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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Korea launches joint drone headquarters

The Ministry of National Defense unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the military’s drone operations Friday, shifting combat responsibilities from a centralized drone command to individual service branches while creating a new defense drone headquarters under the ministry. Under the restructuring, operational control of drone units will be distributed across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. The existing drone operations command headquarters will be reorganized into a defense drone headquarters focused on force development, procurement support and cooperation with the private sector — no longer commanding combat units directly. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East had demonstrated that drones had become game changers on the battlefield. “In the past, a small number of expensive weapons systems dominated the battlefield. Now, large numbers of low-cost drones are fundamentally changing the way wars are fought,” Ahn said. Ahn said the policy is intended to strengthen the military’s defense capabilities against unmanned aerial veh

Jun 26, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea launches joint drone headquarters

3 contenders, 3 leadership styles compete in DPK chair race

The race to lead the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is taking shape as a three-way contest after party chair Jung Chung-rae stepped down Wednesday to seek another term, setting up an expected showdown with outgoing Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and veteran lawmaker Song Young-gil. All three have cast themselves as supporters of the Lee Jae Myung administration. Their political strengths, however, are markedly different. Each is appealing to different factions within the ruling party — Jung to its activist base, Kim to lawmakers seeking close coordination with Cheong Wa Dae and Song to those looking for an alternative should the race extend beyond the first round. Jung, the party man Jung enters the race with perhaps the strongest organizational backing. “No matter what anyone says, I will stand by President Lee Jae Myung until the very end,” Jung said as he announced his resignation as party chair. “Lee and I share a political community and a destiny.” His remarks followed weeks of speculation about tensions with the presidential office. Differences over the pace of prosecut

Jun 25, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
3 contenders, 3 leadership styles compete in DPK chair race

PM nominee undergoes confirmation hearing amid controversies over data leak, multiple homes

Prime Minister nominee Han Seong-sook began undergoing a two-day confirmation hearing at the National Assembly on Thursday as the main opposition party questioned her eligibility for the post. Han, who currently serves as minister for small and medium-sized enterprises and startups, has come under scrutiny over a series of controversies, including a personal information leak involving the government's audition-style startup incubation program. "I will become a prime minister who focuses solely on working for the happiness of the people and deliver tangible results," Han said at the hearing. The nominee described the next few years as a critical period that will determine South Korea's competitiveness amid the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), saying she will draw on experiences that she gained over "three decades working on the frontlines of technological innovation." "I will make all-out efforts to drive a bold AI transformation that reshapes the economic structure, help the future generations grow and create a warm safety net for the underprivileged," said the former C

Jun 25, 2026By Yonhap
PM nominee undergoes confirmation hearing amid controversies over data leak, multiple homes

Lee vows to build peaceful Korean Peninsula free from fear of war

President Lee Jae Myung pledged Thursday to establish a peaceful Korean Peninsula free from the fear of war as South Korea marks the anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War. Lee made the pledge in his speech at a ceremony marking the 76th anniversary of the outbreak of the war, which was held in Gyeonggi Province and brought together hundreds of war veterans, and government and military officials. "(The government) will safeguard the people and the territory through strong defense capabilities and build a peaceful Korean Peninsula which has neither fear of war nor a need for conflict," Lee said. "I believe that doing so would be the surest reward we can give to the heroes who dedicated their lives and youth to defending this country," he said. The president recalled the sacrifices of those from home and around the world who fought for the country during the Korean War, saying the government "will unwaveringly safeguard this great Republic of Korea built by heroes." The Republic of Korea is the official name of South Korea. "Remembering and commemorating these heroes is the m

Jun 25, 2026By Yonhap
Lee vows to build peaceful Korean Peninsula free from fear of war

Jeolla region eyed for new semiconductor cluster: presidential policy chief

The government and chip companies are planning to establish a massive semiconductor cluster in the Jeolla region, separate from the current one near the capital, the presidential policy chief said Wednesday, citing abundant electricity and water in the southwestern provinces. He also stressed the need to start public discussion on how to share the benefits of the artificial intelligence (AI) era, saying the issue comprises social networks, labor policy and excess tax revenue generated by the booming AI-related industries. Speaking at a forum hosted by Kwanhun Club, an association of senior journalists, presidential adviser for policy Kim Yong-beom said the AI boom presents an opportunity to redraw Korea's industrial geography, drawing a parallel with how a manufacturing cluster in the southeastern region transformed Korea into an industrial powerhouse decades ago. He said the demand for chips has skyrocketed and companies are being pressed to advance their plans to construct relevant plants and facilities. While Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are currently building massive semiconduct

Jun 24, 2026By Yi Whan-woo
Jeolla region eyed for new semiconductor cluster: presidential policy chief

