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Lee moves longtime aide to personal secretary post in reshuffle
President Lee Jae Myung has appointed Kim Hyun-ji, his secretary for general affairs and a longtime aide, as his personal secretary in a reshuffle at the presidential office, the office said Monday. Yoon Ki-chun, the personal secretary to first lady Kim Hea Kyung, will take over as secretary for general affairs in charge of the office's budget and operations. The shake-up comes at a time when the main opposition People Power Party has requested Kim to appear at a parliamentary audit next month,
Sept. 29, 2025 -
Presidential aide says Ishiba's visit restores 'shuttle diplomacy'
President Lee Jae Myung's national security aide said the upcoming working visit by outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will mark a restoration of "a shuttle diplomacy" between the two countries, in which leaders frequently take turns visiting each other's country. The leaders will hold a summit and a dinner, hosted by President Lee, Wi Sung-lac, director of the presidential National Security Office, told reporters on Monday, a day ahead of Ishiba's announced visit to Busan on Tuesda
Sept. 29, 2025 -
Parties clash over security as Chinese visa waiver begins
Lawmakers clashed over a potential security gap in South Korea’s electronic travel system after a data center fire disrupted parts of the state network over the weekend. The Justice Ministry briefly posted a notice Saturday allowing foreign tourists to submit e-travel forms without local addresses. By Monday, the notice was removed, but opposition lawmakers said the move posed a serious security risk just as visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists began. Rep. Na Kyung-won of the main oppositi
Sept. 29, 2025 -
Working group meeting on US visa system kicks off Tuesday
The first session of a working group meeting on US visas for South Korean nationals will be held in Washington on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul Monday. The working group session is aimed at "discussing ways to streamline the immigration process of (those working for) South Korean companies investing in the US, and to improve the US visa system," the ministry said in a note to reporters. Seoul and Washington agreed to set up a working group discussion after Seoul
Sept. 29, 2025 -
The pen that impressed Trump: Monami releases limited edition following intense spotlight
A luxury pen modeled after the one used by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung for official signatures, which caught the attention of US President Donald Trump during their summit last month, is going on sale to the public in a strictly limited release. Stationery brand Monami said Monday that it will begin selling 1,000 sets of its new signature pen from Tuesday. The launch comes about a month after media spotlighted the pen given as an impromptu gift by President Lee to Trump during their hig
Sept. 29, 2025 -
Lee receives credentials from 7 new ambassadors to S. Korea
President Lee Jae Myung on Monday received diplomatic credentials from seven new ambassadors to South Korea, including the new envoy from the European Union, the presidential office said. The ambassadors included Ugo Astuto of the EU, Nadine Olivieri Lozano of Switzerland, Bartosz Wisniewski of Poland, Tanel Sepp of Estonia, Philippe Lafortune of Canada, Mikael Hemniti Winther of Denmark, and Wong Kai Jiun of Singapore. New ambassadors typically present copies of their credentials to the head of
Sept. 29, 2025 -
Lee's approval rating falls for 3rd straight week: poll
President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating fell for a third consecutive week, a survey showed Monday, amid concerns over stalled trade talks with the United States on South Korea's massive investment pledge. According to the survey by Realmeter commissioned by a local news outlet, 52 percent gave a positive assessment of Lee's job performance, down 1 percentage point from the previous week. The negative assessment edged up 0.5 percentage point to 44.1 percent over the same period. Realmeter said
Sept. 29, 2025 -
Seoul, Washington reach foreign exchange agreement
South Korea is poised to announce a new agreement reached in its foreign exchange consultations with the United States as early as next week, as all eyes are on whether the announcement could tame foreign exchange market fears, amid ongoing trade deal negotiations involving South Korea's $350 billion investment in the US. Koo Yun-cheol, South Korea's deputy prime minister and finance minister, said Saturday upon his return from the US at Incheon Airport that South Korea "reached a settlement wit
Sept. 28, 2025 -
KCC chief vows legal action if ousted under DP-led media bill
Lee Jin-sook, chair of Korea Communications Commission, said Sunday she would take legal action if she is removed from her post under recently passed legislation to replace the commission with a new broadcasting and communications body. The KCC chief told reporters at the National Assembly in Seoul that if the bill becomes law and she is dismissed, she would "initiate legal procedures such as a constitutional petition or an injunction." "This is targeted legislation against me," she said, adding
Sept. 28, 2025 -
Bill dismantling Prosecutor’s Office, reorganizing ministries passes Assembly
South Korea’s National Assembly on Friday approved a bill to dismantle the country’s central prosecutorial body, splitting its powers of investigation and indictment between newly created agencies. The amendment to the Government Organization Act, drafted by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, passed by a vote of 174 to one, with five abstentions. A total of 180 lawmakers participated in the vote. Under the law, the Prosecutors' Office will be formally abolished in September next year after a
Sept. 26, 2025 -
Special counsel asks court to allow broadcasts of ex-PM Han's trial
A special counsel team said Friday it has asked a court to allow broadcasts of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's trial next week over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid. Han is scheduled to attend the trial's first hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday after being indicted late last month on charges of abetting the ringleader of an insurrection, perjury and other offenses. "We have applied for broadcasts of the hearing on former
Sept. 26, 2025 -
Lee arrives in S. Korea, set for summit with Ishiba in Busan next week
President Lee Jae Myung arrived in South Korea on Friday as he ended his weeklong trip to the United States, as he is set to hold a summit with outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Busan next week. Ishiba will visit South Korea for two days starting Tuesday, according to the presidential office. “The two leaders are expected to hold a summit and a dinner in Busan," said presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. “Prime Minister Ishiba’s visit to Korea follows the resumption of shuttle
Sept. 26, 2025 -
Final preparations
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok conducted a follow-up inspection on Friday at the Gyeongju Expo Grand Park, where preparations are underway for the 2025 APEC Summit scheduled from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. This marks one of several on-site visits the Prime Minister has made since being tasked by President Lee Jae Myung in July to oversee the summit’s infrastructure readiness. During the visit, Kim reviewed progress on key facilities, including the APEC Economic Leaders’ Exhibition Hall and the Internationa
Sept. 26, 2025 -
Natl. Assembly set to vote on govt. reorganization bill after filibuster
The National Assembly is set to vote Friday on a government reorganization bill fiercely protested by the main opposition party following an end to its filibuster. The revision to the Government Organization Act, the first of its kind under the Lee Jae Myung administration, centers on abolishing the prosecution office and establishing two new agencies to take on its investigative and indictment powers. It also calls for stripping the Ministry of Economy and Finance of its budget planning role an
Sept. 26, 2025 -
Lee woos capital market investors on Wall Street
NEW YORK — South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday convened an investor relations event at the New York Stock Exchange headquarters in the borough of Manhattan in New York, intent to garner US investors' attention to his administration's capital market reform and the market's growth potential. In his speech at the "Korea Investment Summit," Lee pledged South Korea's capital market reform push and exchanged views on the market reform with top financiers in New York. South Korea has rece
Sept. 25, 2025