Lee orders relocation of Gwangju air base by mid-2028 for chip hub

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday ordered military operations to be shifted from Gwangju Air Base to other airfields by mid-2028, seeking to accelerate the construction of a second semiconductor belt. The directive came at the second public-private review of his administration’s three flagship megaprojects. Covering semiconductors, physical artificial intelligence and AI data centers, the projects aimed to disperse investment across the country and reduce the concentration of growth in the Great

2026-08-10 15:30:43:00

Lee vows to review policies that discourage young couples from registering marriage

President Lee Jae Myung vowed Saturday to review government policies that may place young married couples at a disadvantage in housing loans and welfare benefits. Lee's remarks came amid concerns that some couples delay or avoid registering their marriage because combining their income and assets could leave them at a disadvantage when applying for loans, housing programs and welfare benefits. "Young people should never be discouraged from getting married because of government policies," Lee wro

2026-08-08 15:42:59:00

Survivor’s story, carried forward

A bust honoring Kang Il-chul, who survived Japanese military sexual slavery and spent decades seeking justice for fellow victims, was unveiled Saturday at the House of Sharing in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. Kang, a prominent advocate for victims’ rights, died in March at age 98. Participants laid flowers before the bust and observed a moment of silence in tribute to her life and work. The unveiling was part of a ceremony held ahead of Aug. 14, South Korea’s national memorial day honoring victims

2026-08-08 15:12:15:00

Embattled KFA apologizes, vows ‘sweeping reform’

The Korea Football Association formally apologized Saturday to football fans and officials and pledged sweeping reforms as controversies over its governance and alleged misconduct continued to mount. The association has been engulfed in a widening crisis since South Korea’s disappointing 2026 World Cup campaign. The fallout has included the first National Assembly hearing on the KFA, a police raid and newly surfaced allegations involving sexual entertainment for foreign referees and match offici

2026-08-08 12:25:50:00

Record heat loosens grip over weekend

After a week of record-breaking heat, South Korea entered the weekend with little respite from extreme weather. Temperatures have eased slightly overall, but sweltering heat persists across much of the rest of the country, while torrential rain batters parts of the ease. All severe heat wave warnings, the highest level in the country’s three-tier alert system, have been downgraded. Heat wave warnings and advisories remain in effect across most of the country, however, with daytime highs hovering

2026-08-08 10:51:07:00

Lee apologizes to long-overlooked victims of state violence

President Lee Jae Myung met with dozens of long-overlooked victims of state violence Friday and formally apologized to them, pledging to restore their dignity and ensure meaningful healing and redress. “The state must now take responsibility for healing the wounds it inflicted on its own people,” Lee told the victims. “The passage of time does not absolve the state of its responsibility.” The apology came during a luncheon at the presidential office in Seoul marking the launch of the third itera

2026-08-07 17:32:51:00

Lee names China expert Kim Heung-kyu diplomatic academy chief

President Lee Jae Myung appointed Kim Heung-kyu, one of South Korea’s leading scholars on China and US-China relations, as chancellor of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, the presidential office said Friday. Kim is a professor of political science and diplomacy at Ajou University and founder and director of its US-China Policy Institute. “Kim is a leading authority on East Asian diplomacy and security, and a scholar-practitioner who brings deep insight across research, education and policy

2026-08-07 14:53:48:00

Lee targets housing supply cliff, convening top officials twice in four days

President Lee Jae Myung convened his second government-wide housing policy meeting in four days Friday, pressing officials to dramatically expand housing supply and bring new homes to market faster following this week’s property tax overhaul. The closed-door session, held at Cheong Wa Dae from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., centered on three questions: where to build new housing, how many homes to supply and how quickly they can be brought to market. Lee received briefings from relevant ministers and committ

2026-08-07 14:10:15:00

Lee orders all-out response as heat rages, drought deepens

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday ordered an all-out government response to record-breaking heat and a worsening drought, directing authorities nationwide to mobilize every available resource to protect lives and minimize harm. Lee convened a meeting to review heat wave and drought response efforts in the situation room of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at the Government Complex Seoul, with Cabinet ministers and local government leaders from across the country att

2026-08-06 13:45:37:00

Lee orders ‘swift’ merger of military academies to prevent another coup

President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday ordered the Defense Ministry to move “swiftly and decisively” on a plan to merge South Korea’s three military academies, linking the overhaul to a broader effort to reduce the risk of military intervention in politics. Lee invoked three coups in South Korean history, saying all had centered on the Army and graduates of the Korea Military Academy, which trains Army officers. “The Korea Military Academy was at the center of no fewer than three coups, yet it has

2026-08-05 15:23:28:00