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S. Korea, Vietnam agree to bolster cooperation in the financial sector
South Korea and Vietnam agreed Monday to further enhance cooperation in the financial sector, particularly in the stock market system, via exchanges of policy experiences and related knowledge, Seoul's financial regulator said. In a meeting with Vietnam's Deputy Finance Minister Nguyen Duc Chi in Seoul, Financial Services Commission Vice Chairman Kwon Dae-young stressed that the two nations should also work to cooperate in the insurance, financial technology and other sectors. The two countries
Aug. 25, 2025 -
Lee set to wrap up visit to Japan, depart for high-stakes summit with Trump
President Lee Jae Myung is set to wrap up his two-day visit to Japan on Sunday and travel to Washington, D.C., for a high-stakes summit with US President Donald Trump. In Tokyo, Lee and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba held summit talks on Saturday during which they agreed to deepen cooperation to address shifting global trade and security dynamics and to strengthen trilateral ties with the United States. Lee said his decision to make Japan the first diplomatic destination for a bilateral
Aug. 24, 2025 -
Trade minister meets USTR Greer for final agenda coordination ahead of Lee-Trump summit
South Korea's Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Washington, DC., on Thursday, a source said, as Seoul officials are making last-minute agenda coordination efforts days ahead of the upcoming summit between Presidents Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump. Yeo arrived in Washington on Wednesday, less than a month after his last trip to the US capital, as Lee and Trump are set to hold their first in-person summit at the White House on Monday since Lee took offic
Aug. 22, 2025 -
Ruling bloc ramps up AI drive
South Korea's ruling bloc on Wednesday outlined plans to boost the country's artificial intelligence industry, speeding up political efforts to deliver on President Lee Jae Myung's campaign pledge to make Korea one of the top three AI powerhouses. At a policy consultation meeting held at the National Assembly in Seoul, the government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea shared a comprehensive blueprint to support AI innovation through budgetary, legislative and regulatory means, aiming to tr
Aug. 20, 2025 -
Berlin deadlocked over relocating 'comfort women' statue
A dispute over a statue in Berlin's Mitte district honoring victims of Japan's sexual slavery during World War II remains unresolved after talks between local officials and a Korean civic group ended without an agreement. The bronze “Statue of Peace,” depicting a young girl in traditional Korean dress, was installed in 2020 under a temporary permit that has since expired. City officials ordered its removal last year, citing diplomatic concerns with Japan, but the group that installed the statue,
Aug. 18, 2025 -
Lee to send special envoys to China around early next week: sources
President Lee Jae Myung plans to send a group of special envoys to China around early next week, coinciding with his upcoming trips to Japan and the United States for summit talks with their leaders, sources said Monday. The delegation will include former National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, ruling Democratic Party lawmakers Kim Tae-nyeon and Park Jeung, and Roh Jae-hun, son of former President Roh Tae-woo, according to the sources. "It's not final yet, but I understand they are working t
Aug. 18, 2025 -
KEPCO signs MOU with Vietnam's PVN to foster workforce for nuclear power industry
The state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. said Wednesday it has signed an initial agreement with Vietnamese energy firm Petrovietnam to foster a workforce for Vietnam's nuclear power industry, as Seoul and Hanoi seek to expand industrial ties. Under a memorandum of understanding signed earlier this week, KEPCO will work to expand its foothold in Vietnam, which aims to operate four nuclear reactors by 2035, according to company officials. KEPCO noted this marks the first time PVN, the operator of
Aug. 13, 2025 -
S. Korea, China agree to enhance joint crackdown on illegal fishing
South Korea and China have agreed to boost their joint efforts to crack down on illegal fishing, Seoul's oceans ministry said Tuesday. In a working-level meeting held last week, the countries agreed to step up joint efforts to monitor fishing activities and crack down on illegal practices in their shared waters, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Seoul has also called on Beijing to toughen its penalties for Chinese ships that engage in illegal fishing in waters near the Northern
Aug. 12, 2025 -
Top diplomats of S. Korea, Britain discuss bilateral ties in 1st phone talks
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun spoke with his British counterpart, David Lammy, by phone Monday to discuss ways to advance their strategic partnership and other security issues, his office said. Cho noted that the two countries have actively engaged in high-level exchanges since the launch of the Lee Jae Myung government in June and urged Britain's active support for the new administration's foreign policy, according to the ministry. Additionally, Cho expressed hope for closer cooperation in upgradin
Aug. 11, 2025 -
Unification minister discusses NK issues with Swedish envoy
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young met with the Swedish ambassador in Seoul on Monday to discuss ways to step up cooperation and address pending issues on the Korean Peninsula, his office said. During talks with Swedish Ambassador to South Korea Karl-Olof Andersson, Chung expressed appreciation for Sweden's diplomatic efforts to "ease inter-Korean tensions and to promote peace on the peninsula as a country that maintains diplomatic relations with North Korea and operates an embassy in Pyongya
Aug. 11, 2025 -
Lee, Dutch PM discuss semiconductors in phone talks
President Lee Jae Myung held phone talks with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Monday and discussed ways to step up their bilateral cooperation in semiconductors and other areas, his office said. During their first phone talks, Schoof congratulated Lee on his inauguration and expressed hope that the friendly ties between the two countries will deepen with the launch of the new administration, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing. Lee called for active communicatio
Aug. 11, 2025 -
Agriculture ministers of S. Korea, China, Japan hold 1st trilateral meeting in 7 yrs
Agriculture ministers of South Korea, China and Japan held a meeting Monday to discuss food security, animal disease response, sustainable farming and other issues, ending a seven-year hiatus in the countries' trilateral talks, Seoul's agriculture ministry said. South Korean Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung met with her counterparts from China and Japan -- Han Jun and Shinjiro Koizumi, respectively -- in Incheon, about 30 kilometers west of Seoul, to resume the trilateral meeting, which had be
Aug. 11, 2025 -
US unveils program requiring temporary business visa applicants to post bond of up to $15,000
The United States will conduct a 12-month pilot program that requires temporary visitor visa applicants for business or tourism to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance, a State Department rule showed Monday. The department posted the rule on the Federal Register, announcing the program for those applying for the B-1 visa for business and the B-2 visa for tourism, as US President Donald Trump's administration has been carrying out a crackdown on illegal immigration. Its im
Aug. 5, 2025 -
Lee says S. Korea-US trade deal to help dispel trade uncertainties
President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday a tariff deal reached by South Korea and the United States will help eliminate economic uncertainties for the South's export-reliant economy, voicing relief for clearing a major hurdle in the trade sector. Lee wrote the message on Facebook, shortly after US President Donald Trump said his administration has agreed to impose 15 percent reciprocal tariffs on South Korea, 10 percentage points lower than what was proposed. "We have cleared a major hurdle," Lee s
July 31, 2025 -
S. Korea's finance minister to hold tariff negotiations with Bessent late Thursday, Korean time
South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol will hold tariff negotiations with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington on late Thursday (Seoul time), his office said Wednesday. The talks are scheduled to take place at 10:45 p.m, according to Seoul's finance ministry. Top officials from Seoul are in the United States in all-out efforts to finalize a trade deal with the US before Friday's deadline, when the 25 percent reciprocal tariffs will take effect. (Yonhap)
July 30, 2025