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Lee Hyo-jin

Korea Times Finance Reporter

Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.

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North Korea

Trump administration grants sanctions relief for humanitarian aid to N. Korea

The U.N. Security Council's sanctions committee has approved exemptions for 17 humanitarian aid projects to North Korea, sources said Friday, in a U.S.-backed move amid the Donald Trump administration's push to reengage with Pyongyang. The decision allows the resumption of aid projects that have been suspended since the first half of last year. It is widely viewed as an olive branch from the United States, as speculation grows that Trump may seek a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his visit to China in April. The South Korean government welcomed the decision by the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) Sanctions Committee on North Korea, which oversees sanctions on Pyongyang. "The government has maintained that humanitarian assistance to North Korea should continue regardless of the political situation, and in line with that position, we have made various efforts to ensure that such aid can be delivered smoothly. We hope there will be a positive response this time," a foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity. The development came hours after a senior South Korea

Feb 6, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Trump administration grants sanctions relief for humanitarian aid to N. Korea
North Korea

UN rapporteur urges protection for N. Korean POWs in Ukraine, but leaves decision with Kyiv

Two North Korean soldiers captured in Ukraine while fighting for Russia could, under international law, be transferred to a third country or granted asylum in Kyiv, Elizabeth Salmon, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on North Korea’s human rights, said on Friday. But she added that the decision is ultimately up to Kyiv, and that she would respect whatever course Ukraine chooses. "There are reasonable grounds to believe that in the DPRK, cases of torture and ill-treatment have been very well documented over the years. So I think that Ukraine has some legal obligations concerning the principle of non-refoulement. It means that one state should not repatriate people to a place where there are reasonable grounds to believe they would face torture or ill-treatment," Salmon said during a press conference in Seoul when asked about the North Korean soldiers held in Ukraine. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name. "So, I think that it is up to Ukraine to respect international law and to make the best decision," she added, noting the possibi

Feb 6, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
UN rapporteur urges protection for N. Korean POWs in Ukraine, but leaves decision with Kyiv
North Korea

Fears mount over N. Korea's arms drive as US-Russia nuclear pact expires

The expiration of the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia is heightening concerns that a renewed arms race among major powers could embolden North Korea to expand its nuclear ambitions, analysts said. Experts said that the erosion of arms control among global nuclear powers could reinforce Pyongyang's belief that nuclear weapons remain its most reliable guarantee of national security. The Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, known as New START, effectively expired Thursday. Signed in 2010, the treaty was designed to reduce the risk of a catastrophic nuclear confrontation by capping the two largest nuclear powers' deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550. While the agreement had served as a key pillar of global nuclear arms control, it began to unravel after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when U.S.-Russia relations deteriorated and on-site inspections were suspended. With the treaty's expiration, arms control cooperation between Washington and Moscow in the post-Cold War era

Feb 5, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Fears mount over N. Korea's arms drive as US-Russia nuclear pact expires
Foreign Affairs

Seoul’s alleged diplomatic inaction over assault on Korean in Japan sparks criticism

The recent group assault of a Korean tourist in Japan has sparked controversy over the consular response by Korea's diplomatic officials, with the victim and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offering conflicting accounts of the assistance provided. The victim, who suffered serious injuries including three broken teeth, said authorities failed to offer timely and active support after the attack. The foreign ministry, however, rejected those claims, saying it had fulfilled its legal obligations and denying any negligence. According to the victim, the assault happened on Dec. 2, 2025, in Sapporo's Susukino entertainment district. The victim, a Korean man whose identity has not been disclosed, was walking alone when he was attacked by five Japanese nationals after refusing their demand for money. He sustained injuries including crown fractures to three lower front teeth and nerve damage. The victim said he fled to a nearby restaurant and reported the incident to police with the help of local residents. He then sought assistance from the Korean Consulate General in Sapporo, but claimed officia

Feb 4, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Seoul’s alleged diplomatic inaction over assault on Korean in Japan sparks criticism
Foreign Affairs

Cambodians bristle at Korean president's now-deleted post on scam rings

A now-deleted social media post by President Lee Jae Myung about Southeast Asian phishing crime rings has stirred unease among Cambodians, who saw the phrasing as unfairly characterizing the country as a hotbed of scams. In recent months, Korean authorities and the Cambodian government have cooperated to crack down on crime rings based in Cambodia involving Koreans, as part of broader efforts to combat transnational online scam operations. The controversy centers on a message Lee posted last Friday on X, formerly Twitter, in both the Korean and Khmer languages. The post shared a Korean media report suggesting that Chinese scam rings operating in Cambodia had stopped recruiting Koreans for fear of a crackdown by Korean authorities. "Do you think my warning that those who mess with Koreans will lose everything is just empty talk?" the president wrote. "When the Republic of Korea commits, it follows through to the very end." His message, however, had the unintended effect of angering Cambodians. "The visual appearance of his tweet was diplomatically clumsy, as it did not bring about an impor

