The Korea Times

Uzbek envoy, Daejeon explore business ties in satellites, rail, water projects

The Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry said Sunday it hosted a luncheon meeting with Uzbek Ambassador to Korea Alisher Abdusalomov on Friday to discuss ways to deepen investment and cooperation between local businesses and Uzbekistan. The event brought together regional business leaders, municipal officials and embassy representatives. The program began with video presentations highlighting the investment climates of both Daejeon and Uzbekistan. Attendees then engaged in open discussions on how to strengthen corporate partnerships, with particular emphasis on potential joint projects in satellite manufacturing and services, water purification initiatives and high-speed rail construction. Local executives shared firsthand experiences of operating in foreign markets and offered proposals to make Uzbekistan more accessible to Korean companies. Key suggestions included streamlining tax incentives, simplifying documentation requirements and improving customs clearance procedures for imports and exports. “Uzbekistan is a country with high growth potential based on abundant natural res

Aug 11, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Uzbek envoy, Daejeon explore business ties in satellites, rail, water projects

Foreign Affairs

ASEAN-Korea Centre opens Seoul ASEAN Hall to celebrate regional partnership

The ASEAN-Korea Centre officially opened the Seoul ASEAN Hall on Friday to mark ASEAN Day and celebrate the 58th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The new cultural space aims to deepen ties between Korea and the 10 ASEAN member states through expanded people-to-people exchange and cultural collaboration. Located on the first floor of the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, the hall serves as a public venue fostering closer connections in culture, tourism and economy. It features two main exhibition areas: a permanent showcase highlighting ASEAN’s culture and heritage, and a special exhibition zone for rotating thematic displays. The opening ceremony was attended by former Korean prime minister Kim Hwang-sik, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Jin-a, ambassadors from the 10 ASEAN nations and representatives from Korea’s cultural and business sectors. In his welcoming remarks, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-Korea Centre Kim Jae-shin underscored the symbolic importance of the launch falling on ASEAN Day. “Having a dedicated space located in

Aug 8, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

ASEAN-Korea Centre opens Seoul ASEAN Hall to celebrate regional partnership

Politics

People Power Party approval ratings plummet to record low

Support for Korea’s main conservative party has plummeted to its lowest levels in years, remaining stuck in the teens for a fifth consecutive week, according to a new poll released Friday. The People Power Party (PPP) garnered just 16 percent in the latest National Barometer Survey, conducted Aug. 4 to 6 by K-Stat Research, Korea Research and Hankook Research. In contrast, the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) held steady at 44 percent, nearly tripling the flagging PPP. Once polling at 31 percent in late May, the PPP’s support has steadily declined since the election — falling to 23 percent in mid-June, 20 percent in late June, 19 percent in mid-July and 17 percent in late July. It has now lingered in the teens for five consecutive weeks. Support has fallen across nearly all regions and age groups — including traditional party strongholds like Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, as well as among voters aged 70 and older. Among centrists, backing stands at 11 percent, while those in their 20s and 30s each support the PPP at 12 percent. In Seoul, the PPP trails with

Aug 8, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

People Power Party approval ratings plummet to record low

Defense

Seoul postpones key drills with US in bid to temper N. Korea’s response

The United States and South Korea are set to launch their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) joint military exercise on Aug. 18, but with a notably subdued tone that analysts see as a calculated effort to avoid provoking North Korea. Some field training exercises involving live weapons will also be postponed, officials say. Officials will postpone some live-fire drills, citing an ongoing heat wave. However, North Korea’s longstanding opposition to the exercises is also believed to be influencing the discussion. The debate recalls a past proposal by Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, who argued that modifying the drills could serve as a conciliatory gesture toward Pyongyang. According to government sources, internal discussions on such adjustments were made. In a joint statement issued Thursday by the Combined Forces Command, the two militaries emphasized the defensive nature of the 10-day exercise, describing it as preparation for “realistic threats analyzed from recent wartime patterns.” Notably, the announcement made no mention of North Korea — a significant departure from

Aug 7, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Seoul postpones key drills with US in bid to temper N. Korea’s response

Health

Medical bills for older adults approach half of all health care spending

Health care costs covered by Korea’s national insurance system for those aged 65 and older have risen nearly 40 percent over the past four years, exceeding 50 trillion won ($38 billion) in 2023 and accounting for nearly half of the country’s total insured medical spending, government data showed on Wednesday. According to figures submitted to Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee, combined co-payments and insurance reimbursements for older adults rose from 37.47 trillion won in 2020 to 52.12 trillion won last year — a 39.1 percent increase. The sharp rise in costs underscores a looming public health challenge for a nation with one of the world’s fastest-aging populations. As the number of older citizens grows, the data points to an urgent need for sustainable long-term care policies to keep the national health insurance system from coming under severe strain. Korea has seen a striking demographic shift over the past two decades, with the share of the population aged 65 and older rising from 9.1 percent in 2005 to 20.3 percent at present, accord

Aug 7, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Medical bills for older adults approach half of all health care spending

