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Will defense cost renegotiation become Seoul's tariff tradeoff?
Seoul not seeking package deal, officials say Most countries breathed a sigh of relief after Washington’s surprise 90-day pause on the Trump administration's "reciprocal" tariffs just hours after they took effect. Despite the temporary drop in US tariffs on Korean goods from 25 percent to 10 percent, South Korea now faces a new concern as US President Donald Trump hints that defense cost-sharing could come up in tariff talks. Claiming that South Korea — one of the 56 nations along with European
April 10, 2025 -
In another run for president, Lee Jae-myung casts self as champion of people
Rep. Lee Jae-myung officially announced his run for president Thursday, a day after resigning as the chair of the Democratic Party of Korea. In a 10-minute video clip released by the Lee campaign, the former Democratic Party leader presented himself as a champion of the people, vowing to tackle income inequality and lead economic growth. Lee said the country's economy was "on a downward spiral in a lot of ways" after "three years of neglect" under the current administration. "The economy cannot
April 10, 2025 -
Han Dong-hoon declares presidential bid, vows shorter term
Han Dong-hoon, former chair of the ruling People Power Party, officially declared his presidential bid Thursday, presenting himself as the candidate most feared by Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the leading contender from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. “Who can defeat Lee Jae-myung? Who does he fear the most?” Han said during a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. “We must choose someone who can win. I will achieve a decisive victory, together with the people.” Calli
April 10, 2025 -
Lee Jae-myung steps down as Democratic Party of Korea leader
Leaving post as Democratic Party of Korea leader, Lee teases Thursday announcement through online video clip Rep. Lee Jae-myung stepped down Wednesday as the chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, hinting toward his widely anticipated presidential bid. "I am grateful that I was able to serve as the party's chair for three years. Now I'm taking on a new job," Lee said at a meeting of the Democratic Party leadership, without mentioning the presidential election on June 3. "The Democratic Party ha
April 9, 2025 -
Seoul says will prioritize tariff negotiations after phone call with Trump
Adjusting the US' tariffs on imported goods from South Korea is "a top-priority goal" in Seoul's upcoming deals with Washington, the prime minister's office said Wednesday, hours after acting President Han Duck-soo's phone call with US President Donald Trump. A government official said Wednesday that Seoul will work to lower the US tariffs expected to take a toll on South Korea's export-driven economy. A 25 percent tariff on most of South Korea's imported goods to the US went into effect at 1:01
April 9, 2025 -
Labor activist-turned-conservative politician announces bid for president
Kim Moon-soo, a former labor activist-turned-conservative politician, on Wednesday officially announced his candidacy for president for the June 3 election. The former labor minister declared his presidential bid for the election, triggered by the impeachment and removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law declaration in December. The 73-year-old characterized himself as a strong candidate who can defeat Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, widely considered the
April 9, 2025 -
Trump, acting President Han Duck-soo hold phone talks ahead of ‘reciprocal’ tariffs taking effect
Acting President Han Duck-soo and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday held a phone conversation ahead of the latter’s imposition of "reciprocal" tariffs of 25 percent on most South Korean goods exported to the United States effective Apr. 9. Eastern Daylight Time. The 28-minute phone conversation wrapped up at 9:31 p.m. Tuesday, Seoul time. Han's office said in a statement that the phone call — the first between Trump and a South Korean leader since Trump's return to the White House Jan. 20 — c
April 8, 2025 -
Conservative contenders announce presidential bids
Conservative politicians mentioned as top contenders for the upcoming early presidential election in opinion polls started to announce their candidacies Tuesday. The announcements come as the South Korean government formally designated June 3 as the date of the election, following the Constitutional Court's decision to remove former President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his Dec. 3 martial law declaration. Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, considered a favorite of conservative voters, told reporter
April 8, 2025 -
New presidential office for new president?
Following the removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol from office, many are wondering if the next administration might relocate the presidential office, currently located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, back to the previous location of Cheong Wa Dae, also known as the Blue House, or to a new site. "Regardless of which party takes power, I think the majority of the public is unlikely to agree with the presidential office remaining in Yongsan in the long term," said Rep. Kim Min-seok, a senior leader of the libe
April 8, 2025 -
Acting president fills in judicial vacancies following Yoon ouster
Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Tuesday he had approved the parliament-led appointment of senior judge Ma Eun-hyuk as the ninth Constitutional Court justice and filled other major judicial vacancies. In a written address to the nation released just before the Cabinet meeting held Tuesday, Han said he appointed Ma as the new justice after consulting with Cabinet ministers. This complied with the Constitutional Court Act and the court's ruling in February that recognized his
April 8, 2025 -
Lee Jae-myung dominates presidential matchups
Rival parties likely to finalize candidates by early May The handful of other presidential hopefuls in the Democratic Party of Korea is overshadowed by the party's leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung, who was narrowly beaten by Yoon Suk Yeol in the 2022 presidential election. By contrast, the People Power Party's pool of potential presidential candidates continues to grow in the absence of a standout candidate. Lee, despite pending criminal cases against him, remains the dominant pick among potential cont
April 8, 2025 -
South Korea confirms presidential election on June 3
South Korea's Cabinet confirmed that an early presidential election would be held June 3, following former President Yoon Suk Yeol's ouster through parliament-led impeachment over his botched imposition of martial law last December. Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo approved the plan at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, as the Constitution stipulates that an early presidential election shall be held between 50 and 60 days after the sitting president's removal. Yoon was formally removed f
April 8, 2025 -
Acting president appoints 9th justice to Constitutional Court
Acting President Han Duck-soo on Tuesday appointed Ma Eun-hyuk as the ninth justice of the Constitutional Court, while nominating successors to two retiring judges. In a statement to the nation, Han said he made the decision following careful consideration and after consulting with other Cabinet members as the issue of Ma's appointment has been a "source of much conflict until now." Ma and two other justice nominees were confirmed by the opposition-controlled National Assembly late last year but
April 8, 2025 -
Labor minister to resign to run for president
Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, who is leading the conservative bloc's potential presidential candidates in various opinion polls, is set to resign later Tuesday to run for president, ministry officials said. The presidential election is slated for early June following the Constitutional Court's decision to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol from office. Kim is to submit his resignation after attending a Cabinet meeting at the Seoul government complex in the morning and hold a farewell ceremony at the
April 8, 2025 -
Hopefuls join race for president
People Power Party forms election body Liberal and conservative hopefuls began lining up to launch their own bids for the presidency on Monday, three days after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office in a unanimous Constitutional Court ruling. The Constitution says a successor to an ousted president must be elected within 60 days of removal, putting the presidential contenders on a tight timeline. While the Democratic Party of Korea's leader, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, has long enjoyed
April 7, 2025