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Politics

Ex-PM Lee Hae-chan's 5-day funeral to be held later this week

The funeral of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, who died while visiting Vietnam, will be held for five days this week in the format of a "social funeral" in consideration of his contribution to society, officials said Monday. Lee, who was serving as a senior vice president of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC), died at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday after suffering cardiac arrest. The funeral, to be hosted by PUAC and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, will be held from Jan. 27-31, according to PUAC officials. Lee's body is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport early Tuesday before being transported to the funeral venue. The service will be carried out in the format of a "social funeral," a ceremony to mourn the death of an influential figure who made contributions to society. The funeral period is also longer than the usual three-day service in Korea. The former prime minister arrived in the Vietnamese city Thursday but collapsed Friday while preparing to return home after his flu-like symptoms worsened. He was taken to a nearby hospital and un

Jan 26, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-PM Lee Hae-chan's 5-day funeral to be held later this week
Politics

Ruling party lawmakers mourn death of ex-PM Lee Hae-chan

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) mourned the death of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan on Monday, refraining from clashing over a proposed merger with a minor opposition party and other contentious issues. Lee, who was appointed in October as senior vice chairperson of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council to support the North Korea and unification policies of the current administration, died Sunday at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City after suffering cardiac arrest. DPK lawmakers, who had been divided over the party's push to merge with the minor liberal Rebuilding Korea Party ahead of the June 3 local elections, instead focused on paying their respects to the former prime minister this day. The party's Supreme Council meeting, initially scheduled to take place on the southern resort island of Jeju, was held at the National Assembly in consideration of Lee's death. DPK leader Jung Chung-rae expressed his condolences at the meeting, vowing to carry on Lee's legacy for the nation's democratization and peace on the Korean Peninsula. "The DPK will never forget Lee's lifelong com

Jan 26, 2026By Yonhap
Ruling party lawmakers mourn death of ex-PM Lee Hae-chan
Defense

New US defense strategy highlights Seoul's 'leading role' in peninsula security: ministry

The defense ministry said Monday the new U.S. defense strategy placed an emphasis on South Korea's own capabilities to play a more "leading role" in the security of the Korean Peninsula. The ministry's spokesperson made the remarks following the release of the Pentagon's National Defense Strategy (NDS) that said South Korea is capable of taking "primary" responsibility to deter North Korea with "critical, but more limited" U.S. support. "Our government takes note of how the U.S. government assessed our capabilities and determination to play a more leading role in the security of the Korean Peninsula in the 2026 NDS," ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said in a regular press briefing. "While maintaining a robust combined defense posture, our military will closely cooperate with the United States so that the South Korea-U.S. alliance will develop into a future-oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance," Chung said. The 2026 NDS is in line with U.S. President Donald Trump's America First policy that calls for allies to do more for their own defense. On Saturday, President Lee Jae Myung said

Jan 26, 2026By Yonhap
New US defense strategy highlights Seoul's 'leading role' in peninsula security: ministry
Law & Crime

Arrest warrants issued for 55 of 73 scam suspects repatriated from Cambodia

Police said Monday that 55 of the 73 Korean online scam suspects repatriated from Cambodia last week have been put under arrest. The 73 suspects were brought home Friday in the nation's largest repatriation of criminal suspects from a single country, and arrest warrants were requested for 72 of them, excluding one whose criminal charges were deemed minor. They allegedly swindled a combined 48.6 billion won ($33.6 million) from 869 Korean victims. As of 9 a.m. Monday, courts nationwide had issued arrest warrants for 55 suspects, according to the Korean National Police Agency's National Office of Investigation. Those arrested include 49 no-show scammers accused of defrauding 194 victims of 6.9 billion won by impersonating civil servants and a couple accused of swindling 12 billion won from 104 people through romance scams using deep fake technology. The remaining 17 suspects who allegedly defrauded about 30 romance scam victims of some 5 billion won are set to attend their arrest warrant hearing in South Chungcheong Province on Monday afternoon, the police said.

Jan 26, 2026By Yonhap
Arrest warrants issued for 55 of 73 scam suspects repatriated from Cambodia
South Korea

Korea to build 2 new nuclear reactors by 2038 as planned: minister

Seoul will construct two new nuclear reactors by 2038 at the latest as planned, the climate minister said Monday, reflecting public support for the plan amid growing demand for clean energy. Climate Minister Kim Sung-whan announced the plan in a press briefing on the envisioned 12th basic plan for electricity supply and demand, which outlines the country's power supply plan for the 2026-2040 period. The government will conduct necessary procedures to complete building two large-scale nuclear reactors between 2037-2038 as planned under the 11th basic plan devised by the previous administration, Kim said. "To respond to climate change, carbon emissions must be reduced across all sectors, and to cut carbon emissions in the energy sector, it is necessary to reduce power generation through coal and liquefied natural gas," he told reporters. "Therefore, we need power system operations centered on renewable energy and nuclear power." Last week, two public opinion polls commissioned by the government showed that an average of 80 percent of respondents said nuclear power is needed, with 60 percent

