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Kang Seung-woo

Korea Times Business Reporter

Kang Seung-woo is the Business Desk editor at The Korea Times. Prior to this position, he covered politics, national affairs, finance and sports.

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Foreign Affairs

Yoon-Kishida summit likely in Spain

President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida / AFP-YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooSpeculation is rising of a long-awaited Korea-Japan summit on the sidelines of the NATO leaders' meeting scheduled to take place in Spain later this month as both President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are considering attending the June 29-30 meeting.The presidential office is said to have sent an advance team, comprised of officials from the foreign ministry as well as its own staff, to the host country, while Japan's Kyodo News reported, Saturday, that Japanese officials were planning to travel to the Spanish capital. Since before his inauguration, May 10, Yoon has called for a future-oriented approach to restoring bilateral ties between Seoul and Tokyo, overshadowed for years by historical and territorial disputes, believing that an improved relationship would help trilateral cooperation that also includes the United States to effectively deal with North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats. In that respect, Yoon dispatched a policy consultation delegati

Jun 5, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
Yoon-Kishida summit likely in Spain
Politics

Different futures await prominent winners of latest election

From left are Ahn Cheol-soo, Kim Dong-yeon and Lee Jae-myung. Korea Times photoAhn Cheol-soo, Kim Dong-yeon establish themselves as presidential contendersBy Kang Seung-wooHigh-profile politicians survived the local elections or the by-elections, simultaneously held, Wednesday. But they are expected to head in different directions in the post-election political landscape. Former presidential candidates Ahn Cheol-soo of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and Kim Dong-yeon of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) won a parliamentary seat and the governorship of Gyeonggi Province, respectively, positions that will allow them to gain another shot at the presidency.On the other hand, Lee Jae-myung of the DPK also won a ticket to enter the National Assembly. But the party's devastating defeat in the elections overshadows his victory and future political ambitions, because the former Gyeonggi governor, who led the party's election committee, faced criticism for returning to politics too soon after his loss in the presidential election in March.Ahn, who has returned to the Nat

Jun 2, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
Different futures await prominent winners of latest election
  • Voters give president boost to pursue key policies
Politics

Landslide victory gives boost to President Yoon

President Yoon Suk-yeol holds up an octopus during a visit to Jagalchi Fish Market in Busan, Tuesday. YonhapDPK still controls Assembly, but president gains crucial leverage By Kang Seung-wooThe victory of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) in the local elections has given President Yoon Suk-yeol more leverage in his management of state affairs, although the election results haven't changed much about the reality that the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) still controls the National Assembly. Of the 17 mayoral and governor races, the ruling party won 12, including the Seoul mayoral seat. In addition, the PPP took 5 out of seven seats that were up for grabs in parliamentary by-elections. Given that the quadrennial event was held less than a month after Yoon took office on May 10, it was widely regarded as an extended round of the election rather than a referendum on the Yoon administration. Yoon edged out the DPK's Lee Jae-myung by 0.7 percentage point in the presidential election on March 9.“While the Yoon administration is being frustrated by the DPK's majority

Jun 2, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
Landslide victory gives boost to President Yoon
  • Voter turnout hits lowest since 2002
  • Ruling party wins landslide in local elections
  • Yoon says he takes election results as people's call to revive economy
Politics

Uncontested winners: record-high 509 candidates win elections by default

gettyimagesbankBy Kang Seung-wooWhile most candidates who ran in Wednesday's local elections labored to appeal to voters, 509 did not have to because they didn't have any opponents to compete with.According to the National Election Commission, 7,616 candidates registered for the local elections to compete for 4,125 seats that included 17 mayoral and gubernatorial seats as well as education superintendents and posts for numerous local councils, but a record 509 secured wins by running unopposed. Compared with four years ago, the figure amounts to an over-five-fold increase from 89. Taking a closer look, 107 candidates who ran for Seoul's district council, comprised of 373 members, were guaranteed to be elected without a vote, while the race for the Seoul Metropolitan Council also saw two uncontested winners ― for the first time in eight years. By party, all but one candidate for the Jeju education council belong to the two major parties, with 282 from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and 226 from the ruling People Power Party (PPP). Candidates for education superin

Jun 1, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
Uncontested winners: record-high 509 candidates win elections by default
  • Koreans head to polls in local elections
  • Slow pace seen at polling stations in Seoul reflects low voter turnout
Foreign Affairs

Dokdo territorial dispute holds back trilateral cooperation

The Dokdo islets / gettyimagesbankJapan protests Seoul's marine survey near DokdoBy Kang Seung-wooRosy prospects of enhanced three-way cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the United States against North Korea's growing threats face uncertainty as a long-running territorial dispute once again pits Seoul and Tokyo against each other.Japan's claim to Dokdo, South Korea's easternmost islets, and other historical issues regarding its wartime atrocities, continue to overshadow their bilateral ties, dashing Washington's hopes for trilateral cooperation. South Korea's new president and the U.S. leader, who visited Asia recently, have tried to change these dynamics, as evidenced by last week's unprecedented joint statement by their foreign ministers condemning Pyongyang's ballistic missile launches. The Japanese foreign ministry lodged a protest against South Korea's marine survey around Dokdo for the second straight day, Sunday and Monday.According to Japanese media reports, the ministry confirmed that a Korean research vessel had thrown something like a wire into the sea in Japan's E

