President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday nominated a new unification minister and replaced 12 vice ministers across 11 ministries in his first major reshuffle, aimed at pushing ahead with his reform drive in his second year in office. Of the 12 vice ministers named, five are currently presidential secretaries. The Yoon administration nominated Sungshin Women’s University professor of political science and diplomacy Kim Yong-ho as the new unification minister. Kim was also formerly a unificatio

Politics June 29, 2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday commended his administration for attracting $16.5 billion of foreign investment to South Korea in the first half of the year, calling it "the largest ever." Stressing that a total of $940 million in investments from six European high-tech companies was clinched during his recent trip to France and Vietnam, Yoon urged Cabinet members to continue efforts in facilitating deals. Yoon, who has called himself South Korea's top salesperson, has consiste

Politics June 27, 2023

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is poised to conduct a wide-ranging reshuffle of ministers and vice ministers, possibly this week, following his return from France and Vietnam, according to sources and local reports on Monday. The sources expressed a strong expectation that secretary-level officials in the presidential office, who were instrumental in helping Yoon manage state affairs, will be appointed to government ministries. Nearly half of the 19 ministries are anticipated to undergo pe

Politics June 26, 2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol concluded his state visit to Vietnam, solidifying economic cooperation between the two nations and ushering in a new era of forward-looking collaboration. Accompanied by a 205-member business delegation, President Yoon observed the signing of 111 memoranda of understanding between business leaders of the two countries as well as trade consultations made for some 100 companies. Calling it a significant development in bilateral trade, Yoon's visit has set the stage for

Foreign Affairs June 25, 2023

First Lady Kim Keon-hee met with officials from Smile for Children, a group that provides free surgery services for Vietnamese children with facial deformities, during her visit to the 108 Central Military Hospital in Vietnam on Saturday, according to the presidential office. Smile for Children, a non-profit organization supported by the SK Group, annually brings together medical professionals from both countries. To date, more than 4,200 Vietnamese children have benefited from this initiative.

Politics June 24, 2023

  President Yoon Suk Yeol concluded his state visit to Vietnam on Saturday morning with a visit to the Samsung Electronics R&D Center in Hanoi. During a meeting with young employees, he highlighted the importance of the digital partnership between Korea and Vietnam. He pledged to support collaborative research efforts between the two nations, aiming to generate value by combining the technological strengths of both Korea and Vietnam. The meeting was attended by Samsung Electronics Chair

Politics June 24, 2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is on a state visit to Vietnam, attended a state dinner hosted by Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong on Friday, expressing his hopes for stronger friendship and vowing to increase investment in the nation. "We must continue to increase investment and support for future generations of both countries for prosperity for the next 100 years,” Yoon said at the dinner held at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, on the second day of Yoon's three-day

Foreign Affairs June 24, 2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol, on a state visit to Vietnam, emphasized “restoring trade dynamics” and “deepening horizontal cooperative relationships” between the two countries while attending the Korea-Vietnam Business Forum in Hanoi on Friday. At the business forum attended by approximately 600 entrepreneurs and government officials from both countries, a total of 111 memoranda of understanding were signed. Among them, 54 were trade agreements encompassing the areas of defens

Politics June 23, 2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Vietnamese counterpart, Vo Van Thuong, agreed to strengthen economic and security ties Friday, with the two nations aiming to achieve a trade volume goal of $150 billion by 2030, during a bilateral summit in Hanoi. On his second day in Vietnam, Yoon met Thuong at the Presidential Palace of Hanoi, following his morning visit to the tomb of former President Ho Chi Minh. In his opening remarks during the summit, Yoon expressed his anticipation of forging a "br

Foreign Affairs June 23, 2023

HANOI, Vietnam -- President Yoon Suk Yeol begun his three-day state visit in Vietnam on Thursday, seeking to further upgrade the bilateral relations through a summit with his Vietnamese counterpart, Vo Van Thuong, and a series of events aimed at bolstering economic and cultural partnerships. Upon his arrival, he met with overseas Koreans living in Vietnam, expressing his optimism for the future of their relationship. In a meeting with approximately 300 Koreans at a hotel in Hanoi, Yoon expressed

Politics June 22, 2023

  President Yoon Suk Yeol attended an investment forum to meet European business leaders, where six firms promised to invest $940 million in Korea on the last day of his visit to Paris. Among the firms represented at the forum, French mining company Imerys, Belgium materials technology company Umicore, German automotive parts company Continental and British tech firm Nylacast said they plan to establish plants in South Korea, according to Yoon's office. The investments by European high-tech

Politics June 21, 2023

PARIS -- South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday proposed to create an organization under the United Nations to establish norms for digital order, highlighting the paradox wherein new digital technologies enhance people's lives with convenience while simultaneously posing threats to human freedom. At the Paris Digital Vision Forum held at Sorbonne University, Yoon proposed the idea dubbed the "Paris Initiative," stressing the significant role of digital technologies --

Foreign Affairs June 21, 2023

  South Korean and French first ladies Kim Keon Hee and Brigitte Macron met on the occasion of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to Paris to rally support for the 2030 Busan Expo, and exchanged ideas on culture and arts during a friendship luncheon on Tuesday in Paris. The event took place at the Elysee Palace at the French first lady's invitation. Kim expressed the importance of strengthening mutual understanding and expanding exchanges in arts and culture between Korea an

Politics June 21, 2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol engaged in talks with French and Korean youth in Paris on Tuesday, under the slogan "Coffee with the President: Freedom and Solidarity as a Force for Innovation." After participating in a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and delivering a presentation at the general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions, President Yoon visited Station F, the world’s largest startup campus, to engage in discussions with the future generation. Dur

Politics June 21, 2023

PARIS -- President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday presented South Korea's vision for hosting the World Expo 2030 in Busan, highlighting the nation's strength in culture, digitalization, green technology and its commitment to a shared future at the final presentation session held in Paris. In his speech, which was livestreamed worldwide, the president stressed the country's will to make the exhibition a platform to address the most pressing challenges the world is facing, both at present

Politics June 20, 2023