Korea pressured by Taipei, Beijing over labeling of TaiwanKorea is receiving pressures from two countries over the labeling of Taiwan, with the Taiwanese government requesting it be treated independently from China in official documents. Meanwhile, Beijing is asking Seoul to maintain its “One China” principle, which considers Taiwan as part of China. Taiwan had earlier warned the Korean government that it will change the name of the “Republic of Korea” to “South Korea” in its own electronic arrival card in a reciprocal move unless Korea stops listing Taiwan as “China(Taiwan)” in its electronic arrival card dropdown menus. The Taiwanese government said it had already changed the country name from the “Republic of Korea” to “South Korea” on the foreign resident cards of South Korean nationals living in Taiwan. This comes after the Korean government launched its e-arrival card system on Feb. 24, 2025 to expedite entry into the country. In the electronic system, Taiwanese nationals are forced to select “China(Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” sections. The Taiwanese government has been isMar 22, 2026By Park Ji-won
Korea in talks with US, partners on multiple fronts over its role in Strait of Hormuz: Cheong Wa DaeKorea is in close talks with the United States and other partner countries on "multiple fronts" over its potential contributions to ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a senior presidential official said Friday. The official's remark came as the U.S. has stepped up its call for allies and partner countries, including Korea and Japan, to join efforts to keep open the key waterway where 20 percent of global oil and gas pass through. The shipping channel has effectively been shut down as the war between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran has intensified. "Regarding the ways for us to contribute in relation to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, we are in close communication with the United States and other key partners and holding consultations with them on multiple fronts," the official said. "We are seeking a range of options that best serve our national interests," the official said. The official noted the possibility of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East, a scenario that could directly impact Korea's energy supply if the shipping disruptions persist in the Strait of Hormuz. AMar 20, 2026By Yonhap
Korea imposes travel ban on parts of Lebanon amid rising Middle East conflictKorea imposed a travel ban on parts of Lebanon amid rising security concerns linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the foreign ministry said Friday. The ban — the highest Level 4 in a four-tier travel warning system — took effect at 8 p.m. in Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, and West Beqaa and Rashaya districts in Beqaa Governorate, according to the ministry. The ministry has already issued the Level 4 alert for areas along the border with Israel, as well as for South Governorate, Nabatieh Governorate and parts of Dahiyeh in Beirut. The rest of the country will remain under Level 3, which advises citizens to leave the area. Under the law, those who travel to or remain in areas under a travel ban without special permission can be punished. The ministry also issued a Level 3 travel alert for the Saudi Arabian city of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.Mar 20, 2026By Yonhap
Gov't to ensure Korea treated no less favorably than other nations in USTR probe: ministerThe government will respond to a U.S. trade inquiry into trading partners to ensure that Korea is treated no less favorably compared with other major economies, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said Wednesday. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has recently launched investigations into 60 economies, including Korea, under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, as the U.S. President Donald Trump administration pushes to roll out new tariffs to replace the reciprocal tariffs that the Supreme Court struck down last month. "While the broad framework of the U.S.-Korea agreement is expected to be maintained, the government will work closely in a joint effort to ensure outcomes are not unfavorable compared with other major competitors," Koo said during a government meeting on economic affairs. The investigation will determine whether the countries have taken sufficient steps to ban the importation of goods produced with forced labor. The countries subject to the investigations include Korea, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Britain, Australia, Canada and Taiwan. Koo said that the goverMar 18, 2026By Yonhap
President Lee thanks Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia for support in evacuating Koreans from Middle EastPresident Lee Jae Myung has sent letters to the leaders of Japan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia to express his gratitude for their cooperation in evacuating Korean nationals from the Middle East, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday, with the U.S.-Israel war with Iran destabilizing the region. In a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi the previous day, Lee expressed his appreciation for Japan's assistance in evacuating 16 Koreans and their family members of other nationalities to Tokyo on Japanese chartered flights last Wednesday and Friday. Lee also praised the close bilateral coordination between the two countries as Japanese nationals were transported from Saudi Arabia to Korea on a Korean military aircraft, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said. "The friendship between the two countries has been further strengthened through this cooperation," Lee was quoted as saying. "I hope this will serve as an opportunity to further deepen the friendship and trust between our people, and we will continue to work closely together to protect the lives and safety of our citizens." In a letter toMar 18, 2026By Yonhap
