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  • Foreign Affairs

    Norwegian architect behind Busan Opera House highlights architecture’s role in social change

    Architecture should do more than create iconic buildings — it should shape how people interact, gather and experience their cities, according to Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, founding partner of Norwegian architectural and design firm Snøhetta, which is currently leading the Busan Opera House project. Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Seoul on Wednesday, Thorsen outlined Snøhetta’s design philosophy and highlighted projects from around the world, arguing that architecture can serve as a catalyst for cultural participation, social integration and sustainable development. The event, held at the Norwegian ambassador’s residence under the theme “Designing Culture, Designing Change: Architecture as a Catalyst for Collective Futures,” brought together architects, cultural leaders and industry professionals to explore the role of design in shaping contemporary society. Welcoming guests, Norwegian Ambassador Anne Kari Hansen Ovind described Snøhetta as one of Norway’s most influential creative enterprises and a global ambassador for Norwegian design. “Sn

    3 MIN READBy Anna J. Park
    Norwegian architect behind Busan Opera House highlights architecture’s role in social change
  • Foreign Affairs

    Lee to receive Italy's highest decoration for promoting bilateral ties

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Lee to receive Italy's highest decoration for promoting bilateral ties
  • Others

    Lee, Mattarella agree to elevate Korea-Italy ties into special strategic partnership

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Lee, Mattarella agree to elevate Korea-Italy ties into special strategic partnership
  • North Korea

    Seoul, Washington reaffirm goal of NK denuclearization at key nuclear deterrence meeting

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Seoul, Washington reaffirm goal of NK denuclearization at key nuclear deterrence meeting
  • Foreign Affairs

    Lee says depending on US for defense no longer valid, will boost economic ties

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Lee says depending on US for defense no longer valid, will boost economic ties
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Foreign Affairs

Leaders of Korea, China agree to expand cultural exchanges, address West Sea structure issue

BEIJING — Korea and China agreed on Monday to gradually expand cooperation in cultural and creative sectors, focusing initially on areas acceptable to both sides, the Korean presidential office said. The agreements were reached during a summit in Beijing between President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping as part of Lee’s state visit to the Chinese capital. The two leaders also shared the view that ensuring the stable, long-term development of bilateral ties requires transforming the West Sea into a “sea of peace and coexistence.” They pledged to continue holding constructive consultations on structures unilaterally deployed by China in the area, which have emerged as a source of friction, and agreed to work together to ensure that vice ministerial-level talks on maritime and ocean economy issues can be convened within the year. According to National Security Adviser Wi Sung‑lac, who briefed reporters in Beijing on Monday evening, the two leaders reached a shared understanding on the need to continue holding annual summits as part of efforts to fully restore Kore

Jan 5, 2026By Anna J. Park
Leaders of Korea, China agree to expand cultural exchanges, address West Sea structure issue
  • Lee highlights beauty, culture, AI as emerging fields in Korea-China trade
Foreign Affairs

First lady serves New Year dish blending Korean, Chinese traditions

First lady Kim Hea Kyung cooked rice cake soup with dumplings, a New Year dish blending Korean and Chinese traditions, Monday to serve Chinese women who have contributed to promoting exchanges between the two countries, Cheong Wa Dae said. Kim hosted the guests at the Korean ambassador's residence in Beijing while accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on his state visit to China. She served rice cake soup with dumplings, "tteokmandu-guk" in Korean, to Chinese women from the fields of education, culture, art, sports, welfare and business, whom she described as playing a "bridging role" between the neighboring countries. The first lady said she chose the menu to symbolize unity, noting that Koreans traditionally eat rice cake soup at the start of the New Year, while Chinese people make dumplings during holidays such as the Lunar New Year. "I prepared the dish to blend the New Year traditions of both countries," Kim said, expressing hope that sharing food would further promote friendly exchanges between Korea and China.