May 31, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
Dokdo territorial dispute holds back trilateral cooperation
Defense

South Korea in dilemma over Canada's request to send artillery ammunition

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gives a speech virtually to the National Assembly in Seoul, April 11. Korea Times photo'Lack of cause' for Russian retaliation By Kang Seung-wooSouth Korea, sticking to a stance of sending only non-lethal supplies to Ukraine, has found itself in a tricky situation over a new request to export artillery ammunition to Canada, after the North American country sent its own shells to the war-torn Eastern European country. The South Korean government has maintained that there are limits on sending lethal weapons to Ukraine due to possible fallout in diplomatic ties with Russia, and there is speculation that a possible ammunition shipment from Seoul to Ottawa could be seen by Moscow as indirect support from South Korea for Ukraine. According to the Ministry of National Defense, the Canadian government has inquired if Seoul could export tens of thousands of 155-millimeter artillery shells to Ottawa due to an ammo shortage there. In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in February, Canada has sent its own ammunition to Ukraine.“It

May 30, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
South Korea in dilemma over Canada's request to send artillery ammunition
Defense

Korean Army hints at acquiring Redback

A Redback infantry fighting vehicle showcases its off-road maneuverability during a media invitation event in Hongcheon County, Gangwon Province, Friday. Courtesy of Kookbang IlboKorean-made infantry fighting vehicle draws interest from US, EuropeBy Kang Seung-wooHONGCHEON, Gangwon Province ― The Redback infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), developed by Hanwha Defense, showcased its high-performance maneuverability during a media invitation event, Friday, saying that it would be a great addition to the Korean Army as well as the Australian military as its next-generation IFV. The Redback is one of the two final candidates for the Australian Army's LAND 400 Phase 3 project, via which, it will purchase some 400 IFVs. In response, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) was positive about procuring a Korean version of the Redback that meets its operational requirements. The event took place at the end of the Korean Army's six-week-long trial of the next-generation IFV. The trial followed the Redback's successful performance in tests and evaluations last year under the Australi

May 29, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
Korean Army hints at acquiring Redback
Foreign Affairs

KOICA launches interactive town in metaverse for overseas volunteer program

Courtesy of KOICABy Kang Seung-wooThe Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) launched a virtual town on ZEP, a metaverse platform operated by the Korean search portal operator Naver, for young people interested in volunteering overseas or pursuing a career in international development cooperation, Friday. The town is called WFK Town after World Friends Korea (WFK), KOICA's overseas volunteer program. Amid the global trend of accelerated digitalization, KOICA is supporting the digital transformation of developing countries through various initiatives including e-government projects and building information systems. In addition, by carrying out remote online volunteer programs, KOICA has incorporated digital aspects into its activities to overcome physical limitations posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. WFK Town was created for interactive communication with people interested in volunteering overseas and development cooperation, and to promote WFK.WFK Town comprises sections for volunteer recruitment, global leadership and communication, enabling users to gather the latest informat

May 28, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
KOICA launches interactive town in metaverse for overseas volunteer program
Foreign Affairs

Why doesn't US want to add South Korea to Quad?

President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden toast each other during the official banquet following their summit at the National Museum of Korea, Saturday. Yonhap Korea can still play role at Quad working groups: experts By Kang Seung-wooDespite the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's desire to formally join the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), the United States has not been enthusiastic about adding Korea to the four-way strategic forum, aimed at purportedly containing China's assertiveness. The Quad is comprised of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S.The U.S. stance contrasts sharply with Washington's warm welcome to Seoul's decision to participate in the Indo-Pacific Framework (IPEF), a recently launched economic initiative that also seeks to counter Beijing's growing influence in the region. Diplomatic observers believe that the unexpected U.S. response may have to do with its desire not to alienate China further, which could respond strongly to Korea's participation in the Quad, while Washington may also have considered potential Japanese resistance due to its frayed b

May 26, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
Why doesn't US want to add South Korea to Quad?
Foreign Affairs

Yoon-Xi summit unlikely any time soon

President Yoon Suk-yeol and Chinese President Xi Jinping / YonhapSouth Korea's IPEF participation barrier to Yoon-Xi meetingBy Kang Seung-woo The summit between South Korea and the United States has now passed and the attention is on how early President Yoon Suk-yeol will sit down with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, given the importance of Seoul-Beijing relations. China is South Korea's largest trading partner. Plus, the two leaders have already expressed their wishes to hold a summit in the near future. But it is highly unlikely to occur anytime soon due to China's “unhappiness” about the Yoon administration's decision to stand with Washington amid the intensifying U.S.-Sino rivalry as well as its other domestic issues, according to diplomatic observers, Monday.During U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to South Korea over the weekend, President Yoon showed signs of coming closer to the U.S. position ― a dramatic shift from the Moon Jae-in administration's so-called “balanced diplomacy” between the powerhouses ― that will undoubtedly frustrate the Chinese g

May 23, 2022By Kang Seung-woo
Yoon-Xi summit unlikely any time soon
  • Korea joins US-led trade pact as China bristles
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