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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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Politics

President addresses livelihood concerns as local elections near

President Lee Jae Myung, together with his chief of staff for policy Kim Yong-beom, is intensively addressing social and economic issues associated with strain on public livelihood, in what is seen as an effort to shape public opinion ahead of the June 3 local elections. The issues span higher borrowing rates tied to lower credit ratings — a burden that falls disproportionately on lower-income households — as well as phone scams and illegal private lending that tend to victimize the same groups. Lee said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Sunday, that borrowers are not obliged to repay “illegal lending that exceeds the legally permitted interest rate.” He also shared a news report on Friday saying the amount of financial damage from voice phishing had fallen by 45 percent. “It is truly a relief that such losses have decreased in such a short period of time," he said. Meanwhile, Kim published a series of three Facebook posts from Friday to Sunday, raising concerns about a structural disparity in which lower-income, lower-credit borrowers pay higher interest rates despite their gr

May 4, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
President addresses livelihood concerns as local elections near
Foreign Affairs

Korea weighs Hormuz mission options led by US, UK-France coalitions

Korea’s commitment to freedom of navigation at the Strait of Hormuz has become complicated as the United States has proposed a new initiative for this purpose, while Seoul remains engaged in separate talks for a coalition led by the United Kingdom and France. With President Lee Jae Myung promising Korea’s “practical contribution” to ensuring maritime security in the strait, the government is expected to weigh participation in the two separate initiatives by considering their diplomatic, economic and military impacts. A Ministry of National Defense official said Saturday that the government would “carefully review its position concerning the Maritime Freedom Construct (MFC),” referring to the new U.S. initiative announced last week to ensure safe passage of ships through the strait. A vital energy shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively blocked by Iran since the U.S.-Israel war against Iran began on Feb. 28. Around 70 percent of Korea’s imported crude oil passes through the strait. “We are taking into account relevant issues in a comprehensive manner, inc

May 3, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Korea weighs Hormuz mission options led by US, UK-France coalitions
Foreign Affairs

Diplomatic, trade burdens intensify as Coupang founder designated de facto controller

E-commerce giant Coupang is adding strain to Korea’s diplomatic and trade relations with the United States after its Korean American founder, Kim Bom-suk, was named the company’s legal controlling figure by Seoul’s antitrust watchdog, Wednesday. Kim’s inclusion on the Fair Trade Commission’s (FSC) list places him under more regulatory scrutiny, which analysts say could intensify debate over what some U.S. lawmakers have alleged amounts to “discriminatory regulatory action” against Coupang. Analysts also said the controversy could further disrupt security relations, with National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac acknowledging last week that the issue has gone beyond a mere business matter and has spilled over into security concerns. Wi referred to delayed negotiations on nuclear-powered submarines, including uranium enrichment and reprocessing. “The FTC’s watchlist has raised speculation that if Coupang's founder is named as the controlling figure, it could have a negative effect on free trade agreements,” a private economic think tank researcher, who asked to remain anony

Apr 29, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Diplomatic, trade burdens intensify as Coupang founder designated de facto controller
Politics

Presidential Security Service holds elite training for UAE agents in long-standing cooperation

The Presidential Security Service (PSS) recently conducted a commissioned training in Seoul for presidential security agents from the United Arab Emirates, the agency said Wednesday. The elite training was part of efforts to enhance high-level cooperation between the two countries in military, security, counterterrorism and special operations since 2010. The program took place at the PSS training institute in western Seoul, where 10 UAE agents tasked with presidential protection underwent a four-week course from March 30 to April 24. The course was customized to reflect the UAE’s requirements while incorporating Korea’s advanced protective service capabilities, according to the PSS. The first two weeks focused on security theory and basic skills, while the final two weeks covered advanced protection techniques and scenario-based response training. “We hope this training will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen security cooperation between our two countries,” PSS chief Hwang In-kwon said, noting that the UAE has been a key partner of Korea, with the two sides formally est

Apr 29, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Presidential Security Service holds elite training for UAE agents in long-standing cooperation
South Korea

Korea's top AI official quits for Assembly by-election, raising doubts over DPK candidate strategy

Ha Jung-woo, senior presidential secretary for AI (artificial intelligence) policy and future planning, confirmed his resignation Tuesday in what is widely seen as a prelude to a parliamentary by-election bid on June 3. The move drew criticism over the vacancy it will create at the top of the government's AI strategy and raised questions about whether the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) needed to recruit sitting presidential aides as candidates. The bid is regarded as suitable given Ha’s public-friendly profile, especially considering that the by-elections, scheduled to be held concurrently with the quadrennial local elections, have expanded to more than a dozen constituencies and include contested regions. However, some say the decision was inconsiderate, as Ha was appointed less than 10 months ago and the DPK has a broader pool of talent to draw from. Criticism is also emerging from within the ruling party, with one official saying, “Ha’s decision to run in a by-election is out of the blue, at a time when the government should be laying the groundwork to become a top-thre

Apr 28, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Korea's top AI official quits for Assembly by-election, raising doubts over DPK candidate strategy
Politics

