ASEAN chief urges deeper Korea ties on energy, digital transition

Korea Herald correspondent JAKARTA — South Korea and ASEAN nations should seek deeper cooperation in energy, digital transformation and supply chains to open new opportunities and to expand partnership, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn says. Speaking to a group of Korean reporters at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Aug. 8, the Cambodian diplomat said South Korea and ASEAN member states should use current geopolitical and economic uncertainty to strengthen cooperation in areas where both

2026-08-13 14:40:27:00

Lee vows full backing for 7 future industries to drive next wave of growth

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday pledged full government support for seven advanced technologies, describing them as the country's next "mega projects" that will drive economic growth and strengthen national competitiveness in the artificial intelligence era. Speaking at a briefing on the government's "seven seed technologies for future growth" initiative at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee said the technologies would become both the country's next growth engines and core strategic national assets. "The s

2026-08-12 14:55:24:00

Lee receives credentials from new US Ambassador Michelle Steel

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday welcomed and received a letter of credence from new US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel during their first meeting since her arrival in Seoul. Steel and three other newly appointed foreign ambassadors presented their credentials to Lee during a ceremony at the presidential office. Also in attendance were Vanda Maria Dias Stelzer Sequeira of Portugal, Jamal Abdullah Al Suwaidi of the United Arab Emirates and Sean Hoy of Ireland. According to Cheong Wa

2026-08-12 14:13:58:00

Revival of US-North Korea dialogue hinges on broader geopolitical shifts, says senior Singapore official

SINGAPORE — Singapore is willing to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in Asia, including facilitating dialogue with North Korea, but resumption of talks depend on broader geopolitical dynamics, a senior Singaporean official said. Speaking to a group of Korean reporters Thursday at Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore Minister of State Gan Siow Huang reflected on Singapore's role as host of the historic 2018 summit between US President Donald Trump — during his first ter

2026-08-07 13:18:23:00

New US ambassador begins mission with hotteok, hymns

New US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel was seen spending her first weekend in Seoul sampling hotteok at Namdaemun Market and attending a worship service at a church founded by North Korean refugees, highlighting her personal ties to Korea as she begins her diplomatic mission. On Sunday, Steel was spotted attending a service at Youngnak Presbyterian Church in central Seoul with her husband, marking a stop that reflected her family's history. Steel, whose parents fled North Korea during t

2026-08-02 17:26:10:00

Lee to end 11-day trip in Frankfurt after energy, mineral deals in South America

President Lee Jae Myung arrived in Frankfurt, Germany, on Sunday for the final leg of his 11-day trip to the United States and three South American countries that produced agreements on artificial intelligence, critical minerals, energy security and trade. Lee was scheduled to meet members of the Korean community during a brief stop in Frankfurt before returning to Seoul on Monday. His trip, the longest since he took office, covered approximately 44,000 kilometers and involved about 56 hours of

2026-08-02 13:58:09:00

New US ambassador Steel vows to strengthen 'ironclad' alliance upon arrival in Seoul

New US Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel arrived in Seoul on Thursday, describing the South Korea-US alliance as one of the strongest in the world and pledging to further strengthen the decades-old partnership as the allies confront a growing list of economic and security challenges. Steel made the remarks during a press briefing after arriving at Incheon Airport, west of Seoul, in the afternoon. She is the first US ambassador to Seoul since President Donald Trump returned to office and t

2026-07-30 17:26:13:00

Kumamoto quake prompts preparedness review, no South Korean casualties reported

South Korea confirmed Wednesday that no South Korean nationals have been reported injured or killed in the earthquake in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, while the government reviewed its earthquake and tsunami preparedness after tremors were felt across parts of the country. A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck near Uki in Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu Island, Japan, at 4:27 p.m. Tuesday, killing at least 13 people, leaving many others missing and causing widespread damage. Rescue workers continued se

2026-07-29 14:51:57:00

N. Korea spotlights Kim Ju-ae, stages scaled-down Victory Day parade without strategic weapons

North Korea marked the 73rd anniversary of the Korean War armistice with an unusually elaborate Victory Day commemoration that prominently featured leader Kim Jong-un's daughter, Ju-ae, while scaling down its military parade, with the focus on Korean War units rather than showcasing advanced weapons. The events, held Monday to commemorate what Pyongyang refers to as its "victory" in the 1950-53 Korean War, also highlighted North Korea's growing ties with China through performances honoring the C

2026-07-28 15:25:57:00

[Legal updates in Korea] Crime prevention support expanded for single-owner and women-owned businesses

● Updated Law: Act on the Protection of and Support for Micro Enterprises What it does: Creates a legal basis for government support to help protect vulnerable small businesses from crime Took effect: July 1 South Korea has introduced a new legal framework to help protect single-owner and women-owned small businesses from crime. Under the revised law, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and local governments can conduct surveys to assess crime risks faced by these businesses and implement programs

2026-07-28 13:44:46:00