Kishida invites Yoon to upcoming G-7 summit: report

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida invited South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to a G-7 summit to be held in Hiroshima in May, a news report said Monday. According to Japan's Kyodo News Agency, Kishida told reporters he invited leaders of South Korea, Brazil, India, Vietnam and four other countries to the upcoming G-7 summit during his current visit to India. Japan has the authority to invite countries to the G-7 summit this year as the host nation. The report came less than a week afte

March 20, 2023

Yoon should do more to sell forced labor deal: experts

The Yoon Suk Yeol administration could make better use of its recent deal on Korean victims who suffered Japan’s forced labor during its rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910-45, if it addresses a split public directly, expert said Tuesday amid growing skepticism Yoon invited the wrong kind of closure. The two-day summit between Yoon and his Japanese counterpart that ended Friday in Tokyo reaffirmed Yoon’s March 6 proposal. It breaks down to delaying the pursuit of a specific apolog

March 20, 2023

‘Think long-term,’ experts say of Japan deal on forced labor

Despite the latest deal with Japan meant to end a historical dispute over forced labor, the Yoon Seok Yeol administration is facing a public backlash as the division deepens over whether Yoon has ushered in the right kind of closure. Some experts say the president may just have done so, as South Korea in the long-term can claim the “moral high ground” on the issue. In a potential move against a 2018 Korean court ruling holding Japanese companies liable for damages to Korean victims o

March 19, 2023

Dokdo, sex slaves and divided public in 'new' era of ties

President Yoon Suk Yeol returned home with another diplomatic milestone under his belt, marking a thaw in strained bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan on Friday. Now he faces other problems regarding historic disputes with the neighboring country and a divided public. The latest diplomatic development between South Korea and Japan came after an announcement from Seoul two weeks ago that it would launch a local foundation to pay the victims of Japan's forced labor during its

March 19, 2023

US House Foreign Affairs Committee members to visit Seoul next month: sources

WASHINGTON -- A delegation from the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), is set to visit South Korea early next month, diplomatic sources said Saturday. During their visit scheduled for April 5-6, the nine lawmakers plan to meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol, National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo and Foreign Minister Park Jin to discuss ways to develop the South Korea-US alliance and strengthen the joint response to North Korea's escalating threats, a

March 18, 2023

Nordic embassies discuss gender divide

The Nordic embassies in Seoul discussed ways to bridge the gender divide in entrepreneurship in the 11th Nordic Talks Korea on March 8. In celebration of International Women's Day, the four Scandinavian embassies -- Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland -- held the seminar under the theme of Bridging the Gender Divide in Entrepreneurship. The seminar, which included presentations by Nordic and Korean experts and a panel discussion, explored topics on bias, stereotypes and challenges women fac

March 17, 2023

First lady asks Tadao Ando to consider art museum collaboration in Korea

First lady Kim Keon Hee on Friday met renowned architect Tadao Ando, with whom she had worked before her husband's presidency, in Tokyo. During their meeting, Kim asked the Japanese architect to consider a collaboration with Korean architecture, such as building an art museum in Korea, stressing the need to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. Responding to her suggestion, Ando said Korea has "many characterful buildings" and that he hopes to see Korea and Japan b

March 17, 2023

[Photo News] 'CHEERS'

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida toast during an extended dinner session held at a restaurant in Ginza, downtown Tokyo, after their summit on Thursday. While drinking Japanese beer mixed with Korean soju, the Japanese premier has reportedly told his Korean counterpart that the friendship between Korea and Japan "felt tasty," referring to the drink also known as "sopok" in Korea.

March 17, 2023

First ladies of South Korea, Japan make Japanese sweets

First lady Kim Keon Hee made wagashi, Japanese sweets, with Japanese first lady Yuko Kishida as she visited the prime minister’s residence during President Yoon Suk Yeol's working trip to Tokyo. This was the first meeting between the two in four months since the G-20 summit held in November in Indonesia. Kim learned how to make Japanese sweets under the guidance of a Japanese artisan and drank matcha tea, according to the Korean presidential office in a written statement. The two firs

March 17, 2023

US-S. Korea military exercises deter N. Korean aggression: Pentagon

WASHINGTON-- Joint military exercises between the United States and its allies are working effectively to deter aggression despite continued provocations from North Korea, a US Department of Defense spokesperson said Thursday. Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder made the remarks hours after North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, marking its second ICBM launch this year. "I think what's important for people to understand is one, deterrence continues to work," the Pentagon spok

