my timesThe Korea Times
lhj

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.

Go to Email

Read more

Foreign Affairs

Kishida's visit faces protests from civic groups

Members of a liberal student group hold a rally in front of the presidential office in Yongsan District, Seoul, Sunday, denouncing the summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held later in the day. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to Korea was met by strong protests from local civic groups, Sunday, who demanded Tokyo offer a sincere apology over its wartime atrocities.The plane carrying Kishida landed at Seoul Airport at around noon for a summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol later in the day, marking the first bilateral visit by a Japanese leader to Korea in 12 years.On the same day, a coalition of anti-Japanese civic groups and students' groups held multiple rallies in front of the presidential office in Yongsan District, central Seoul, denouncing Yoon and Kishida for holding the summit without Japan's sincere regret over its colonization of Korea and resulting aggressions experienced by the Korean people.The civic activists called on Kishida to offer a direct apology for Japan's wartime crimes including force

May 7, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Kishida's visit faces protests from civic groups
Foreign Affairs

Seoul, Incheon at loggerheads over agency for overseas Koreans

Residents of Incheon hold a rally in front of Incheon City Hall, calling on the government to launch the new Overseas Korean Agency in the port city, March 6. NewsisBy Lee Hyo-jin With only one month left ahead of the launch of a new government agency for overseas Koreans, all eyes are on where the organization will be established. While various local municipalities have expressed hopes to host the new state-run agency in their region, the race is now narrowed down to the final two candidates ― Seoul and Incheon. Members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and Foreign Minister Park Jin held a meeting on Thursday, for final discussions before an official announcement. “We will select a city based on the discussions made during today's meeting, and then make the announcement as soon as possible after reviewing it with related organizations,” a ministry official told The Korea Times, without providing further details on the exact timeline.He denied that the ministry is endorsing either city, saying that the decision will be made based on various factors including accessib

May 4, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Seoul, Incheon at loggerheads over agency for overseas Koreans
Foreign Affairs

Kishida urged to show reciprocity in forced labor compensation

Participants of a weekly Wednesday rally protesting Japan's wartime sexual slavery of Korean women hold placards criticizing the Yoon Suk Yeol government for its compensation plan for Korean forced labor victims in Jongno District, Seoul, March 8. Korea Times photo by Ha Sang-yoonJapanese PM unlikely to address historical issues during summit with Yoon: expertsBy Lee Hyo-jin Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida should show reciprocal steps in response to Seoul's efforts to compensate Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor, according to analysts, who pointed out that the Korean public will keenly watch his remarks on the issue in the upcoming summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol.But at the same time, the experts were skeptical whether the Japanese leader would directly address Japan's wartime atrocities during the meeting as the two nations are expected to focus on bolstering bilateral ties in the fields of security and the economy.The Yoon government has been stressing the importance of bolstering future-oriented cooperation with the neighboring country, especially in address

May 3, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Kishida urged to show reciprocity in forced labor compensation
Defense

Cheonghae Unit deploys to Somali waters

Family members wave as the 3,200-ton Gwanggaeto the Great destroyer carrying the 40th rotation of the Cheonghae Unit departs a naval base in Busan, Wednesday. The newly deployed troops will be dispatched to the Gulf of Aden for an anti-piracy mission and other maritime security operations through November. Yonhap

May 3, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Cheonghae Unit deploys to Somali waters
Foreign Affairs

Trilateral cooperation between Seoul, Washington, Tokyo in full swing

This compilation image shows President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. YonhapKishida to arrive in Seoul on Sunday for summit with YoonBy Lee Hyo-jinTrilateral cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan in the security realm is picking up momentum as the three nations team up against shared threats from North Korea's evolving nuclear programs and, furthermore, China.Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to visit Seoul for a summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol, Sunday, according to Yoon's office, Tuesday, and the two leaders are supposed to meet again in a three-way summit with U.S. President Joe Biden later this month in Hiroshima, Japan, on the sidelines of a G7 Summit there. According to foreign media reports, Monday, a senior U.S. official confirmed that Biden will hold a trilateral summit with Yoon and Kishida during his visit to Hiroshima for the G7 Summit slated for May 19 to 21. The Korean president has been invited to the G7 gathering by the Japanese prime minister. It will be the first three-way

May 2, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Trilateral cooperation between Seoul, Washington, Tokyo in full swing
Foreign Affairs

Ukraine renews call for lethal aid from Korea

Rescuers search for survivors in the rubble next to a damaged residential building in Uman, south of Kyiv, April 28, after Russian missile strikes targeted several Ukrainian cities overnight. AP-YonhapNew calls follow Yoon's remark on Seoul's potential expanded supportBy Lee Hyo-jin Ukraine is renewing calls for Korea to extend its provision of aid to include lethal weaponry to counter Russian attacks after President Yoon Suk Yeol, in a recent interview, opened the possibility of such aid to Kyiv under certain conditions.Ambassador to Korea Dmitry Ponomarenko shared photos of ruined apartment buildings on his Twitter account, April 28, after the Russian forces launched a missile attack on a residential block in the city of Uman, Cherkasy region. A barrage of long-range cruise missile strikes on the residential building killed at least 25 people ― including four children ― and injured dozens more, according to Ukrainian officials. “Isn't this the very example of 'large-scale attack on civilians' the Korean leader had mentioned earlier?” Ponomarenko wrote, noting that the R

May 1, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Ukraine renews call for lethal aid from Korea
  • First vice FM to visit Russia soon amid tensions over Ukraine: sources
Foreign Affairs

ANALYSIS Is Yoon-Biden summit a win-win for both S. Korea, US?

