Korean Americans live in ‘constant fear’ of Trump immigration policies, activist says“Even though the U.S. government says it distinguishes between lawful and unlawful immigrants, and between those with and without criminal records, that line is not enforced in reality,” said Kim Dong-seok, head of the nonprofit Korean American Grassroots Conference, in an interview at Hankook Ilbo headquarters on Jan. 8. “People are being rounded up indiscriminately. For the past year, we have lived under constant fear.” Kim is widely regarded as one of the most politically connected Korean American figures in Washington. Yet even for him, the first year of Donald Trump’s return to power was marked by what he described as “pure fear.” How did President Trump manage to push through policies to this extent? Kim said the political conditions surrounding him have fundamentally shifted. “During his first term, anti-immigration policies were largely justified on national security grounds. But his inner circle was unprepared, and at times restrained him from carrying out policies that went too far,” explained Kim. “This time, however, Trump returned to office with Project 2Jan 20, 2026By Hankookilbo
Korea, US discuss cooperation in space commerceSenior officials of Seoul and Washington met in Seoul on Monday to discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation between Korean and U.S. space companies, the foreign ministry said. Park Jong-han, deputy foreign minister for economic affairs, and Taylor Jordan, director of the Office of Space Commerce at the U.S. Department of Commerce, took part in the talks, according to the ministry. In the meeting, Park stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation in establishing a trustworthy supply chain and for joint entries into overseas markets amid a rapidly expanding global space economy.Jan 19, 2026By Yonhap
Lee urges mutually beneficial ties in meeting with Japan's ex-PM AsoPresident Lee Jae Myung said Friday that Seoul and Tokyo have to seek mutually beneficial relations by improving bilateral ties. In a meeting with former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, Lee said South Korea and Japan are neighbors using a front yard together. "It is desirable to find out as many areas as possible where the two countries cooperate, so as to create a mutually beneficial relationship" Lee said. Lee's meeting with the former Japanese prime minister came as he took a trip to Japan earlier this week for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on ways to broaden and deepen bilateral cooperation amid tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. The president met Takaichi in her hometown of Nara, marking his second visit to Japan and his fifth summit with a Japanese prime minister since taking office in June last year. It was their second summit following their first meeting in South Korea's Gyeongju in late October. During Tuesday's talks, the two leaders agreed to advance "future-oriented cooperation" through reciprocal leader-level visits, dubbed "shuttle diplomacy." Lee saidJan 16, 2026By Yonhap
The curse of sanctioned oil: Why turmoil in Iran and Venezuela hurts ChinaThe capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the deadly nationwide protests in Iran are separate events unfolding on different continents. However, political unrest simultaneously battering the two oil-rich nations could converge to become a defining moment with far-reaching consequences for global geopolitics and trade. Following Maduro’s extradition to New York to face criminal charges, including narco-terrorism, U.S. President Donald Trump made clear that Washington intends to take control of Venezuela’s oil industry. On Friday, he said the United States would invest at least $100 billion to rebuild the country’s battered energy sector. “The U.S. said narco-terrorism was the primary reason behind its operation to arrest Maduro. But it is fair to say that the real motive stems from Washington’s plan to control Venezuela’s oil industry,” said Choo Jae-woo, a professor at Kyung Hee University. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, estimated at 303 billion barrels, followed by Saudi Arabia with 267 billion and Iran with 209 billion. In the waJan 16, 2026By Kang Hyun-kyung
China signals end to hallyu ban as K-pop prepares for returnFor nearly a decade, Korea’s entertainment industry has faced a long, dark tunnel when it comes to China. Now, however, a faint light appears to be emerging at the far end. China’s long-standing restrictions on Korean pop culture — commonly referred to as the hallyu or Korean wave, ban— are showing signs of gradually easing. At Chinese music retailers, K-pop albums have returned to store shelves and are once again displayed prominently. On Chinese streaming platforms, a local remake of the Korean drama “My Mister” has been unveiled. The shift in atmosphere is even fueling cautious optimism about the possibility of a government-level K-pop concert backed by the Korean government in China — something that had previously failed to materialize. The Hallyu ban effectively took hold in 2016, following Korea’s deployment of the U.S.-built Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, which Beijing viewed as a threat to its security interests. Although the Chinese government never formally announced the measure, it functioned as a sweeping, unofficial banJan 15, 2026By Hankookilbo
