The Korea Times

Lee to visit Japan next week, seeking to strengthen bilateral diplomacy

President Lee Jae Myung will visit Japan from Tuesday to Wednesday at the invitation of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the presidential office said Friday, in what officials say signals a continuation of bilateral diplomacy between the two countries and analysts see as part of Seoul’s effort to maintain strategic balance as pressures in the region grow. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said the visit was agreed to during a summit between Lee and Takaichi on the sidelines of last year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, when the two leaders decided that their next summit would be held in Nara, the Japanese prime minister’s hometown. “With this visit, the two leaders will have met three times in less than three months — in Gyeongju, on the sidelines of an international meeting abroad and now in Nara,” Wi said during a briefing. “This reflects the shared commitment to the early realization of mutual visits and the continuation of shuttle diplomacy.” In Korean, shuttle diplomacy refers to bilateral state visits. According

Jan 9, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin

Lee to visit Japan next week, seeking to strengthen bilateral diplomacy

Foreign Affairs

Seoul hosts diplomats from 60 countries to share support policies for foreign residents

The Seoul Metropolitan Government hosted diplomats from 60 countries on Wednesday for a New Year’s briefing on policies to support foreign residents and bolster international cooperation. City officials said the gathering included 40 sitting ambassadors, representing nations such as the United Arab Emirates, Tanzania and New Zealand. During the briefing, Seoul outlined a series of initiatives aimed at attracting highly skilled foreign talent and helping overseas residents settle more easily in the capital. Among the key programs highlighted was Medical Support for International Citizens, or MeSic, which offers medical interpretation services in 12 languages for foreign residents visiting hospitals across the city. Officials also explained the city’s Foreign Honorary Citizen program, which recognizes non-Korean residents who have made significant contributions to Seoul’s social, economic or cultural development. The designation is intended to strengthen ties between the city and its growing international community. In addition, Seoul shared examples of its international development

Jan 8, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin

Seoul hosts diplomats from 60 countries to share support policies for foreign residents

Foreign Affairs

Korea, Malaysia discuss expanding trade cooperation, industry ties

The Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) held talks Monday with Malaysia’s ambassador to Korea to discuss ways to expand bilateral trade cooperation and strengthen industry ties, the association said. The meeting took place at the association’s headquarters in Seoul. KOIMA Chairperson Youn Young-mi said Malaysia is playing an increasingly important role as the 2025 chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, underscoring its position as a key trading partner for Korea. She highlighted Malaysia’s stable supply of critical raw materials, including palm oil and liquefied natural gas, which she said are essential to Korea’s manufacturing and energy sectors. Youn noted that Korea has strong technological capabilities in refining and processing imported raw materials into high value-added products, adding that there is significant potential for the two countries to deepen cooperation across a wide range of industries. She said KOIMA is planning to dispatch an import delegation to Malaysia in May and will work closely with the ASEAN-Korea Centre to help generate more practical a

Jan 7, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin

Korea, Malaysia discuss expanding trade cooperation, industry ties

Foreign Affairs

Chief of Development Bank of Latin America sees Korea as key regional partner

Cooperation between Korea and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) has reached a “very solid stage” after nearly two decades of engagement, CAF President Sergio Díaz-Granados said, citing growing opportunities in infrastructure development, climate resilience and digital transformation across the region. In a written interview with The Korea Times, Díaz-Granados said the partnership, which began in 2006 with CAF’s first operation alongside the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank), has evolved steadily into a strategic relationship that goes well beyond traditional lending. “What began as a financing relationship has progressively developed into a broader partnership that combines financial instruments, technical cooperation, knowledge exchange and policy dialogue,” he said, adding that the cooperation now reflects nearly 20 years of sustained institutional engagement. Established in 1970, CAF is a multilateral development bank whose core mission is to promote sustainable development and regional integration across Latin America and the Caribbean. T

Jan 7, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin

Chief of Development Bank of Latin America sees Korea as key regional partner

Foreign Affairs

Hwaseong city, Ghana explore cooperation in industry, education

Jeong Myeong-geun, mayor of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, met Wednesday with Ghana’s ambassador to Korea to discuss ways to expand economic, industrial and educational cooperation, as the city looks to strengthen ties with emerging African markets. Jeong held talks with Choi Ko-jo, who visited Hwaseong as part of efforts to explore future collaboration and lay the groundwork for broader exchanges between the Korean city and the West African nation. City officials said the meeting marked an initial step toward developing long-term partnerships spanning industry, education and people-to-people exchanges. “Africa, including Ghana, has enormous potential backed by rapid population growth and resource-based industries,” Jeong said during the meeting. He described Hwaseong as a “miniature version of Korea,” noting that the city combines rural and fishing communities with advanced manufacturing clusters and rapidly developing cultural and industrial infrastructure. Hwaseong, located south of Seoul, is one of Korea’s fastest-growing cities and houses complexes for major industries in

