The Korea Times

Lee Jae-myung to navigate US-China divide at G7 debut

President Lee Jae-myung's upcoming attendance at the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Canada will serve as an early test of his foreign policy amid renewed U.S. pressure on allies to align more closely with efforts to counter China's expanding influence. The G7, which has adopted a more assertive posture toward China in recent years, is expected to serve as a key barometer for the newly elected Korean leader’s diplomatic trajectory, analysts said Sunday. Lee, who has characterized his foreign policy as pragmatic and guided by Korea’s national interests, may use the multilateral forum to push back against domestic criticism that he is too accommodating toward Beijing. At the same time, the liberal president will need to tread carefully to avoid undermining what many in Seoul see as a fragile but improving relationship with China. The presidential office confirmed Saturday that Lee will attend the summit in Alberta from June 15 to 17, at the invitation of the host nation. Although Korea is not a G7 member, it has been invited to participate in expanded sessions in recent years. The summit

Jun 8, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Lee Jae-myung to navigate US-China divide at G7 debut

Foreign Affairs

Who will lead S. Korea's new foreign policy, security teams?

President Lee Jae-myung is moving swiftly to assemble his foreign policy and national security teams, prompting widespread anticipation over the forthcoming nominations for the key ministerial positions of foreign affairs, unification and defense. This week's crucial appointments — Wi Sung-lac, a former ambassador to Russia, as national security adviser, and Lee Jong-seok, a former unification minister, to lead the National Intelligence Service — signal the imminent unveiling of the president's full Cabinet. Observers suggest that the remaining selections are expected to be announced in the coming days, providing a clearer indication of the new administration's strategic direction in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape. Although no formal nominations have been made, names are surfacing from among seasoned foreign policy experts who advised Lee during his campaign or served in previous liberal administrations. One of the leading candidates for foreign minister is Cho Hyun, a career diplomat who served as first vice foreign minister under the Moon Jae-in administration. A seasone

Jun 5, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Who will lead S. Korea's new foreign policy, security teams?

Foreign Affairs

New president's diplomatic debut likely to begin with G7 summit

Newly elected President Lee Jae-myung steps onto the global stage with a full diplomatic agenda, ending a six-month freeze in South Korea’s summit diplomacy. After winning Tuesday's snap election, Lee was sworn in Wednesday morning in a brief inauguration ceremony, bringing an end to the leadership vacuum caused by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s abrupt martial law declaration in December and his impeachment in April. Lee's administration now faces a series of pressing diplomatic challenges: navigating tariff negotiations with the United States, responding to deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia and managing strained relations with China. Analysts are also watching closely to see how the liberal president will approach relations with Japan — a partnership that improved significantly under Yoon despite lingering historical disputes. Lee's first appearance on the global stage is widely expected to come at the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada, set for June 15 to 17. While South Korea has not yet received a formal invitation, Canadian Prime Minister Mark C

Jun 4, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

New president's diplomatic debut likely to begin with G7 summit

Politics

Voter anger over Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law propels Lee Jae-myung to victory

Liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate Lee Jae-myung's victory in Tuesday's snap presidential election reflects widespread public anger over former President Yoon Suk Yeol's abrupt martial law declaration and a strong desire for a change in power. Voters, outraged by Yoon's attempt to impose emergency military rule on Dec. 3, 2024 — the move that led to his impeachment and the early election — delivered a stinging rebuke to the main conservative party, with many turning away from People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo, analysts said. Lee's victory marks a political resolution six months after the country was plunged into turmoil by Yoon’s surprise declaration of martial law, which lasted for just six hours. Yoon claimed the move was necessary to counter what he described as "anti-state forces," but it instead sparked mass protests that ultimately led to his impeachment in April. The election was widely viewed as a referendum on Yoon’s leadership, unfolding under the ominous specter of martial law. As the campaign progressed, the impeached president faced a cr

Jun 4, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Voter anger over Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law propels Lee Jae-myung to victory

Politics

2 ex-Gyeonggi governors vie for presidency

The two major contenders in Tuesday's presidential election — liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung and conservative candidate Kim Moon-soo — have more in common than one might expect, especially in terms of their executive experience. Lee, representing the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), and Kim, the candidate of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), have both served as governors of Gyeonggi Province, the country’s most populous area which surrounds Seoul. Kim held the post from 2006 to 2014, while Lee governed the province from 2018 to 2021. During his tenure, Kim laid the groundwork for the province's transportation and industrial development, spearheading major projects such as the planning of the Great Train Express (GTX) high-speed rail lines, the creation of major redevelopment projects in Suwon's Gwanggyo and Seongnam's Pangyo and the successful bid to attract Samsung’s semiconductor plant to Pyeongtaek. As governor, Lee focused on resident-centered governance and welfare programs. He launched a basic income initiative that provided cash support to all residents u

Jun 2, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

2 ex-Gyeonggi governors vie for presidency

Politics

Will gender divide among young voters impact presidential election?