Google to open AI campus in Korea

Google will open an artificial intelligence (AI) campus in Korea within this year in line with the Korean government’s expanded cooperation with global AI companies, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official said Monday. Kim Yong-beom, presidential chief of staff for policy, said the envisioned campus is anticipated to facilitate Google's cooperation with startups and researchers in Korea. It will be the first in the world outside the United Kingdom, where its AI research lab Google DeepMind is headquartered. Kim said Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, disclosed the plan during his meeting with President Lee Jae Myung at Cheong Wa Dae. "Hassabis agreed to actively consider dispatching Google researchers to Korea," Kim said. "The CEO instantly accepted our request to send at least 10." The meeting came as Korea strives to become one of the world’s top three AI powerhouses, alongside the United States and China. Lee and Hassabis discussed a range of cooperative measures, such as advancing the country's AI ecosystem and promoting the responsible use of related technologies. The

Apr 27, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Google to open AI campus in Korea
Foreign Affairs

Korea, US hold 'different views' on unification minister's NK nuclear facility remarks: national security adviser

HANOI — South Korea and the U.S. have different views on Unification Minister Chung Dong-young’s remarks on North Korea’s nuclear facilities, which Washington sees as a “leak” of shared intelligence, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Thursday. He also recognized that the issue involving Coupang, resulting from Korea's investigation into a massive data breach and some American policymakers' claim of Korea's “discriminatory” treatment against the U.S.-headquartered company, has expanded to affect security discussions between the two nations. “There is a difference in understanding the issue [intelligence on North Korean facilities],” Wi said in a press briefing in Hanoi during President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Vietnam. “Minister Chung says his remarks are unrelated to intelligence shared by the U.S. as he has never obtained the shared information but talked about the facilities after learning about them from open sources. But the U.S. seems to believe Chung learned about it from the intelligence it shared with Korea.” Chung publicly identified the c

Apr 24, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Korea, US hold 'different views' on unification minister's NK nuclear facility remarks: national security adviser
Foreign Affairs

First ladies of Korea, Vietnam engage in friendly exchange

HANOI — The first ladies of Korea and Vietnam had a friendly exchange in Hanoi, Thursday, exploring shared cultural ties between the two countries during President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to the Southeast Asian country. Kim Hea Kyung, the wife of President Lee Jae Myung, and Ngo Phuong Ly, the wife of Vietnam’s top leader To Lam, discussed similarities in weaving, rice farming and bedding as they toured the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, with the conversation often turning to the global popularity of K-pop and other Korean culture. Kim wore an "ao dai," a traditional Vietnamese dress that the Vietnamese first lady gave as a present, Wednesday. The two first ladies visited a traditional weaving loom, with Kim pointing out similarities in textile traditions by noting that the Korean equivalent also uses the interlacing of threads to make fabric. As for the farming exhibits, Kim said Korea produces a lot of rice, as Vietnam does. She added, “We also use plows in Korea that are pulled by cattle,” and knelt down to take a closer look at the exhibits. She asked if she could touch th

Apr 23, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
First ladies of Korea, Vietnam engage in friendly exchange
Foreign Affairs

President calls for new 'Miracle on Red River' as Seoul-Hanoi partnership expands

HANOI — President Lee Jae Myung met with Vietnam’s second- and third-highest ranked political leaders in Hanoi, Thursday, completing a full round of meetings with the Southeast Asian country’s collective leadership in his first state visit there. The president held separate talks with Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, a day after his bilateral summit with President To Lam, who concurrently serves as general secretary of the ruling Communist Party. The engagements reflect the breadth of a partnership that has grown dramatically since diplomatic ties were established in 1992 across a range of sectors, such as politics, economy, commerce, technology, culture and people-to-people exchanges. Bilateral trade has since increased 190-fold, while people-to-people exchanges have grown 2,400-fold. Vietnam is now Korea's third-largest trading partner, while Korea remains Vietnam's largest foreign investor. Vietnam recorded an economic growth rate of 8.02 percent in 2025, its highest in 15 years. In this regard, Lee said Vietnam’s success is also Korea

Apr 23, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
President calls for new 'Miracle on Red River' as Seoul-Hanoi partnership expands
Foreign Affairs

Leaders agree on Korea's export of heat-treated poultry meat to Vietnam

HANOI — Korea will be able to export heat-treated poultry meat to Vietnam, as leaders of the two nations agreed on it during their summit in Hanoi, Wednesday, as part of efforts to increase bilateral trade volume. The agreement, reached between President Lee Jae Myung and Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary To Lam, suggests that samgyetang (traditional Korean ginseng chicken soup) and frozen fried chicken will be sold ready-made in Vietnam amid the global popularity of Korean culinary culture. This was part of other measures of collaboration discussed during the summit, addressing various sectors including medical devices, railways, artificial intelligence (AI), secondary batteries, intellectual property and cultural content. “The two countries agreed on the mutual exports of heat-treated poultry products,” Lee said in a joint statement announced after the summit. In September 2025, Korea allowed imports of such products from Vietnam. “We will accelerate cooperation to expand agricultural and livestock trade,” the president added, noting such cooperation will be based

Apr 22, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Leaders agree on Korea's export of heat-treated poultry meat to Vietnam
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