-
Lee says he has weighed apologizing to NK to ease tensions
President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday said that he has weighed issuing an apology to North Korea over the leaflets sent during the previous administration, as a gesture to ease tensions. During the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration, activists had resumed floating balloons carrying leaflets denouncing the North Korean regime across the border. The North denounced the leaflets as provocations, and responded by floating balloons carrying waste. Q. Recently you commented on social media that the
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Seoul-Moscow relations ‘difficult,’ but South has limited options: Lee
President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday stressed that while Russia is an important nation for South Korea, Seoul has little options due to the war on Ukraine and Moscow’s deepening ties with Pyongyang. Speaking at the press conference with foreign media, Lee said that Moscow-Pyongyang ties are developing in a “very undesirable” direction for South Korea, but that the country will “do our best to prevent things from worsening and work to improve the situation, even slightly.” Q. Over the past one to
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Lee says Korea should ‘mediate’ in China-Japan friction
President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday said that Korea would not take sides in the escalating friction between China and Japan, and seek to mediate and moderate between the two neighbors. When asked about what would Korea’s role be if conflict breaks out between China and Taiwan, in relation to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent comment that sparked off deterioration in China-Japan relations. Last month, Takaichi said that conflict involving force between China and Taiwan could "const
Dec. 3, 2025 -
1 year after martial law, conservatives say sorry
From social media to the National Assembly, South Korea's right-wing politicians on Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the Dec. 3 martial law debacle with apologies. In front of the National Assembly Library in Seoul, Han Dong-hoon, the former leader of the conservative opposition People Power Party, bowed deeply in apology, saying the party had failed the public in the political crisis triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. “I deeply apo
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Man kills mother, believing 'God will revive her'
South Korean police said Wednesday they have arrested a man in his 30s who turned himself in after fatally stabbing his mother, allegedly acting under the delusion that God would bring her back to life. According to the Goesan Police Station in North Chungcheong Province, the suspect attacked his mother around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday while she was napping, stabbing her multiple times with a knife. He appeared at a police station about an hour later and confessed to the killing. He reportedly told inve
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Cold wave grips Korea; Seoul’s first snow likely Thursday
Temperatures dropped sharply across South Korea on Wednesday as a mass of Arctic air moved south, triggering cold wave advisories for Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and parts of Gangwon Province and the Chungcheong provinces, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. Morning lows ranged from minus 11 degrees Celsius to minus 1 C nationwide, with even colder conditions forecast through Friday. A cold wave advisory is issued when morning temperatures are expected to remain below minus 1 C fo
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Nuclear-powered submarines key outcome of US deal: Lee
President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that his agreement with US President Donald Trump to allow South Korea to build nuclear-powered submarines was one of the most significant outcomes from months of negotiations on trade and security. Speaking at a news conference with foreign media at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday, Lee emphasized that South Korea’s acquisition of nuclear submarines, as well as nuclear fuel reprocessing, would not constitute a violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Seoul plans 5-minute Namsan summit ride amid legal challenge
Namsan is seeing renewed global attention, with foreign visitors to Seoul Tower jumping more than 50 percent from last year — a surge partly fueled by the popularity of the Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters," which prominently features the capital city's central mountain. As tourist interest grows, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced an extensive redevelopment blueprint aimed at transforming Namsan into a more accessible, globally competitive landmark by 2030. Under the city’s plan, visi
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Democracy prevails, Lee says, a year after martial law debacle
President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday thanked the people for their part in resisting the martial law declared by previous President Yoon Suk Yeol, but added that the work toward reconciliation that started on Dec. 3, 2024, was incomplete and must continue. In a special address to the public, Lee expressed gratitude to the people who bore the brunt of that winter night of martial law. The president also proposed to designate Dec. 3 as “People’s Sovereignty Day” to commemorate the role the people p
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Court’s refusal to arrest Choo sparks partisan clash
The ruling Democratic Party on Wednesday denounced a court decision refusing an arrest warrant for Choo Kyung-ho, the former floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party, as part of investigations into ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s imposition of martial law. DP senior spokesperson Rep. Park Soo-hyun called the ruling “senseless,” claiming there is ample evidence that Choo actively impeded the parliamentary vote to lift the martial law declared by Yoon on Dec. 3 last year. Prosecutors ar
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Dongduk Women’s University to go coed by 2029 amid student backlash
Dongduk Women’s University said Wednesday it will open its doors to men in 2029, a decision students have denounced as ignoring the continued need for women-only institutions in a country where gender bias still shapes women’s experiences. The decision follows a recommendation from the school’s Coeducation Discussion Committee, which said Monday it had completed deliberations and concluded the university should transition to a coeducational model. Despite the backlash, the university issued a st
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Would you pay $960 for Louis Vuitton's bungeoppang keychain?
A Louis Vuitton bag charm modeled after bungeoppang — a fish-shaped bun beloved as a winter street food staple in Korea — has sparked online debate for its hefty price tag. The French luxury brand's Italian-leather bungeoppang charm costs 1.41 million won ($960.29) — almost the price of a laptop or an iPhone here. The charm is described as a cultural homage to the fish-shaped pastry on the brand's official website, where it is promoted as an ideal gift for travelers, dessert lovers or anyone loo
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Allies reaffirm coordination on N. Korea’s return to ‘meaningful’ dialogue
South Korea and the United States reaffirmed their close coordination on achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and resurrecting long-stalled dialogue with North Korea during a vice-ministerial meeting, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker discussed follow-up measures to the joint fact sheet, coordination on North Korea policy and regional and global issues during th
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Martial law review disrupts civil service, military
A sweeping review of government departments to identify areas of collusion with last year's martial law declaration has already begun to disrupt their work, civil servants say, as the vague terms of the probe leave many unclear over their future. The review, launched Nov. 21 by a task force under Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, spans 49 ministries and agencies — including the military, prosecution and police — with its assessment due Jan. 31 and personnel actions due by Feb. 21. But civil servants
Dec. 3, 2025 -
Coupang faces wave of joint action lawsuits over data breach
E-commerce giant Coupang Inc. is facing a wave of class-action lawsuits over its massive data breach that affected nearly 34 million customers. A law firm named Chung filed the first complaint against Coupang on Monday on behalf of 14 clients, seeking 200,000 won (about $140) per person in damages. Many other law firms have also expressed their intention to participate in the class-action lawsuits and are now recruiting participants. Considering past judicial precedents, however, the compensatio
Dec. 3, 2025