A stark gender divide among Korea's young generation is increasingly defining the nation's political landscape, influencing elections and policy debates. This schism was evident in the 2022 presidential election when then-conservative candidate Yoon Suk Yeol secured victory largely thanks to robust support from men in their 20s and 30s. Conversely, his liberal opponent, Lee Jae-myung, garnered significant backing from young women, many of whom were alienated by Yoon's campaign pledges, including his controversial promise to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. This gender-based political polarization has intensified over recent months amid political turmoil caused by Yoon's martial law declaration. Young women emerged as a dominant force in mass protests demanding Yoon’s ouster, while young men were the least active group in those demonstrations — with some even moving further to the right and continuing to support the now-impeached president. As the June 3 presidential election nears, attention is turning to whether this gender divide will once again play a decisive r

May 26, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Will gender divide among young voters impact presidential election?

Politics

Lee Jae-myung's lead narrows as conservative candidates gain ground

As the June 3 presidential election approaches, liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung maintains a lead in polls, but his margin over conservative rival Kim Moon-soo has narrowed, according to recent surveys. Support for Lee Jae-myung, the candidate of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has declined slightly, while conservative contenders — Kim of the People Power Party (PPP) and Lee Jun-seok of the minor Reform Party — have seen steady gains. A Realmeter survey conducted in the fourth week of May showed Lee Jae-myung with 46.6 percent support, followed by Kim at 37.6 percent and Lee Jun-seok at 10.4 percent. The poll, commissioned by Energy Economy News and released Saturday, was conducted from Thursday to Friday through automated telephone interviews with 1,009 eligible voters nationwide. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level, with a response rate of 8.3 percent. Full results are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission’s website. Compared to the previous week, the DPK candidate's support dro

May 25, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Lee Jae-myung's lead narrows as conservative candidates gain ground

Foreign Affairs

High-stakes diplomacy awaits Korea's next president

Korea’s next president, to be elected on June 3, will step into office with a packed diplomatic schedule as the country seeks to resume summit-level engagements that have been on hold for six months. Seoul has been grappling with a leadership vacuum on the diplomatic front since former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Dec. 3, a move that ultimately led to his impeachment in April. With less than two weeks until the snap presidential election, the race is shaping up as a contest between liberal Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung and conservative People Power Party nominee Kim Moon-soo, with Lee Jun-seok of the minor Reform Party trailing behind. Whoever becomes the new president, the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada, scheduled for June 15 to 17, is widely expected to serve as his debut on the international stage. The G7 summit stands as a pivotal diplomatic stage for the incoming Korean administration, offering a crucial opportunity to reassert the nation's global presence and revitalize high-level engagements after a period of domestic political upheav

May 22, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

High-stakes diplomacy awaits Korea's next president

Society

Walk 4 Paws: Ex-marine’s Seoul-Busan trek pays tribute to military dogs

For most, the journey from Seoul to Busan takes only a few hours by train. But for Lee Seong-won, it took 11 days and tens of thousands of steps — each one a tribute to the nation’s four-legged heroes: military dogs. Lee, who serves as the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs’ spokesperson for foreign media, launched the “Walk4Paws Korea” campaign as a personal initiative. From May 2 to 12, the 37-year-old walked from Seoul National Cemetery to the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in the southern port city of Busan, aiming to take one million steps and raise one million won in honor of military dogs. After completing the 560-kilometer journey, he donated the funds on May 13 to the Republic of Korea Army military working dog training center in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, the nation’s official institution for military dogs. "This project was something I took on as an individual citizen, not in any official capacity," Lee told The Korea Times. "I wanted to extend our nation’s gratitude to a group that is too often forgotten — the silent, four-pawed heroes who served alongside us

May 21, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Walk 4 Paws: Ex-marine’s Seoul-Busan trek pays tribute to military dogs

Foreign Affairs

Korea leverages soft power to deepen ties with Africa

Korea’s soft power — embodied in its beauty and food products — stands as a vital bridge for deepening partnerships with African nations, says Kim Young-chae, president of the Korea-Africa Foundation. "During my time working in African countries, I noticed that Korean beauty products and food have been selling increasingly well, alongside home electronics, automobiles and mobile phones — sectors where Korea has traditionally been strong," Kim said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. Kim, who served as Korea’s ambassador to Libya and Nigeria and held postings in South Africa, noted that Korean cultural content is gaining traction across the continent. "In Nigeria, for instance, at least one Korean drama or film often appears in Netflix’s Top 10 rankings,” he said. "Korean products like ramen and cosmetics are appearing more and more often in stores. These lifestyle products are helping to foster a more positive image of Korea among African consumers." He noted that rising rice consumption in some African countries, driven by urbanization and globalization, presents n

May 20, 2025By Lee Hyo-jin

Lee Hyo-jin

Read more

Lee Jae-myung to navigate US-China divide at G7 debut

Who will lead S. Korea's new foreign policy, security teams?

New president's diplomatic debut likely to begin with G7 summit

Voter anger over Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law propels Lee Jae-myung to victory

2 ex-Gyeonggi governors vie for presidency

Will gender divide among young voters impact presidential election?

Lee Jae-myung's lead narrows as conservative candidates gain ground

High-stakes diplomacy awaits Korea's next president

Walk 4 Paws: Ex-marine’s Seoul-Busan trek pays tribute to military dogs

Korea leverages soft power to deepen ties with Africa

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