Jan 5, 2026By Yonhap
First lady serves New Year dish blending Korean, Chinese traditions
Foreign Affairs

AnalysisTrump won't use 'Venezuela model' on Kim Jong-un: experts

The U.S. government's recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has prompted a question in Seoul: Could the Donald Trump administration attempt a similar operation against North Korean leader Kim Jong-un? U.S. forces seized Maduro in a surprise overnight operation early Saturday (local time) and flew him to New York, where he is set to stand trial on narco-terrorism conspiracy charges. Some South Korean politicians argue that the precedent could, at least in theory, be extended to North Korea. Rep. Lee Jun-seok, leader of the minor opposition Reform Party, pointed to Washington's decision to label Maduro not as a "head of state" but as the "leader of a transnational crime ring." "The logic applied to President Maduro could also be applied to the North Korean leader," Lee wrote on Facebook. He noted that the U.S. Department of Justice previously indicted North Korean hackers in 2021, describing them as the "world's leading bank robbers." Security experts, however, say a similar operation against Kim is highly unlikely. Cheong Seong-chang, vice president of the Sejong Institute,

Jan 5, 2026By Lee Hyo-jin
Trump won't use 'Venezuela model' on Kim Jong-un: experts
North Korea

Seoul says N. Korea's condemnation of Maduro's capture part of anti-US solidarity

North Korea's recent condemnation of the United States' capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro appears to be part of its solidarity with countries opposed to Washington, Seoul's unification ministry said Monday. The remarks by unification ministry spokesperson Yoon Min-ho were in response to a statement by the North Korean foreign ministry Sunday, which "strongly" denounced Maduro's capture as "the most serious form of encroachment of sovereignty and as a wanton violation of the U.N. Charter and international laws." The ministry views the statement as "an extension of (Pyongyang's) criticism of the U.S. on (various) issues as part of anti-U.S. solidarity," Yoon said. The spokesperson recalled Pyongyang's criticism of Washington in June last year, when the U.S. launched military strikes against Iran's nuclear sites. At that time, the North denounced the attack as a violation of a sovereign state's security interests and territorial integrity. "The latest North Korean reaction is very similar to that issued in June last year, when the U.S. attacked Iran," he said, noting shared ant

Jan 5, 2026By Yonhap
Seoul says N. Korea's condemnation of Maduro's capture part of anti-US solidarity
Foreign Affairs

Lee highlights beauty, culture, AI as emerging fields in Korea-China trade

BEIJING — Consumer goods including beauty products and cultural content, as well as artificial intelligence (AI), could become new pillars of business cooperation between Korea and China, President Lee Jae Myung said Monday. He stressed the expansion of the two countries' economic partnership at a Korea-China business forum that took place at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, part of Lee’s four-day state visit to the country. It was the first business forum held between the two nations since 2017. At the forum, Lee called for “new engines of growth” to reinvigorate a bilateral trade relationship that has stalled at about $300 billion per year. He spoke before some 600 delegates, including 416 Korean business representatives and China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng, who oversees economic affairs. “Consumer goods including beauty products and food, as well as cultural content such as film, music, games and sports, can become new breakthroughs,” he said in his address. He added that future-oriented technologies, particularly AI, could elevate bilateral cooperation to a new l

Jan 5, 2026By Anna J. Park
Lee highlights beauty, culture, AI as emerging fields in Korea-China trade
Foreign Affairs

Hwaseong city, Ghana explore cooperation in industry, education

Jeong Myeong-geun, mayor of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, met Wednesday with Ghana’s ambassador to Korea to discuss ways to expand economic, industrial and educational cooperation, as the city looks to strengthen ties with emerging African markets. Jeong held talks with Choi Ko-jo, who visited Hwaseong as part of efforts to explore future collaboration and lay the groundwork for broader exchanges between the Korean city and the West African nation. City officials said the meeting marked an initial step toward developing long-term partnerships spanning industry, education and people-to-people exchanges. “Africa, including Ghana, has enormous potential backed by rapid population growth and resource-based industries,” Jeong said during the meeting. He described Hwaseong as a “miniature version of Korea,” noting that the city combines rural and fishing communities with advanced manufacturing clusters and rapidly developing cultural and industrial infrastructure. Hwaseong, located south of Seoul, is one of Korea’s fastest-growing cities and houses complexes for major industries in