Ballot shortage reignites debate over early voting as PPP pushes to scrap system

Political fallout from the ballot shortage controversy during the June 3 local elections continues, with the main opposition People Power Party’s (PPP) push to abolish early voting reviving debate over Korea’s election system. The issue resurfaced after PPP lawmaker Park Dae-chul introduced a bill seeking to scrap early voting, extend election day voting to two days and revive the absentee voting system. The proposal was co-sponsored by 24 PPP lawmakers and independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon, the party’s former leader. Han described the proposal as a long-held position. “Replacing early voting with a longer election period has been my position for a long time,” Han wrote on social media. He has repeatedly argued that election day voting should be extended instead of maintaining the current early voting system. The move came after the June 3 local elections were marred by ballot shortages at several polling stations, leading to long lines and complaints from voters. The National Assembly has since launched a parliamentary investigation into the incident. While the controversy stem

Jun 24, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Ballot shortage reignites debate over early voting as PPP pushes to scrap system

State auditor gathering data to conduct financial audit of NEC over ballot shortage

The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has begun collecting data in preparation for a financial audit next month of the National Election Commission (NEC) in the wake of ballot shortages in the recent local elections, the chief auditor said Wednesday. BAI Chair Kim Ho-cheol made the remark during a meeting with reporters as criticism of the election watchdog has been mounting over the unprecedented shortage of ballot papers during the June 3 elections that led to the temporary suspension of voting at 26 polling stations. "People are greatly interested and concerned over the unacceptable violation of voting rights. After a decision by the Council of Commissioners yesterday, we started gathering data today," Kim said. "I anticipate we can conduct an actual audit around July after determining the scope and period of the audit." The election watchdog is an independent constitutional organization that is not subject to a full-fledged performance audit, a measure aimed at shielding the agency from political influence. But an accounting audit is deemed permissible because it carries no politi

Jun 24, 2026By Yonhap
State auditor gathering data to conduct financial audit of NEC over ballot shortage

Ruling party chief resigns, expected to seek reelection for another term

Rep. Jung Chung-rae of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) resigned as chairman of the party Wednesday in a move widely seen as a step toward seeking reelection at the party's upcoming national convention. "I spent many sleepless nights looking back on myself and my political life for the past few days," Jung said during a meeting of the party's supreme council at the National Assembly. "I am stepping down as party leader today." Jung stressed that he devoted himself to supporting President Lee Jae Myung's administration throughout his term and to ensuring that the ruling party, the government and the presidential office worked as a united team. "Although I never had a single day of peace due to resistance from within and outside the party, I carried out my duties without complaining," he said. Jung's remarks came amid criticism from some pro-Lee party members who argue that he is leading the party in a way that suits his own hard-line supporters, rather than working in tandem with Lee on key issues. The convention is expected to shape up as a three-way race between Jung and two ot

Jun 24, 2026By Yonhap
Ruling party chief resigns, expected to seek reelection for another term

Prime minister visits alma mater in Beijing

BEIJING/SEOUL — Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok paid a visit to his alma mater, Tsinghua University, in Beijing on the second day of his trip to China on Tuesday and discussed relations between the two countries with University President Qiu Yong. Kim, who earned a Master of Law degree from the prestigious school in 2010, said during the closed-door meeting with Qiu, also a secretary of the Communist Party of China, that studying at the university remains one of his most beautiful memories, according to his office. The university is also an important producer of talent that lead China's present and future, Kim was quoted as saying, adding that he visited the university to encourage Korean students studying there and to think about how to move relations between the two countries forward. Kim said the relations between Korea and China have steadily moved forward, despite various ups and downs, and he hopes the trend will continue in the future, and that exchanges between youths of the two countries are important in further developing the ties. Qiu welcomed Kim, calling him a family me

Jun 23, 2026By Yonhap
Prime minister visits alma mater in Beijing

PM nominee sells three homes, leaving only one amid criticism

Prime Minister nominee Han Seong-sook has sold off three homes, leaving her with only one house, her office said Tuesday, as she prepares for a parliamentary confirmation hearing where her ownership of multiple homes was expected to be the main target of criticism. Han, a former CEO of online portal giant Naver before joining the government as minister for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups last year, had owned three homes in Seoul and another in Gyeonggi Province, a point that the opposition denounces as running counter to President Lee Jae Myung's criticism of owners of multiple homes and real estate speculation. The remaining home is a house in Seoul's central district of Samcheong-dong, the office said. "Prime Minister nominee Han Seong-sook said she feels a heavy responsibility as a high-level civil servant and will take the lead in carrying out the government's real estate policy stance," the office said. Han's parliamentary confirmation hearing is set for Thursday and Friday. Her nomination is expected to be approved as the ruling Democratic Party of Korea holds

Jun 23, 2026By Yonhap
PM nominee sells three homes, leaving only one amid criticism
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