Jan 26, 2026By Yonhap
Korea to build 2 new nuclear reactors by 2038 as planned: minister
Defense

Army deploys new command information system after upgrade

The state arms procurement agency said Monday it has successfully deployed an upgraded tactical command system to the Army as part of its bid to enhance intelligence-sharing capabilities critical to modern warfare. The deployment was announced as the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) completed an advancement project for the Army Tactical Command Information System (ATCIS), aimed at sharing complex wartime information in real time. The system upgrade allows commanders to access artificial intelligence (AI)-analyzed data to make better battlefield decisions, while sharing information with unmanned equipment by laying the foundation for AI-based manned-unmanned teaming. DAPA plans to utilize the technology and data processing knowledge acquired from the project to develop a joint command and control system encompassing all military branches.

Jan 26, 2026By Yonhap
Army deploys new command information system after upgrade
South Korea

Ex-FM Gong Ro-myung, 1st S. Korean ambassador to Soviet Union, dies at 94

Former Foreign Minister Gong Ro-myung, who played a key role in establishing South Korea's diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, has died, a think tank said Monday. He was 94. Gong died Sunday, an official from the East Asia Foundation said, marking the loss of a widely respected veteran diplomat. Gong is best known for his pivotal role in negotiations that led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and the Soviet Union in September 1990. Gong went on to serve as Seoul's first ambassador to the Soviet Union following the normalization of ties. He was also the top envoy to Japan from 1993-94. In 1994, Gong was named foreign minister by then President Kim Young-sam and served for two years. After retirement, he assumed senior advisory posts at key foreign policy think tanks in Korea. Gong, a native of North Hamgyong Province in what is now North Korea, graduated from Seoul National University with a law degree and entered the foreign service in 1958. A funeral parlor will be set up at Severance Hospital in Sinchon, and condolence visits will begi

Jan 26, 2026By Yonhap
Ex-FM Gong Ro-myung, 1st S. Korean ambassador to Soviet Union, dies at 94
Politics

President Lee offers deep condolences over death of former prime minister

President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday expressed deep condolences over the death of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, who died while visiting Vietnam. "Today, the Republic of Korea has lost a great mentor in the history of democracy," Lee wrote in a message posted on his Facebook account. "On behalf of the Republic of Korea, I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family." Praising the late prime minister's dedication to safeguarding and expanding democratic values, the president said Lee demonstrated exceptional leadership by balancing stability and reform without compromising his principles and convictions. "Just as a river may meander but ultimately flows to the sea, the journey toward democracy, peaceful reunification and balanced development that he sought to achieve will continue," Lee wrote. "We will long remember the precious political legacy he left behind." Lee Hae-chan, who was serving as senior vice chairperson of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council, died Sunday at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City after suffering cardiac arrest. He arrived in the Vietnamese city Thurs

Jan 25, 2026By Yonhap
President Lee offers deep condolences over death of former prime minister
Politics

Former PM Lee Hae-chan dies during Vietnam trip

Korea's former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan died on Sunday during his visit to Vietnam where he was to join a regional plenary meeting of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC). He was 73. PUAC, a presidential advisory group, said on Sunday that Lee, the organization’s senior vice president, died two days after being taken to a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. He was diagnosed with myocardial infarction at the hospital and received a stent operation but could not recover. Lee reportedly complained of flu-like symptoms before his departure to Vietnam and decided to return home one day after since his condition didn't improve. While waiting for his return flight at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, he experienced shortness of breath and was transported to the hospital. He reportedly suffered cardiac arrest twice, once during the transfer and again at the hospital. Lee, a former seven-term lawmaker, served as prime minister from 2004 to 2006 during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. He was appointed as senior vice chairperson of the PUAC in October last year. His political career

Jan 25, 2026By Ko Dong-hwan
Former PM Lee Hae-chan dies during Vietnam trip
Defense

New US defense strategy shifts alliance roles, puts focus on OPCON transfer

A new U.S. National Defense Strategy (NDS) is expected to accelerate discussions over greater strategic flexibility for U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) and the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul, as the U.S. calls for South Korea to take primary responsibility for deterring North Korea. The Pentagon on Friday (local time) released its 2026 NDS, which states, “South Korea is capable of taking primary responsibility for deterring North Korea with critical but more limited U.S. support.” According to the strategy, the assessment reflects South Korea’s high defense spending, advanced defense industrial base and conscription system. The document adds that “this shift in the balance of responsibility is consistent with America’s interest in updating U.S. force posture on the Korean Peninsula.” The wording points to a new division of roles within the alliance, under which Seoul would play a larger role in conventional deterrence while U.S. forces adjust their posture in line with broader strategic priorities, including deterring China. The Donald Trum

Jan 25, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
New US defense strategy shifts alliance roles, puts focus on OPCON transfer
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