Journalist
Kim Hee-su김희수
khs@ajupress.com
ReporterMinistry of Foreign Affairs, Seoul City Hall & Defense, Foreign Affairs
Kim Hee-su is a bilingual reporter at AJU Press, covering defense and foreign affairs. Before joining AJP in 2025, she worked at The Korea Times, where she wrote interview stories, including a profile of North Korean defector Kim Gum-hyok, and produced digital content. She also previously worked as a researcher for KBS News 9’s International News Department, supporting correspondents in 10 countries around the world. She graduated from the University of Toronto in Canada with a double major in Book and Media Studies and East Asian Studies.
"I'm driven by storytelling."
Latest by Kim Hee-su
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South Korea to establish unified military academy in Daejeon SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - South Korea decided Thursday to establish a four-year Korea Armed Forces Academy at the Jaundae military complex in Daejeon by merging the Army, Navy and Air Force academies. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced the decision after a government-ruling Democratic Party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul. “The new Korea Armed Forces Academy will be located at Jaundae in Daejeon,” Ahn said, adding that the government would build a high-tech smart campus near major universities and research institutes. Ahn described the plan as a fundamental overhaul of officer education rather than “a mechanical consolidation” of the three existing institutions. He said the current system must be redesigned as warfare expands beyond land, sea and air into space, cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum, with artificial intelligence and drones playing an increasingly important role. The new academy will seek to train officers capable of leading multidomain operations and the South Korea-U.S. combined defense system following Seoul’s planned recovery of wartime operational control, Ahn said. The government selected Daejeon because it is home to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, the Agency for Defense Development and major national institutes specializing in aerospace, telecommunications, astronomy and nuclear technology. Cadets will spend all four years at the new academy in Jaundae, receiving common education during their first two years and specialized training for the Army, Navy or Air Force during their third and fourth years. The government also plans to raise the proportion of civilian professors from about 24 percent to more than 50 percent and provide them with working conditions comparable to those at national universities. Ahn said the existing academies educate about 2,900 cadets while employing roughly 3,000 support personnel, arguing that separate facilities and organizations had resulted in duplicated investment and inefficient use of resources. The ministry will establish a new bureau to oversee the reform and announce detailed plans, including admissions and curriculum, in October. The announcement immediately drew opposition from the alumni associations of the three academies. In a joint statement Thursday, the groups called the plan incoherent and warned that closing the existing academies would sever their identities, histories and traditions. They argued that cooperation among the services could be strengthened without abolishing the schools and said moving the Naval Academy inland and the Air Force Academy to a site without an airfield would weaken service-specific education. 2026-07-16 15:26:16 -
Trump again signals role for Korean shipbuilders in US naval buildup SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump has again raised the prospect of working with South Korean shipbuilders as Washington seeks to rapidly expand and modernize its aging naval fleet. Speaking Wednesday at the Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Trump said his administration would consider South Korean and other foreign companies as part of its shipbuilding efforts. “We’re going to probably look at some of these companies that are coming in from South Korea and other places,” Trump said, adding that the companies were already working with the United States on ships. “We’re going to also buy some ships that are made outside of the area,” he said. “We need a lot of ships for our Navy.” Trump said the United States still had the world’s most powerful Navy but warned that many of its vessels were aging after the country had largely withdrawn from the shipbuilding business. It was not immediately clear whether Trump’s reference to ships made “outside of the area” meant vessels constructed outside the United States. Still, the remarks are likely to fuel speculation that his administration is considering a larger role for allied shipyards, including those in South Korea, in rebuilding the U.S. fleet. Michael Coulter, president and CEO of Hanwha Defense USA, highlighted South Korea’s shipbuilding capacity in remarks delivered before Trump took the stage. “Our shipyard in Korea puts out about one ship a week. We have a plan to bring that capability to Philadelphia,” Coulter said. He added that Hanwha intended to help make Philadelphia a center of the Trump administration’s “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again” initiative. Hanwha Group acquired the Philadelphia shipyard in 2024 and has been investing in automation, workforce expansion and production facilities as it seeks to transfer South Korean shipbuilding techniques to the United States. Trump has repeatedly emphasized cooperation with South Korea since the two countries began negotiations over trade and investment last year. A joint fact sheet released following a summit between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said their economic agreement included $150 billion in approved South Korean investment in the U.S. shipbuilding sector, as part of a broader $350 billion investment package. Lee said last month that Trump had asked him during the G7 summit in France whether South Korea could quickly build 10 warships for the United States. The Pentagon and the U.S. Navy recently sent requests for information to major South Korean shipbuilders regarding combat vessels and medium-sized replenishment oilers. