Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • White House has no specific timeline on hiking tariffs on Korean exports
    White House has no specific timeline on hiking tariffs on Korean exports SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) -The White House said Thursday that there is no clear timeline for U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened tariff hike on South Korean goods, underscoring continued uncertainty over the future of the bilateral talks despite a flurry of visits by senior Seoul officials. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a press briefing on Thursday said that she could not specify when Washington would raise “reciprocal” and sector-specific tariffs from 15 percent to 25 percent, as Trump warned last week. “I don’t have a timeline,” Leavitt said, adding that the White House trade team would provide updates “swiftly and promptly.” Trump last Monday warned he could restore higher tariffs on Korean autos, lumber, pharmaceuticals and other products, citing delays in South Korea’s legislative process to implement a bilateral investment agreement. Under the deal signed last November, Seoul pledged about $350 billion in U.S.-bound investments in exchange for reduced tariffs. But nearly three months later, related legislation remains stalled in the National Assembly. In a Truth Social post, Trump said the tariff hike was justified because “the Korean Legislature hasn’t enacted our Historic Trade Agreement.” Despite a series of urgent diplomatic missions, Seoul has so far failed to secure assurances despite back-to-back visits to Washington. Foreign Minister Cho Hyun raised the issue with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo and Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan separately held talks in Washington. None produced firm commitments. At the heart of the dispute is Korea’s failure to pass a special investment bill needed to institutionalize its pledges under the agreement. Ruling and opposition parties have traded blame while delaying legislation critical to economic interests, undermining Seoul’s credibility in Washington. In contrast, Japan has moved quickly to announce large-scale U.S. investment plans under similar pressure. This political paralysis has given Washington added leverage and reinforced perceptions that Korea’s commitments lack urgency. Still, some suspect the Trump administration’s renewed tariff threat appears have driven in part by domestic political calculations, with midterm elections approaching and foreign investment touted as proof of economic strength. Returning from Washington on Thursday, Trade Minister Yeo said Seoul would continue intensive consultations to prevent immediate tariff implementation. “What matters is whether there will be a grace period after publication,” Yeo told reporters at Incheon International Airport. “There is still time for consultations.” He said the government is making “good-faith efforts” to implement the agreement and called formal tariff procedures “unnecessary.” Yeo welcomed the National Assembly’s decision to form a bipartisan committee to advance the investment bill, calling it “definitely helpful” in easing tensions. During his trip, Yeo met with U.S. Trade Representative officials and lawmakers to reaffirm Korea’s legislative commitment and address non-tariff issues, including digital regulations. 2026-02-06 07:54:52
  • Actor Jeong Ho Geun Says He Lost His Sister and Two Children, Lives With Regret
    Actor Jeong Ho Geun Says He Lost His Sister and Two Children, Lives With Regret Actor Jeong Ho Geun has spoken publicly about tragedies in his family. Jeong appeared on MBN’s “Special Report World,” which aired on Feb. 5. He said his younger sister also underwent a shamanic initiation ritual, but her health deteriorated. “She couldn’t use her back, couldn’t walk, and couldn’t even hold up her neck, so she ended up bedridden,” he said. He added that she had one kidney removed and grew steadily weaker. “She held on for 10 years, then passed away last year,” he said. Jeong said he has struggled with guilt. “I regret everything, and I feel like it’s all my fault,” he said. He said he has lived apart from his family for more than 20 years, and that his wife and their son and two daughters are now in the United States. He said his oldest daughter had pulmonary arterial hypertension and later developed heart problems. “Even if she had lived, her life wouldn’t have been long,” he said. He said he lost his first child, and that his youngest son died in his arms three days after birth. “They say you bury your child in your heart,” he said. Jeong also described how he became a shaman, saying he had been seriously ill. “I hurt all over, especially my stomach, but when I went to the hospital they said nothing was wrong,” he said. He added that he kept hearing sounds in his ears and said he began seeing and hearing things, making him wonder whether he had a mental illness.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 07:51:00
  • Canadas head of defense procurement to visit presidential office on submarine talks
