South Korea - The Korea Times

Former UN chief warns of waning multilateralism

Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivers a special speech during the KOR-ASIA Forum 2019 at The Shilla Hotel Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul By Yi Whan-wooFormer U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned of waning multilateralism, Friday, calling for its restoration to maintain world peace.He said multilateralism was not easy to recover once it had collapsed and this explained a need for co-prosperity between Korea and 10-member ASEAN as it had been for the past 30 years.Joining the KOR-ASIA Forum 2019 as a special speaker, Ban expressed concern over the growing U.S.-China row and other events that he referred to as symbolizing a “down cycle of multilateralism.”Among the issues were the Brexit crisis, U.S. pressure on security allies over economic interests, loosened ties among five officially recognized nuclear-weapons states ― the U.S., China, Russia, the U.K, and France― and Russia's Crimea annexation.Two other speci

Nov 22, 2019By Yi Whan-woo

Former UN chief warns of waning multilateralism

ASEAN leaders call for heightened multilateralism

ASEAN leaders call for heightened multilateralism

Dignataries take part in the Kor-Asia Forum at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, Friday. From left are former National Assembly speaker Chung Sye-kyun; Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the opposition Bareun Mirae Party; former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Seung Myung-ho, chairman of The Korea Times and Hankook Ilbo; National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang; former Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva; Chung Dong-young, former unification minister and leader of the Party for Demcoracy, and Peace; and Hankook Ilbo CEO Lee Jun-hee. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Do Je-hae Dignitaries and experts at the 2019 Kor-Asia forum on Friday underlined the need to revive multilateral diplomacy amid the rise of unilateral actions by superpowers.The speakers, including former Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva, also underlined the effectiveness of South Korea's New Southern Policy initiated by President Moon Jae-in to bring ties between the country and Southeast Asia to a new level. Participants of the forum, hosted by The Korea Times' sister paper Hankook Ilbo, also incl

Nov 22, 2019By Do Je-hae

ASEAN leaders call for heightened multilateralism

'South Korea, ASEAN to strengthen economic, strategic partnership'

A panel of economic experts participate in a session titled “Toward Cooperation-based Economic Community,” the first afternoon session for the KOR-ASIA Forum, Friday, held at the Shilla Seoul's Dynasty Hall. Korea Times photo by Hong In-kiBy Jung Da-min Afternoon sessions for the KOR-ASIA Forum 2019, held Friday at the Shilla Seoul, were divided into two themes, with the first session focusing on “Toward Cooperation-based Economic Community” and the second on “Korea-ASEAN, Becoming Strategic Partners through Friendship.”Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee delivers a keynote speech for a session titled “Toward Cooperation-based Economic Community,” during the KOR-ASIA Forum 2019, Friday, held at the Shilla Seoul. Korea Times photo by Hong In-kiTrade Minister Yoo Myung-hee introduced the first session which focuses on economic cooperation as she delivered a keynote speech highlighting President Moon Jae-in's New Southern Policy. “The core idea of the concept of future South Korea-ASEAN community is to pursue co-prosperity,” Yoon said

Nov 22, 2019

'South Korea, ASEAN to strengthen economic, strategic partnership'

ASEAN leaders call for heightened multilateralism

KOR-ASIA Forum to offer vision for Korea-ASEAN prosperity

Chairman Seung Myung-ho of The Korea Times and Hankook Ilbo delivers a welcoming speech during the KOR-ASIA Forum 2019 co-hosted by the sister newspapers at The Shilla Hotel Seoul in downtown Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Yi Whan-wooChairman Seung Myung-ho of The Korea Times and Hankook Ilbo said Friday the KOR-ASIA Forum 2019 will be an occasion for Korea and the 10 member nations of ASEAN to share a vision for co-prosperity.He noted the annual forum's theme, “Korea-ASEAN for 30 years together: Opening new era of common prosperity,” was chosen in the lead-up to a special summit between the leaders of Korea and ASEAN in Busan.Marking 30 years of the dialogue relations between the two sides, the summit from Nov. 25 to 26 will offer discussions on how to build onto to their successful past.“I am convinced this will be where Korea and ASEAN will draw a vision together for prosperity, not just as cooperative partners, but as sustainable strategic partners,” Seung said in his welcoming address at The Shilla Hotel Seoul.He said The Korea Times

Nov 22, 2019By Yi Whan-woo

KOR-ASIA Forum to offer vision for Korea-ASEAN prosperity

ASEAN leaders call for heightened multilateralism

Seoul to include 'indirect costs' for defense deal with US

Rep. Cho Jeong-sik, chief policymaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, center, speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly, Thursday. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonMembers of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Thursday floated the idea of including South Korea's indirect financial contributions for the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) as “leverage” if Washington keeps asking Seoul to pay “excessive” costs. “If Washington keeps making absurd demands, South Korea will seriously reconsider the adjustment of indirect costs created by the USFK apart from defense cost-sharing,” Rep. Cho Jeong-sik, chief policymaker of the DPK, said during a party meeting, Thursday.Underlining that U.S. President Donald Trump's current rumored demand for Seoul to pay $5 billion for U.S. forces here is “excessive” and not written in the U.S.―South Korea Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) or the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), he added the U.S.' demands for Korea to pay more in additional categories such as rotation of U.S. forces and off-peninsula dri