Jan 5, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin

Hwaseong city, Ghana explore cooperation in industry, education

Health

Majority of Korean workers flagged for health risks, new data shows

Nearly 6 in 10 Korean workers who underwent mandatory workplace health screenings in 2024 were found to have abnormal results, government data showed Sunday, raising concerns about worsening health conditions among employees exposed to hazardous work environments. According to a report by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 1.62 million workers — or 58.7 percent of the 2.75 million examined — were classified as having abnormal findings. The figure rose by about 90,800 workers, or 5.9 percent, from a year earlier, outpacing the 3.1 percent increase in the total number of examinees. Unlike routine health screenings for the general population, the examinations are mandatory for workers exposed to hazardous or dangerous conditions, including those in manufacturing and construction, employees exposed to high noise levels at power plants and airports, nurses, and commercial drivers such as truck, bus and taxi operators. The data showed a sharp rise in workers with clear signs of disease, a category indicating a high likelihood of illness requiring further testing or treatment. In 2024,

Jan 4, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin

Majority of Korean workers flagged for health risks, new data shows

Foreign Affairs

Korea urges easing of regional tensions in Venezuela crisis

Korea urged a de-escalation of tensions in the region surrounding Venezuela, Sunday, the day after the United States launched an attack on the country and captured longtime President Nicolas Maduro. It emphasized "quick stabilization" and "democracy" in Venezuela, taking a prudent stance toward the situation amid controversy over the legitimacy of the U.S. operation. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Korea is closely monitoring the situation in Venezuela. "Our government urges all involved parties to make utmost efforts toward easing regional tensions. We hope for a quick stabilization of the situation via dialogue, ensuring democracy is restored and the will of the Venezuelan people is honored," it said. The ministry added that it is also working to ensure the safety of Korean nationals in the country. There are some 70 Koreans in the country, and no harm to them has been reported. The statement came after the U.S. launched an attack on Venezuela early Saturday morning, capturing Maduro and bringing him and his wife to New York, where he was indicted in federal court on

Jan 4, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin

Korea urges easing of regional tensions in Venezuela crisis

Society

Nearly 4 in 10 older adults in Korea live below poverty line: Report

Nearly 4 in 10 Koreans aged 66 and older are living below the relative poverty line, highlighting deepening economic insecurity for many in the country’s aging population, a government report showed Friday. According to Social Trends Korea 2025, released by Statistics Korea’s National Statistical Research Institute, 39.7 percent of people aged 66 or older live on incomes below 50 percent of the national median. This is the highest rate among OECD member countries and nearly three times the OECD average of 14.8 percent. The report found that poverty is most severe among those aged 75 and older, who face a “dual crisis” of income insecurity and deteriorating health. While labor force participation among seniors has increased, many remain trapped in low-wage jobs. People aged 60 and older accounted for 69 percent of workers employed fewer than 36 hours a week. Although the poverty rate for households headed by those 65 or older fell from 42.4 percent in 2016 to 36.1 percent in 2023, the study noted that people aged 75 and above benefit less from public income transfers such as the

Dec 26, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Nearly 4 in 10 older adults in Korea live below poverty line: Report

North Korea

S. Korea to merge defector resettlement centers as arrivals from North decline

South Korea’s Ministry of Unification plans to merge its two resettlement centers for North Korean defectors next year as the number of arrivals continues to fall sharply, officials said Friday. A ministry official said the government has decided to move forward with integrating the main Hanawon resettlement center and its branch facility, with a final decision on the location — either Anseong in Gyeonggi Province or Hwacheon in Gangwon Province — expected soon. Unification ministry Deputy Spokesperson Chang Yoon-jeong said during a regular briefing that the move reflects a continued decline in the number of defectors entering South Korea. “We are reviewing integration measures and related personnel reassignments to ensure efficient operations,” she said. The plan was included in the ministry’s policy agenda for next year, which was reported to President Lee Jae Myung on Dec. 19. The number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea has fallen sharply since the COVID-19 pandemic. Arrivals peaked at 2,914 in 2009 but dropped to 1,047 in 2019. After North Korea closed its bo

Dec 26, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

S. Korea to merge defector resettlement centers as arrivals from North decline

Politics

Prosecutors seek 10-year sentence for Yoon over martial law declaration

A special prosecution team investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived imposition of martial law late last year sought a 10-year prison sentence on Friday, accusing him of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant and abusing his authority while in office. The sentencing request, made during closing arguments at the Seoul Central District Court, comes after a year of political turmoil triggered by Yoon’s ill-fated declaration of martial law last winter. It is the first of seven criminal cases involving the former president to reach the sentencing phase. The order — which deployed armed paratroopers to the National Assembly and stunned the international community — was short-lived, but it sparked a constitutional crisis that effectively paralyzed his administration and accelerated legal scrutiny by a special prosecutor that is now reaching its first critical juncture in court. Prosecutors are seeking five years in prison for the obstruction of official duties, three years for abuse of power, and two years for falsifying official documents and exercising them u

Dec 26, 2025By Kim Hyun-bin

Kim Hyun-bin

Read more

Lee to visit Japan next week, seeking to strengthen bilateral diplomacy

Seoul hosts diplomats from 60 countries to share support policies for foreign residents

Korea, Malaysia discuss expanding trade cooperation, industry ties

Chief of Development Bank of Latin America sees Korea as key regional partner

Hwaseong city, Ghana explore cooperation in industry, education

Majority of Korean workers flagged for health risks, new data shows

Korea urges easing of regional tensions in Venezuela crisis

Nearly 4 in 10 older adults in Korea live below poverty line: Report

S. Korea to merge defector resettlement centers as arrivals from North decline

Prosecutors seek 10-year sentence for Yoon over martial law declaration

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