The Korea Times

Army chief calls drones 'personal weapon' of future soldiers

The chief of staff of the Army described drones as a "personal weapon" that every soldier will be expected to operate, outlining an ambitious plan to embed unmanned systems across all combat units as the military adapts to a shrinking troop pool and shifting battlefield conditions. Speaking at a policy briefing Wednesday with defense reporters at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, Gen. Kim Gyu-ha placed drone deployment at the center of the Army's evolving force structure. “Drones should be seen as a personal weapon,” Kim said. “They are no longer limited to a single function, but can be used for surveillance, strike missions and sustained support, depending on how they are equipped and operated.” The remarks came as the Army detailed its plans to expand the use of training-purpose commercial drones across units. Officials said around 10,000 such drones will be introduced this year, with the number expected to rise to some 50,000 by 2029 — a level that would allow roughly one drone to be assigned per squad. Military officials stressed that the initiative is par

Apr 30, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Army chief calls drones 'personal weapon' of future soldiers

Politics

96 Korean lawmakers blast US for 'infringing on judicial sovereignty' over Coupang probe

A total of 96 Korean lawmakers on Tuesday condemned what they described as U.S. political pressure over a local investigation into e-commerce giant Coupang, calling it “an infringement on judicial sovereignty” and “interference in domestic affairs.” Rep. Park Hong-bae of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and other lawmakers held a press conference at the National Assembly, saying 96 legislators had signed a joint protest letter to be delivered to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul later in the day. The figure represents roughly one-third of the 300-member Assembly. The move follows a recent letter sent by 54 House Republican lawmakers, who claimed Korean government and law enforcement authorities' investigation into Coupang's massive data breach case is discriminatory against the U.S.-headquartered company. The 54 signatories account for about a quarter of the 217 Republican members in the 435-seat House of Representatives. A media report also said Washington asked Seoul to legally guarantee the safety of Coupang founder Kim Bom-suk, also known as Bom Kim, otherwise it would not p

Apr 28, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

96 Korean lawmakers blast US for 'infringing on judicial sovereignty' over Coupang probe

Politics

Presidential AI secretary nears decision on run in Busan by-election

Ha Jung-woo, presidential secretary for artificial intelligence (AI) policy and future planning, is nearing a decision on whether to run in the by-election for a National Assembly seat representing Busan's Buk-A constituency, with ruling party officials pointing to a possible announcement as early as this week. The by-election, set to be held alongside the June 3 local elections, has quickly emerged as one of the most closely watched races nationwide. The seat opened after Rep. Chun Jae-soo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) stepped down to run for Busan mayor, but the contest took on a wider dimension when former People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon announced his bid as an independent. Ha's potential candidacy is widely viewed as part of a broader strategy by the DPK to frame the by-elections as a test of the Lee Jae Myung administration's governing agenda. By putting forward a figure closely associated with its flagship AI policy, the party appears to be seeking to highlight its focus on future industries while reinforcing its reform credentials. Party officials sa

Apr 27, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Presidential AI secretary nears decision on run in Busan by-election

Politics

Lee condemns White House Correspondents' dinner shooting as 'grave threat to democracy'

President Lee Jae Myung expressed his shock Sunday over a violent incident at the White House Correspondents’ dinner, condemning political violence and offering sympathies to the American public. In a post on social media platform X, Lee said he was “deeply shocked by the violent incident” and called it “especially regrettable” given that the event was meant to reaffirm the role of the press and freedom of speech. According to media reports, the incident occurred during the annual dinner hosted by the White House Correspondents’ Association at the Hilton in Washington, D.C., where an armed suspect opened fire at Secret Service agents before being subdued and taken into custody. The White House Correspondents’ dinner is a high-profile event attended by senior government officials, journalists and public figures, highlighting the symbolic importance of the gathering. No injuries were reported among key attendees, and U.S. President Donald Trump and the first lady were evacuated safely from the venue following the incident, according to reports. Lee expressed relief over their

Apr 26, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Lee condemns White House Correspondents' dinner shooting as 'grave threat to democracy'

Politics

PPP picks Choo Kyung-ho to face Kim Boo-kyum in Daegu mayoral election

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Sunday confirmed Rep. Choo Kyung-ho as its candidate for Daegu mayor in the June 3 local elections, setting up a two-way race with Kim Boo-kyum, the candidate for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). Choo, who served as deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance from 2022 to 2023 under ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, secured the nomination through a combination of party member voting and a public opinion poll conducted over Friday and Saturday. PPP nomination committee chief Rep. Park Duk-hyum announced Choo's candidacy during a briefing at the party’s headquarters in Yeouido. “The final result was calculated by converting both the party member votes and the public survey into a unified percentage based on valid votes, and then applying additional weighting factors,” he said. The nomination comes after weeks of internal friction within the conservative PPP, which had raised the possibility of independent bids, have largely subsided. Rep. Joo Ho-young’s legal challenge to his exclusion from the primary w

