The presidential office plans to hold an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss responses to US President-elect Donald Trump's proposal to impose tariffs on three trading partners, a senior presidential official said. The meeting comes after Trump said on social media that he will use an executive order to levy new tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico on his first day in office. The meeting is expected to analyze the US trade policy in Trump's second term and discuss potential counterme

Politics Nov. 27, 2024

Prosecutors on Wednesday raided the headquarters of the ruling People Power Party as part of an investigation into an influence-peddling scandal linked to the 2022 parliamentary by-elections. Prosecutors sought to confiscate materials related to the party's nomination of candidates for the 2022 elections but were unable to do so as the relevant office is located in a separate building within the National Assembly compound, according to PPP officials. Authorities are currently working to gai

Politics Nov. 27, 2024

Hyundai Motor Co. announced Wednesday that it will launch an electric vehicle (EV) charging subscription service for its customers in Indonesia this week. Beginning Thursday, subscribers will gain access to 518 chargers at 288 charging stations operated by Hyundai and its EV partner companies across Indonesia. The service, available through Hyundai's smartphone app, offers subscription plans of 50 kilowatt-hours (kWh), 100 kWh, and 250 kWh. Additional charging can be purchased once users ex

Mobility Nov. 27, 2024

South Korean companies with manufacturing bases in Mexico are reviewing countermeasures in response to US President-elect Donald Trump's plan to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from Mexico at the start of his second term. Trump announced on social media Monday that he plans to issue an executive order to levy tariffs on goods made in Mexico and Canada on his first day in office, as part of his campaign to incentivize firms to relocate production to the United States. Mexico has long b

Economy Nov. 27, 2024

South Korea's artificial intelligence safety institute officially opened Wednesday to address various risks associated with the rapidly evolving technology, the science ministry said. The new AI Safety Institute follows the AI Seoul Summit held in May, where leaders from South Korea, Britain, and eight other nations adopted a joint declaration on promoting safe, innovative, and inclusive AI, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT. Located in Pangyo, just south of Seoul, the institute

Social Affairs Nov. 27, 2024

Samsung Electronics Co. announced its new leadership Wednesday, focusing on the semiconductor business in an apparent move to enhance its future competitiveness in the field. Jun Young-hyun, vice chairman and head of the device solutions division, was named CEO and will also lead the memory business and Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, the company said in a press release. To bolster technological competitiveness, the new CEO will directly manage the memory business unit. Han Jin-man, f

Industry Nov. 27, 2024

The top diplomats of South Korea, Canada, France, and Italy have voiced concerns over the threat posed by North Korea's troop deployment to Russia in its war with Ukraine, pledging to work together for a concerted response, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his counterparts from Canada, France, and Italy raised the issue during separate talks held on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting in Fiuggi,

Foreign Affairs Nov. 27, 2024

South Korea unveiled a comprehensive package of support measures for the semiconductor industry Wednesday, with its top economic policymaker highlighting "growing headwinds" amid concerns over potential shifts in US trade policy under the incoming Donald Trump administration and intensifying competition from Chinese rivals. "The next six months will be the 'golden time' that will decide the fate of our industries," Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said during a meetin

Politics Nov. 27, 2024

A court has rejected an arrest warrant for Sohn Tae-seung, former chairperson of Woori Financial Group, over suspicions of extending inappropriate loans to his relatives, judicial officials said Wednesday. The Seoul Southern District Court made the decision Tuesday night, citing the need to guarantee Sohn's right to defense over alleged complicity. The court stated that it is difficult to conclude there is a risk of evidence destruction or flight simply because some of Sohn's statement

Social Affairs Nov. 27, 2024

President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to hold a meeting with a Ukrainian delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov as early as Wednesday, sources close to the matter said. The Ukrainian delegation, which arrived in South Korea on Wednesday, is also expected to meet with Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun as early as later in the day, according to the sources. During the meetings, Umerov is anticipated to share intelligence on North Korea's troop deployment to Russia and seek South Korea�

Foreign Affairs Nov. 27, 2024

More than 20 centimeters of snow blanketed parts of the capital city overnight, prompting heavy snow alerts in the greater Seoul area and Gangwon Province, the state weather agency said Wednesday. A heavy snow warning was issued in parts of northeastern Seoul, including Nowon, Seongbuk, and Dobong districts, shortly after the city experienced its first snow of the season, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration and the Seoul metropolitan government. An advisory is issued when snowfa

Social Affairs Nov. 27, 2024

In a first UEFA Champions League showdown between South Korean players in 13 years, Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich scored his first continental goal against Paris Saint-Germain, featuring countryman Lee Kang-in. The rare goal by the South Korean center back proved decisive as Bayern defeated PSG 1-0 at Allianz Arena in Munich on Tuesday during the league phase of the top European club competition. With their second victory of the competition, Bayern improved to six points, ranking 19th among 36 co

Soccer Nov. 27, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump's team is considering "pursuing direct talks" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in hopes of reducing the risks of armed conflict, Reuters has reported. Citing two sources, Reuters reported Tuesday that "several" members of Trump's team see "a direct approach" from the president-elect as most likely to break the ice with Kim. It said that the policy discussions are "fluid" and Trump has not yet made a final decision

Foreign Affairs Nov. 27, 2024

South Korean stocks opened lower Wednesday, led by chipmakers, amid uncertainties surrounding the US semiconductor policy under the new Donald Trump administration. The benchmark Kospi fell 6.59 points, or 0.26 percent, to 2,513.77 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.28 percent to a new record, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite added 0.63 percent. The S&P 500 increased 0.57 percent to a fresh high. Market players worry that the incoming Tr

Market Nov. 27, 2024

The top diplomats of South Korea and Japan agreed Tuesday to keep the momentum alive for bilateral cooperation, despite discord over a memorial event for Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor, Seoul's foreign ministry said. Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya shared the understanding during their "pull-aside" meeting that took place in Italy on the sidelines of the foreign ministers' gathering of the Group of Seven advanced n

Foreign Affairs Nov. 26, 2024