Jan 5, 2026By Kim Hyun-bin
Hwaseong city, Ghana explore cooperation in industry, education
Foreign Affairs

Lee to attend forum with top executives from S. Korea, China ahead of summit with Xi

BEIJING — President Lee Jae Myung plans to attend a business forum with top executives from major South Korean and Chinese companies on Monday, Cheong Wa Dae said, ahead of summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The forum is expected to discuss ways to expand bilateral economic cooperation in various areas between the two nations, Cheong Wa Dae said. A large business delegation is accompanying Lee on his state visit to China as South Korea seeks to broaden and deepen economic cooperation in key sectors, such as semiconductors, batteries, and emerging business opportunities in culture and other industries. Among the South Korean participants are Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Chair Euisun Chung, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo. Jang Cheol-hyuk, CEO of K-pop powerhouse SM Entertainment, and Kim Chang-han, CEO of game developer Krafton, are also on the list, raising expectations that the two sides could explore cooperation in the cultural and gaming sectors. From the Chinese side, attendees include Ren Hongbin, chai

Jan 5, 2026By Yonhap
Lee to attend forum with top executives from S. Korea, China ahead of summit with Xi
Foreign Affairs

Venezuela crisis will have limited impact on S. Korean economy: gov't

The United States' recent attack on Venezuela and North Korea's ballistic missile launch are expected to have a limited impact on the South Korean economy, the finance ministry said Monday. The assessment was made in an emergency meeting held to review the economic situation following the recent events, which was attended by officials from the finance, foreign and industry ministries, as well as the Bank of Korea and the Financial Services Commission. The finance ministry said it will cooperate with related authorities to monitor and respond to further developments and any impact on financial markets and the economy. On Saturday (U.S. time), U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. has captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a large-scale military strike, and will run the South American country until a safe and proper transition occurs there. Shortly after the announcement, North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea. The launch also came as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was set to depart for Beijing for summit talks with Chinese President

Jan 5, 2026By Yonhap
Venezuela crisis will have limited impact on S. Korean economy: gov't
North Korea

N. Korea says it tested hypersonic missiles with leader Kim Jong-un attending

North Korea test-launched hypersonic missiles in Pyongyang the previous day that successfully struck targets in the East Sea, with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, state media reported Monday. "A sub-unit under a major firing strike group of the Korean People's Army conducted a missile launching drill" to evaluate the country's war deterrence and the readiness of the weapon system, as well as to verify its capacity to fulfill missions, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. South Korea's military detected the missile launch at 7:50 a.m. Sunday, hours before President Lee Jae Myung departed for Beijing for summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and after the United States announced the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in a large-scale military strike. "Through today's launching drill, we can confirm that a very important technology task for national defense has been carried out. The missile soldiers showed the readiness of the DPRK's nuclear forces without regret and gave confidence in it," the KCNA quoted Kim as saying. DPRK refers to the official name of North K

Jan 5, 2026By Yonhap
N. Korea says it tested hypersonic missiles with leader Kim Jong-un attending
Foreign Affairs

Lee set for summit talks with China's Xi

President Lee Jae Myung is set to hold summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, with the leaders expected to discuss coordination on North Korea, as well as ways to expand economic ties and cultural exchanges. The talks come about two months after the leaders met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju in early November, when Xi visited South Korea for the first time in 11 years. He arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a four-day state visit to China, just hours after North Korea fired unidentified ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, marking its first test of weapons this year. The visit marks Lee's first to China since taking office in June last year and the first trip by a South Korean president there since 2019. It comes as South Korea seeks to stably manage its relations with China, a key partner in trade, tourism and peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula, while also maintaining a strong alliance with the United States under the Lee administration's "pragmatic" diplomatic approach. During the meeting, Lee is expected to ask for Chi

Jan 5, 2026By Yonhap
Lee set for summit talks with China's Xi
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