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean submitted information on their warship design capabilities and production capacity, while the two companies and Samsung Heavy Industries responded to a separate request involving naval oilers. The requests are an initial market-research step and do not guarantee that the United States will proceed with purchases. Significant legal barriers would also have to be addressed before U.S. warships could be built in South Korea. Under Section 8679 of Title 10 of the U.S. Code, vessels for the U.S. armed forces — as well as major components of their hulls or superstructures — generally cannot be constructed in foreign shipyards. The president may grant an exception when it is deemed necessary for U.S. national security, but the administration must notify Congress and wait 30 days before entering into a contract under the waiver. A broader shift toward routinely building naval vessels overseas would likely require action by Congress rather than an executive order alone. 2026-07-16 11:37:33 -
Failed UAM demo exposes long road ahead for Korea's flying taxi SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - South Korea's vision of launching urban air mobility services within two years suffered an awkward reality check Wednesday after the country's first public demonstration of a domestically developed air taxi failed to get off the ground. The unmanned aircraft remained firmly on the ground despite three attempts to take off during the K-UAM Flight Showcase at Incheon National University's INU Innovation Center. Organizers eventually called off the demonstration, citing rain and suspected radio interference. The showcase was intended to demonstrate South Korea's progress toward urban air mobility ahead of the 2026 Korea Drone & UAM Expo. Instead, it inadvertently revealed the formidable technological, regulatory and operational challenges that remain before air taxis can safely fly over crowded cities. The event had been scheduled about a week in advance, according to an official. But by 9 a.m., wind swept across the outdoor venue while a light drizzle began to fall, raising concerns over whether the aircraft would be able to fly at all. Organizers had been hoping for a brief 30-minute break in the weather around 10 a.m. As forecast, the rain eased shortly before the demonstration, allowing hundreds of visitors, government officials and students from Incheon National University and Inha University to gather around the fenced-off flight area. Then came the countdown. "Three, two, one." Nothing happened, and an awkward silence fell over the crowd including VIPs from the air force. The aircraft, known as the B-32-R2 and developed by Sambo Motors Group, had been programmed to lift off vertically under remote control and hover approximately five meters above the ground. After three unsuccessful attempts, organizers abandoned the flight. An event official said an unauthorized drone appeared to have entered nearby airspace shortly before the demonstration and may have disrupted radio communications. The official added that the interference did not appear to have originated from mobile phone signals. A Sambo Motors official said Wednesday's event effectively marked the company's first attempt to fly the aircraft in an urban environment. "Testing in a city was actually the first time for us," the official told AJP. "Until yesterday, we had tested the aircraft here and it flew without problems. But just before hovering today, unexpected signals started interfering." Previous test flights had been conducted in relatively isolated areas such as Taean, where radio conditions are far less congested than in metropolitan areas. The company said it still needs to analyze flight logs before determining the exact cause of the failure. But the official acknowledged that the current prototype relies on communication systems similar to those used by drones rather than fully aviation-grade flight-control networks. That admission highlighted one of the least visible but perhaps most fundamental obstacles facing the urban air mobility industry. While public attention often focuses on electric propulsion, batteries and aircraft design, reliable communications, navigation and flight-control systems will ultimately determine whether future air taxis can safely operate above densely populated cities filled with high-rise buildings, competing wireless signals and increasing numbers of drones. If a nearly one-ton unmanned prototype can be grounded by unexpected radio interference during a controlled public demonstration, commercial aircraft carrying passengers will require multiple layers of redundancy and significantly more robust aviation-grade systems before regulators allow routine operations. Joo Young-yeon, a senior research engineer at Sambo Motors Group, stressed that the aircraft displayed Wednesday is not intended to become the company's commercial passenger model. "This aircraft is a test vehicle," Joo said. "It is designed as a two-seat aircraft, but we are currently flying it without a pilot to verify key systems." He added that radio interference would have posed a different issue had a pilot been on board. "If a pilot had been onboard, radio interference would not have been the same kind of problem," he said. The B-32-R2 measures about 10 meters wide, 6.2 meters long and 3.2 meters high, with a maximum takeoff weight of 950 kilograms. Powered by eight electric motors, the aircraft is being used to validate flight-control technologies before Sambo Motors develops a larger commercial model. According to Joo, the company is already working on a three-seat aircraft weighing roughly 1.7 tons that is intended for eventual passenger operations. The company's development timeline also underscored a widening gap between government ambitions and industry expectations. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport aims to launch South Korea's first urban air mobility services in 2028. Sambo Motors officials, however, acknowledged that their own commercial passenger aircraft is unlikely to be ready before 2030. That suggests the government's target is likely to consist of tightly controlled pilot operations rather than widespread commercial air taxi services. Indeed, the ministry's own roadmap envisions a much more limited initial rollout than the futuristic image often associated with flying taxis. Early operations will focus on sightseeing flights, regional connections and airport-linked routes within designated trial zones. Flights will operate only during daylight hours and favorable weather conditions. Only one aircraft will be permitted within each flight corridor at a time, with daily operations limited to no more than ten one-way flights. Aircraft will fly within designated corridors at altitudes between 300 and 600 meters, while individual routes will generally be limited to about 50 kilometers. In other words, the 2028 milestone represents the beginning of a carefully managed aviation trial rather than the arrival of flying taxis as a routine form of urban transportation comparable to buses, subways or conventional taxis. Sambo Motors is already identifying potential routes for those early operations. One possibility under consideration would connect Jamsil in southeastern Seoul with Incheon International Airport, covering approximately 65 kilometers. The company is also studying services in Busan, including routes linking Busan Port with Haeundae or Gimhae International Airport, where aircraft could fly largely over coastal areas with fewer obstacles than central Seoul. Company officials said vertiports would function much like railway stations for future air taxis. Although fares have yet to be finalized, the company expects prices to be comparable with—or slightly above—premium black taxi services. Executives also openly acknowledged that South Korea still trails leading urban air mobility developers in the United States, Europe and China. "Korea is not yet at the same level as global frontrunners," one company official said. "But we believe we can catch up as a fast follower by leveraging our strengths in batteries and manufacturing." Despite the failed demonstration, the aircraft continued attracting curious visitors throughout the day. Among them was seven-year-old Yoo Hee-chan, who had come with his parents and younger sister hoping to witness the country's vision of future transportation. "I've always liked drones," Yoo said. "I don't know exactly why, but they're cool." Although the aircraft never left the ground, he said he was not disappointed. "Even though it didn't take off, I still felt good," he said. Asked whether he would ride a flying taxi if one became available someday, Yoo answered without hesitation. "If there is really a flying taxi someday, I definitely want to ride it once," he said. "I want to experience it." His excitement captured the paradox facing South Korea's urban air mobility industry. Public imagination has already embraced the vision of flying taxis, but Wednesday's grounded demonstration showed that turning that vision into a safe, reliable commercial transport system will require far more than simply getting an aircraft off the ground once. 2026-07-15 17:39:07 -
Seoul weighs Daejeon site for unified military academy SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - South Korea’s Defense Ministry is strongly considering establishing a new integrated military academy at Jaundae in Daejeon, where cadets from the Army, Navy and Air Force academies would receive four years of joint education, military sources said Wednesday. According to military officials, the ministry is reviewing a plan to create a new Armed Forces Academy at Jaundae, a major military education and training complex in Daejeon, as part of its broader push to integrate the three service academies. The plan would mark a shift from an earlier “2+2” model, under which cadets would be jointly selected and receive common education during their first two years before moving to their respective service academies for specialized training in their third and fourth years. The ministry is now said to be giving greater weight to a four-year integrated program at Jaundae, citing the need to strengthen jointness among future officers. Under the proposal, cadets would live and study at Jaundae for all four years, while receiving service-specific major courses and professional education from their upper years to preserve the expertise required by each branch. Jaundae, located in Daejeon’s Yuseong District, is home to several key military education institutions, including the Army College, Naval College, Air Force College and Joint Forces Military University. The latest proposal comes amid growing debate over the government’s academy reform plan. The ministry has argued that an integrated academy would strengthen jointness, reduce overlapping education and better prepare officers for future warfare, while critics, including alumni groups, parents of cadets and retired officers, have warned that a rushed merger could weaken service-specific expertise and identity. Earlier this month, about 2,000 people gathered in heavy rain outside the National Assembly to protest the plan, saying the government should provide clearer explanations before changing the officer training system. The ministry is also reportedly considering a longer-term plan to expand the new academy into a comprehensive military university that would eventually include other institutions, such as the Armed Forces Nursing Academy and a planned defense advanced technology academy. The Defense Ministry is expected to announce the basic plan in the coming days, possibly as early as Thursday. “We will soon provide the public with a detailed explanation of the basic plan to establish a world-class Armed Forces Academy aimed at training elite officers capable of leading victory in future warfare,” a ministry official said. “The plan will be further developed through open consultations, including public hearings and policy briefings.” 2026-07-15 13:32:14 -