    Canada's head of defense procurement to visit presidential office on submarine talks SEOUL, February 06 (AJP) -Canada's minister for state for defense procurement Stephen Fuhr will visit the presidential office to hear last-minute pitch from Seoul on the government-sponsored Korea's bid for Canada's multibillion-dollar submarine contract ahead of the final tender submission next month. Fuhr will meet with presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik whom he last met on Jan. 28, when Kang visited Canada as a special envoy of President Lee Jae Myung for defense industry cooperation. According to the presidential office, Fuhr has a crucial say in the competition after Canada created a dedicated defense procurement post under the Mark Carney administration last year. Under the CPSP, Canada plans to acquire up to 12 new 3,000-ton diesel-electric submarines. The final round has narrowed to a Korean “one-team” consortium led by Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai, and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. Final proposals are due in March, with a preferred bidder possibly selected in the first half of the year. While in Korea, Fuhr conducted on-site inspections ahead of the final decision. He toured Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard and boarded a trial-stage submarine, praising its internal technology. He also visited HD Hyundai’s Global R&D Center in Seongnam. Before coming to Korea, Fuhr inspected facilities operated by TKMS in Germany, contender the Korean team is pitted against, in December 2025.Industry sources note that “offset” negotiations — including technology transfers, local production and industrial investment — are likely to determine the outcome, as Canada increasingly aligns with European procurement frameworks. While Ottawa's trust in Korea’s submarine technology already strong, overcoming Germany’s NATO-backed bid will depend on whether Korea can present a compelling industrial and economic package alongside its military offering. Seoul has been extra cautious in sharing the progress in the bid, given the sensitiveness of the issue. 2026-02-06 07:38:33
  • South Korea’s Shin Ji-a Debuts at Olympics in Figure Skating Team Event
    South Korea’s Shin Ji-a Debuts at Olympics in Figure Skating Team Event South Korea’s top women’s singles figure skater, Shin Ji-a (Sehwa Girls’ High School), will make her Olympic debut on Thursday as the figure skating team event begins. Shin is scheduled to skate the women’s singles short program in the team event at 9:35 p.m. (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. A standout since her junior days, Shin won silver at the International Skating Union (ISU) World Junior Championships four straight years from 2022 to 2025. This season, however, she has struggled somewhat in international events amid physical changes. She did not contend for medals in two ISU Grand Prix events and finished sixth at last month’s Four Continents Championships. After arriving in Milan on Wednesday, Shin said she had regained confidence. “I think I made up for it to some extent in the free skating at the Four Continents Championships, and I got my confidence back,” she said. Only 10 countries qualify for the figure skating team event based on international results. South Korea are competing for the first time since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, but without a pairs team they will skate only men’s and women’s singles and ice dance, making a podium finish difficult. The event is expected to help athletes preparing for the individual competition get used to the arena atmosphere and ice conditions. Shin will perform her short program to Chopin’s Nocturne No. 20. Before the women’s short program, Lim Hae-na and Kwon Ye (Gyeonggi Province) will skate in the team event ice dance at 5:55 p.m. In curling mixed doubles, the South Korean pair of Kim Sun-young (Gangneung City Hall) and Jeong Young-seok (Gangwon Province Office) will play Britain in their fourth round-robin game at 10:35 p.m. at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium. Kim and Jeong have lost all three of their matches so far.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 06:57:00
  • South Korea Mixed Doubles Curlers Lose 8-5 to Switzerland for Third Straight Defeat
    South Korea Mixed Doubles Curlers Lose 8-5 to Switzerland for Third Straight Defeat South Korea's Kim Seon Yeong (Gangneung City Hall) and Jeong Yeong Seok (Gangwon Provincial Government) fell to 0-3 in the mixed doubles curling round-robin at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics with an 8-5 loss to Switzerland. Kim and Jeong lost their third round-robin game on Thursday (Korea time) at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, to Switzerland's Briar Schwaller and Yannick Schwaller, who are married and finished fourth at the 2024 world championships. South Korea had already dropped its first two games, losing 10-3 to Sweden and 8-4 to Italy the previous day. Ten teams are competing in mixed doubles, with each nation playing a round-robin schedule. The top four advance to the semifinals and final to decide the medals. After three games, South Korea still have round-robin matchups remaining against Britain, the Czech Republic, the United States, Estonia, Canada and Norway. Against Switzerland, South Korea led 2-1 but gave up four points in the third end to fall behind 5-2. They scored one in the fourth end and limited Switzerland to one in the fifth to stay within three. South Korea used their power play in the sixth end, but Kim's final shot did not stay in the house and they managed only two points. Trailing 6-5, Switzerland used their power play in the seventh end and scored two to extend the lead to 8-5. South Korea tried to rally in the eighth end, but Switzerland's final shot knocked out a South Korean stone, ending the comeback chance. Kim and Jeong then shook hands to close the match. Kim and Jeong are scheduled to play Britain at 10:35 p.m. on Thursday in their fourth round-robin game.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 05:33:00
  • Korea House Opens in Central Milan for 2026 Winter Olympics Cultural, Sports Exchange
