The Korea Times

INTERVIEW China opposes any action targeting Beijing at Camp David summit: envoy

Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk'Return of Chinese group tours will catalyze improvement in bilateral ties'By Lee Hyo-jin China firmly opposes any act that targets Beijing as a consequence of plans drawn up at the upcoming summit between South Korea, the United States and Japan, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming said during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, Thursday.“China is continuing its efforts for peace, safety, development and prosperity in the region. I hope this meeting will be helpful in line with these efforts,” Xing said, referring to the trilateral summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, set to take place at Camp David, Friday (local time).“I hope that mutual communication between related countries will contribute to peace and stability in the region. At the same time, China is firmly opposed to any practice which targets, impli

Aug 17, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin

[INTERVIEW] China opposes any action targeting Beijing at Camp David summit: envoy

Foreign Affairs

ANALYSIS Pyongyang uses Travis King as tool to counter US criticisms of NK human rights issues

A TV screen shows a file image of American soldier Travis King during a news program at Seoul Station, Wednesday. AP-YonhapPyongyang says inhuman treatment in the army triggered U.S. soldier's defectionBy Lee Hyo-jin North Korea's claim that “racial discrimination and unequal American society” drove U.S. soldier Travis King to defect to the North is seen as a message firing back at U.S.-led plans to scale up international scrutiny against Pyongyang's human rights record, analysts said Wednesday.The North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) disclosed a report on interim findings of an investigation into King, Wednesday, breaking a month-long silence over the American soldier's shocking border-crossing on July 18.“During the investigation, Travis King confessed that he had decided to come over to the DPRK as he harbored ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the U.S. Army,” the report read. DPRK is the acronym of the Democratic People's Party of Korea, North Korea's official name. “He also expressed willingness t

Aug 16, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin

[ANALYSIS] Pyongyang uses Travis King as tool to counter US criticisms of NK human rights issues

Politics

1919 vs 1948: Controversy rekindled over Korea's founding year

People walk past Seodaemun Prison History Hall in western Seoul, Monday, a day before National Liberation Day which falls on Aug. 15. NewsisBy Lee Hyo-jin As Korea commemorates the 78th National Liberation Day, Tuesday, debates have reignited over which year should be viewed as the founding year of the nation, a topic that has long been a source of ideologically driven disputes. Liberal politicians and scholars regard 1919, when the government-in-exile was set up in Shanghai, China, as the year the country was founded. They view that the interim government undertook administrative, diplomatic and military activities to gain independence from Japan's colonial rule in 1945, and thus serves as the basis for today's Korea.On the other hand, conservatives support the notion that the founding year is 1948, when the internationally recognized government under inaugural President Syngman Rhee was established. This stance has been upheld by the New Right, a group of right-wing conservative historians.The controversy over the country's founding year was first triggered in 2006 by then Seoul Na

Aug 14, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin

1919 vs 1948: Controversy rekindled over Korea's founding year

Seoul to host concert to celebrate Liberation Day

Foreign Affairs

Envoys of Russia, China demonstrate close ties ahead of S. Korea-US-Japan summit

Russian Ambassador to South Korea Andrey Kulik, left, speaks with Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming during their bilateral meeting at the Embassy of China in Seoul, Aug. 10. Courtesy of Embassy of Russia in KoreaBy Lee Hyo-jin Russian and Chinese ambassadors to Seoul and Pyongyang have recently held meetings together, respectively, in what appears to be a demonstration of close ties between Moscow and Beijing ahead of a high-stakes summit between South Korea, the United States and Japan. According to the Russian and Chinese embassies in Seoul, Russian Ambassador Andrey Kulik met with Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming last Thursday at the latter's office. “Russian diplomats in Seoul visited the Chinese Embassy at the invitation of Chinese friends. The two sides discussed Russia-China relations and issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula in a warm, friendly mood,” the Russian Embassy said in a Facebook post, Thursday. The Chinese Embassy issued a similar statement, saying that the two envoys exchanged views on Sino-Russian relations, the Korean Peninsula and othe

Aug 13, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin

Envoys of Russia, China demonstrate close ties ahead of S. Korea-US-Japan summit

3-way summit at Camp David to 'institutionalize' security ties between Korea, US, Japan

Politics

State auditor to launch probe into problem-ridden Jamboree

Participants of the 25th World Scout Jamboree wave as they prepare to return to their home countries at Incheon International Airport, Sunday. YonhapMany Scouts explore Korean culture even after Jamboree endsBy Lee Hyo-jin The state audit agency is reviewing a plan to investigate the sloppy management of the 25th World Scout Jamboree starting as early as this week, after the 12-day gathering came to an end on Saturday.According to sources and multiple reports, the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) is preparing an investigation targeting related organizations including the Jamboree organizing committee, North Jeolla Provincial Government, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.Once launched, the probe is expected to encompass hundreds of government officials of the incumbent Yoon Suk Yeol and previous Moon Jae-in administrations. The major global event, which attracted over 43,000 participants from over 150 countries, had been prepared throughout the last six years since August 2017 when the reclaimed tidal flat of Saemangeum in North