President Yoon Suk Yeol listens as U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a joint press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., Wednesday (local time). Reuters-YonhapExperts divided over outcomes of summit to mark 70th anniversary of alliance By Lee Hyo-jin The summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden ended on a high note, with the two leaders vowing to deepen the bilateral partnership in multiple areas including security and the economy. However, diplomatic observers had differing assessments of the detailed outcomes of the meeting. While some hailed the success of the win-win negotiation, others expressed regrets that Seoul made too many concessions in return for Washington's strengthened nuclear umbrella.Yoon is currently on a state visit to Washington marking the 70th anniversary of the bilateral alliance. The six-day visit included a summit between the two leaders on Wednesday (local time), as well as a slew of ceremonies commemorating the seven decades of bilateral ties.Ahn Ho-young, a former South Korean ambassador to th

Apr 28, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
[ANALYSIS] Is Yoon-Biden summit a win-win for both S. Korea, US?
  • PHOTOS Yoon receives standing ovation at US Congress
  • China disturbed by S. Korea-US nuclear weapon agreement: experts
  • Biden says US-Korea alliance born out of shared beliefs
Foreign Affairs

China disturbed by S. Korea-US nuclear weapon agreement: experts

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with U.S. President Joe Biden after a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House, Washington, D.C., Wednesday (local time). AP-YonhapSeoul indirectly supports Washington's efforts to contain BeijingBy Lee Hyo-jin A new agreement between Seoul and Washington to deploy U.S. nuclear-armed submarines to South Korea is a worrisome development for China, according to analysts, who see the agreement as an indication of South Korea's indirect support for America's strategy to contain China.Under the new Washington Declaration signed by President Yoon and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden on Wednesday (local time), the U.S. pledged stronger extended deterrence to protect its ally from North Korea's intensifying nuclear threats.Through this declaration, the U.S. is poised to send a ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) capable of launching nuclear weapons to Korean waters, for the first time in 40 years, reflecting its effort to further enhance the regular visibility of its strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula. On the following day, the U.S.

Apr 28, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
China disturbed by S. Korea-US nuclear weapon agreement: experts
  • ANALYSIS Is Yoon-Biden summit a win-win for both S. Korea, US?
Foreign Affairs

ANALYSIS Washington Declaration means US' rejection of nuclear-armed S. Korea

President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden toast during a state dinner held at the White House in Washington, D.C. Wednesday (local time). YonhapPublic calls for Seoul to go nuclear expected to continue despite enhanced security pledge from US: expertsBy Lee Hyo-jin The United States' pledge on strengthened extended deterrence seems insufficient to quell growing skepticism among South Koreans about the U.S. nuclear umbrella, according to local analysts, who expect to see continued public calls for Seoul to acquire its own nuclear arsenal.After a summit held at the White House on Wednesday (local time), President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden released the Washington Declaration, which highlights Washington's enhanced commitment on its extended deterrence offered to South Korea against North Korea's evolving nuclear threats.Under the agreement, Biden promised an array of security measures including regular deployment of nuclear submarines to South Korea ― for the first time in more than 40 years. The two nations will also enhance information-sharing of U.S. nucle

Apr 27, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
[ANALYSIS] Washington Declaration means US' rejection of nuclear-armed S. Korea
  • Text of Washington Declaration
  • Yoon, Biden vow nuclear response against NK nuke attack
  • Washington Declaration will help deter NK threat but not 'nuclear sharing' agreement: US official
Foreign Affairs

Yoon downplays surveillance scandal ahead of summit with Biden

President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden pay tribute at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., Tuesday (local time). YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin President Yoon Suk Yeol said the U.S. government's alleged surveillance of his senior officials will not shake the ironclad trust between the two nations, downplaying the spying scandal ahead of his summit with U.S. President Joe Biden.“I believe that this matter is no reason to shake the ironclad trust that supports the U.S.-South Korea alliance, because it is based on shared values like freedom,” Yoon was quoted as saying in an interview with NBC released on Wednesday, when asked about recent allegations that the Pentagon spied on South Korean officials.In response to a straightforward question by the anchor asking, “Do friends spy on friends?” the president replied, “Generally speaking, I don't think that in the real world, it is something that is prohibited in state affairs,” defending Washington's apparent spying on its ally.He added, “The most important thing is trust.

Apr 26, 2023By Lee Hyo-jin
Yoon downplays surveillance scandal ahead of summit with Biden
  • Yoon awards top military medals to Korean War heroes
  • Yoon, Biden pay respects at Korean War memorial
  • Yoon, Biden adopt statement on identification of fallen US soldier
previous page
9394959697
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.