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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

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
Foreign Affairs

President shares video alleging Israeli soldiers abused Palestinian child

President Lee Jae Myung shared a video on social media, Friday, alleging that Israeli soldiers abused a Palestinian child and then threw him off a rooftop. He wrote, “We need to verify whether this is true, and if so, what actions were taken. There is no difference between this and the Japanese wartime sexual slavery issue we raise, the massacre of Jews, or wartime killings.” Lee made the remark on X, formerly Twitter, while sharing a video uploaded by an account named Jvnior, a Palestinian content creator who shares information about the situation on the ground in Gaza and calls for international attention. The account has about 152,000 followers. The 20-second-long video garnered 428,000 views as of 10:30 a.m. Friday. In the post reposted by Lee, Jvnior wrote, “IDF soldiers tortured a Palestinian kid and threw him off a roof. They call themselves ‘the most moral army.’” However, some viewers said the video may have been filmed in September 2024, prior to the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran this year. Lee later confirmed the context, adding that the footage shows a rea

Apr 10, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
President shares video alleging Israeli soldiers abused Palestinian child
Foreign Affairs

Trump may accelerate strategic flexibility push for USFK over ally dissatisfaction: Seoul analyst

U.S. President Donald Trump may increase his push for strategic flexibility for U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) in response to his growing dissatisfaction with allies, including South Korea, in the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, a security analyst in Seoul said Thursday. Strategic flexibility refers to the ability to redeploy forces stationed in one country to other regions with agility to respond to global contingencies. The analyst’s projection came after a Wall Street Journal report, Wednesday, that Trump threatened to pull out American troops from NATO member nations that were "unhelpful" during the conflict with Iran before reaching a conditional ceasefire agreement, Tuesday. His administration may consider deploying the troops to other countries that were more supportive, it reported. Trump has been using U.S. military forces stationed abroad to exert pressure on countries he is dissatisfied with. Not only NATO members but also South Korea and Japan have been repeatedly mentioned in Trump’s speeches as allies that were not helpful despite U.S. protection from challenges including North Kore

Apr 9, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Trump may accelerate strategic flexibility push for USFK over ally dissatisfaction: Seoul analyst
Foreign Affairs

Seoul races to resume transit of ships stranded in Hormuz amid US-Iran ceasefire

The government is verifying whether and when 26 ships linked to Korean companies, currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, can resume transit following a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, according to Cheong Wa Dae and relevant ministries, Wednesday. Even though both sides have said that safe passage through the strait would be possible during the two-week ceasefire, it remains unclear whether the strait will reopen immediately and exactly what conditions Iran requires for passage. A total of 26 ships linked to Korean businesses remain stranded. They consist of 11 oil tankers — seven foreign-flagged vessels carrying oil to Korea and four Korean-flagged ships bound for other countries — and 15 other ships, including bulk freighters and vehicle transporters. “We are closely monitoring the specific procedures and conditions for passage through ongoing communications with relevant countries, as Iran said it would allow passage in coordination with its armed forces and with consideration of technical limitations,” a Cheong Wa Dae official said. The official said the gov

Apr 8, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Seoul races to resume transit of ships stranded in Hormuz amid US-Iran ceasefire
Foreign Affairs

S. Korea, Japan must step up cooperation as US divides focus between Pacific, Middle East: ex-Japanese PM

South Korea and Japan need to strengthen their bilateral security cooperation as the United States' attention remains diverted by its war in the Middle East, former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Wednesday. Speaking at Asan Plenum 2026 in Seoul, Ishiba also said the two East Asian neighbors should take the lead on discussions at the United Nations about the oil supply disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz as part of security measures based on U.N. resolutions. “Amid an increasingly severe security environment in the Western Pacific, the U.S. continues to face a situation in which it must divide its attention and resources with the Middle East,” Ishiba said at the forum hosted by the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. The former Japanese prime minister was a keynote speaker at the gathering, which explored new directions for the U.S.-led alliance, under the theme “Modernizing Alliances.” He described the security environment in the Western Pacific — which includes countries in East Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania — as “increasingly tense,” pointing to the sight

Apr 8, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
S. Korea, Japan must step up cooperation as US divides focus between Pacific, Middle East: ex-Japanese PM
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