A member of New Zealand’s new National Party-led government took her oath in English and then in Korean, the language of her native country. Melissa Lee, whose Korean name is Lee Ji-yun, was named the minister for economic development, ethnic communities, media and communications, making her the first person of Korean heritage to hold a ministerial position in New Zealand’s government. Lee alternated between English and Korean while reading the oath in the official ceremony Monday. L

Politics Nov. 28, 2023

South Korean financial institutions have been found to treat nonregular workers unfairly, according to the Labor Ministry on Friday. The ministry revealed the results of an investigation it conducted on 14 financial organizations, including banks, securities and insurance companies. A total of 62 cases of discrimination were identified across 12 companies, though the names of these companies were not disclosed. In one case, a sales office failed to provide a monthly lunch allowance of 200,000

Politics Nov. 24, 2023

All South Korean residents with disabilities will have their health condition monitored and checked by a personal doctor, according to a plan approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday. Upon approval, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will launch the fourth-stage and last pilot project in February next year, ahead of the planned rollout of the personal health care system nationwide, ministry officials said. Aimed at providing access to personalized medical attention for individuals with disabilitie

Social Affairs Nov. 21, 2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol is slated to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the United States next week, to be followed by visits to the United Kingdom and France later in the month and the Netherlands in December, the presidential office said Wednesday. Yoon will visit San Francisco from Nov. 15-18 to attend the APEC summit, during which he will share South Korea’s stance on various global issues, Deputy National Security Director Kim Tae-hyo said in a press briefing. This

Foreign Affairs Nov. 8, 2023

With five months remaining ahead of the general election next year, around 30 of President Yoon Suk Yeol’s senior and assistant secretaries are poised to resign to jump into the parliamentary race, widely seen as a midterm test for the president, who has suffered from low approval ratings since taking office last year. The upcoming election is pivotal for Yoon as he faces disapproval ratings of approximately 60 percent and his party has been hit hard after a defeat in a by-election held to

Politics Nov. 6, 2023

The South Korean Navy detected a North Korean ship requesting rescue near the Northern Limit Line in the East Sea and temporarily crossed the NLL to provide humanitarian assistance, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Sunday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said on the same day the military dispatched a patrol ship at 2:16 p.m. after capturing an unknown ship that was being held in waters 200 kilometers east of Jejin in the East Sea and about 3 kilometers north of the NLL. “A patrol vessel

Politics Oct. 29, 2023

  Marking the first anniversary of the Itaewon crowd crush, President Yoon Suk Yeol solemnly vowed to bolster national safety, expressing his condolences and making a commitment for change during a ceremony at Yeongam Church in Seoul on Sunday. Yoon expressed his sympathies to the victims of the disaster and their families, describing the day of the tragedy as “one of the most sorrowful moments" of his life, which is a sentiment he believes is shared by the entire nation. In his

Politics Oct. 29, 2023

DOHA, Qatar -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani agreed on Wednesday to upgrade bilateral ties by forging a comprehensive strategic partnership ahead of the two countries’ 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year. Under the agreement, the two countries will expand communication channels in the fields of diplomacy and security, as well as bilateral cooperation in the defense industry. The leaders, during their summit held

Foreign Affairs Oct. 25, 2023

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Leaders of South Korea and Saudi Arabia agreed to enhance their strategic partnership in a wide range of areas to boost economic ties and affirmed their opposition to any kind of attacks targeting civilians in the Israel-Palestine conflict in the first joint declaration adopted in more than four decades. According to the declaration released on the final day of President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to Saudi Arabia, the two sides agreed to actively explore ways

Foreign Affairs Oct. 24, 2023

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- President Yoon Suk Yeol said South Korea and Saudi Arabia could contribute to sustainable global growth by forging a future-oriented partnership that encompasses the fields of energy, digital technology, biology and space, underscoring a history of cooperation between the two countries. On his third day of a state visit to Saudi Arabia, Yoon stressed the importance of the special partnership between the two countries that began in the 1970s, serving as the foundation fo

Politics Oct. 24, 2023

Iranian Ambassador to Korea Saeed Koozechi expressed deep concern over the Israel-Palestine conflict and its devastating impact on civilian populations, calling for the international community to support victims of the crisis in the Gaza Strip. “All countries are officially responsible for supporting the victims of these conflicts,” said Koozechi in an interview with The Korea Herald. With the rising number of casualties, Koozechi stressed that the global community should to play an

Politics Oct. 23, 2023

  RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- South Korea and Saudi Arabia are "in the final stages” for large-scale defense collaboration across various fields, such as air defense, firepower and weapons, the presidential office said Monday. Following the summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday, Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of South Korea's National Security Office, told reporters that the government was discussing "a long-term, systema

Foreign Affairs Oct. 23, 2023

  RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Leaders of South Korea and Saudi Arabia discussed strengthening economic ties by expanding Seoul's involvement in Riyadh's "Vision 2030" plan and to contribute to peace in the region amid the Israel-Palestine conflict. During the summit, President Yoon Suk Yeol and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman followed up on the investment promise of the $29 billion worth of contracts and memorandums of understanding signed during the prince's visit to Seoul in

Foreign Affairs Oct. 22, 2023

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will embark on state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar this weekend to bolster economic and future-oriented tech collaborations with the Middle East countries, amid mounting regional security concerns over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Kim Tae-hyo, first deputy director of South Korea's National Security Office, told reporters Thursday that Yoon is scheduled to visit Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital, from Saturday to Tuesday, followed by Doha, Qatar, fo

Foreign Affairs Oct. 19, 2023

In response to a surge in violent incidents, President Yoon Suk Yeol urged the police to prioritize public security in its reform efforts and to strengthen on-site response capabilities, stressing zero tolerance for crimes against vulnerable groups. In an opening speech at the 78th National Police Day ceremony on Wednesday, Yoon stressed the need to "break the cycle of heinous crimes" and create a country where people can live in peace. “Crimes against the weak, including sexua

Politics Oct. 18, 2023