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186 S. Korean seafarers aboard ships stranded in Strait of Hormuz: oceans ministry
More than 180 South Korean seafarers remain aboard over two dozen ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, the oceans ministry said Wednesday, as safety concerns mount after the vital shipping route was effectively closed by the Middle East conflict. A total of 144 South Korean crew members are aboard 26 Korean vessels in the key waterway where roughly 20 percent of global oil and gas pass through, the ministry said in a release after holding a meeting to check the situation in the region. An add
March 4, 2026 -
DP to meet business leaders over Middle East crisis
The main opposition Democratic Party said Wednesday it will meet with business leaders this week to discuss possible fallout from the US-Israeli strikes against Iran. The meeting, scheduled for Thursday, will bring together DP lawmakers from parliamentary committees on foreign affairs, trade and finance, along with representatives from the Federation of Korean Industries, the Korea International Trade Association and the state-run Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency. Senior executives from m
March 4, 2026 -
Head of Seongdong district steps down to join Seoul mayoral race
The head of the Seongdong district, Chong Won-o, stepped down from his post Wednesday to join the race for Seoul mayor in the June 3 local elections. Chong, who has officially declared his bid for Seoul mayor, held a retirement ceremony at the Seongdong District Office earlier in the day. He plans to register as a preliminary candidate on Thursday. Chong will be competing with four other contenders in the ruling Democratic Party's primary for Seoul mayor: three-term lawmakers Rep. Park Ju-min an
March 4, 2026 -
Bill for $350b investment in US sees progress
The legislative process needed for South Korea's $350 billion US investment plan regained momentum Wednesday, with rival parties agreeing to move ahead and leave behind the drawn-out gridlock. A special parliamentary committee dedicated to passing the bill resumed operation Wednesday, tabling all nine related bills and conducting subcommittee-level reviews. The bills differ in detail, but each is designed to establish a new state-run body dedicated to US investments, outline the plan to use the
March 4, 2026 -
Navy chief penalized for role in Yoon's martial law
South Korea's Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Kang Dong-gil has been subjected to administrative action for his role in President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law in December 2024. According to the Ministry of National Defense, Kang was penalized for dereliction of duty. The ministry did not disclose the level of disciplinary action against Kang, but local reports suggested that he was given a one-month suspension from duty. Kang had been relieved from duty as the chief of the Navy in mi
March 4, 2026 -
Jung, Lee loyalists squabble over 'disappeared' handshake scene
A ruling party flap has erupted over a handshake between its leader and President Lee Jae Myung, and its absence from government footage of Lee's departure for an overseas trip. What started the latest spat between a Lee supporter group and another group loyal to Democratic Party of Korea Chair Jung Chung-rae was a three-minute clip released this week on "Lee Imagine," a YouTube channel run by government media outlet KTV. The clip titled "A scene of President Lee's departure from Seoul Air Base,
March 3, 2026 -
Yoon's inauguration photo removed from Assembly
A photo of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's 2022 inauguration ceremony has been removed from the National Assembly building, National Assembly Speaker Rep. Woo Won-shik's office said Tuesday. Woo said in his statement that he approved the decision to replace Yoon's photo in the basement of the National Assembly building with that of the incumbent President Lee Jae Myung. Yoon's photo on the basement floor of the National Assembly main building was previously part of the four-photo collage alongs
March 3, 2026 -
PM says top priority on S. Koreans' safety amid Middle East crisis
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said Tuesday the government is responding all-out to the Middle East crisis with top priority on South Koreans' safety. Kim made the remark during a Cabinet meeting, as the US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran over the weekend prompted military responses from countries across the region. "The situation in the Middle East is very fluid," the prime minister said, noting that President Lee Jae Myung was away on state visits to Singapore and the Philippines. "The government is r
March 3, 2026 -
Lee heads to Manila for summit with Marcos after Singapore visit
President Lee Jae Myung is set to wrap up his trip to Singapore and fly to Manila for summit talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday to discuss ways to expand bilateral cooperation. It will mark Lee's second summit with Marcos following their first meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in late October. The two leaders are expected to explore ways to deepen cooperation in the defense industry, infrastructure and trade, as well as in promi
March 3, 2026 -
Defense chief, US undersecretary discuss Middle East situation
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Monday talked with US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby on the phone to discuss the situation surrounding the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes against Iran, his office said. During the phone call, Ahn was briefed on Washington's position regarding its military operations against Iran, and the two officials shared their views on the current situation unfolding in the Middle East. "The two sides reaffirmed the steadfast South Korea-US all
March 2, 2026 -
Lee seeks Singapore's support in S. Korea's efforts to resume talks with N. Korea
President Lee Jae Myung on Monday asked for Singapore's support for South Korea's efforts to resume talks with North Korea and make progress toward peace on the Korean Peninsula during his state visit to the Southeast Asian nation. During a state dinner hosted by Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Lee highlighted that the venue was where Singapore hosted the historic 2018 summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which focused on efforts toward Pyongy
March 2, 2026 -
Defense chief seeks to prioritize overseas troops' safety amid Middle East tensions
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Monday called for the safety of troops dispatched overseas to be put as the top priority, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes against Iran. Ahn made the remarks while presiding over a meeting to assess the situation surrounding the Middle East and inspect the safety of South Korean troops dispatched overseas, including in the United Arab Emirates, South Sudan, Lebanon and Somalia. "While ensuring the safety of troops deployed
March 2, 2026 -
Lee taps 4-term ruling party lawmaker to head Budget Ministry
President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Rep. Park Hong-keun, a four-term lawmaker and former floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, as the inaugural Minister of Planning and Budget. Park's nomination comes just over a month after Lee retracted the nomination of Lee Hye-hoon, a former conservative lawmaker. Park is considered one of the president's closest aides, having served as his chief of staff during the 2022 presidential campaign. He also served as the Democratic Party floor leader wh
March 2, 2026 -
Lee steps up verbal warning against multiple home owners after listing private home for sale
President Lee Jae Myung is set to hold summit talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday, with the two leaders expected to discuss ways to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, nuclear energy and other areas. The meeting will mark the second summit between Lee and Wong in four months, following their previous talks during Wong's visit to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, where the two countries upgraded their bilateral ties to a strategic p
March 2, 2026 -
Lee orders safety measures for S. Koreans after US-Israel attacks on Iran
President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday instructed officials to assess the potential impact of the United States and Israel's attacks on Iran, and to step up measures to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals in the Middle East. After being briefed on the situation in Iran, Lee ordered a review of possible repercussions for South Korea and related countermeasures, while prioritizing the safety of Korean nationals in Iran and nearby regions, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a press
Feb. 28, 2026