South Korea begins dismantling border loudspeakers to ease tensions with the North

South Korea began dismantling its loudspeakers near the border used for anti-Pyongyang propaganda in a "practical step" to ease tensions with North Korea, Seoul's Defense Ministry said Monday. “The removal is a follow-up measure to the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts in June,” said Col. Lee Kyung-ho, vice spokesperson of the Defense Ministry, during a press briefing. “It is being carried out within a scope that does not affect our military's readiness.” The ministry's vice spokesperson adde

Aug. 4, 2025

New DP chair's hawkish remarks roil opposition

Partisan divisions in South Korea are deepening as Rep. Jung Chung-rae, the newly elected chair of the ruling Democratic Party, declared he would not work with the main opposition People Power Party until it shows genuine remorse over its alleged ties to former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 3 martial law declaration. Following Jung's defeat of Rep. Park Chan-dae in Saturday's leadership election at the party's national convention, Jung said the People Power Party "must offer sincere reflection

Aug. 3, 2025

S. Korea, US defense chiefs vow deeper shipbuilding ties

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back held his first phone call with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Thursday, during which the two agreed to strengthen extended deterrence against North Korean threats and enhance cooperation in the shipbuilding industry, according to Seoul’s Defense Ministry. Ahn, who took office on July 25, said he feels a strong sense of responsibility as the first defense minister under the new administration. He emphasized the importance of advancing the achiev

July 31, 2025

DAPA to streamline procedures for joint civil-military space projects

South Korea’s arms procurement agency is seeking to streamline the management of joint civil-military space development projects, including the planned operation of ultrasmall satellites, in a bid to reduce inefficiencies caused by overlapping regulations. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said Wednesday it has commissioned a study to establish standardized procedures for projects jointly pursued and operated by the government, military and industries. DAPA explained that such proje

July 30, 2025

Ruling bloc to raise corporate tax, reversing Yoon-era cut

South Korea’s ruling bloc on Tuesday outlined plans to raise the corporate tax rate and expand the scope of capital gains taxation, signaling a U-turn from policies aimed at tax relief under the previous conservative Yoon Suk Yeol administration. Following a policy consultation held at the National Assembly in Seoul, the government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said they had agreed to raise the top corporate tax rate from the current 24 percent to 25 percent — the same level as in 202

July 29, 2025

S. Korea in talks to launch NATO defense consultative body in September

South Korea is in talks with NATO to launch a working-level defense consultative body as early as September, through which it would seek to expand opportunities for local defense firms to enter the European market. The inaugural session of the consultative body is being discussed for late September in Brussels, Belgium, with final arrangements still being coordinated by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and NATO, according to an official at the arms procurement agency on Tuesday. Th

July 29, 2025

Probe into Yoon couple's alleged 2022 influence-peddling intensifies

The special counsel team on Monday ramped up its probe into former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee’s alleged meddling in the People Power Party's candidate nomination process for the June 2022 elections. The team conducted a search and seizure at the home and office of Rep. Lee Jun-seok in Seoul. Lee is currently the leader of the minor opposition Reform Party and was chair of the conservative People Power Party during the 2022 poll for local elections and by-elections for empt

July 28, 2025

Opposition leader accuses ruling bloc of trying to eradicate political enemies

Rep. Song Eon-seog, interim leader of the main opposition People Power Party, on Friday accused the Lee Jae Myung administration and the ruling Democratic Party of seeking to “annihilate” the opposition through politically motivated measures — from deploying special counsel investigations targeting PPP lawmakers to pushing a parliamentary resolution calling for their expulsion. “This is a declaration by the Lee administration to complete one-party rule by using the special counsels and the Democ

July 25, 2025

Opposition urges Lee to engage with Trump over canceled US tariff talks

South Korea’s main opposition People Power Party on Friday lashed out at President Lee Jae Myung over Washington’s abrupt postponement of a high-level tariff negotiation, calling for immediate diplomatic engagement with US President Donald Trump. Rep. Song Eon-seog, interim leader of the conservative People Power Party, said during a radio interview with local broadcaster SBS that Lee must fly to the US immediately and meet with Trump. "Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met directly with Tr

July 25, 2025

Probe targets alleged link between Mongolia operation, martial law

A special counsel is investigating a covert operation conducted by the military in Mongolia in November, in which two intelligence officers allegedly attempted to contact North Korean officials, as part of its probe into former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Investigators suspect that the operation was designed to provoke North Korea or to open a line of communication that could serve as justification for Yoon's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 of last year. The special council has also underscore

July 23, 2025