Publisher decides to retain Ramseyer’s controversial article on ‘comfort women’ despite criticism

A publisher of a leading academic journal has rejected a request to retract a controversial paper, which claimed that “comfort women” were voluntary prostitutes, although historians have agreed that suggested evidence does not overturn historical consensus that Korean women were forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese military. Mark Ramseyer, Mitsubishi professor of Japanese legal studies at Harvard Law School, claimed that Korean women and Japanese brothels “included inde

Jan. 20, 2023

Yoon wraps up tour tainted by Iran remarks

DAVOS, Switzerland -- President Yoon Suk Yeol wrapped up his eight-day visit to the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland by seeking to boost the economy by drawing massive investments and encouraging global entrepreneurs to invest in Korea. His foreign policy moves, however, have been tainted by a diplomatic spat with Iran after calling the country "the UAE's enemy." Iran went further and raised issue with its frozen funds in Seoul as well as Yoon's recent remarks on nucl

Jan. 20, 2023

S. Korea calls in Iran envoy over Yoon’s ‘enemy’ remarks

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned the Iranian ambassador in Seoul, a day after Tehran called in Seoul’s chief envoy there demanding a clarification on why President Yoon Suk Yeol called Iran “the enemy” of the United Arab Emirates during his trip there this week. In a rare tit-for-tat spat on the brink of a row, First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong told Ambassador Saeed Badamchi Shabestari that Yoon’s comments were meant to encourage Korean tr

Jan. 19, 2023

Vestas to invest $300m in Korea on Yoon’s visit

DAVOS, Switzerland -- Vestas announced plans to invest $300 million in Korea at a ceremony held Wednesday at a hotel in Davos, Switzerland, with President Yoon Suk Yeol attending, according to the presidential office Thursday. Yoon attended the investment declaration ceremony of wind turbine manufacturer Vestas in Switzerland. Vestas is a Danish company that ranks first in the world in terms of wind power installation. Vestas plans to establish a large-scale turbine parts production plant in K

Jan. 19, 2023

[S. Korea-Japan Reboot] Time to put history behind us for good: ex-envoy

This is the last installment of the three-part interview series exploring what experts believe should take place for S. Korea to better advance its interests, while resetting ties with Japan amid disputes. -- Ed. aaaaa It is in South Korea’s best interests to bring closure to the dispute with Japan over making amends to Koreans forced into labor by Japanese firms during World War II. Only then will Seoul be able to take advantage of all the help it needs from Tokyo as it combats regional c

Jan. 18, 2023

[News Focus] Globalization under siege, but Davos can bring opportunities for Korea

ZURICH, Switzerland -- President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to debut at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting on Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, amid the notable absence of the leaders of the two largest economies, the US and China, against a backdrop of growing nationalism and deglobalization. While there are simmering questions over the forum’s validity in boosting globalization, experts say Davos is still a "good opportunity" for Asia’s fourth-largest economy to incre

Jan. 18, 2023

Defense Secretary Austin to visit S. Korea soon: Pentagon

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will visit South Korea in the near future, a Pentagon spokesperson said Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder added the upcoming trip will reaffirm the US' commitment to working with its Asian ally. "Secretary Austin will travel to the Republic of Korea and the Philippines to meet with senior government and military leaders in both countries as the United States and these two critical allies continue to bolster our defense partnerships,"

Jan. 18, 2023

Yoon heads to Davos after business-focused summit in UAE

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Touting himself as the “salesman of South Korea,” President Yoon Suk Yeol wrapped up his four-day state visit to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, sending home $30 billion of business agreements with the lucrative economy, before heading to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to talk international affairs. The presidential office viewed Yoon’s visit to the UAE as “the first step toward the first year of the new Middle East bo

Jan. 17, 2023

S. Korea downplays Yoon’s Iran remarks during UAE trip

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday downplayed President Yoon Suk Yeol’s remarks made a day earlier during his state visit to the United Arab Emirates, in which he said that Iran was the UAE’s “enemy,” and compared their relationship to inter-Korean hostilities. Yoon was offering a word of encouragement to the soldiers while visiting a Korean special forces unit stationed in Abu Dhabi to train local troops, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim Soo-suk said at bri

Jan. 17, 2023

State-run body to start fleshing out compromise on forced labor

South Korea’s state-run foundation established to help Koreans forced into labor by Japanese companies during World War II is preparing to reach out to Korean companies as early as next week to compensate the victims, sources said Tuesday, as part of a compromise deal Seoul believes will help settle the longtime historical dispute with Tokyo. Last week, the Korean government essentially endorsed a plan to have the Korean government or companies compensate the victims while awaiting Japan&r