Foreign Affairs

Uzbek ambassador backs Korea’s K-heating export drive

Uzbek Ambassador to Korea Alisher Abdusalomov expressed strong support for Korea’s high-efficiency district heating technology during a visit to the Korea District Heating Corp. (KDHC) on Monday, highlighting deepening energy cooperation between the two countries. The ambassador met with KDHC President Jeong Yong-ki to discuss the ongoing K-heating initiative — a strategic project to export Korea’s advanced, eco-friendly district heating systems to New Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s planned smart city, and other urban areas. “I deeply appreciate KDHC’s efforts to support the development of Uzbekistan’s energy sector,” the ambassador said. “We will do our utmost to ensure the successful adoption of the K-heating system.” His visit comes as KDHC accelerates its push into Central Asia. The corporation recently launched a dedicated task force for the Uzbekistan project and has implemented a wide range of activities including modernization consulting for outdated heating infrastructure, infrastructure planning support for New Tashkent, expert roundtables with Korean exporters and

Aug 7, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Uzbek ambassador backs Korea’s K-heating export drive

Foreign Affairs

Indian envoy visits Miryang to explore cultural and economic cooperation

Indian Ambassador to Korea Amit Kumar visited the southeastern city of Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province on Monday, reinforcing ongoing efforts to strengthen cultural and economic ties between India and Korea. The ambassador’s visit focused on exploring potential cooperation in diverse areas such as culture, tourism, wellness and smart agriculture. During a meeting with Miryang Mayor Ahn Byeong-gu, discussions centered on expanding exchange programs and joint initiatives that could benefit both parties. Key proposals included co-hosting yoga events and organizing international yoga camps to leverage the city’s Yoga Culture Town resort complex. Both sides emphasized enhancing culture and wellness tourism through closer collaboration, aiming to integrate India’s traditional practices with Miryang’s abundant natural resources. This synergy could foster new tourism programs to attract visitors seeking health and mindfulness experiences. Agricultural cooperation also featured prominently in the talks, particularly in the growing field of smart farming technologies. By sharing know

Aug 6, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Indian envoy visits Miryang to explore cultural and economic cooperation

Foreign Affairs

EU, Korea discuss green shipping, emissions cuts

European Union Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez met with Kim Sung-bum, Korea’s vice minister of oceans and fisheries, on Monday to strengthen cooperation on maritime greenhouse gas reductions and the development of green shipping corridors. The meeting, held at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in Seoul, focused on coordinating positions ahead of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) General Assembly in October. The assembly is expected to adopt midterm measures aimed at curbing emissions from international shipping — a sector that contributes nearly 3 percent of global carbon output. “Today’s meeting marks a meaningful step forward in enhancing EU-Korea cooperation toward net-zero goals,” Castillo Fernandez said. “We welcome Korea’s commitment to a greener maritime future.” Kim underscored the importance of the partnership, saying, “The Republic of Korea and the EU have been long-standing allies in reducing maritime greenhouse gas emissions. Let us continue our joint efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.” The two sides also discusse

Aug 6, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

EU, Korea discuss green shipping, emissions cuts

Society

Korea Environment Corp.’s water exploration program unites families

The Korea Environment Corp. successfully hosted a hands-on summer program, “Let’s Play with Water! Cluster Water Exploration Team,” on Thursday and Friday bringing together employees of resident companies and their families for a two-day educational and recreational experience. Designed to foster community among resident companies and improve employee welfare, the program took place during summer vacation to accommodate families with young children. A total of 31 participants — mostly families with elementary school-aged children or younger — joined the event. On the first day, participants toured the promotional exhibition hall, engaged in a hands-on water pollution education session and visited several eco- and science-focused attractions, including an environmental promotion center, the Daegu National Science Museum and a local traditional market. The second day featured a visit to a wetlands ecological center, followed by a sightseeing cruise along the Nakdong River aboard a ferry, where participants explored key water-related landmarks in the area and learned about the ri

Aug 4, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Korea Environment Corp.’s water exploration program unites families

Foreign Affairs

ASEAN-Korea Centre launches specialized ASEAN training for Korean educators

The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) is hosting a specialized teacher training program titled “Understanding ASEAN” from Aug. 5-7 and again from Aug. 12-14, aimed at strengthening the global competence of secondary school teachers in South Korea’s increasingly multicultural society. Co-organized with the Korea Foundation ASEAN Culture House (KF-ACH), the initiative seeks to deepen participants’ understanding of the cultures, histories and regional dynamics of the 10 ASEAN member states (AMS). Both AKC and KF-ACH have played central roles in enhancing ASEAN-Korea cooperation through public education and cultural outreach. The program opened with an introduction to the ASEAN-Korea Centre and a tour of the KF-ACH exhibition space including lectures delivered by leading scholars from the Korea Association of Southeast Asian Studies, cooking workshops that explore ASEAN cuisines and country-specific sessions designed to bring ASEAN diversity into Korean classrooms. Lectures covered topics such as ASEAN’s formation and evolution, the unique cultural identities of each AMS, and the state of

Aug 4, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Kim Hyun-bin

Read more

Uzbek envoy, Daejeon explore business ties in satellites, rail, water projects

ASEAN-Korea Centre opens Seoul ASEAN Hall to celebrate regional partnership

People Power Party approval ratings plummet to record low

Seoul postpones key drills with US in bid to temper N. Korea’s response

Medical bills for older adults approach half of all health care spending

Uzbek ambassador backs Korea’s K-heating export drive

Indian envoy visits Miryang to explore cultural and economic cooperation

EU, Korea discuss green shipping, emissions cuts

Korea Environment Corp.’s water exploration program unites families

ASEAN-Korea Centre launches specialized ASEAN training for Korean educators

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