Top security aide says Korea faces US pressure to hike defense spendingNational Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Thursday that Korea is facing calls from the United States to align with the global trend of increasing defense spending, following a decision by the NATO to raise its defense budget target. Speaking to reporters after returning from the NATO summit held earlier this week in The Hague, Wi noted that NATO member states had agreed to increase their defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product by 2035, a move he said carries implications for Korea as well. "That is a broader trend, and similar demands have been made to us," Wi said. Wi said there have been discussions at the working-level in regard to Washington's request that its allies raise their defense spending goal, noting "We need to determine how we will respond." He added that the issue is expected to come up during upcoming security consultations, emphasizing the need to find common ground as part of preparations for a potential summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump. On the sidelines of the NATO summit, Wi met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco RJun 26, 2025By Yonhap
Nat'l Assembly adopts resolution honoring ex-US Congressman RangelThe National Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution honoring former U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel for his service during the Korean War and decadeslong efforts to strengthen the alliance between South Korea and the United States. The resolution, backed by 69 lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties, pays tribute to Rangel's legacy of bolstering the alliance and promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula. During his time in Congress, the late Democrat played a key role in legislative efforts to address a range of Korea-related issues, including encouraging peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula, reunions of divided Korean American families and supporting Korean War veterans. He was also an advocate for the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. Rangel died in New York on May 26.Jun 26, 2025By Yonhap
The SKT hack: the real threat behind stolen dataThe SK Telecom hack, revealed in April, marked a watershed moment for South Korea’s cybersecurity. In its wake, a flurry of proposals has been put forward to prevent similar large-scale data breaches. Yet the discourse, focused narrowly on cybersecurity measures, risks missing the bigger picture. The consequences of stolen personal data — and its potential abuse — are far more dangerous than many can imagine. In today’s digital age, experts warn that cyberattacks of this scale can even pose a direct threat to national sovereignty. Peter G. Kirchschlaeger, a professor of ethics at the University of Lucerne in Switzerland, emphasized the profound potential for misuse of stolen data, highlighting election interference as one of the most serious risks. With illegally harvested data, he explained, hackers can analyze users’ characteristics, interests and preferences to predict their thinking patterns and decisions. “The hackers, or those who possess the stolen data, can manipulate people into buying certain products they’re promoting,” Kirchschlaeger said. He warned that theJun 26, 2025By Kang Hyun-kyung
S. Korea faces 'everything everywhere all at once' moment in geopolitics: foreign minister nomineeSouth Korea’s nominee for foreign minister warned Tuesday that the nation faces a diplomatic landscape as chaotic and overlapping as the film “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” vowing to navigate the turbulence with pragmatism, patience and discretion. In his first public remarks since being tapped for the role by President Lee Jae Myung, Cho Hyun struck a careful, measured tone — declining to offer specific policy plans ahead of his confirmation hearing, but signaling a continued commitment to “pragmatic diplomacy” and a quiet, steady-hand approach in managing relations with major powers including the United States, China and North Korea. "It's like the movie ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’ It's hard to prioritize just one thing," Cho told reporters during an impromptu briefing on his way to work. "Given the current instability in the international landscape, I feel a great sense of responsibility as I take on this role at the ministry of foreign affairs," he said. He pledged to carefully assess and navigate the increasingly complex global environment if confirmeJun 24, 2025By Lee Hae-rin and Lee Hyo-jin
Korea issues special travel advisory for all of IranSouth Korea on Tuesday issued a special travel advisory for all of Iran amid escalating military tension between Israel and Iran. The foreign ministry said it has elevated the travel advisory for all regions in Iran to Level 3, which strongly advises South Koreans there to leave the country. The alert took effect at 1 p.m. Tuesday. As of 8 p.m., the ministry had also issued a Level 3 travel advisory for areas in Israel where a special travel advisory had been previously issued. The Level 3 and Level 4 travel advisory for parts of regions in Israel remain in effect, according to the ministry. The ministry said it will closely monitor the situation in the Middle East and take various measures to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals. (Yonhap)Jun 17, 2025By Yonhap
