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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

Trump's Coupang stock trades raise conflict-of-interest questions amid diplomatic dispute

U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly traded shares of Coupang Inc. through an asset management firm after beginning his second term, according to U.S. financial disclosure reports, raising questions over a potential conflict of interest in the company that has become a source of diplomatic unease between Korea and the United States. The reports, filed with the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and released in May and again this month, show that Trump traded Coupang Inc. shares 18 times between October 2025 and May this year through two investment accounts. Trump is estimated to still hold up to $130,000 worth of common stock in U.S.-listed Coupang Inc., although it accounts for a relatively minor portion of his overall investment portfolio. Several senior foreign policy and trade officials in the Trump administration were also found to have received compensation from the company for speaking engagements, advisory work or consulting services before taking office, although they did not trade Coupang Inc. shares as Trump did. Among them were U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who r

Jul 5, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Trump's Coupang stock trades raise conflict-of-interest questions amid diplomatic dispute
Foreign Affairs

Korea's Coupang probe not discriminatory: presidential office

Cheong Wa Dae on Friday rejected a U.S. Congress report that accused Korea of discriminating against the U.S.-listed e-commerce giant Coupang during its investigation into a massive personal data breach. “Korea does not discriminate against corporate activities based on nationality or single out specific companies for investigation,” National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said in a press briefing. His remarks came after the U.S. House Judiciary Committee issued a report earlier this week criticizing the Seoul government for “discriminatory attacks” against Coupang. A White House official also argued that Coupang is being "singled out" by the Lee Jae Myung administration, when asked by a Korean media outlet for comment on the report. The 35-page report followed Korean authorities' investigations into Coupang's personal data leak, which is believed to have exposed the personal information of more than 33 million customers. “The report’s claims that the investigation is discriminatory, targeted or the result of unfair regulation are far from the facts,” Wi said. “It appears th

Jul 3, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Korea's Coupang probe not discriminatory: presidential office
Foreign Affairs

President to embark on trip to NATO summit, Mongolia

President Lee Jae Myung will embark on a five-day, two-leg overseas trip next week, attending the NATO summit in Turkey before making a state visit to Mongolia, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday. It said Lee will travel to Ankara from July 7 to 8 to attend the NATO summit at the invitation of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, followed by a three-day state visit to Mongolia from July 9 to 11 at the invitation of President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh. The NATO summit will mark Lee's second major multilateral gathering in less than a month, following his attendance at the G7 summit in France, reflecting his administration's efforts to broaden Korea's diplomatic engagement. The summit also reflects the Lee government’s push to expand defense exports and deepen strategic partnerships beyond traditional allies. "The trip will further expand Korea's diplomatic outreach and, in particular, marks the beginning of a full-scale effort to strengthen defense industry cooperation with NATO allies." National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac during a press briefing. He noted 32 NATO allies collectively account for 55

Jul 3, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
President to embark on trip to NATO summit, Mongolia
Politics

Lee proposes golf meeting with opposition lawmakers: PPP officials

President Lee Jae Myung has proposed a golf meeting with senior lawmakers from the People Power Party (PPP) as part of an effort to improve communication with the opposition, PPP officials said Thursday. They said a senior presidential official called three-term PPP lawmaker Shin Sung-bum in mid-June and invited him to join the president for a round of golf. The official said the meeting was intended to give Lee an opportunity to hear candid views and criticism from opposition lawmakers. The presidential office did not confirm the report. Shin, nevertheless, said, "I received a call from a senior Cheong Wa Dae official inviting me to play golf with the president." "The official said the purpose was for the president to meet opposition lawmakers and listen to their criticism," the lawmaker added. Shin said he declined the invitation because he does not play golf, but welcomed the idea. He added that he told the presidential official it would be worthwhile for the president to meet opposition lawmakers and hear their views on pending issues, including concerns over the government's handling

Jul 2, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Lee proposes golf meeting with opposition lawmakers: PPP officials
Politics

New PM vows to fast-track Korea's AI push on 1st day in office

Newly appointed Prime Minister Han Seong-sook on Wednesday vowed to help the government accelerate its push for artificial intelligence (AI) transformation to ensure Korea takes the lead in the rapidly evolving AI era. "Korea is no longer simply catching up in an era of sweeping transformation but is instead emerging as a country that leads such transformation,” Han told reporters on her first day in office after the National Assembly endorsed her appointment late Tuesday. She made the remarks while referring to the government's recent announcement of three megaprojects focused on semiconductors, AI and AI data centers to meet surging global demand for AI. The announcement was led by President Lee Jae Myung, reflecting his administration’s sense of urgency to position Korea at the forefront of the AI era. "The government must move more quickly to ensure necessary policies are implemented in a timely manner," Han said. The prime minister went on to say that “we will make bolder investments in AI and advanced industries while actively pursuing regulatory reform to remove barriers to i

