my timesThe Korea Times
ksw

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.

Go to Email

Read more

Foreign Affairs

Korea's strategic value re-rises amid US-China rivalry

Joe Biden, then U.S. vice president, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing in this August 2011 photo. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooIn the wake of Joe Biden's election as the new U.S. president, a competition between the United States and China to get Korea on its side is expected to intensify ― a demonstration of Seoul's rising strategic value amid their hegemonic rivalry, diplomatic experts said Thursday.This is a drastic change from a month ago when U.S. President Donald Trump was threatening to withdraw American forces from the Korean Peninsula, while pressuring Seoul to increase its financial share for the presence of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). China was also bent on bashing Seoul, finding fault with K-pop group BTS' Korean War comments, and distorting the history of the three-year war. Four days after Biden was elected as the new American commander-in-chief, President Moon Jae-in had a phone conversation with him, Nov. 11, during which the former vice president reaffirmed the U.S. security commitment to Korea. In addition, Biden made a visit t

Nov 19, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Korea's strategic value re-rises amid US-China rivalry
  • Importance of alliance highlighted during KDVA event
Foreign Affairs

KOICA helps developing countries boost medical capabilities

A medical staffer in Cote d'Ivoir conducts a COVID-19 test from a diagnostic booth, which was donated by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). / Courtesy of KOICABy Kang Seung-wooThe COVID-19 pandemic has grown to affect nearly every country on Earth regardless of economic development status. As of Nov. 18, more than 55.3 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus around the world and more than 1.3 million have died from the disease, with the U.S. death toll surpassing 250,000. The growing number of infections has prevented existing healthcare systems from dealing effectively with patients, and especially the damage was much more serious in developing countries, as evidenced by Indonesia and the Philippines, which are ranked first and second among Southeast Asian countries with their respective total cases topping 410,000. Infection surges in South American countries are also straining their healthcare systems. In that respect, in line with Korea's successful handling of COVID-19 using advanced IT, such as drive-through and walk-through testing booths, the

Nov 19, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
KOICA helps developing countries boost medical capabilities
Politics

Airport construction falls prey to political interests

Lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, who represent Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province, hold a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday, calling for an introduction of a special bill to permit construction of a new airport on Gadeok Island in Busan. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooThe government's decision to end the Gimhae International Airport expansion plan is once again sparking criticism that political interests are again holding sway over a crucial state project. Experts say major projects like this need to be approached with a broad understanding of their purpose, not from political considerations.On Tuesday, a government review committee virtually scrapped the project, citing safety and environmental issues and a lack of thorough communication with the local government in the decision-making process. After 10 years of postponements in picking an airport site for the southeastern part of the country, expanding Gimhae airport was decided on in 2016 based on a year-long feasibility study by the French company Aeroports de Paris Ingenierie (ADPi

Nov 18, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Airport construction falls prey to political interests
Society

Fine dust hits Korea

The cityscape of Osan, Gyeonggi Province is seen under skies blanketed by a gray haze caused by fine dust amid an influx of particles from China. The fine dust level is, however, expected to fall following overnight rain. / Yonhap

Nov 17, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Fine dust hits Korea
Health

Virus hits Cheorwon hard

A street in Cheorwon remains quiet amid a resurgence of new COVID-19 cases nationwide, Tuesday. The government decided today to raise the social distancing level to 1.5 in the greater Seoul area from Thursday, as the nation saw 230 new coronavirus cases. / Yonhap

Nov 17, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Virus hits Cheorwon hard
Politics

Moon's problematic aide returns to public service

President Moon Jae-in and Kim Ki-jung / Korea Times fileBy Kang Seung-wooPresident Moon Jae-in's pick for the head of a think tank operating under the state spy agency is raising some eyebrows, with critics claiming that the head of state's latest personnel appointment is still based on the appointee's close ties to the administration.According to the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS), Tuesday, it held a board meeting the previous day, and picked Kim Ki-jung, a former senior aide to President Moon for national security affairs, as its chief. The INSS is an affiliate of the National Intelligence Service (NIS). Although the INSS chief post has remained vacant since former chief Jo Dong-ho resigned in July this year, Kim's personal connection to Moon is believed to have affected the appointment even though Kim was embroiled in misconduct allegations in the past. Kim was President Moon's high school junior at Kyungnam High School in Busan and he began to help Moon in 2012 when Moon launched his first presidential bid against Park Geun-hye. In addition, he is a key figure am

Nov 17, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Moon's problematic aide returns to public service
Health

For fair childcare leave

Members of a civic group stage a rally against discrimination between public servants and non-public servants over childcare leave, in front of the Constitutional Court in Seoul, Monday. They filed a petition with the top court saying the Act on Equal Employment for Both Sexes is discriminatory, as it allows public servants to have up to three years of childcare leave, while private-sector workers have only one year. / Yonhap

Nov 16, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
For fair childcare leave
Politics

Korean New Deal meeting

President Moon Jae-in presides over the third meeting on the Korean New Deal initiative at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Monday. The initiative is aimed to create jobs and develop the nation's future growth engines post-COVID-19. Participants discussed carbon-neutral industries. / Yonhap

Nov 16, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Korean New Deal meeting
Defense

USFK struggles to conduct Apache live-fire training

An Apache helicopter prepares for take-off at a firing range in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, in this Feb. 13 photo. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooThe U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is struggling to find a replacement firing range for its Apache helicopters following noise and other complaints from nearby residents.Defense experts are concerned that the recurring problem may undermine the allies' combat readiness and are urging the government to play a more aggressive role in solving the issue.According to the Ministry of National Defense, Monday, a live-fire exercise, initially scheduled to take place the same day by the USFK's attack helicopters at a firing range in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, was suspended after the ministry discussed the issue with the U.S. side on Friday.The suspension came after residents living near the shooting range had complained of noise and other inconveniences due to the firing drills, calling for a stop to the training and the closure of the range. Some 130 people from 50 households live just 1 kilometer from the range in Pohang. In protest, residents

Nov 16, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
USFK struggles to conduct Apache live-fire training
Foreign Affairs

Ruling party lawmakers head to US

Lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea leave for Washington, D.C. from Incheon International Airport, Sunday, to meet U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, U.S. congressmen and experts on the Korean Peninsula issue ahead of the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration. They are, from left, Rep. Kim Han-jung, National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil and Rep. Youn Kun-young, one of President Moon Jae-in's special envoys to Pyongyang in March 2018. / Yonhap

Nov 15, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Ruling party lawmakers head to US
previous page
7071727374
next page

Top 5 stories

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.