Seoul to debut first privately developed UAM aircraft SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - Seoul will unveil its first urban air mobility aircraft developed by a domestic private company on Wednesday, with the vehicle set to perform a short flight demonstration. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Tuesday that it will hold the K-UAM Flight Showcase at Incheon National University’s INU Innovation Center on Wednesday, featuring an aircraft under development by Sambo Motors Group. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute demonstrated OPPAV, the country’s first domestically developed UAM aircraft, in 2023. Wednesday’s event will mark the first public presentation of a UAM aircraft being developed by a South Korean private company. During the demonstration, the remotely controlled aircraft will take off vertically and hover about 5 meters above the ground. The company will also showcase its flight control and monitoring technology, electric propulsion system and safety management framework. The government has supported preparations for the commercialization of K-UAM, including vertiports, operating systems, traffic management, communications and air traffic control, while private companies have focused on aircraft development. “Under our goal of commercializing UAM in 2028, we will thoroughly verify the technology in stages, from simple to more complex operations,” Land Minister Kim Yun-duk said. 2026-07-14 17:13:30 -
Fujairah cargo hub may offer Korea a Hormuz escape route SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - With U.S. President Donald Trump moving to charge 20 percent on cargo vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz amid renewed conflict in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates is accelerating plans to develop Fujairah into a major logistics gateway outside the strategic chokepoint and offer a potential alternative route for South Korean traders. The proposal would extend the UAE's existing strategy of bypassing Hormuz beyond crude oil to containerized and general cargo, allowing trade to continue even if traffic through the narrow waterway is disrupted. Fujairah occupies a unique position on the UAE's eastern coast facing the Gulf of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz. Unlike Dubai's Jebel Ali Port—the region's largest container hub located inside the Persian Gulf—ships calling at Fujairah can avoid passing through one of the world's most strategically vulnerable maritime corridors. The importance of that distinction has grown rapidly. Trump, renewing military operations against Iran, said the United States would charge a 20 percent fee on commercial vessels using the Strait of Hormuz, adding another layer of cost to a route already threatened by escalating regional conflict. The security risks were highlighted Tuesday when the UAE said two state-owned tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles while navigating the southern shipping lane in Omani waters. One Indian crew member aboard the Mombasa was killed, while eight sailors—six Indians and two Ukrainians—were injured, four of them seriously. Both the Mombasa and the Al Bahiya caught fire following the attack, according to the UAE Ministry of Defense. Although Fujairah already serves as the export terminal for Abu Dhabi's 406-kilometer crude oil pipeline, capable of transporting roughly 1.8 million barrels per day without passing through Hormuz, the latest proposal would expand that bypass concept to commercial cargo. Rather than routing containers through Jebel Ali inside the Gulf, cargo could be discharged at Fujairah before continuing inland by road or rail, allowing trade to continue even during disruptions inside Hormuz. For South Korea, whose exports to the UAE reached $5.66 billion in 2025, such a hub could become an important contingency gateway. Machinery and mechanical equipment accounted for the largest share of exports at $1.36 billion, followed by automobiles and auto parts worth $968 million and electrical and electronic products totaling $695 million. Cosmetics, medical devices, plastics and steel products also represented significant export categories. While finished automobiles are transported primarily on dedicated vehicle carriers, most Korean manufactured goods—including machinery components, electronics, cosmetics and medical equipment—move in containers. Those shipments currently depend heavily on Jebel Ali. HMM does not disclose what proportion of its Middle East cargo passes through Dubai, but its second-quarter service network illustrates the port's strategic role. Both its Korea Middle East Express (KMP) and Gulf Asia Liner Express (GLX) services connect Busan directly with Jebel Ali in approximately 24 to 25 days. The company also uses Dubai as a transshipment hub for cargo bound for the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa. A container terminal at Fujairah would therefore provide HMM and Korean exporters with a potential alternative