Feb 3, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin and Park Ung
Cambodians bristle at Korean president's now-deleted post on scam rings
Society

Korean adoptees welcome fresh inquiry into rights violations in adoption process

Overseas adoptees welcomed the government’s plan to resume and expand investigations into suspected misconduct in Korea's overseas adoption system that sent roughly 200,000 Korean children to Western countries, mostly between the 1960s and 1980s. The work will be carried out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), an independent government body tasked with probing human rights abuses and mass killings committed by or involving the state during the 1950‑53 Korean War and under postwar authoritarian regimes. The third TRC is scheduled to launch on Feb. 26, following revisions to the Framework Act on Settling the Past for Truth and Reconciliation, passed by the National Assembly last Thursday. The changes paved the way for the new commission. "By establishing TRC3, this parliament has chosen truth over silence, and justice over denial," Peter Moller, an adoptee from Denmark and co-founder of the Danish Korean Rights Group, told The Korea Times. "For those affected by institutionalization and adoption, truth-finding is not only about past wrongdoing, but about restoring identit

Feb 3, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Korean adoptees welcome fresh inquiry into rights violations in adoption process
Politics

Lee doubles down on housing policy in social media posts

President Lee Jae Myung expressed his firm resolve to stabilize housing prices, drawing sharp criticism from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), which accused him of targeting owners of multiple homes instead of offering effective policy solutions. In a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, Lee criticized the PPP and some media outlets for what he described as waging "groundless attacks" on the government's real estate policies. Lee took aim Sunday at media coverage highlighting the potential side effects of tougher capital gains taxes on multiple-home owners. The reporting followed his recent statement that the government would not extend the current exemptions from higher capital gains taxes to people who own more than one residence. "If principled reporting is too much to ask, I sincerely hope the media will at least refrain from defending 'destructive' speculation on the housing market or engaging in excessive and unfair attacks on the government," Lee wrote. In a post the previous day, the president likened opposition party members to "kindergarteners just learning how t

Feb 1, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Lee doubles down on housing policy in social media posts
Politics

Lee calls on workers to swiftly adapt to 'unavoidable' AI robotics era

President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that workers must adapt swiftly to the era of artificial intelligence (AI), in an apparent message to Hyundai Motor's labor union, which has strongly opposed the carmaker's planned introduction of humanoid robots at production facilities. "A labor union appears to have announced that it will stop robots from entering production sites. That may be part of its overall protest strategy," Lee said during a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae. "But once the massive wagon starts rolling, we cannot stop it," Lee said, likening the current situation to the past, when the introduction of steam engines triggered machine-breaking protests by laborers worried about losing jobs. Lee added: "Ultimately, society has to adapt quickly. People need to learn new skills and adjust rapidly to the new environment." The president stressed the importance of preparing workers for technological change rather than resisting it, as AI-driven automation accelerates across industries. He also underscored the need for fundamental policies to prepare for extreme polarization

Jan 29, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Lee calls on workers to swiftly adapt to 'unavoidable' AI robotics era
Foreign Affairs

Trump's 'Board of Peace' cannot replace UN, says foreign minister

The “Board of Peace” initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, supposedly aimed at addressing the Gaza conflict, cannot replace the United Nations, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said on Thursday. The top diplomat's remarks came as Korea weighs a decision on whether to accept an invitation to join the Washington-led international group, an offer the government confirmed it received last week. “Even if the United Nations becomes paralyzed, it cannot be replaced (by the Board of Peace). The U.N. will continue to be as it is. When the time comes, it will carry out the role entrusted to it,” Cho said at a forum hosted by the Kwanhun Club, an association of senior journalists. Cho said no decision had yet been made on whether Seoul would join the initiative, adding that the invitation had arrived “rather abruptly” and was now under review. The top diplomat voiced support for Trump's broader peace objectives. “Even if we do not immediately sign on to join, we support the U.S.' efforts to promote international peace,” he said. Trump officially launched the Board of Peace last week at

Jan 29, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Trump's 'Board of Peace' cannot replace UN, says foreign minister
Defense

UNC asserts authority in DMZ as ruling party pushes for civilian access

The U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) reasserted its authority Wednesday over the thin, landmine-strewn strip separating the two Koreas, signaling a widening rift with South Korea’s ruling party and the Ministry of Unification over who controls access to the demilitarized zone. "The substantive provisions within the Armistice Agreement make it clear that the UNC commander is responsible for military and civil administration within the southern half of the DMZ," a UNC official said during a closed-door briefing in Seoul. The remarks come as debate intensifies over proposed legislation that would allow civilians to enter the demilitarized zone without prior approval from the UNC. Under the Armistice Agreement that halted the Korean War in 1953, all access to the zone currently requires UNC authorization. Last year, lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea proposed a bill that would give the South Korean government greater leeway to approve nonmilitary access to the DMZ. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young has expressed support for the bill. Supporters of the bill argue tha

Jan 28, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
UNC asserts authority in DMZ as ruling party pushes for civilian access
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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.