Cabinet approves bill ending prosecutors’ investigative powers

South Korea’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved a landmark bill stripping prosecutors of their investigative powers, clearing the way for the country’s most sweeping criminal justice overhaul in more than seven decades. The approval at a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Lee Jae Myung came four days after the ruling Democratic Party of Korea pushed the bill through the National Assembly in a vote boycotted by the main opposition People Power Party. During the meeting, Lee signaled that he would not

2026-08-04 15:05:52:00

Lee to send special envoys to Colombian president's inauguration

President Lee Jae Myung will send two lawmakers as special envoys to the inauguration of Colombia’s incoming president, Abelardo de la Espriella, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday. Rep. Yoon Joon-byeong of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, who serves as vice chairman of the Korea-Colombia Parliamentary Friendship Association, will lead the delegation. The delegation, which will also include Rep. Lee Hai-min of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party, will attend the Aug. 7 inauguration and rela

2026-08-04 13:32:21:00

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

Seoul weighs viable options for contributing to Hormuz stability

South Korea is weighing a range of options for contributing to stability in the Strait of Hormuz, though it has yet to decide on a specific course of action, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Friday. Wi’s remarks came amid reports in South Korean media that Washington had specifically requested that Seoul deploy military assets to the strait and that the South Korean government was considering sending patrol vessels or maritime patrol aircraft. “The US side has not made any specific req

2026-08-01 08:35:08:00

Seoul to start Argentine crude imports next year as Hormuz risks mount

South Korea will begin regular imports of Argentine crude starting next year, expanding its oil supply network beyond the Middle East amid the war with Iran, Cheong Wa Dae said after the countries’ leaders met Friday. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac announced the agreement after talks between President Lee Jae Myung and Argentine President Javier Milei at the Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires on Friday. Lee’s trip marks the first visit to Argentina by a South Korean president since 2004. Wi said

2026-08-01 07:04:15:00

Lee set to meet Milei on Korea-Mercosur trade pact, lithium ties

President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet Argentine President Javier Milei on Friday to forge a supply-chain partnership on critical minerals and seek fresh momentum for stalled South Korea-Mercosur trade negotiations. Lee arrived in Buenos Aires late Thursday for a three-day official visit to Argentina, the first by a South Korean president in 22 years. Then-President Roh Moo-hyun made the last visit in November 2004. “Through his official visit, President Lee is expected to take cooperation with

2026-07-31 13:27:06:00

Lee, Kast agree to put Korea-Chile FTA upgrade back in motion

President Lee Jae Myung said he and Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast agreed to revive stalled efforts to upgrade their countries' two-decade-old free trade agreement and pursue strategic cooperation in critical minerals and defense. The leaders announced the initiatives after meeting Thursday at La Moneda Palace in Santiago, during the first visit to Chile by a South Korean president in 11 years. Chile is the second stop on Lee's Latin American tour, following Brazil. At a joint news conferen

2026-07-31 05:41:26:00

Cheong Wa Dae rules out second term for Lee

The presidential office in Seoul on Wednesday ruled out any constitutional revision that would allow President Lee Jae Myung to pursue a second term. The move appeared aimed at ending a dispute sparked by remarks from National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik indicating that the matter could ultimately be left to voters. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik reiterated that Lee had made his opposition to serving a second consecutive term clear while campaigning for president and had not chang

2026-07-29 14:04:49:00

From jets to K-Beauty: Lee's vision for broader Korea-Brazil partnership

President Lee Jae Myung concluded his state visit to Brazil with a proposal to build a broader economic partnership around three priorities: aircraft, critical-mineral supply chains and K-beauty. Lee laid out the vision Tuesday at a Korea-Brazil business roundtable in Sao Paulo, a day after holding summit talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia. Lee’s visit gave fresh momentum to efforts by the two governments and their businesses to translate the agenda into concret

2026-07-29 13:52:01:00

Korea eyes joint jet development with Embraer

South Korea is exploring participation in Embraer’s planned next-generation commercial aircraft program at the development stage, moving beyond its current role as a parts supplier, Presidential Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom said Tuesday. Kim, however, stressed that discussions with the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer remain at a very early stage and that neither the form of South Korea’s participation nor the commercial terms have been determined. Kim’s explanation came after President Lee Jae Myu

2026-07-29 08:33:09:00