should access to Jebel Ali become restricted. The company has not announced plans to add Fujairah to its liner network. The proposal also aligns with broader efforts by the UAE to diversify trade infrastructure as geopolitical tensions reshape global shipping routes. The South Korea-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which entered into force on May 1, is expected to increase bilateral trade, making resilient logistics links increasingly important. DP World, the UAE port operator expected to play a central role in any Fujairah expansion, already maintains a growing presence in South Korea through a $50 million logistics center under development at Busan New Port. Although the company has not announced a direct operational link between Busan and Fujairah, the investment provides a foundation for closer integration should the bypass project proceed. Industry analysts say the significance of Fujairah extends beyond the current conflict. For decades, Gulf shipping has relied overwhelmingly on ports inside the Persian Gulf, assuming uninterrupted access through Hormuz. The combination of military conflict, higher insurance costs, possible U.S. transit charges and repeated attacks on commercial shipping is now prompting governments and logistics operators to rethink that assumption. If Fujairah succeeds in evolving from an oil export terminal into a regional container gateway, it could fundamentally alter cargo flows across the Middle East, offering Asian exporters—including South Korea—a maritime route that bypasses one of the world's most vulnerable strategic chokepoints. 2026-07-14 16:49:00 -
KF-16 fighters to fly nonstop to Australia for Pitch Black exercise SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - South Korea’s Air Force will take part in Pitch Black 2026, a multinational air combat exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force, at Darwin Air Base from Friday to Aug. 7, the Air Force said Tuesday. The exercise will bring together about 110 aircraft from 16 countries, including F-35A stealth fighters from the United States, Japan and Australia, Rafale fighters from India and Typhoon fighters from Spain and Germany. South Korea will send six KF-16 fighter jets from the 20th and 38th Fighter Wings, along with about 100 personnel, to conduct combined air operations with participating countries. Three KC-330 multirole aerial refueling and transport aircraft and three C-130 transport aircraft will support the deployment of fighter jets, troops and equipment. The KF-16 formation will depart from Seosan Air Base on Wednesday and fly about 5,900 kilometers to Australia over roughly seven and a half hours with aerial refueling support from the KC-330, without making a stopover. During the exercise, South Korean fighters will carry out various combined air operations with participating forces, including air interdiction, defensive counterair missions and aerial refueling. “Training with air forces from various countries will be a valuable opportunity to strengthen our combined operational capabilities and interoperability,” said Col. Ha Jung-mi, commander of the 20th Fighter Wing’s air operations group and head of the South Korean training contingent. 2026-07-14 11:24:08 -
Mega chip cluster project in Gwangju hits stumbling block over Air Force training SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - South Korea's plan to transform a military air base in Gwangju into a major semiconductor cluster is facing another stumbling block, as concerns grow over whether the Air Force can relocate pilot training operations without disrupting combat readiness. The fresh concerns emerged after the government last week handpicked the roughly 8.3 million-square-meter military airport in the southwestern region as the location for the cluster, despite some opposition over the region's lack of infrastructure. The project is part of the government's push to strengthen the country's semiconductor competitiveness while promoting balanced regional growth. Officials argue that the military air base is suitable because its large, already leveled tract could shorten construction time, while its proximity to the city and transport infrastructure would help attract workers and support logistics. To secure the land before a replacement military airport is completed in nearby Muan, Cheong Wa Dae has suggested temporarily dispersing the aircraft and training missions currently based in Gwangju to other Air Force installations. Presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom said the government could move ahead with using the site without waiting for the new airport if it reaches an agreement with the Air Force on relocating current operations. But military officials and lawmakers say the proposal would involve far more than simply moving aircraft. Gwangju Air Base is home to the Air Force's 1st Fighter Wing, which operates three squadrons of T-50-family aircraft and serves as a central training base for fighter pilots. Of about 9,100 takeoffs conducted at the base last year, roughly 8,800 were training flights. The base also has more than 10 flight simulators, along with classrooms, maintenance facilities and specialized equipment needed for pilot training. Bases in Yecheon and Wonju, which also operate T-50-family aircraft, have been mentioned as possible locations. However, they would need enough space for additional aircraft, maintenance facilities, personnel and military families. Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) said relocating the training infrastructure would take at least 18 months and cost tens of billions of won. He said many Air Force bases are already operating near capacity as they prepare facilities for the deployment of the KF-21 fighter jet or temporarily accommodate aircraft from bases undergoing construction. "The issue is not simply moving several aircraft, but relocating the entire pilot training system," Yoo said. He also raised concerns about the impact on roughly 10,000 service members, civilian employees and family members based in Gwangju, who could be required to move temporarily before relocating again to Muan. Asked at a regular briefing Monday whether the Air Force had enough capacity to disperse Gwangju's training operations to other bases, a Defense Ministry spokesperson said the ministry would work with the Air Force to prevent any disruption. "We will work closely with the Air Force to develop measures that support the government's policy of strengthening the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry while ensuring there are no problems with military readiness or training," the spokesperson said. Responding to a follow-up question about training facilities and consultations with the United States, the spokesperson stressed that no relocation plan had been finalized. "Nothing has been decided at this point," the spokesperson said. "We will review various options and consult with the Air Force and the U.S. side while supporting national policy and minimizing any gap in military readiness and security." Another option reportedly under consideration is to begin building one or two semiconductor fabrication plants on land previously prepared for the relocation of an ammunition depot while the airfield remains in operation. Yoo said that plan would also be difficult because the land is only several hundred meters from the runway and lies within an aviation safety zone. The height restrictions could prevent the use of tower cranes needed for construction. Jeong Kyung-woon, a research fellow at the Korea Association of Military Studies, also said the fighter wings mentioned as possible alternatives are already optimized for their existing missions and were unlikely to have been designed to absorb an additional training system of this scale. "It is difficult to imagine that another air base has enough spare capacity to accommodate all of this at once," Jung said. "Even relocating only the advanced flight training system would require considerable time, along with new accommodation, family housing and support facilities." Jung also noted that any changes involving bases designated for joint use with U.S. forces would require coordination with Washington and could have to follow U.S. military procedures as well as South Korean requirements. "Trying to fit Gwangju's existing system into other bases without first building replacement facilities would create significant operational and logistical problems," he said. 2026-07-13 16:53:36 -
Missing Navy sailor found dead in East Sea after search near NLL SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - A Navy sailor who went missing from a frigate on patrol near the Northern Limit Line in the East Sea was found dead Monday after a search lasting more than 21 hours, the Navy said. The Navy said the sailor’s body was found at 5:58 a.m. in waters about 52 kilometers east of Geojin-eup in Goseong County, Gangwon Province. The sailor, a private first class, had been serving aboard a Navy frigate on patrol about 50 kilometers east of Geojin-eup when he was reported missing Sunday morning after failing to appear for his 8 a.m. watch duty. He was last seen by a duty officer who was conducting an internal patrol of the ship between midnight and 2 a.m. Sunday, according to officials. A patrol boat taking part in the operation found the missing sailor at 5:58 a.m. Monday. His body was recovered at 6:43 a.m. using a rigid inflatable boat from a frigate, the Navy said. The sailor was reportedly not wearing a life jacket when he was found. “The exact circumstances of the accident and the cause of death will be investigated jointly by civilian police and military investigators,” the Navy said. 2026-07-13 09:43:20 -
Korean bass wins second prize at Sumi Jo International Singing Competition SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - South Korean bass Yoo Seung-ho won second prize at the second Sumi Jo International Singing Competition, held in France. Yoo, 25, placed second in the competition's final round, held Friday at the Château de La Ferté-Imbault in France's Loire region. A graduate of Gyeongbuk Arts High School, where he finished at the top of his class, Yoo is currently a senior majoring in vocal music at Seoul National University. "Everyone was an outstanding singer, and since it was my first international competition, I was already satisfied just to reach the finals," Yoo said after receiving the award. "I'm incredibly happy to have won a prize. I think I still need some time to fully realize what has happened." First prize went to 27-year-old American baritone Trevor Hemschrot, while Romanian soprano Paula Iancic, 32, took third place. "I feel unbelievably blessed," Hemschrot said. "I can't put into words how overwhelmed and wonderful this moment is. I simply gave everything I had on stage and did my best. I never expected this result." Iancic said performing in a competition founded by renowned South Korean soprano Sumi Jo made the experience especially meaningful. "Sumi Jo was one of the great opera stars who inspired me to pursue this path," she said. "Just having the opportunity to stand on this stage was already an emotional experience." The winner received €50,000 in prize money, while the second- and third-place finishers received €20,000 and €10,000, respectively. A special prize sponsored by Hyundai Motor was awarded to a Chinese mezzo-soprano and Ukrainian soprano Evelina Liubonko. More than 500 singers from 55 countries applied for this year's competition. After preliminary rounds, 24 contestants advanced to the main competition, with 11 reaching the final. The competition will return in 2028. 2026-07-11 17:42:44