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Yi Whan-woo

Korea Times Politics & City Reporter

Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.

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Foreign Affairs

President says Korea-India relations will enter 'entirely new level' after summit

NEW DELHI — President Lee Jae Myung said Sunday that Korea and India are expected to take their relations to “an entirely new level” at a planned bilateral summit, adding that ties have lagged despite India’s growth potential. Speaking before members of the Korean community in India, Lee expressed hope that they can serve as “invaluable assets” in strengthening bilateral ties. “The level of cooperation between Korea and India is quite low compared to India’s vast potential, and Indian authorities agree with this assessment,” Lee said as he met the community members on the first day of his state visit to India from Sunday to Tuesday. “I believe that tomorrow’s summit could become a turning point, elevating Korea–India relations to an entirely new level,” the president said. Lee’s remarks came a day before a scheduled summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India, which has the world’s largest population of 1.4 billion, is the fourth-largest economy globally and continues to post robust annual growth of over 6 percent. India is also no longer just a co

Apr 20, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
President says Korea-India relations will enter 'entirely new level' after summit
Politics

Lee appeals to conservatives via luncheon with ex-Daegu mayor

President Lee Jae Myung appears to be broadening his appeal to conservative voters ahead of the June 3 local elections, recently hosting a luncheon with Hong Joon-pyo, a key conservative politician. Hong has been a high-profile, right-leaning politician, most recently serving as the mayor of Daegu, a longstanding conservative stronghold, from July 2022 to April 2025. Cheong Wa Dae described the luncheon on Friday as being held “in the interest of national unity,” referring to a deepening political divide between conservatives and liberals. Nevertheless, political sources reckon that the meeting carries broader implications, considering Hong left the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) last year. With just over 40 days remaining until the local elections, Hong also publicly endorsed former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea’s candidate for Daegu mayor. “Under the circumstances, Friday’s luncheon clearly signals Lee's intent to expand toward centrist and conservative voters,” Park Sang-byung, a political commentator, said Sunday. Shin Yul, a po

Apr 19, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Lee appeals to conservatives via luncheon with ex-Daegu mayor
Foreign Affairs

President expected to attend multilateral online summit on Hormuz Friday

President Lee Jae Myung is expected to attend an online multilateral summit jointly led by the United Kingdom and France, Friday, to discuss ensuring free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official said, Thursday. The official said the summit will take the form of a video conference, with participating leaders likely to discuss the global energy supply chain, international solidarity and other security issues related to the Middle East amid the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, which began in late February. The meeting will take place amid disruptions to the global energy supply caused by Iran’s blockade of the strait, one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints through which 70 percent of Korea's imported crude oil is transported. “A multilateral summit jointly hosted by the U.K. and France is being planned, and our president is currently considering attendance positively,” the official said. “Freedom of navigation and security are in everyone’s interest, and the president is expected to share his views with leaders of the countries that hold simila

Apr 16, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
President expected to attend multilateral online summit on Hormuz Friday
Politics

Why president keeps showing up at theaters after work

President Lee Jae Myung has stepped up his attendance at cultural events after working hours, in what is seen as an effort to communicate his policies and values to the public in a less formal setting. The outings mostly fall on Wednesdays, coinciding with the expansion of the Culture Day initiative. Previously limited to the last Wednesday of each month, it now occurs every Wednesday under the Lee administration, offering free or discounted entry, special programming or longer operating hours at thousands of cultural venues across the country. Lee attended “The King’s Warden,” a melodrama inspired by the story of King Danjong’s exile and the biggest box office hit in years, on Feb. 17 during the Lunar New Year holiday; “The Long, Long Night,” a musical adapted from a beloved Korean children’s book, on March 18; and “My Name,” an independent film addressing the trauma of the Jeju April 3 Uprising, one of the most painful episodes in Korea’s modern history, on Wednesday. At these outings, Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung have kept a low profile, while occasionally sto

Apr 16, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Why president keeps showing up at theaters after work
Foreign Affairs

Korea-Israel ties intact despite stir over president's message: FM

The relations between Korea and Israel remain intact, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said, Wednesday, in response to diplomatic concerns over President Lee Jae Myung’s social media post that Israel perceived as trivializing the Holocaust. “We have closely communicated with the Israeli side, which has understood our position. No further statements from Israel have followed (concerning the president’s message),” Cho said during an interpellation session at the National Assembly in Seoul. Citing a report from Korean Ambassador to Israel Park In-ho, the foreign minister also said that a high-ranking Israeli official “expressed gratitude for the explanation provided by the Korean side” during a meeting attended by Park. The foreign minister's remarks followed a controversy which started on Friday when the president shared a social media post with a video appearing to show Israeli soldiers abusing a young Palestinian. Lee compared the act to the Holocaust, as well as Japan's wartime sex slavery of Korean women, in an implicit reference to Israel’s alleged violations of human rights an

Apr 15, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Korea-Israel ties intact despite stir over president's message: FM
Foreign Affairs