Iranian Embassy in Seoul displays banner with image of KhameneiThe Iranian Embassy in Seoul has put up a banner bearing the image of the late former leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and accusing "war criminals," sources said Wednesday. The embassy in Seoul's central Yongsan District recently installed the banner on the building's outer wall bearing an image of Khamenei and the English phrase, "When will the world hold war criminals accountable?" diplomatic sources said. It also said "the massacre of women and children is neither forgivable nor forgettable," and carried images of dozens of children and women against the backdrop of Iran's map. The banner appears to reference schoolchildren killed in airstrikes since the outbreak of the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran and to accuse the countries of war crimes. Sources said Seoul's foreign ministry has not requested the removal of the banner.Mar 11, 2026By Yonhap
USKF air defense redeployment raises concerns over South Korea’s high-altitude missile defensePresident Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that the redeployment of some air defense assets from U.S. Forces Korea “won’t hinder deterrence against North Korea.” But concerns are growing that South Korea’s air defense could be left vulnerable after international media reported that the U.S. may redeploy not only Patriot PAC-3 — a low-altitude air defense system the South Korean military had expected might be moved — but also elements of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. A day earlier, the Washington Post quoted two U.S. officials saying the U.S. military is relocating some components of the THAAD system to the Middle East. The move, according to the officials, is intended as a precaution in case Iranian retaliatory attacks escalate again. Unlike the Patriot system, which South Korea can partially replace with its own air defense assets, THAAD has no comparable domestic alternative. Experts warn that prolonged tensions in the Middle East could deepen security vulnerabilities on the Korean Peninsula. So far, assets within U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) known to have bMar 11, 2026By Hankookilbo
Korean troops in Lebanon report strikes near military base amid Middle East conflictKorean troops dispatched to Lebanon for peacekeeping operations reported strikes occurred near their military base on the day of the U.S.-Israeli attacks against Iran, a lawmaker said Tuesday, raising alarms over the safety of Korean troops dispatched overseas. Unspecified strikes occurred at an area 31 kilometers northeast of the military base of the Dongmyung unit in Lebanon on Feb. 28, according to a report submitted by the defense ministry to Rep. Hwang Hee of the ruling Democratic Party. The Dongmyung unit has been conducting essential operations related to the United Nations' peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, while maintaining the highest level of defense posture. On March 1, the Akh unit stationed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported strikes at an area 68 kilometers southwest of the unit's base, located near the Al Dhafra Air Base, according to the lawmaker. Since then, the Abu Dhabi-based unit has canceled all training and remains on standby at the military compound amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. The Cheonghae unit dispatched to Somalia has not witnessed anyMar 10, 2026By Yonhap
Around 300 Koreans to return home aboard Qatari flight amid Middle East conflictA special flight carrying around 300 Korean nationals departed Qatar on Monday to bring them home amid the conflict in the Middle East, the foreign ministry said. The flight left Doha at 3:45 p.m. (Seoul time) and is scheduled to arrive in Incheon, west of Seoul, at around 12:21 a.m. Tuesday, the ministry said. The latest flight arrangement came as Seoul is stepping up its efforts to bring its citizens home from the conflict-hit region either by helping them escape to a third country nearby or arranging emergency flights home. Early Monday, more than 200 Koreans and their foreign family members returned home aboard a chartered flight from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). About 1,400 Korean short-term travelers remain in the UAE. Flight disruptions at major airports in the UAE, Qatar and other neighboring countries have left thousands of Koreans stranded, prompting Seoul to seek ways to facilitate their departure through consultations with the relevant countries. Qatar's airspace remains partially open, with only a limited number of emergency flights to Europe currently in operation. KoreaMar 9, 2026By Yonhap
No disruptions in essential goods supply to Korean vessels in Persian Gulf: ministryKorean vessels tied up in the Persian Gulf have sufficient supplies of essential goods to last at least a month, the oceans ministry said Monday, vowing continued efforts to protect the safety of Korean sailors amid an ongoing conflict in the Middle East. According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, all 26 Korean vessels in the area have secured food and fuel products for more than a month through a local supplier over the weekend. The vessels have a combined 146 Korean crew members on board, while another 37 Korean nationals are aboard foreign vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf due to the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran. The ministry said it is providing support for the safe disembarkation of crew members from the vessels in the region, noting that no Korean nationals have requested to leave their ships as of Sunday. The government will continue close communications with shipping companies to ensure the safety of Korean vessels and crew members in the Middle East amid a prolonging of the situation, the ministry added.Mar 9, 2026By Yonhap