Jul 1, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
New PM vows to fast-track Korea's AI push on 1st day in office
Politics

Soon-to-be PM Han carries high expectation for AI transformation

Han Seong-sook, Korea’s soon-to-be prime minister, arrives at the post with high expectations that she will leverage her technological expertise to help accelerate the country's artificial intelligence (AI) transformation. The parliamentary confirmation hearing committee approved a report, Tuesday, clearing Han as qualified for the post, with the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leading the approval after she was nominated on June 7. Han is now just one step away from officially taking office, with her appointment to be finalized once the National Assembly approves the confirmation motion at a plenary session. The process leading to Han’s likely appointment comes as President Lee Jae Myung pushes to position Korea among the world's top three AI powers, alongside the United States and China. The blueprint has become increasingly concrete since Lee outlined the vision last year, with initiatives such as the government's allocation of a record 9.9 trillion won ($6.3 billion) for AI this year and public-private plans to build four new semiconductor plants in southwestern Korea to m

Jun 30, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Soon-to-be PM Han carries high expectation for AI transformation
South Korea

Samsung, SK hynix pledge $519 bil. for southwestern chip hub

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix will invest 800 trillion won ($519 billion) to establish a semiconductor complex in the country's southwestern region, as part of government-private sector plans to strengthen Korea's position as one of the world's leading semiconductor powerhouses amid a boom in artificial intelligence (AI) industries. SK Group, GS Group and Naver will also spend 550 trillion won to set up AI data centers to increase the total capacity to 18.4 gigawatts by 2035. The government, Samsung Electronics, SK Group and other large businesses announced the massive investment plans Monday, as part of the government's three flagship megaprojects focusing on semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers, designed to meet surging demand for AI infrastructure as the technology reshapes the global industrial landscape. The projects are also intended to promote high-tech investment across the country's southwestern, central and southeastern regions as part of a broader push for balanced regional development, while relevant plants and infrastructure are currently concentrated around t

Jun 29, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Samsung, SK hynix pledge $519 bil. for southwestern chip hub
Society

PHOTO Beach welcomes summer visitors

Beachgoers cool off at Haeundae Beach in Busan, Sunday, the first weekend after the beach officially opened Friday for the summer season. Other beaches in the city and those in other parts of the country will gradually start official operations over the coming week. Hot weather is expected to continue throughout the week, with midday highs in Seoul and western parts of the country forecast to surpass 30 degrees Celsius. Newsis

Jun 28, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
[PHOTO] Beach welcomes summer visitors
Politics

Nvidia CEO's daughter thanks Seoul police for crowd management during Korea visit

The daughter of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has thanked Seoul police in an email for safely managing unexpectedly large crowds during her father's visit to Korea earlier this month, according to the police, Sunday. It said Madison Huang, senior director of product marketing for Nvidia Omniverse and Robotics, emailed the chief of the public safety intelligence division at Mapo Police Station to thank the officers who coordinated crowd control throughout her father's stay in Korea from June 5-9. Mapo Police Station oversaw public safety during Jensen’s visit to Hongdae, a bustling neighborhood in Seoul's Mapo District, where he visited an internet gaming cafe and later attended a widely publicized dinner with Korean business leaders. Madison accompanied her father on the trip, along with other Nvidia representatives. In the email, she expressed the family's gratitude for "the way the Seoul police managed our visit.” She also praised officers for providing "excellent technical assistance" despite larger-than-expected crowds and thanked them for their close cooperation with the family's secur

Jun 28, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Nvidia CEO's daughter thanks Seoul police for crowd management during Korea visit
Defense

EXPLAINER What Lee Jae Myung's selective enlistment plan means for Korea's shrinking military

Korea has one of the lowest birthrates in the world and a mandatory military service requirement that has shaped the lives of virtually every man in the country for generations. Now those two facts are on a collision course. Every able-bodied Korean man between the ages of 18 and 38 is required by law to serve in the military. Most undergo a physical examination around age 19 and complete their service in their 20s, typically spending 18 months as rank-and-file personnel in the Army or Marine Corps, or slightly longer, in the Navy for 20 months or the Air Force for 21 months. Those who qualify and apply can serve instead as noncommissioned officers (NCOs) — a rank between enlisted personnel and commissioned officers — or as commissioned officers, with initial commitments of four and three years, respectively. But because the rank-and-file route is relatively shorter and requires no selection process, most conscripts take it, despite the limited personal freedom, a strict environment and a long history of hazing and violence within military units. The system was designed for a country

Jun 27, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
[EXPLAINER] What Lee Jae Myung's selective enlistment plan means for Korea's shrinking military
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