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Seoul, Washington agree to seek practical support for legitimate Korean workers entering US
South Korea and the United States agreed Wednesday to seek practical support to ensure a smooth entry into the US of South Korean businesses investing in the country, as they held follow-up talks on visa issues, Seoul's foreign ministry said. The latest visa dialogue came as the two countries agreed to explore ways to better address US visas for South Korean companies and their employees visiting the US, after the arrest and detention of more than 300 Korean workers in a US immigration raid in G
Oct. 23, 2025 -
Rubio to visit S. Korea next week for 1st time as top US diplomat: State Dept.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit South Korea next week as part of a multination trip to Asia, the State Department said Wednesday, as US President Donald Trump is set to travel to Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Rubio will travel to Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo and Korea's southeastern city of Gyeongju, the APEC venue, from Sunday through Oct. 30, according to Tommy Pigott, the department's principal deputy spokesperson. He is expected to accompany Trump during Trump's
Oct. 23, 2025 -
Senior Seoul official reports 'partial progress' in trade negotiations with US
A senior South Korean official noted "partial progress" in trade negotiations with the United States in Washington on Wednesday, as the two countries strive to bridge their differences over how to implement Seoul's $350 billion investment pledge under a bilateral trade deal struck in July. Kim Yong-beom, the presidential chief of staff for policy, made the assessment, saying "It's not over until it's over," after he and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnic
Oct. 23, 2025 -
Trade minister raises concerns over China's Hanwha sanctions in high-level talks
Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wednesday and conveyed concerns over Beijing's recent sanctions against five US-based subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean Co., Yeo's office said. Yeo also called for a swift lifting of the sanctions in a video conference with China's top trade negotiator Li Chenggang, while also expressing concerns over Beijing's recent decision to put export restrictions on five additional rare earth elements, according to the
Oct. 22, 2025 -
Trump says US has 'done well' in negotiations with S. Korea, Japan, EU thanks to tariffs
US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States has "done well" in trade negotiations with South Korea, Japan and the European Union thanks to the power of his tariffs, while voicing his expectation of reaching a "fair" deal with China. Trump made the remarks during a Rose Garden Club event, reaffirming that he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea when he visits the country for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering set to take place in the southeaste
Oct. 22, 2025 -
Marine chief to discuss regional security with Thai, Indonesian, Philippine counterparts
South Korea's Marine Corps Commandant Ju Il-suk will meet with his counterparts from Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines on Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen security in the region and expand military cooperation with the nations. Royal Thai Marine Corps Commandant Apichat Sapprasert and the chiefs of Marine Corps in Indonesia and the Philippine Marine Corps, Endi Supardi and Vicente Map Blanco III, respectively, are scheduled to visit the Marine Corps headquarters in Hwaseong, just sout
Oct. 21, 2025 -
DP expresses deep condolences over death of ex-Japanese PM Murayama
The ruling Democratic Party on Friday expressed deep condolences over the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, who was known for his historic apology to Asian victims of Japan's wartime aggression. "As prime minister of Japan, he was the first to explicitly acknowledge Japan's past as an act of 'aggression' and delivered a sincere apology along with a courageous recognition of history," Rep. Park Soo-hyun, chief spokesperson for the DP, said in a press release. Murayama, be
Oct. 17, 2025 -
US calls China's Hanwha sanctions attempt to undermine Korea-US cooperation, vows to stand 'firmly' with Korea
The State Department on Thursday criticized China's recent sanctions against five US-linked subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean as an "irresponsible" attempt to hurt shipbuilding cooperation between Korea and the United States, vowing to stand "firmly" with the Asian ally. A spokesperson at the department made the remarks in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency, days after Beijing announced the sanctions on the subsidiaries of the Korean firm, seen as a key entity in
Oct. 17, 2025 -
Minister says 'uncertain' whether Trump will accept Korea's position against 'upfront' $350b payment
South Korea's Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said Thursday it remains uncertain whether US President Donald Trump can be persuaded into accepting Seoul's position against his demand for an "upfront" investment payment of $350 billion as part of a trade deal struck in July. Koo made the remarks in a meeting with reporters in Washington, D.C., as Seoul has balked at Trump's demand for a massive direct equity investment, which it has said could cause an adverse impact on Korea's foreign exchange ma
Oct. 17, 2025 -
Bessent expects outcome within 10 days from talks over Korea's $350b investment
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that South Korea and the United States can resolve their differences over how to implement Seoul's $350 billion investment pledge, noting that he expects "something" to come "in the next 10 days." Bessent made the remarks during a press meeting, responding to a question from Yonhap News Agency about whether the two countries can bridge their gaps over Korea's investment package, which was pledged as part of a bilateral framework trade deal struc
Oct. 16, 2025 -
Trump claims again S. Korea has inked deal for 'upfront' $350b payment
US President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that South Korea has signed a deal to make an "upfront" payment of $350 billion to invest in the United States, as Seoul and Washington strive to bridge differences over how to implement the investment package under a trade deal struck in July. Trump made the remarks during a press availability, hours after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that he expects "something" from trade negotiations with Korea to come within the next 10 days -- a remark
Oct. 16, 2025 -
Taiwan seeks deeper ties with South Korea via 'integrated diplomacy’
The Taipei Mission in Korea marked Taiwan’s 114th National Day on Friday, highlighting the island’s 'integrated diplomacy' rooted in shared democratic values with South Korea. Taiwanese National Day, also known as Double Ten Day, commemorates the 1911 Wuchang Uprising that led to the fall of China’s Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912. Speaking at the event, Gow-wei Chiou, representative of the Taipei Mission in Korea, described Taiwan’s new diplomatic approach un
Oct. 15, 2025 -
Govt. response team set to depart for Cambodia amid widening job scam crisis targeting S. Koreans
A joint government response team is set to depart for Cambodia on Wednesday amid an escalating job scam crisis involving the trafficking, torture and captivity of South Koreans, following public shock and fear sparked by the brutal death of a South Korean college student. The response team, consisting of officials from the foreign ministry, police and the spy agency, is scheduled to head for Phnom Penh later in the day, as it seeks to engage with high-level Cambodian government officials to addr
Oct. 15, 2025 -
Industry minister vows efforts to reach 'fair' tariff deal with US amid growing trade uncertainties
The South Korean government will do its "utmost" to reach a "reasonable" and "fair" tariff agreement with the United States, the industry minister said Monday, vowing efforts to safeguard Korea's economy amid growing uncertainties in global trade. "We are continuing talks with Washington to iron out differences over the details of the creation and management of Korea's investment package for the US, and will do our utmost to reach a reasonable and fair agreement (with the US) prioritizing our na
Oct. 13, 2025 -
New Korean envoy to US pledges best efforts to address trade, other bilateral issues
South Korea's new top envoy to the United States vowed Saturday to mobilize "all embassy capacities" to help address trade and other bilateral issues with the US, as she arrived in Washington to begin her ambassadorship. Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha, who served as Seoul's foreign minister from 2017-2021, made the remarks as Seoul and Washington face a series of challenging tasks, including finalizing a trade deal, resuming diplomacy with North Korea and addressing visa issues for Korean workers. "A
Oct. 5, 2025