    Korea House Opens in Central Milan for 2026 Winter Olympics Cultural, Sports Exchange Korea House, a venue for sports diplomacy and promoting K-culture during the Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo 2026 Winter Olympics, has opened in central Milan. An opening ceremony was held Feb. 5 (local time) at Villa Necchi Campiglio in downtown Milan. The villa is a modern architectural landmark designed in the 1930s and now operates as a museum. During the Games, Korea House is set to serve as a base for cheering on South Korea’s athletes and a key site for showcasing Korean culture. Attendees included Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi Young; Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung Min; Kim Jae Yeol, president of the International Skating Union, who was elected the previous day as an International Olympic Committee executive board member; Ban Ki Moon, former chair of the IOC Ethics Commission; and officials from the South Korean delegation. In remarks, Choi said it was meaningful to welcome guests to a Korea House that brings together South Korea’s tradition and modernity in a venue “alive with aesthetics and elegance.” He urged visitors to experience the country’s stories through K-culture, including music, food and clothing. Yoo said Korea House is “not just a space,” calling it a place where visitors can enjoy the diversity of Korean culture. He asked guests to spend time at Korea House and cheer for South Korean athletes. Kim, who received congratulations from Choi and Yoo on his IOC executive board election, offered congratulations on the opening on behalf of IOC President Kirsty Coventry. He expressed gratitude for South Korea’s contributions to the Olympic movement and said he hoped for continued cooperation. The opening ceremony featured a hanbok fashion show hosted by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation and a K-pop cover dance performance. Upbit, a sponsor of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, also delivered a donation to support the development of winter sports. The ministry and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee have operated Korea House since the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics. Initially used for team support, medalist interviews and sports diplomacy, it was expanded after the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics into a multipurpose cultural venue with broad participation from private and public institutions. This Korea House can be visited through advance reservations on its website or on-site registration, and it will operate through the Olympic closing day on the 22nd. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 03:06:00
  • Valieva Coach Eteri Tutberidze to Attend Milan Olympics With Georgia Skater
    Valieva Coach Eteri Tutberidze to Attend Milan Olympics With Georgia Skater Eteri Tutberidze, the coach at the center of the doping controversy involving Kamila Valieva at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, is drawing renewed scrutiny after being set to attend the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics as a coach. Tutberidze will work in Milan as the coach of Georgia’s men’s singles figure skating national team member Nika Egadze. Her presence at the Olympics has raised concerns because of her connection to the doping case. Witold Banka, head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, said at a news conference on Feb. 5 in Milan, Italy, that he is “personally uncomfortable” with Tutberidze being at the Olympics. However, Banka said Tutberidze’s participation “is not our decision,” adding that investigators found no evidence she was involved in doping and that there is no legal basis to exclude her from working during the Games. Valieva, who trained under Tutberidze, sparked an uproar in Beijing after a urine test found the banned substance trimetazidine. After the Russian Anti-Doping Agency delayed its investigation, WADA filed a case against RUSADA and Valieva with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in November 2022. CAS handed Valieva a four-year ban and said findings showed she was given 56 substances from ages 13 to 15. The case also drew criticism because Russian team doctors suspected of administering drugs, along with Tutberidze, were not disciplined. With Russian athletes limited from international competition because of sanctions tied to the invasion of Ukraine, Tutberidze has reached out to foreign skaters and is now Egadze’s full-time coach.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 01:45:00
  • Finland-Canada Women’s Hockey Game at Milan Olympics Postponed After Norovirus Cases
    Finland-Canada Women’s Hockey Game at Milan Olympics Postponed After Norovirus Cases A women’s ice hockey game at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics has been postponed after a norovirus outbreak.  The Milan-Cortina organizing committee said Wednesday that Finland’s Group A preliminary-round game against Canada, scheduled for that day at the Milan Rho Ice Hockey Arena, was moved back one week to Feb. 12.  The committee said it decided to delay the game after norovirus cases were reported within the Finland team. “This decision was made with the health and safety of all participants, including athletes, teams and staff, in mind,” the committee said.  Under international rules, a team needs at least 17 players, including two goalies, to play. Finland had 13 people in isolation and only 10 available, including both goalies, prompting the postponement. Finland said it was prepared to accept a forfeit if the game had not been delayed.  * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 00:18:00
  • Figure Skating Team Event Begins as Milan-Cortina Olympics Open; Carey, Bocelli Set for Ceremony
