Lee embarks on 4-nation tour to Middle East, Africa

President Lee Jae Myung is set to leave on Monday for a 10-day, four-nation tour of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, South Africa and Turkey, which will be his first visit to the Middle East and Africa since taking office in June. Lee will begin the journey with a three-day state visit to the UAE, followed by an official visit to Egypt from Nov. 19-21, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said during a press briefing on Friday. From there, the president will travel to South Africa to participat

Nov. 16, 2025

Out of tough US tariff negotiations, South Korea advances key defense priorities

South Korea and the United States on Friday unveiled a joint fact sheet outlining their agreements on trade and security, concluding months of tense negotiations that began after US President Donald Trump raised tariffs and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung offered a pledge of $350 billion investment in the US. While the document contains details of South Korean spending and lowered US tariffs on key Korean items, including automobilies, the fact sheet also includes significant security-relat

Nov. 14, 2025

[Breaking] S. Korea, US sign joint fact sheet on trade, security

South Korea and the United States finalized a joint fact sheet on trade and security, concluding months of fraught negotiations, President Lee Jae Myung told reporters Friday. “We have finalized the Korea–US trade and security consultations, which had been the biggest variable,” Lee said in Seoul, expressing gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his “rational decision,” which played a major role in reaching the agreements. The Korean leader said, -South Korea and the US have agreed to move

Nov. 14, 2025

Lee's aide on trip to Middle East to forge strategic cooperation

Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik on Thursday flew to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as President Lee Jae Myung's special envoy for strategic cooperation. According to an official of the presidential office, Kang is to "discuss ways to establish a new model for strategic economic cooperation." The field of cooperation would encompass artificial intelligence, defense, advanced manufacturing, culture, food and medical services, according to the presidential office. While Kang was set to

Nov. 14, 2025

Lee vows greater autonomy for local governments

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday met leaders of local governments at his office in Seoul, where he promised to give them greater autonomy over governmental budget spending specifically for their needs, stressing a need to bolster local autonomy and foster balanced national growth. In Lee's latest move to place local autonomy as one of his top policy priorities, the liberal administration also suggested ways to increase state subsidies to local governments based on new rules to calculate them

Nov. 12, 2025

Civil servants to face in-house probe over martial law

A pangovernmental investigation into civil servants allegedly involved in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law is set to be launched after President Lee Jae Myung agreed to a proposal from the prime minister on Tuesday. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok proposed that the investigation be completed by January and undertaken by a "task force to respect the Constitution and innovate the government." Kim added that the task force will come up with follow-up measures before Seollal,

Nov. 11, 2025

Still no sign of Korea-US trade deal documents

As progress on finalizing a trade deal between South Korea and the United States continues to stall, discrepancies between the two sides over where South Korea’s nuclear submarines should be built have drawn media attention. Amid the deadlock over which country’s shipyard should handle construction, experts say Washington’s proposal appears unrealistic without major investments and workforce training, citing limited shipbuilding capacity and manpower at US yards. "Facility investment would be a

Nov. 10, 2025

Lee's chief of staff to visit UAE this week

Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik is scheduled to visit the United Arab Emirates to discuss cooperation with South Korea in the field of defense later this week, according to the presidential office Monday. Kang will meet with high-ranking UAE officials, the presidential office said, but the itinerary of his trip has yet to be disclosed. Kang previously traveled to Poland, Romania and Norway in October, as South Korea's defense industry seeks more contracts abroad in line with President

Nov. 10, 2025

Prosecution's failure to appeal Seongnam land corruption case stirs controversy

Controversy has erupted over alleged government interference in the prosecution’s decision not to appeal a high-profile corruption case involving a housing development project in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The case had drawn public attention due to suspicions of President Lee Jae Myung's involvement. A recent lower court ruling suggested otherwise. The prosecution’s failure to file an appeal before Friday’s deadline has since fueled accusations of political meddling, prompting fierce criticism

Nov. 9, 2025

US trade deal has 'commercial rationality' clause, Lee's aide says

A clause on “commercial rationality” has been included in Article 1 of the memorandum of understanding to be signed between South Korea and the United States, a senior presidential aide told parliament on Thursday, amid delays in releasing both the fact sheet and the memorandum. Chief presidential secretary for national policy Kim Yong-beom, speaking at a parliamentary audit of the National Assembly’s Steering Committee, made the remarks in response to Rep. Kim Nam-geun of the ruling Democratic

Nov. 6, 2025