Jan. 17, 2023

Timing of S. Korea-Japan summit too early to say: presidential office

ABU DHABI -- The office of President Yoon Suk Yeol said Monday it is too early to say when Yoon will hold another summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida following a news report that it was being scheduled for as early as next month. The Donga Ilbo newspaper carried the report earlier Monday, saying Kishida told a news conference in Washington that he and Yoon agreed to swiftly settle the issue of compensation for Korean victims of Japanese wartime forced labor. "The two leaders a

Jan. 17, 2023

Yoon lauds Barakah nuclear plant as symbol of special partnership between S. Korea, UAE

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates, accompanied by Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday, reconfirming close energy ties with the UAE on the third day of his state visit. The Barakah nuclear power plant was the first nuclear power plant in the country and the first overseas nuclear power plant designed and built by Korea. The nuclear power plant is being jointly constructed by Hyu

Jan. 16, 2023

2 Koreans in Nepal plane crash confirmed dead

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Monday evening a teenage Korean -- who remained missing from a plane that crashed into a gorge on Sunday while making a 27-minute flight to a Nepalese tourist town northwest of the capital Kathmandu -- also died, along with his father found dead earlier in the day. The Korean consul in Nepal confirmed the bodies of the father and his son who were flying for a family vacation, at the Gandaki Medical College hospital in Pokhara, the destination that the tw

Jan. 16, 2023

China eases visa rules for S. Korea, Japan amid spat

Chinese authorities resumed issuing visas for some South Koreans and Japanese on official or nonofficial business that requires immediate attention, Kyodo News said Monday, citing Chinese sources. The latest relaxation of rules, which China toughened only last week by ceasing the issuing of short-term visas for the two countries, came as Seoul and Tokyo complained about Beijing’s “retaliation” for stepping up their COVID-19 travel curbs on Chinese arrivals amid a fresh surge in

Jan. 16, 2023

First lady discusses culture with UAE leader's mother, minister

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- First lady Kim Keon Hee went on her solo events, attending a dinner invitation by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, mother of the Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and meeting Minister of Culture and Youth Noura Al Kaabi, the presidential office said Monday. On Sunday evening, Kim had the dinner at the presidential palace Qasr Al Watan with the UAE leader's mother who is also the widow of the late President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Jan. 16, 2023

Polish ambassador expects further upgrade in bilateral ties this year

Polish ambassador Piotr Ostaszewski said he expects to see further development in bilateral relations this year, noting that the two countries have seen their ties rapidly developing in the wake of $14.7 billion worth of deal to export Korean defense systems and weapons to the European country last year. "The best partnership emerges when both partners understand each other," said Ostaszewski applauding 34 years of Polish-Korea relations that flourished in the 1990s and went through tr

Jan. 16, 2023

Search continues for Korean still missing after plane crash in Nepal

Nepalese authorities on Monday resumed searching for a South Korean, one of four people who remained missing from a plane that crashed into a gorge on Sunday while making a 27-minute flight to a Nepalese tourist town northwest of the capital Kathmandu. The Himalayan country’s deadliest plane crash since 1992 left at least 68 of the 72 people aboard dead, including another Korean -- the father of the missing teenage Korean who was a noncommissioned Army officer, according to local reports.

Jan. 16, 2023

Canada reaffirms commitment with Korea to address global challenges

Canadian Embassy reaffirmed its commitment with Korea to address global challenges at an event hosted to mark the 60th anniversary of Canada-Korea diplomatic relations in Seoul on Thursday. Canada established diplomatic relations with Korea on Jan. 14, 1963. Delivering a welcoming address at the event, the Canadian Embassy's Charge d'Affaires, Tamara Mawhinney highlighted the significance of the 60 years of Canada-Korea relations. She expressed Canada's commitment to the Comprehen

Jan. 16, 2023

S. Korea, Japan hold working-level consultations on wartime forced labor

SEOUL/TOKYO-- South Korea and Japan held working-level diplomatic consultations Monday on ways to compensate Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor under 2018 rulings by Seoul's Supreme Court. Seo Min-jung, director general for Asia and Pacific affairs at South Korea's Foreign Ministry, met with her Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, for discussions at the Japanese foreign ministry in Tokyo. It marked their first face-to-face discussions after Seoul formally float

Jan. 16, 2023

UAE pulls out all stops for Yoon's state visit

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- President Yoon Suk Yeol received the highest level of courtesy during his visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he was invited for the first state visit by a Korean leader. Before the summit with Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan for closer economic cooperation, Yoon was received in a large-scale official welcoming ceremony Sunday morning, the second day of his visit to the nation. At the beginning of the ceremony, seven UAE fighter jets

Jan. 15, 2023