Lee announces joint fact sheet on trade, security agreements with US

South Korea and the United States on Friday released a joint fact sheet on their trade deal outlining Seoul's $350 billion investment pledge and security agreements, including Washington's approval of South Korea's plan to build a nuclear-powered submarine. President Lee Jae Myung made the announcement more than two weeks after he concluded the trade deal during his summit with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in South Korea on Oct. 29. Th

Nov. 14, 2025

[Breaking] S. Korea, US sign joint fact sheet on trade, security

South Korea and the United States finalized a joint fact sheet on trade and security, concluding months of fraught negotiations, President Lee Jae Myung told reporters Friday. “We have finalized the Korea–US trade and security consultations, which had been the biggest variable,” Lee said in Seoul, expressing gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his “rational decision,” which played a major role in reaching the agreements. The Korean leader said, -South Korea and the US have agreed to move

Nov. 14, 2025

Lee's aide on trip to Middle East to forge strategic cooperation

Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik on Thursday flew to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, as President Lee Jae Myung's special envoy for strategic cooperation. According to an official of the presidential office, Kang is to "discuss ways to establish a new model for strategic economic cooperation." The field of cooperation would encompass artificial intelligence, defense, advanced manufacturing, culture, food and medical services, according to the presidential office. While Kang was set to

Nov. 14, 2025

Lee signals sweeping overhaul to revive economic growth

President Lee Jae Myung called for structural reforms across key sectors to boost South Korea’s slowing economy, with a particular focus on regulatory and financial reforms, according to the presidential office, Thursday. “The most urgent challenge facing the Republic of Korea today is to reverse the decline in our potential growth rate,” said Lee during Thursday’s meeting, referring to Korea by its official name. “To do that, bold, structural reform is essential.” During a meeting held with sen

Nov. 13, 2025

Acting chief likely to address allegations of Justice Ministry pressure

Acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok, who offered to resign amid growing objections to the prosecution's decision not to appeal a ruling in the Daejang-dong development corruption case linked to the president, is expected to address whether his decision was influenced by the Justice Ministry. The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office said Noh will attend a closed-door retirement ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Friday, during which he has indicated he will explain his stance on the decision. The announcement came

Nov. 13, 2025

Lee's chief of staff to depart for UAE for talks on economic ties

President Lee Jae Myung's chief of staff is set to depart for the United Arab Emirates on Thursday for a trip aimed at discussing expanding bilateral economic cooperation, presidential officials said. Kang Hoon-sik, who also serves as a special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, is expected to meet senior UAE officials to discuss ways to deepen economic cooperation in areas of defense, artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies. "Kang plans to discuss ways to establish a stra

Nov. 13, 2025

Lee wishes good luck to applicants of college entrance exam

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday wished good luck to applicants taking the college entrance exam, a high-stakes test taken annually by high school students and graduates. Lee posted the Facebook message on the eve of the annual College Scholastic Ability Test, which is regarded as one of the nation's most important academic events. "I wish luck for all of you who possess infinite potential," Lee wrote. "I am proud of each of you who have believed in yourselves and walked this path with perse

Nov. 12, 2025

Acting prosecutor general offers to resign amid Daejang-dong scandal backlash

Acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok offered to resign Wednesday amid mounting unrest within the prosecution over last week's decision not to appeal a court ruling in a high-profile land development corruption case linked to the president. The decision sparked an unprecedented backlash from prosecutors nationwide, who accused the Justice Ministry of pressuring the prosecution not to appeal. The main opposition party also raised suspicion that the presidential office interfered in the decision.

Nov. 12, 2025

Lee vows greater autonomy for local governments

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday met leaders of local governments at his office in Seoul, where he promised to give them greater autonomy over governmental budget spending specifically for their needs, stressing a need to bolster local autonomy and foster balanced national growth. In Lee's latest move to place local autonomy as one of his top policy priorities, the liberal administration also suggested ways to increase state subsidies to local governments based on new rules to calculate them

Nov. 12, 2025

Martial law probe arrests ex-spy chief Cho, ex-PM Hwang a month before deadline

The former spy chief Cho Tae-yong, a key figure in the special counsel’s investigation into ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived martial law declaration, was arrested Wednesday — just a month before the probe’s mandate expires. Later in the day, the special counsel also took into custody former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who served under the Park Geun-hye administration, on charges of inciting insurrection by posting a message on Facebook in support of martial law on Dec. 3. The deten

Nov. 12, 2025

Special counsel again seeks arrest warrant for ex-justice minister in martial law probe

A special counsel again applied for an arrest warrant for former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae on Tuesday over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed imposition of martial law. The application by special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team came after a court rejected its previous request to detain Park last month, citing insufficient evidence to justify detention. The Seoul Central District Court will hold a hearing on Thursday to decide whether to issue a warrant, officials said. P

Nov. 11, 2025

Ex-President Yoon denies allegations of interfering in Marine death probe

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday denied allegations that he had interfered in a military investigation into the 2023 death of a young Marine, his lawyers said. The jailed former president was questioned for about seven hours by a special counsel team and did not reportedly invoke his right to remain silent and answered most of the investigators' questions. Yoon faces charges of abusing his power and aiding a criminal's flight in the case. Investigators suspect he ordered the presidentia

Nov. 11, 2025

Pressure mounts on top prosecutor to resign over land case decision

Acting Prosecutor General Noh Man-seok came under growing pressure to resign on Tuesday over his decision not to appeal a controversial land development corruption case linked to President Lee Jae Myung’s tenure as Seongnam mayor, as internal criticism within the prosecution widened across all ranks. Noh, who also serves as deputy prosecutor general, took a day off Tuesday amid reports that he is “seriously considering” stepping down. Four days earlier, the prosecution sparked a firestorm by dec

Nov. 11, 2025

Civil servants to face in-house probe over martial law

A pangovernmental investigation into civil servants allegedly involved in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law is set to be launched after President Lee Jae Myung agreed to a proposal from the prime minister on Tuesday. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok proposed that the investigation be completed by January and undertaken by a "task force to respect the Constitution and innovate the government." Kim added that the task force will come up with follow-up measures before Seollal,

Nov. 11, 2025

Presidential office may return to Cheong Wa Dae in December: reports

The presidential office in Seoul is likely to be moved from Yongsan-gu back to Cheong Wa Dae in early December, a key campaign pledge by President Lee Jae Myung, local media reported Tuesday. Citing unnamed government sources, the reports said the relocation could occur between Dec. 8 and 14, though the presidential office said that “nothing has been confirmed.” Under the Office of the Administrative Secretary, which was established in June to oversee the relocation, most of the renovation work

Nov. 11, 2025