and whether he retains any realistic path to the presidency. The Seoul Central District Court found Oh guilty of receiving polling results from political broker Myung Tae-kyun ahead of the 2021 mayoral by-election and having businessman Kim Han-jung cover part of the cost. Of 10 polls cited by prosecutors, the court found that Oh had commissioned five — three private polls and two published polls

Jul 23, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

5th-term Seoul mayor fights for political survival

Politics

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon fined $6,760 in political funds case, threatening mayorship if upheld

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon was convicted Wednesday of violating the Political Funds Act and fined 10 million won ($6,760) over opinion polls conducted by political broker Myung Tae-kyun. The sentence, if upheld on appeal, would strip Oh of his mayorship, dealing a critical blow to the political career of one of the nation's most prominent conservative heavyweights. The five-term mayor said he would appeal immediately. The Seoul Central District Court found that Oh commissioned Myung to conduct five opinion polls ahead of the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election and asked businessman and longtime supporter Kim Han-jung to cover 21 million won in polling costs. “The defendant requested his supporter to pay the polling costs,” the court said in the ruling, adding that the payment constituted an illegal political contribution under the act. “Having served as both a lawmaker and mayor, he had been well aware of the act, but he has kept denying his responsibility ... A sentence that would make him lose the public post is inevitable,” it said. Under Korean law, elected officials lose their office

Jul 22, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon fined $6,760 in political funds case, threatening mayorship if upheld

Politics

AI access is now basic right, presidential policy aide says

Artificial intelligence (AI) should be treated as a basic right rather than a luxury, the presidential policy aide said Tuesday, as the government unveiled plans to expand public access to AI through free access to essential services while strengthening Korea’s domestic AI ecosystem. Presidential Chief of Staff for Policy Kim Yong-beom made the remarks as the Ministry of Science and ICT fleshed out details of its “AI for Everyone” initiative, which aims to provide all citizens with free access to essential AI services built primarily on Korean-developed models. Kim argued that access to AI will increasingly determine opportunities for education, work and economic growth, making it a matter of public policy rather than simply technological advancement. “Access to AI should now be regarded as a basic right,” Kim wrote in a Facebook post titled, “In the AI era, the state organizes the market. “As AI becomes a force that determines people’s opportunities and growth, it is the state’s responsibility to ensure that no citizen is left standing outside that door,” he said. Kim

Jul 21, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

AI access is now basic right, presidential policy aide says

Politics

Questions persist over defense minister's military service record

Questions surrounding Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back’s military service have resurfaced, with the government and his accuser offering conflicting accounts of what happened more than four decades ago. At the center of the dispute is a gap in Ahn's military record. His record shows he began mandatory service on Nov. 5, 1983 and was discharged on Aug. 31, 1985, amounting roughly 22 months. Territorial defense soldiers at the time normally served for 14 months. His accuser alleges the discrepancy reflects an absence without leave lasting several months, a period of detention and a subsequent order to complete additional service. Ahn and the Ministry of National Defense said he never deserted his unit and attribute irregularities in his military record to administrative errors. The issue first drew wider attention during Ahn’s confirmation hearing as defense minister last year. Rejecting the allegations, Ahn told lawmakers he had never vacated his post. “I never deserted (my post). I have lived my life without anything to be ashamed of,” Ahn told lawmakers. “The military record curren

Jul 20, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Questions persist over defense minister's military service record

Politics

Abortion legislation returns to spotlight after 7-year limbo

Seven years after the Constitutional Court struck down the abortion ban in Korea, the country’s stalled effort to establish a new legal framework has returned to the spotlight following President Lee Jae Myung’s call to review the introduction of the abortion pill mifepristone. The issue stems from legislation left unresolved since the court ruled in 2019 that the criminal provision on abortion was incompatible with the Constitution and ordered lawmakers to revise it by the end of 2020. Although the criminal provision lost its legal effect after the deadline passed, the National Assembly has yet to pass replacement legislation defining when and under what conditions abortions are permitted. Lee reignited the issue during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, criticizing the government’s handling of mifepristone, commonly known overseas as Mifegyne or Mifeprex, which has not been approved in Korea. “Even if it creates some difficulties for the government, women should be able to receive the medication under appropriate medical supervision. Leaving the situation as it is now is irresponsib

