The Korea Times

President to meet rival party leaders in effort to bridge political divide

President Lee Jae Myung will host a luncheon with Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Rep. Jung Cheong-rae and People Power Party (PPP) leader Rep. Jang Dong-hyuk at the Yongsan presidential office on Monday, according to presidential aides on Friday. Kim Byung-wook, the senior presidential secretary for political affairs, said the meeting would be conducted freely, without a fixed agenda. “This gathering is intended as an opportunity for a candid discussion on state affairs,” he said. “We hope it will strengthen cooperation and communication between the government and the opposition.” Along with the party leaders, spokespersons and chiefs of staff from both sides will attend. From the presidential office, Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik and Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Woo Sang-ho will be present. Kim said a separate one-on-one meeting between the president and Jang is scheduled to follow the luncheon. The meeting will be Lee’s first one-on-one with the leader of the main opposition party since taking office, following his June 22 luncheon with then–DPK acting lead

Sep 5, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

President to meet rival party leaders in effort to bridge political divide

Foreign Affairs

Korea, Italy boost cooperation in innovation, green economy

Korea and Italy pledged Friday to deepen economic cooperation in technology and innovation, focusing on future-oriented sectors such as the green economy, health care and smart mobility. The Italy-Korea Business Forum 2025, held at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, drew 115 companies — 29 from Italy and 66 from Korea — and facilitated around 160 business-to-business meetings. The program featured an opening ceremony, high-level roundtable on bilateral economic relations and sectoral seminars covering artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, robotics, health care and green industries. Since the 2012 Korea-EU free trade agreement, trade between Italy and Korea has grown steadily, rising from $8.08 billion in 2012 to $12.6 billion in 2024, a 55.9 percent increase. Korea is now the largest per capita consumer of Italian products in Asia, with more than half of imports concentrated in luxury and fashion goods. Deputy Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Park Jong-won underscored the importance of advancing the partnership into new areas. “This forum offers an important opportunity to explor

Sep 5, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Korea, Italy boost cooperation in innovation, green economy

Foreign Affairs

Korea, Latin American envoys discuss critical minerals, trade ties

Korea’s trade minister met with ambassadors from 18 Latin American countries on Wednesday to explore ways to deepen economic cooperation, expand free trade networks and strengthen supply chain partnerships in critical minerals. Yeo Han-koo, head of trade negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, hosted the meeting in Seoul with the Latin American ambassadors, including envoys from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru. The gathering came as Seoul seeks to broaden its export markets and reduce its heavy reliance on a handful of trading partners. Latin America, with a population of nearly 690 million and a combined gross domestic product of about $7 trillion, is considered a key region. Korean officials describe it as increasingly important for diversifying supply chains, particularly amid geopolitical competition and the rise of protectionist trade policies. Korea has free trade agreements with seven Latin American nations, including Chile, Peru and Colombia. On Tuesday, Seoul formally signed a Strategic Economic Cooperation Agreement with Ecuador, and it has comp

Sep 4, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Korea, Latin American envoys discuss critical minerals, trade ties

Foreign Affairs

Seven new ambassadors begin posts in Korea

President Lee Jae Myung received the credentials of seven new ambassadors to Korea on Tuesday, urging them to serve as bridges to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation across sectors. At the presidential office in Yongsan, the president held his first ambassadorial presentation ceremony since taking office, receiving envoys from Bangladesh, Angola, Algeria, Pakistan, the Dominican Republic, Spain and Indonesia, who presented their letters of credence. The presentation of credentials is a formal diplomatic rite that officially marks the beginning of an ambassador’s tenure, as a new envoy submits a letter of appointment from their head of state to the leader of the host country. Welcoming the envoys, Lee said, “The starting point of relations between countries is people meeting and communicating with one another. I ask you to meet widely with figures from various sectors and communicate closely so that our nations can deepen cooperation in many fields.” He emphasized that his administration is pursuing pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests, while seeking to ex

Sep 3, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Seven new ambassadors begin posts in Korea

Foreign Affairs

Egypt seeks direct flights, investments as ties with Korea strengthen

Relations between Egypt and Korea are at their strongest in decades, according to Egyptian Ambassador Khaled Abdel Rahman, who noted that both countries are now exploring direct flights and increased investment opportunities as they mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year. “Our partnership is marked by mutual trust, strategic dialogue and expanding cooperation across economic, technological, cultural and developmental fields,” Abdel Rahman said in an interview with The Korea Times. “This year, as we celebrate three decades of formal diplomatic relations, we see the relationship reaching new heights in every sector.” The ambassador pointed to notable progress in infrastructure, renewable energy, information and communication technology (ICT), automotive manufacturing and education. “Korean companies have played a vital role in modernizing Egypt’s transport and logistics infrastructure, while joint projects in green hydrogen and solar energy highlight our commitment to sustainable development,” he said. Digital transformation and smart city initiatives have als

Sep 1, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Egypt seeks direct flights, investments as ties with Korea strengthen