Lee, Takaichi play drums together after summit in Japan's NaraPresident Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi played drums together and exchanged drumsticks after their summit in Japan on Tuesday, Cheong Wa Dae said. The two leaders shared the lighthearted moment after their talks in Nara, Takaichi's hometown and constituency, marking the first time in 15 years that a Korean president has visited a Japanese city outside Tokyo for a bilateral summit. During the informal talks, the leaders sat at a drum set made by Japanese manufacturer Pearl and performed "Golden" from the Netflix series "KPop Demon Hunters" as well as K-pop group BTS' hit song "Dynamite" together, presidential spokesperson Kim Nam-joon said in a written briefing. After the performance, Lee told Takaichi, "I fulfilled a lifelong dream today. Ever since I was young, I have wanted to play the drums." Takaichi, who is known to have played heavy metal drums in college, guided Lee through the performance, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere, according to Kim. The two leaders wore a blue uniform prepared by the Japanese side, bearing their names in English and theirJan 13, 2026By Yonhap
Foreign ministry examines contingency plans for Korean nationals in IranThe foreign ministry on Tuesday held a meeting to examine contingency plans for Korean nationals in Iran, including those for possible evacuation, amid the growing unrest fueled by protests over economic hardships. Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina called for thoroughly preparing plans in case the South Korean citizens in Iran need to evacuate, relocate or leave the country should the situation worsen, the ministry said in a release. Kim also instructed the Korean Embassy in Iran, which joined the meeting virtually, to focus on ensuring the safety of the Koreans staying in Iran. The ministry said approximately 70 Korean nationals are currently in the country, excluding diplomats and their family members. Seoul's top envoy to Iran, Kim Jun-pyo, said the embassy has been checking their safety every day through online channels and prioritized staying in contact with them since the protests erupted. The protests began with merchants demonstrating against the worsening economy, but have since spread to other regions, with some turning into violent clashes believed to have killed hundreds oJan 13, 2026By Yonhap
AnalysisKorea and China at odds: Lee defends China, calls out Koreans over mutual hostilityPresident Lee Jae Myung said election fraud allegations are fabricated and baseless, accusing those spreading the conspiracy theory of being “out of their minds.” He claimed political extremists are fanning hatred toward China and vowed to hold them accountable for fueling anti-China sentiment. “China is being accused of involvement in election fraud in Korea. Such nonsensical allegations angered Chinese people and drove them to turn their backs on Korea,” Lee said Wednesday in Shanghai during a luncheon with Cheong Wa dae correspondents. “These allegations are baseless and unnecessary. I have addressed the issue multiple times at Cabinet meetings, openly criticized those spreading it, and promised to hold them accountable,” he said. Lee added that Korea is now paying the price, as anti-Korea sentiment in China has led to consumer boycotts of Korean goods and products. He said his recent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping would serve as a turning point, arguing that mutual hostility between Koreans and Chinese would begin to subside. He emphasized that he and Xi agreedJan 9, 2026By Kang Hyun-kyung
Chinese state media spotlight Lee’s Shanghai visit, seek to drive wedge between Seoul and TokyoAs President Lee Jae Myung wrapped up a four-day state visit to China on Wednesday, Chinese state-run media highlighted shared themes of South Korea-China cooperation and wartime anti-Japanese resistance, a move seen as an attempt to drive a wedge between Korea and Japan and weaken trilateral cooperation among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo. The People’s Daily, the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, published an editorial that said Lee's visit to the site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai on the final day of his trip sent “a clear signal that historical issues have not yet turned the page.” Since 1992, when President Roh Tae-woo visited the site during its restoration, every Korean president has visited either the Shanghai or Chongqing provisional government site at least once — except former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who did not travel to China during his term. Yet the People's Daily wrote that Lee chose this destination, attaching special significance to the visit. The paper highlighted the shared history of anti-Japanese resistance duriJan 8, 2026By Hankookilbo
Trump gifts White House gold key to LeeU.S. President Donald Trump has gifted President Lee Jae Myung a specially designed gold key to the White House in return for the presents he received during his visit to Korea in October, Lee's chief of staff said Wednesday. In a Facebook post, Kang Hoon-sik said Trump handed the key to Korea's ambassador to the United States, Kang Kyung-wha, after she formally presented her credentials to him at the White House on Dec. 17. Photos show the key engraved with the phrase "Key to the White House" and displayed in a wooden case featuring an image of the presidential residence. The senior aide said the U.S. president praised his relationship with Lee during the conversation with Seoul's top envoy, quoting Trump as saying, "I really like him." During Trump's visit to the southeastern city of Gyeongju in late October ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, Lee presented him with a replica of the Cheonmachong gold crown from the ancient Silla Kingdom and awarded him South Korea's highest state medal. Trump is known to have personally designed the golden key as a ceremonial gift forDec 24, 2025By Yonhap