Nov 21, 2019By Park Ji-won

Seoul to include 'indirect costs' for defense deal with US

'New Southern Policy will enhance ties with ASEAN'

Former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit VejjajivaBy Do Je-hae Former Prime Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva has shown strong support for President Moon Jae-in's New Southern Policy to strengthen ties with ASEAN. Since taking office in May 2017, Moon has place more priority on ASEAN diplomacy, completing visits to all 10 member states this year.The former Thai leader, who will take part in the Kor-Asia Forum hosted by The Korea Times and its sister paper the Hankook Ilbo today, noted the outcomes of Moon's trademark diplomatic strategy in a written interview with The Korea Times ahead of the event. "ASEAN is already the second-biggest trade and investment partner of Korea. It is also the biggest tourist destination for Koreans. Nevertheless, in order to enhance relationships there are two aspects in particular that should be given more attention," Abhisit said. "First, Korea should look beyond bilateral relations with individual ASEAN countries, and seek to enhance cooperation with ASEAN as a group. Second, in order to do so, Korea needs to have a clear national strategy with the pol

Nov 21, 2019By Do Je-hae

'New Southern Policy will enhance ties with ASEAN'

North Korean leader turns down Moon's invitation to South

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un YonhapFM Kang says Seoul will not renew GSOMIA unless 'no changes' from JapanBy Do Je-hae North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will not be attending the upcoming Korea-ASEAN Commemorative Summit being hosted by Busan, the North's official KCNA said Thursday.Saying “now is not the right time” because of worsening inter-Korean ties, the KCNA said in a statement that it would be impossible for Kim to attend the event at the South Korean port city.According to the KCNA, President Moon Jae-in sent a handwritten letter to the North Korean leader inviting him to the event, which will run from Nov. 25 to 27. The state-run media also added President Moon asked Kim to send an envoy to the summit if he was unable to visit Busan.“If the invitation is based on sincere trust, then there is no reason for us not to be thankful toward the invitation. We are aware that the South has made full preparations for a possible visit by our leader with regard to protocol. We understand Moon's anxiety to create a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations by making use

Nov 21, 2019By Do Je-hae

North Korean leader turns down Moon's invitation to South

New Evoque goes beyond style with gasoline model

The new Range Rover Evoque / Courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover KoreaBy Nam Hyun-wooThe Range Rover Evoque has been enjoying brisk sales in the Korean market, and will likely see the momentum stretching further with a new gasoline model, Jaguar Land Rover Korea said Wednesday. The gasoline model is the latest variant of the second-generation Evoque released here in July. It is powered by the brand's original four-cylinder Ingenium 2.0 liter turbocharged engine, which yields 249 horsepower and 37.2 kilogram-meter torque. It takes 7.5 seconds to reach 100 kilometers per hour from a standstill. Jaguar Land Rover Korea said it released the gasoline model in response to Korean customers' growing demand for SUVs, which are quieter than diesel SUVs.The Evoque is now available in three powertrains ― two diesel models each producing 150 and 180 horsepower, and the gasoline model. All of them are equipped with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, in which an underfloor battery assists the engine with energy stored during braking. The brand said the system improves Evoque's fuel economy by 5 percent. With

Nov 20, 2019By Nam Hyun-woo

New Evoque goes beyond style with gasoline model

Korea's Kim Hyun-chong dilemma

NSO second deputy director Kim Hyun-chong's push for national interest is clashing with the U.S. Korea Times photo by Ryu Hyo-jinBy Do Je-hae With the expiration of a military-intelligence sharing pact between Seoul and Tokyo only days away, the U.S. is intensifying its pressure on South Korea to maintain the agreement for security cooperation.More Koreans are concerned Cheong Wa Dae's August announcement of its intention to end the General Security of Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in response to Japan's July trade restrictions has resulted in a rift in the Korea-U.S. alliance. Such concerns have triggered debates about Kim Hyun-chong, the second deputy director of the presidential National Security Office (NSO), and his brand of diplomacy. Kim has been President Moon Jae-in's key messenger in relations with the U.S. and Japan since the beginning of the “trade war” with Japan. The former WTO lawyer and chief of Samsung's legal affairs team, who was educated mostly in the U.S., is well-known for his distinct and very candid style which sets him apart from traditionally-tr

Nov 20, 2019By Do Je-hae

Lawmakers head for Washington on defense cost issue

From left, main opposition Liberty Korea Party floor leader Rep. Na Kyung-won, left, and her counterparts from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party, Reps. Lee In-young and Oh Shin-hwan, respectively, hold a press briefing at Incheon International Airport, Wednesday, before embarking on a five-day trip to Washington to meet U.S. officials including Stephen Biegun, U.S. special representative for North Korea, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, the president pro tempore of the United States Senate. They will be there to call for “fair” negotiations for this year's Special Measures Agreement (SMA) between Seoul and Washington. Activists who oppose the alleged U.S. demand for $5 billion to cover next year's defense cost-sharing held a rally behind the floor leaders. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonFloor leaders of the major political parties headed to Washington D.C., Wednesday (KST), for scheduled meetings with senior officials on Capitol Hill and high-ranking U.S. government personnel after negotiations between Seoul and Washington over the cost-sharing

Nov 20, 2019By Park Ji-won

Lawmakers head for Washington on defense cost issue

Parties fail to pass resolution to pressure US over defense cost-sharing

Politics