Defense

S. Korean military faces surge in officers, NCOs seeking early retirement

A record 2,502 South Korean military officers applied last year for early honorable discharge, a program that allows service members to leave the service before reaching mandatory retirement, according to data submitted by the Ministry of National Defense to the National Assembly. The exodus of experienced military personnel presents a significant challenge for the armed forces, which rely on a pool of long-serving officers to maintain operational readiness and leadership continuity. The trend not only raises concerns about a brain drain but also signals growing dissatisfaction among a key segment of the military's professional ranks, potentially affecting morale and combat readiness amid persistent tensions with North Korea. Of the applicants, 782 were commissioned officers and 1,720 were noncommissioned officers, nearly double the defense ministry’s initial estimate of 1,363. After a review process, 1,936 applications were approved, including 720 officers and 1,216 noncommissioned officers, while the remaining 566 were rejected. The honorable discharge program is available to milita

Aug 31, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

S. Korean military faces surge in officers, NCOs seeking early retirement

Politics

PPP leadership race heads to runoff after no candidate wins majority

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP), Korea's main conservative political group, will hold a runoff election for its new leader this Tuesday, after no single candidate secured an outright majority in the first round of voting. The outcome sets the stage for a final showdown between former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo and Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, two prominent figures from the so-called "anti-impeachment" faction who opposed the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol last year after he declared martial law. The vote combined ballots from party members (80 percent) and a public opinion survey (20 percent). Their prominence in the final round suggests a strengthening of this ideological line within the party leadership, potentially charting a new course for the conservative camp as it prepares for future elections. Their collective dominance in the first round suggests that the party's center of gravity is shifting toward a more conservative and less conciliatory posture. This ideological consolidation could define the PPP's strategy and identity in the years ahead, potentially polar

Aug 22, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

PPP leadership race heads to runoff after no candidate wins majority

North Korea

N. Korea bars foreigners from Wonsan, opens doors to Russians

North Korea has temporarily barred foreign tourists from its newly opened Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone in Kangwon Province on the eastern coast, but appears to be making an exception for Russian visitors, South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Friday. According to the ministry, North Korea welcomed at least three Russian tour groups last month through Russian travel agencies, with itineraries that included Pyongyang, Mount Myohyang, and the Wonsan-Kalma region. Officials said Russian agencies are continuing to recruit travelers this month, and organized tours to the North remain underway. The discrepancy comes despite a notice posted July 18 on the website of the North Korean State General Bureau of Tourist Guidance, which stated that foreign visitors are “temporarily not accepted” at the Wonsan-Kalma resort. “North Korea continues to welcome Russian tourists to the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, despite an official ban on foreign visitors,” the ministry told the parliamentary foreign affairs and unification committee earlier this week. The resort, a flagship project

Aug 22, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

N. Korea bars foreigners from Wonsan, opens doors to Russians

Foreign Affairs

Diplomat highlights original commitments as key to Seoul-Beijing ties

China’s ambassador to Korea urged both nations to uphold what he called the “original aspiration” of their 1992 diplomatic normalization, days before the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties. Ambassador Dai Bing made the remarks Tuesday during a visit to the tomb of former President Roh Tae-woo in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, according to the Chinese Embassy’s social media account. Roh was president when the two nations formally established relations. “China is willing to work with Korea to firmly adhere to the direction of good neighborliness and friendship, to pursue mutual benefit and win-win goals, and to push bilateral relations to continuously reach new heights,” Dai said. His comments came as Washington and Beijing intensify their rivalry over Taiwan. Since normalization, Beijing has repeatedly stressed Seoul’s commitment to its “One China” principle. The 1992 joint communique affirmed Korea’s recognition of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and noted that Seoul respects Beijing’s stance that Taiwan is part

Aug 21, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Diplomat highlights original commitments as key to Seoul-Beijing ties

Foreign Affairs

Anyang mayor, Vietnam envoy discuss local government exchanges

The mayor of Anyang met with Vietnam’s ambassador to Korea this week to discuss strengthening cooperation and exchanges between local governments, city officials said Wednesday. Mayor Choi Dae-ho visited the Embassy of Vietnam in Seoul on Tuesday and held talks with Ambassador Vu Ho, according to the Anyang municipal government. The meeting came days after Vietnamese leader To Lam made a state visit to Korea, where he held a summit with President Lee Jae Myung. The two agreed to expand cooperation in supply chains, trade and cultural exchanges, underscoring closer ties between the countries. “I am very pleased that the Korea-Vietnam summit was successfully concluded,” Choi said. “I hope the positive atmosphere created by high-level exchanges will extend to cooperation between local governments as well.” Choi also highlighted former Vietnamese Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet, who played a key part in establishing diplomatic ties between the two nations in 1992. He said he believed the ambassador would help open “a new chapter of cooperation” between Anyang and Vietnamese local go

Aug 21, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Kim Hyun-bin

Read more

President to meet rival party leaders in effort to bridge political divide

Korea, Italy boost cooperation in innovation, green economy

Korea, Latin American envoys discuss critical minerals, trade ties

Seven new ambassadors begin posts in Korea

Egypt seeks direct flights, investments as ties with Korea strengthen

S. Korean military faces surge in officers, NCOs seeking early retirement

PPP leadership race heads to runoff after no candidate wins majority

N. Korea bars foreigners from Wonsan, opens doors to Russians

Diplomat highlights original commitments as key to Seoul-Beijing ties

Anyang mayor, Vietnam envoy discuss local government exchanges

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