Trump to return home from G7 summit in Canada on Monday amid deadly Israel-Iran conflictU.S. President Donald Trump will return home Monday night from the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada due to the deadly Israel-Iran conflict, a White House spokesperson said, dashing hopes for Korean President Lee Jae-myung to have his first in-person talks with Trump during the gathering. "President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer," Karoline Leavitt wrote on X. "Much was accomplished, but because of what's going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State." Standing next to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during a group photo session, Trump said that he has to be back. Carney said he "fully understands." "You probably see what I see and I have to be back as soon as I can," Trump told reporters, according to the pool report. He also said that he thought the G7 had "got a lot done" "I wish I could stay for tomorrow, but they understand." Trump decided to cut short the trip to Alberta as the escalating clash between Israel and Iran has entered itsJun 17, 2025By Yonhap
Korea reviews safety measures for nationals in Middle East after Israeli strike on IranKorea's foreign ministry held a virtual meeting Sunday with its officials and heads of diplomatic missions in the Middle East to discuss response measures following Israel's strike on Iran. The video conference, presided over by Yoon Chu-sok, director general for overseas Koreans and consular affairs, focused on reviewing ways to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals in the region, the foreign ministry said. During the meeting, Yoon reiterated the importance of advising Korean citizens to cancel or postpone travel to both Israel and Iran. He also emphasized the need to urge Korean nationals residing in those countries to remain in safe areas in accordance with guidance from local embassies. The foreign ministry confirmed that no damage or harm to Korean nationals has been reported in relation to the Israeli strike. Approximately 100 Koreans are currently staying in Iran. On Friday, the government raised the travel advisories for Israel and parts of Iran from Level 2 to Level 2.5, citing heightened security concerns.Jun 15, 2025By Yonhap
Japanese Embassy in Seoul to host reception to mark 60 years of diplomatic tiesThe Japanese Embassy in Seoul will host a reception this week to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan, diplomatic sources said Sunday. The event, scheduled to take place at a hotel in Seoul on Monday, is expected to be attended by Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina and Akihisa Nakashima, a close aide to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, according to the sources. President Lee Jae-myung is unlikely to attend the ceremony in person due to a scheduling conflict, as he is set to travel to Canada for the Group of Seven (G7) summit. "(Lee) is reviewing the possibility of sending a congratulatory message," a presidential official said on condition of anonymity. "The message will be positive, highlighting the significance of the 60th anniversary and presenting a vision for future cooperation between South Korea and Japan." A similar event is also scheduled to be held by the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo on Thursday, with Ishiba "highly likely" to attend, other sources earlier said. The Tokyo reception will take place shortly after a planned bilJun 15, 2025By Yonhap
Korea-Japan cultural exchanges flourish 60 years after normalizing tiesDiplomatic ties between Korea and Japan have weathered numerous storms over the past six decades, but their cultural exchanges have steadily grown, driven in large part by the sustained popularity of Korean pop culture in Japan. Japan, once a "forward base" for the Korean Wave, or "hallyu," is now seeing a two-way cultural flow, with artists from both countries increasingly active in each other's entertainment markets. The Korean TV drama "Winter Sonata," which aired on a channel affiliated with NHK in 2003 and later on the national broadcaster the following year, is widely credited with launching the first wave of hallyu in Japan. The series became a nationwide hit and turned its lead actor Bae Yong-joon — nicknamed "Yonsama" by middle-aged and older Japanese women — into a household name. Earlier, Korean exports such as the film "Shiri" and K-pop diva BoA had gained some traction, but it was "Winter Sonata" that sparked a cultural phenomenon. Following its success, many Korean dramas, including "Dae Jang Geum," "You're Beautiful," "Descendants of the Sun" and "My Love from the Star,Jun 15, 2025By Yonhap
'So close, yet so far': S. Korea-Japan ties at pivotal moment 60 years after normalizationBound by proximity, yet estranged by the past, relations between South Korea and Japan have undergone times of turbulence since normalizing diplomatic ties six decades ago, following Japan's colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula. The two neighboring countries in the present day share much in common: They are both rules-based democracies, key Asian security allies of the United States and major economic powers. Yet unresolved disputes over wartime history have remained a constant source of friction, keeping them at odds. As South Korea and Japan mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties on June 22, they find themselves at another pivotal moment in their relationship, with the launch of a new South Korean government and growing economic and security challenges in a shifting geopolitical landscape. The 1965 treaty that normalized Seoul-Tokyo relations arguably patched up a long-standing feud rooted in Japan's colonial rule over Korea from 1910-45 and the atrocities committed by Tokyo during that period. After 14 years of unsuccessful negotiations by previous leaderJun 15, 2025By Yonhap