President underscores human rights amid controversy over Holocaust remark

President Lee Jae Myung stressed the importance of universal human rights while speaking about the war in the Middle East Tuesday, amid a controversy over his social media post that Israel perceived as trivializing the Holocaust. His reiteration comes as the controversy continues, drawing strong backlash from Israel and criticism from the opposition bloc, which described his post as “a diplomatic blunder” that goes against “national interest.” In a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Lee said, “I urge the countries involved in (the Middle East) war to take courageous steps toward peace that the world so earnestly desires, based on the principles of universal human rights protection and the lessons of history.” Lee did not refer to Israel at all, instead framing his remarks in reference to the economic fallout for Korea from the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, with peace talks breaking off last weekend. His comments follow the controversy, which started on Friday when he shared a social media post with a video appearing to show Israeli soldiers abusing a young Palestinian. He

Apr 14, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
President underscores human rights amid controversy over Holocaust remark
Foreign Affairs

Korean community in Israel concerned about diplomatic unease over president's social media post

Members of the Korean community in Israel expressed concerns about a potential backlash against them following a social media post by President Lee Jae Myung that drew sharp criticism from Israel. Lee Kang-geun, head of the Korean Association in Israel, posted on Facebook, Saturday, that the president’s remarks are “heating up public attention,” saying, “Has he considered the disapproving attention that Koreans living in Israel will have to endure because of this action?” The controversy stems from a post Lee made Friday on X, formerly Twitter, addressing alleged global concerns over human rights violations and breaches of international law by Israel amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. In the post, Lee wrote, “There is no difference between this and the Japanese wartime sex slavery issue we raise, the massacre of Jews or wartime killings,” drawing comparisons to historical atrocities. But it drew strong condemnation from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Lee also reposted disputed footage from September 2024 allegedly showing Israeli soldiers throwing a you

Apr 13, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Korean community in Israel concerned about diplomatic unease over president's social media post
  • President shares video alleging Israeli soldiers abused Palestinian child
Foreign Affairs

Korea, Poland to strengthen cooperation on supply chain stability, defense

The leaders of Korea and Poland agreed to bolster cooperation in supply chains in an increasingly turbulent international environment driven by tensions in the Middle East, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday. The two nations will also deepen cooperation in defense, which has been a key pillar of bilateral ties in recent years, while expanding collaboration into new areas such as infrastructure and science and technology. President Lee Jae Myung and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced these agreements after their summit in Seoul. It was the first visit by a Polish prime minister to Korea in 27 years. “We, as comprehensive strategic partners, agreed to strengthen communication in the face of increasing uncertainty in the global economic and security environment,” Lee said in a joint press statement. The president underscored the elevation of Korea-Poland ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, which was also agreed upon during their summit. Lee noted that he and Tusk agreed that security on the Korean Peninsula and in Europe is closely interlinked. “The two countries agreed to w

Apr 13, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Korea, Poland to strengthen cooperation on supply chain stability, defense
Foreign Affairs

Korea-Israel ties unlikely to face serious strain over Lee's social media message: analysts

Korea and Israel are expected to clear up misunderstandings and settle diplomatic unease following President Lee Jae Myung’s social media post perceived by Israel as a trivialization of the Jewish Holocaust during World War II, according to analysts, Sunday. The analysts brushed aside concerns over bilateral ties in the wake of Lee’s message posted Friday, intended to address global concerns about Israel’s alleged violations of human rights and international law amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East . The post read, “There is no difference between this and the Japanese wartime sex slavery issue we raise, the massacre of Jews or wartime killings.” It drew strong condemnation from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs the next day, apparently offended by Lee's reposting of disputed footage from September 2024 allegedly showing Israeli soldiers abusing a Palestinian child and throwing him off a rooftop. The message was uploaded just days before Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, which falls from Monday to Tuesday this year. Lee clarified the context behind upload

Apr 12, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Korea-Israel ties unlikely to face serious strain over Lee's social media message: analysts
Foreign Affairs

Shipping through Hormuz still uncertain despite ceasefire, top security adviser says

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is not proceeding smoothly despite a conditional ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Iran, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said, Friday. “Supply chain uncertainty is expected to continue for the time being,” Wi added during a press briefing. Wi noted that the number of vessels passing the vital waterway — one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints and a focal point during the U.S.-Israel war on Iran — does not appear to have increased significantly compared to during the war. “Not many ships are attempting to pass through right away, and the overall atmosphere is one of watching how the situation develops and responding accordingly,” he said. Meanwhile, three supertankers — one Liberia-flagged and two China-flagged — passed through the strait, Saturday, according to Reuters. The passage marked what appeared to be the first vessels to sail out of the area since the ceasefire deal on Tuesday and following peace talks that began Saturday, Reuters reported. About 70 percent of Korea's imported crude oi

Apr 10, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Shipping through Hormuz still uncertain despite ceasefire, top security adviser says
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