Aug 13, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin

State auditor to launch probe into problem-ridden Jamboree

Scouts thank Hyundai Motor Group for support as they leave Korea

Defense

Last surviving independence fighter returns home from Japan

Oh Seong-gyu, the last surviving Korean independence fighter known to live in Japan, is escorted by Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-shik during a welcoming ceremony held at Gimpo International Airport, Sunday, marking the homecoming of the 100-year-old independence fighter. After undergoing a medical examination, Oh will attend a ceremony commemorating the 78th National Liberation Day on Tuesday. Yonhap

Aug 13, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin

Last surviving independence fighter returns home from Japan

Society

Lawmaker's request for BTS to perform at Jamboree K-pop concert outrages fans

BTS / Courtesy of WeverseBy Lee Hyo-jin A ruling party lawmaker's request to allow some BTS members now serving in the military to perform at a K-pop concert for the World Scout Jamboree has drawn a fierce backlash from fans.Rep. Sung Il-jong of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) insisted that the Ministry of National Defense cooperate in order to enable all members of the K-pop juggernaut to reunite for the concert to add Korea's cultural power to the Jamboree. But the boy band's fandom, known as ARMY, viewed the move as an abuse of government authority.“The Ministry of National Defense should support BTS to perform at the World Scout Jamboree to enhance the national status. The ministry should take proactive measures to ensure that participants can leave the country with positive memories,” the lawmaker wrote on Facebook, Tuesday. BTS members Jin and J-hope are currently serving their 18-month military duty. Suga has recently begun the enlistment process.ARMY, the group's global fandom, reacted furiously to the lawmaker's proposal. “We sternly oppose such an anti

Aug 9, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin

Lawmaker's request for BTS to perform at Jamboree K-pop concert outrages fans

Defense

Independence fighter and wife to be reunited posthumously

Images of Korean independence fighter Choi Jae-hyung, left, and his wife Elena Petrovna Choi restored by artificial intelligence technology / Courtesy of Ministry of Patriots and Veterans AffairsBy Lee Hyo-jin The remains of Korean independence fighter Choi Jae-hyung and his wife Elena Petrovna Choi will be reunited in Korea after being separated for over a century.The remains of the independence fighter's spouse were repatriated to Korea from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Tuesday, after more than 70 years following her passing in 1952, according to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Her remains will be temporarily laid to rest at Seoul National Cemetery until Monday.The ministry will bring soil from where the independence fighter is assumed to have died in the far eastern region of Ussuriysk, Russia, Friday. Choi was killed by the Imperial Japanese Army in April 7, 1920, but his remains have not been recovered.The soil and the remains of the independence fighter's wife will be interred together at an enshrining ceremony next Monday at Seoul National Cemetery, a day before Nationa

Aug 9, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin

Independence fighter and wife to be reunited posthumously

Society

What went wrong with Saemangeum Jamboree preparation?

Workers dismantle tents and other facilities installed for the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, Tuesday. All national delegations began evacuating the Jamboree venue earlier in the day due to the expected impact of Typhoon Khanun. YonhapEvent organizers face scrutiny over mishandling $89 million budget for JamboreeBy Lee Hyo-jin The ongoing World Scout Jamboree is a major global event the Korean government had been preparing for over six years with an allocated budget of 117.1 billion won ($89 million). Despite the astronomical budget for preparation, however, the Jamboree got off to a bumpy start. After approximately 40,000 young Scouts as well as adult volunteers arrived last week at the sunbaked campsite on the reclaimed tidal flat of Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, hundreds suffered from heat exhaustion. But the campsite lacked appropriate facilities and resources necessary to cope with the extreme conditions. Many participants were disappointed by the lack of shower rooms and toilets and the poor sanitary condition of those facilities. Some Scou

Aug 8, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin

What went wrong with Saemangeum Jamboree preparation?

Society

Jamboree participants to leave Saemangeum early due to Typhoon Khanun

Workers dismantle shade structures installed for the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, Monday. The World Organization of the Scout Movement announced that it received confirmation from the Korean government that an early departure will be planned for all participants due to the expected impact of Typhoon Khanun. YonhapTropical storm expected to make landfall on Thursday morningBy Lee Hyo-jin All participants of the World Scout Jamboree currently taking place in Saemangeum, a reclaimed tidal flat in North Jeolla Province, will leave the campsite for Seoul and its surrounding areas as Typhoon Khanun is expected to hit the nation on Thursday, the government announced, Monday.Beginning Tuesday morning, tens of thousands of young Scouts will be relocated to the greater Seoul area under an emergency contingency plan initiated in the wake of the rapidly-approaching typhoon.About 1,000 buses will be mobilized to transport some 36,000 participants from 156 countries. The Jamboree initially drew some 40,000 young Scouts from 159 nations, but the 1,500-member U.S.

Aug 7, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin

Lee Hyo-jin

Read more

INTERVIEW China opposes any action targeting Beijing at Camp David summit: envoy

ANALYSIS Pyongyang uses Travis King as tool to counter US criticisms of NK human rights issues

1919 vs 1948: Controversy rekindled over Korea's founding year

Envoys of Russia, China demonstrate close ties ahead of S. Korea-US-Japan summit

State auditor to launch probe into problem-ridden Jamboree

Last surviving independence fighter returns home from Japan

Lawmaker's request for BTS to perform at Jamboree K-pop concert outrages fans

Independence fighter and wife to be reunited posthumously

What went wrong with Saemangeum Jamboree preparation?

Jamboree participants to leave Saemangeum early due to Typhoon Khanun

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