    Figure Skating Team Event Begins as Milan-Cortina Olympics Open; Carey, Bocelli Set for Ceremony The 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics have begun, and South Korea’s team has moved into full competition in pursuit of medals. About 2,900 athletes from 92 national Olympic committees are competing for 116 gold medals across eight sports and 16 disciplines. South Korea sent a 130-member delegation, including 71 athletes, and is aiming to win at least three gold medals and finish in the top 10 overall. Ahead of the official opening, mixed doubles curling began on Feb. 5 (Korea time). Because curling matches run long, 10 teams started a round-robin schedule before the opening ceremony. South Korea’s first athletes in action, Kim Seon-young and Jeong Yeong-seok, opened with a 10-3 loss to Swedish siblings Isabella Brano and Rasmus Brano, former world champions, on Feb. 5 in the morning. They then faced Italy later that day and will go on to play Switzerland, Britain, the Czech Republic, the United States, Estonia, Canada and Norway as they fight for a spot in the semifinals. Figure skating’s team event begins Feb. 6 in the afternoon, with the ice dance rhythm dance and the women’s short program scheduled. It is South Korea’s first appearance in the Olympic team event since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. Without a pairs team, South Korea will compete using men’s and women’s singles and ice dance. The United States, Japan, Italy, Canada and other top-10 nations based on international results are also entered. Lim Hae-na and Kwon Ye are set for the team event ice dance rhythm dance at 5:55 p.m. Lim was born in Canada and holds dual Canadian and South Korean citizenship. Kwon, a Chinese Canadian, received special naturalization from South Korea’s Justice Ministry in December 2024 to compete at the Olympics. Shin Ji-a will skate the women’s short program at 9:35 p.m. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 4 a.m. Feb. 7 at Milan’s Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. Italian director Marco Balich, who has produced opening and closing ceremonies for major international sports events including the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, is serving as artistic director. The ceremony’s theme is “Armonia,” Italian for “harmony.” With about 1,200 performers, the ceremony will feature Mariah Carey, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and Chinese pianist Lang Lang. The International Olympic Committee said it expects the event to showcase “a harmony of Italian culture and global popular arts.” Events and athlete parades will also be held simultaneously in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Predazzo and Livigno. South Korea’s flag bearers are men’s figure skater Cha Jun-hwan and women’s speed skater Park Ji-woo, who competes in the mass start. Both are appearing at their third Olympics after Pyeongchang in 2018 and Beijing in 2022. Pita Taufatofua, known for drawing attention at three Olympic opening ceremonies including Pyeongchang in 2018 by appearing shirtless, will carry the Olympic flag. Organizers selected 10 flag bearers, including Taufatofua. Because the Games are being staged in two cities, cauldrons have been installed in both Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo and will be lit and extinguished at the same time. Milan’s cauldron is at the Arco della Pace, and Cortina d’Ampezzo’s is in Piazza Dibona. The cauldrons were designed with inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s work “Knot,” featuring a spherical form made of aircraft-grade aluminum that holds the Olympic flame.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-06 00:03:00
  • South Korea Mixed Doubles Curling Team Falls to Italy, Drops to 0-2 in Round Robin
    South Korea Mixed Doubles Curling Team Falls to Italy, Drops to 0-2 in Round Robin South Korea’s mixed doubles curling pair of Kim Seon-young (Gangneung City Hall) and Jeong Yeong-seok (Gangwon Provincial Office) lost their second straight round-robin game at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Kim and Jeong fell 8-4 to Italy’s Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner on Feb. 5 at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, in their second round-robin match. Earlier that day, South Korea were routed 10-3 by Sweden’s Isabella and Rasmus Bran, leaving the Koreans 0-2 in the round robin. Ten teams are competing in mixed doubles, with each nation playing a round-robin schedule. The top four advance to the semifinals and final to determine the medals. South Korea are set to play Switzerland, Britain, the Czech Republic, the United States, Estonia, Canada and Norway next. Kim and Jeong earned the last of the 10 Olympic berths through the Olympic Qualification Event (OQE). It is the second time South Korean curling have competed in Olympic mixed doubles, and the first since Pyeongchang 2018, when Jang Hye-ji and Lee Gi-jeong represented the country. South Korea have opened against top opponents. The Bran siblings won the 2024 world championship, and Constantini and Mosaner are the 2022 Beijing Olympic gold medalists and last year’s world champions. In South Korea’s first game, play was interrupted when a sudden power outage darkened the arena and shut off the scoreboard. The match stopped for about 10 minutes before resuming after power was restored. With South Korea trailing 10-3 through six ends of an eight-end match, an official recommended ending the game, and Kim and Jeong offered handshakes that ended play. A comeback was still mathematically possible because a team can score up to six points in one end. Some have suggested the official may have mistakenly believed only one end remained. Under the rules, an early finish is finalized not by an official’s declaration but when a player offers a handshake to concede. Even with the recommendation, the outcome could have differed if Kim and Jeong had protested on the spot, but the match ended after the handshakes. Kim and Jeong are scheduled to play Switzerland at 3:05 a.m. on Feb. 6 in their third round-robin game. 2026-02-05 23:45:00