March 17, 2023

Yoon, Kishida have sukiyaki dinner together with first ladies

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had a sukiyaki dinner together at a restaurant in Ginza, downtown Tokyo, following their summit meeting on Thursday. According to a written briefing by presidential spokesman Lee Do-woon, President Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee arrived at Yoshizawa, which is famous for its sukiyaki, at around 7:40 pm. Prime Minister Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida had already arrived and came out to greet the South Korean president and his

March 16, 2023

[Photo News] Presidential couple in Tokyo

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee are greeted by Korean compatriots attending a luncheon with the presidential couple. The luncheon was held ahead of a summit with Yoon's Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, in Tokyo on Thursday. Yoon thanked Koreans in Japan for buttressing the ties between the two countries. The president also called for an active role in developing Korea-Japan relations. "Both Korea and Japan are at a starting point for a better future

March 16, 2023

Yoon, Kishida say Japan firms won’t be asked to pay damages

The Japanese companies held liable for damages by a 2018 South Korean court ruling for forcing Koreans to provide labor during Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula will not be asked to reimburse Korean company funds used for such compensation. President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida both publicly denied speculation that Seoul would go after the Japanese firms to enforce the plan after compensating the Korean victims on its own, largely because Tokyo refuse

March 16, 2023

Yoon, Kishida vow new era of ties

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to open up a new era of Korea-Japan ties during their summit in Tokyo on Thursday, stressing the need to bolster security and economic cooperation for future generations and to deter evolving threats from North Korea. Yoon said the summit, the first in 12 years, signified a fresh start of bilateral ties, calling Japan a partner with common values and goals. The two leaders also agreed to resume “shuttle diplomacy&rd

March 16, 2023

Yoon reaffirms partnership with Japan as he arrives Tokyo for summit

President Yoon Suk Yeol stressed the importance of solidarity and cooperation with Japan during his meeting with Korean compatriots in Tokyo, his first official event there prior to a summit with his Japanese counterpart on Thursday. “Japan is a partner who we cooperate with together in security, economy and the global agenda.” he said during the luncheon meeting with about 80 Koreans. “However, over the past few years, exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in all

March 16, 2023

Yoon calls Japan to action ahead of first summit in 12 years

President Yoon Suk Yeol said he expects Japan to roll out actions commensurate with its recently renewed commitment to a forward-looking South Korea-Japan relationship built on a past apology for its 1910-45 rule of the Korean Peninsula. Yoon flew to Japan on Thursday for a two-day summit. In a joint interview with major Japanese newspapers Thursday, Yoon said the March 6 decision to use Korean company funds to compensate Korean victims forced to work for Japanese companies during the colonial p

March 16, 2023

S. Korea joins US-led multinational anti-submarine exercise

South Korea's Navy is participating in a US-led multinational anti-submarine warfare exercise in waters off Guam, officials said Wednesday. The Navy sent two P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft and 40 sailors to Sea Dragon 23, which began Wednesday and will last through the end of this month. The annual exercise launched in 2014 is aimed at enhancing joint anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Five countries, including India, Canada and Japan, are participating this year. The exercise came right

March 15, 2023

[New Neighbors] S. Korea needs anti-discrimination law to be an open community for immigrants

This is the second installment of a series of features, analysis and interviews exploring the challenges faced by Koreans and foreigners in creating a more diverse society in South Korea rapidly shifting away from its homogenous past. – Ed. Immigrants are the only solution for South Korea’s looming demographic cliff, as the country faces an ultra-low birth rate and a rapidly aging population. But to turn this homogeneous society into an open community for immigrants, there must

March 15, 2023

Korean business tycoons to accompany Yoon on Japan trip

Leaders representing Korean businesses will accompany President Yoon Suk Yeol on his visit to Japan on Thursday, as they expect to restore frayed trade ties with Tokyo which Seoul sees as disadvantageous for its export-driven, high tech-focused economy. Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun and Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin are among the chiefs in the business delegation, according to Yoon's senior economic secretar

March 15, 2023

Seoul sees Yoon’s Tokyo visit as 'milestone' in improving relations

President Yoon Suk Yeol’s upcoming visit to Japan is a significant step in improving Korea-Japan relations, providing an opportunity to break the long-standing vicious cycle of stagnation and move toward normalization, the nation’s national security adviser said on Tuesday. At the invitation of the Japanese government, Yoon, accompanied by first lady Kim Keon Hee, will embark on a working trip to the neighboring country from March 16-17. This marks the first time in 12 years that a K

March 14, 2023