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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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Foreign Affairs

Korea wary of US tariff standoff spilling over into security talks

Korean officials appear wary of the possibility that ongoing tariff tensions with the United States could spill over into upcoming bilateral security talks, even as they emphasize that both sides are working to prevent economic disputes from undermining broader cooperation. Despite Foreign Minister Cho Hyun's visit to Washington last week, where he met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the tariff situation remains largely unchanged, foreign ministry officials said Thursday. "The situation has not fundamentally changed," an official said on condition of anonymity when asked whether Cho's visit had altered Washington’s stance. "At its core, the issue remains the implementation of (Korea's) investment commitments. There has been no change in the fact that further progress is still needed on that." The official said one of the key outcomes of Cho's meeting with Rubio was a shared understanding that the tariff dispute must be carefully managed to avoid damaging the broader alliance. "Both sides agreed that the situation needs to be carefully managed, particularly to ensure that economic

Feb 12, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea wary of US tariff standoff spilling over into security talks
Global Community

20 universities slapped with visa curbs over poor oversight of international students

Twenty local universities will be barred from issuing student visas to foreign nationals for one year beginning this fall semester after failing to meet mandatory standards for managing international students, the Ministry of Education said Thursday. The designation follows the government's annual review of universities' oversight and support systems for foreign students. According to the ministry, 16 universities offering degree programs and four institutions operating Korean language courses have been classified as "universities requiring strict screening on visa issuance." This means that except under extraordinary circumstances, they will not be permitted to issue student visas for one year. Institutions facing such restrictions include Geumgang University, Suwon Catholic University, Joong-Ang Sangha University and Hyupsung University. Amid a steady rise in the number of foreign students in Korea, the education and justice ministries have jointly conducted annual evaluations since 2012 to assess universities' internationalization capacity and their management of foreign student progr

Feb 12, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
20 universities slapped with visa curbs over poor oversight of international students
Foreign Affairs

Seoul-Washington trade tensions cloud US security delegation’s planned visit

Korea's tariff deadlock with the United States is raising concerns in Seoul over potential spillover into security negotiations with its key ally, including talks on nuclear-powered submarines and other nuclear-related issues. Analysts say that if the trade impasse persists, it could even lead to the cancellation of a U.S. government delegation's planned Seoul visit for high-level security consultations. These concerns began on Jan. 27, when U.S. President Donald Trump announced a plan to raise tariffs on Korean products from 15 percent to 25 percent, accusing the National Assembly of delaying passage of a bill required to implement a bilateral tariff agreement finalized last November. Since then, top Seoul officials, including Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, made urgent visits to Washington to assure Seoul's commitment to the agreement and prevent the tariff hike — attempts that have yet to produce a tangible outcome. Adding to the pressure, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told Cho that Washington would impose a 25 p

Feb 11, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Seoul-Washington trade tensions cloud US security delegation’s planned visit
North Korea

What to expect from North Korea's upcoming party congress

North Korea is set to convene a ruling Workers' Party congress later this month, a closely watched political gathering that will outline the country's military and foreign policy priorities throughout 2031, as well as the future of Kim Jong-un's leadership structure. Held every five years, the congress is North Korea’s largest political event. Thousands of delegates from across the country gather in Pyongyang, where the leader reviews the past term and unveils a new five-year plan outlining domestic and foreign policy priorities. The political bureau of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea decided last week to open the ninth congress in late February, according to the North’s official Korean Central News Agency. While the exact date has not been disclosed, recent developments suggest that preparations are in the final stages. Kim has attended a series of ceremonies marking the completion of economic projects, moves seen as an effort to frame the upcoming congress as a celebratory milestone. According to South Korea's Ministry of Unification, the gathering, whic

Feb 11, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
What to expect from North Korea's upcoming party congress
Society

PHOTO Lunar New Year shopping

People shop at a traditional market in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday, for ingredients needed to prepare food for family gatherings and ancestral rites ahead of the Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 17 this year. Yonhap

Feb 10, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
[PHOTO] Lunar New Year shopping
North Korea

South Korea calls for reopening of inter-Korean industrial complex

The South Korean government on Tuesday called for the swift reopening of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in North Korea, marking 10 years since its shutdown and describing it as a "safety valve for peace on the Korean Peninsula." It acknowledged that Seoul's unilateral suspension of the inter-Korean complex in February 2016 under then-President Park Geun-hye had undermined the foundation of mutual trust between the two Koreas, calling it a "self-inflicted setback." "The government hopes for the swift normalization of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex," the Ministry of Unification said in a statement issued by its spokesperson. The ministry noted that in August 2013, the two Koreas signed an agreement during working-level talks guaranteeing the complex's normal operations regardless of the political situation. "The unilateral shutdown of the complex in February 2016 amounted to a self-inflicted setback that undermined the foundation of mutual trust and shared growth between the two Koreas," the statement said. Launched in 2004, the joint inter-Korean venture allowed South Korean manufacturer

Feb 10, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
South Korea calls for reopening of inter-Korean industrial complex
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
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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.