SARAH KIM - koreajoongangdaily

SARAH KIM

kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr

Lee taps SME chief as prime minister to lead Korea's AI transformation

President Lee Jae Myung nominated Han Seong-sook, minister of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups, as his next prime minister to help Korea's AI transformation and to aid in the achievement of balanced regional growth.

2026.6.7

People vote at a gateball park in Jangseong County in South Jeolla on June 3, 2026. [YONHAP]

Exit polls put Lee Jae Myung's DP in commanding lead in local elections — as it happened

Stay with us here for live coverage of the 2026 local elections, the first real litmus test of the Lee administration. Up for election today are the mayors and governors of 16 metropolitan cities and provinces, as well as smaller administrative roles

2026.6.3

A suicide drone strikes a target during the Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, on May 28. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Lee urges transformation of Korean military in line with modern warfare

President Lee Jae Myung stressed on Thursday that the time has come to transform Korea’s military structure and weapon systems to keep pace with modern warfare and strengthen self-reliant national defense.

2026.5.28

Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks at a joint conference hosted by the Global Green Growth Institute and the Green Climate Fund at the Four Seasons Hotel in central Seoul on May 21. [GGGI]

Former UN chief urges United States to 'do its part' for global climate action during forum in Seoul

Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the United States to return to the Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation as well as its other international obligations to “do its part” in a forum on global climate action in Seoul Thursday.

2026.5.21

Korean President Lee Jae Myung, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi watch the Seonyu Julbul Nori, a fireworks display, at Hahoe Folk Village in Andong, North Gyeongsang on May 19 after their bilateral summit. [BLUE HOUSE]

Through another lens: Korean, Japanese leaders switch eyeglasses, bond over fireworks in Andong

President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi deepened their rapport over chicken dishes, eyeglasses and fireworks in the Korean leader's scenic hometown of Andong in North Gyeongsang Tuesday.

2026.5.19

Korean President Lee Jae Myung, left, greets Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of their bilateral summit at a hotel in Andong, North Gyeongsang, on May 19. Takaichi is on a two-day visit to Andong, Lee’s hometown. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Korean, Japanese leaders agree to boost energy cooperation, review oil swap arrangement at Andong summit

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi agreed to enhance cooperation on energy supply chains during their summit in Andong, emphasizing stability amid global tensions and historic ties.

2026.5.19

President Lee Jae Myung holds a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump at his official residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, on May 17. [BLUE HOUSE]

Lee, Trump discuss U.S.-China summit, Middle East, North Korea in phone call

President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the results of Trump's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Middle East situation in a phone call Sunday night, the Blue House said.

2026.5.17

Oh Se-hoon, the main opposition People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor in the June 3 local elections, speaks at a forum organized by the Korea News Editors Association at the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in central Seoul on May 14. [NEWS1]

Oh calls on voters to keep Lee administration, real estate policy in check in Seoul mayor re-election bid

Oh Se-hoon, the main opposition People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, said the June 3 local elections will serve as a referendum to keep in check the Lee Jae Myung administration and its real estate policy in a forum on Thursday.

2026.5.14

Chong Won-o, the ruling Democratic Party's candidate for Seoul mayor in the June 3 local elections, speaks at a forum organized by the Korea News Editors Association at the Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry in central Seoul on May 14. [NEWS1]

DP candidate for Seoul mayor pledges to turn Seoul into global city 'comparable to New York'

Chong Won-o, the ruling Democratic Party (DP)’s candidate for Seoul mayor in the June 3 local elections, stressed he plans to turn Seoul into a global city comparable to New York that can be the “economic and cultural capital of Asia” on Thursday.

2026.5.14

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, center right, speaks at a Korea News Editors' Association forum at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul on May 13. [YONHAP]

Security chief says Seoul is reviewing 'levels of military roles' in U.S.-led Hormuz initiatives

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said Wednesday that South Korea is considering U.S.-led initiatives to enable safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and reviewing "various levels of military roles."

2026.5.13