Apr 26, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

PPP picks Choo Kyung-ho to face Kim Boo-kyum in Daegu mayoral election

Defense

Korea marks 75th anniversary of Battle of Kapyong with Commonwealth allies

Korea marked the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong Friday with a ceremony honoring veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War and reaffirming defense ties with partner nations that fought alongside it during the conflict. Lee Yong-cheol, minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), attended the event at the Commonwealth War Memorial in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, alongside senior military officials and ambassadors from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — the four Commonwealth countries that participate in the annual commemoration. Speaking at the event, Lee said Korea will “remember the sacrifice and dedication of the veterans who came to defend liberal democracy” and continue to strengthen cooperation with countries that fought alongside it during the war. The Battle of Kapyong, fought in April 1951 during the Chinese Spring Offensive, is widely regarded as one of the Korean War’s key engagements. About 2,000 troops from the 27th Commonwealth Brigade held off a Chinese force more than five times their size, helping United Nations forces

Apr 24, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Korea marks 75th anniversary of Battle of Kapyong with Commonwealth allies

Defense

US military looks to make Korea regional hub for equipment repair

The U.S. military is moving to expand the repair and maintenance of its equipment in Korea, leveraging the country’s advanced defense industry as part of a broader effort to strengthen logistics support on the Korean Peninsula. Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of United States Forces Korea, raised the idea during a recent congressional hearing, saying, “Our continued emphasis on things like a regional sustainment hub, because of the importance of sustainment to the region.” He also noted that sustaining combat power remains essential to maintaining readiness in a contested environment. His remarks brought renewed attention to the concept of a Regional Sustainment Hub, which is aimed at reinforcing maintenance and logistics capabilities across the region. Brunson also addressed the issue in a written testimony submitted to Congress, where he outlined a plan to make greater use of Korea’s industrial base. He wrote that the effort would involve “leveraging the ROK industrial base to support maintenance, repair, and overhaul,” signaling a shift toward conducting more repair work clo

Apr 23, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

US military looks to make Korea regional hub for equipment repair

Defense

USFK commander warns against 'political expediency' in rushed OPCON transfer

Remarks by the top U.S. military commander in South Korea have prompted a fresh round of debate over the planned transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul, with experts cautioning against letting political timelines override military conditions. Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), emphasized a conditions-based approach to OPCON during testimony before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday (local time), urging that “political expediency does not outpace the conditions.” His use of the phrase “political expediency” — a departure from his earlier, broader references to conditions — is being interpreted by analysts as a message aimed at slowing the momentum for OPCON transfer under Seoul’s current policy direction. The Lee Jae Myung administration has made completing OPCON transfer within its five-year term a policy priority, with 2028 widely discussed as a possible target year. That timeline has raised concerns that political considerations could begin to shape what has traditionally been a conditions-based p

Apr 22, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

USFK commander warns against 'political expediency' in rushed OPCON transfer

Defense

Korea's military academy merger plan sparks debate

A government push to integrate Korea’s Army, Navy and Air Force academies is gaining traction, but so is the backlash. What began as a proposal to modernize officer training has evolved into a broader debate about the structure of the military and the type of officers it needs to produce. While the Ministry of National Defense argues that reform is essential to prepare for future warfare, critics warn that the plan could undermine service-specific expertise and weaken the foundations of officer development. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back has made it clear that he intends to proceed with the plan. Speaking at a recent press briefing, Ahn described the integration of the three academies as a long-standing issue that has resurfaced across administrations. “This has been a recurring topic regardless of political orientation,” he said. “Now is the time to respond proactively.” Ahn presented the proposal as a response to structural changes in both the military and society. He pointed to a decline in the competitiveness of applicants, noting that fewer top-tier students are choosing milit

Apr 22, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Korea's military academy merger plan sparks debate

Foreign Affairs

Foreign ministry says no details finalized for Wang Yi’s South Korea visit

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday that no specific arrangements have been finalized for Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s potential visit to Seoul, adding that the two sides are still communicating over the matter. The ministry also rejected reports that the visit had been delayed due to recent changes to Korea’s electronic arrival card system, describing the revision as “a simple administrative and technical adjustment” to improve traveler convenience. It stressed that this is unrelated to the scheduling of Wang’s trip, which is seen as a follow-up to the Korea-China summit in January. A foreign ministry official said the change to the entry system has no bearing on the timing of Wang’s visit, adding that “it would be difficult to interpret the scheduling issue as reflecting any problem in bilateral relations.” The official said the two sides have been communicating on various issues and that discussions on the visit are ongoing. The two sides are maintaining close strategic communication through multiple channels, including a Korea-China Joint Economic Commit

Apr 20, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji

Bahk Eun-ji

Read more

Army chief calls drones 'personal weapon' of future soldiers

96 Korean lawmakers blast US for 'infringing on judicial sovereignty' over Coupang probe

Presidential AI secretary nears decision on run in Busan by-election

Lee condemns White House Correspondents' dinner shooting as 'grave threat to democracy'

PPP picks Choo Kyung-ho to face Kim Boo-kyum in Daegu mayoral election

Korea marks 75th anniversary of Battle of Kapyong with Commonwealth allies

US military looks to make Korea regional hub for equipment repair

USFK commander warns against 'political expediency' in rushed OPCON transfer

Korea's military academy merger plan sparks debate

Foreign ministry says no details finalized for Wang Yi’s South Korea visit

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