Jul 19, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Abortion legislation returns to spotlight after 7-year limbo

K-pop

IVE invited to MLB game, Jang Won-young to throw 1st pitch

K-pop girl group IVE has been invited to attend a Major League Baseball game on July 26 at New York’s Citi Field, where member Jang Won-young will throw the ceremonial first pitch ahead of the matchup between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers. According to the group’s agency, Starship Entertainment, the group accepted an official invitation from the Mets. While all six members are expected to attend the event, Jang will represent the group on the mount before the game. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to throw the first pitch at a game watched by baseball fans around the world,” Jang said. “I’ll do my best to share positive energy with both the players and everyone in the stands.” The girl group will also film special content with former Korean major leaguer Kim Byung-hyun and former professional pitcher Dustin Nippert during its MLB visit. The appearance comes as IVE prepares to kick off the North American leg of its second world, “SHOW WHAT I AM." The group is scheduled to perform in Toronto, Oakland and several other cities between Tuesday and Aug. 9. T

Jul 17, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

IVE invited to MLB game, Jang Won-young to throw 1st pitch

Politics

Korean parents welcome gov't move to curb minors' social media use

A new plan by Korea's media watchdog to curb social media use by minors drew mixed reactions from parents, with some cautiously optimistic and others raising concerns. On Thursday, the Korea Communications Commission said it was considering restricting children under 14 from creating social media accounts and limiting addictive platform features for users under 19. Hong Eun-hee, a parent of a middle school student in Seoul, welcomed the proposal, saying she hopes it will help her child and other teenagers spend less time on social media. "They watch [YouTube] Shorts and [Instagram] Reels whenever they have a spare moment. They say they will watch for 10 minutes, but it becomes 20 minutes or an hour," Hong said. "They have difficulty controlling it themselves." She said her child often checks her phone while doing homework and resists putting it away before bed. "When parents try to control it on their own, it ends in a fight," Hong added. Parents also cite sleep deprivation, declining concentration, cyberbullying and exposure to gambling, sexual content and other harmful material as major

Jul 17, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Korean parents welcome gov't move to curb minors' social media use

Defense

Defense export boom runs into overtime rule hurdle

Korea’s booming defense exports are running into a new challenge as manufacturers call for greater flexibility on working-hour rules, arguing that labor shortages and production deadlines are becoming harder to manage under the current 52-hour workweek. Defense companies say surging domestic and overseas orders have outpaced their ability to secure skilled workers, prompting the industry to seek broader use of the country’s special overtime system. But the Ministry of Employment and Labor maintains that it has no plans to ease the current framework for the defense sector, saying similar demands are raised across a wide range of industries. According to industry and government officials, major defense contractors recently met with labor ministry officials to explain the need for additional flexibility under the special overtime system, which allows employers to extend working hours beyond the statutory limit under limited circumstances with government approval. Defense manufacturers argue that the problem is not simply a shortage of workers, but a shortage of skilled workers. “Manufa

Jul 15, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Bahk Eun-ji

Read more

Lee returns from overseas trip with economic security gains, domestic tests ahead

Rising defense exports test supply chain resilience

5th-term Seoul mayor fights for political survival

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon fined $6,760 in political funds case, threatening mayorship if upheld

AI access is now basic right, presidential policy aide says

Questions persist over defense minister's military service record

Abortion legislation returns to spotlight after 7-year limbo

IVE invited to MLB game, Jang Won-young to throw 1st pitch

Korean parents welcome gov't move to curb minors' social media use

Defense export boom runs into overtime rule hurdle

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