Journalist

by Jun Sung-min
  • LIG D&A Signs First Export Deal for Haegung Naval Missile With Malaysia
    LIG D&A Signs First Export Deal for Haegung Naval Missile With Malaysia South Korea’s shipborne guided weapon system Haegung will be exported for the first time. LIG D&A and Malaysia’s Defense Ministry signed a supply contract for Haegung on Tuesday at the DSA 2026 defense exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, the company said. The deal, Haegung’s first overseas export, is worth $94 million (about 140 billion won). The missile is to be installed on Malaysia Navy littoral patrol vessels built by Turkish defense company STM. Haegung is a domestically developed ship-to-air missile designed to intercept a range of aerial threats, including anti-ship guided missiles and aircraft. Led by the Agency for Defense Development, the system was developed in 2011 and later deployed by the South Korean Navy, where it established reliability during force modernization. It is assessed as a system that can replace or complement close-in weapon systems. LIG D&A says Haegung’s key strength is accuracy. Using a dual-mode seeker, it can track targets steadily even in electronic-warfare conditions or amid complex interference. “Accuracy directly maximizes a ship’s survivability, so it is seen as an effective weapon system in Malaysia,” said Hong Jun-gi, a senior manager at LIG D&A. Korean air defense systems that have already posted results in the Middle East also drew attention from Southeast Asian countries. Cheongung-II, which has been evaluated as having proven performance through exports to the Middle East and operational use, was among the exhibition’s key items. It is cited for layered defense that can respond to aircraft and ballistic missiles at the same time, operational efficiency and price competitiveness. Hong said demand from Southeast Asian countries is growing for Cheongung-II as “an effective weapon system that can intercept aircraft and ballistic missiles simultaneously, along with high accuracy.” Korean defense firms also highlighted naval platforms. The Malaysia Navy is pursuing a project this year to acquire two multi-role support ships, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries used the exhibition to begin its bid. The company’s proposed ship is about 11,000 tons, about 154 meters long and 24 meters wide. It can operate two helicopters at the same time and carry troops, armored vehicles and supplies needed for amphibious operations. The platform is presented as suitable for Southeast Asia’s mixed security needs, including troop transport, amphibious operations, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance. “The advantage is strong combat power and amphibious capability, including the ability to carry at least 18 armored vehicles and move more than 140 troops at once for operations,” said Park Yong-yeol, vice president and head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ naval ship business division. Beyond the multi-role support ship, the company proposed coastal mission ships, coastal combat ships, next-generation patrol vessels and submarines, and delegations from the Philippines and Thailand also visited the booth.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 16:27:18
  • South Korea awards 100 million won in bonuses to 23 staff at embassy in Iran
    South Korea awards 100 million won in bonuses to 23 staff at embassy in Iran The Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it paid about 100 million won ($) in special performance bonuses to 23 employees at the South Korean Embassy in Iran for their work responding to the Middle East situation. The ministry said the bonuses were paid regardless of rank or nationality and were scaled based on each employee’s contribution, including workload and exposure to risk during efforts such as assisting South Koreans with evacuation. The recipients included 13 South Korean nationals and 10 foreign nationals. The ministry said embassy staff kept the mission operating normally after the outbreak of war, maintained close communication with Iranian counterparts, and successfully supported the overland evacuation of South Korean nationals and their Iranian family members. It added that staff were also credited with checking daily on the safety of South Koreans who remained in the country, calling their work a strong performance in protecting citizens abroad despite dangerous conditions. President Lee Jae-myung, during a Cabinet meeting on the 14th, asked Foreign Minister Cho Hyun whether he had followed through on his instruction to encourage and reward embassy staff in Iran, and urged him to “take good care of it.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 14:47:03
  • South Korea Returns 12 Chinese Troops’ Remains From Korean War, Resumes Vice-Minister Ceremony
    South Korea Returns 12 Chinese Troops’ Remains From Korean War, Resumes Vice-Minister Ceremony South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense said it held the 13th handover ceremony for the remains of Chinese troops from the 6·25 War on the morning of April 22 at Incheon International Airport. The ministry said the event was co-hosted by Defense Vice Minister Lee Doo-hee and Xu Yao, a vice minister at China’s Ministry of Veterans Affairs. South Korea repatriated 12 sets of remains this year. From 2014 through last year, it returned a total of 1,011 sets, bringing the cumulative number repatriated to 1,023, the ministry said. The ceremony included the signing of documents for the transfer, a Chinese memorial service, the movement of the remains and placement aboard a military aircraft, and remarks by representatives from both sides. South Korea has held official events, including handover ceremonies, each year since 2014. It skipped public ceremonies for the 11th repatriation in November 2024 and for last year’s 12th repatriation, then resumed a vice-minister-level public event for the first time in three years. China Central Television reported that China’s delegation tasked with receiving the remains of Chinese People’s Volunteers soldiers in South Korea departed for South Korea on April 19 and was to take custody of the remains on April 22 before returning. CCTV said China deployed its newest large transport aircraft, the Y-20B, for the mission. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 11:45:00
  • PM Kim Min-seok: Oil Price Cap Shows Benefits; Decision on Fourth Round Soon
    PM Kim Min-seok: Oil Price Cap Shows Benefits; Decision on Fourth Round Soon Prime Minister Kim Min-seok said April 22 that the government will decide soon whether to launch a fourth round of the oil price cap after weighing its benefits and differing views. In opening remarks at an Emergency Economic Headquarters meeting at the Government Complex Seoul, Kim said the third round of the cap ends Tuesday, and a decision on a fourth round will follow. While some have questioned the policy’s effectiveness, Kim said the cap has shown clear positive effects, including preventing sharp inflation, easing a pullback in consumption and softening the impact on groups sensitive to fuel prices, such as freight drivers. Kim said small and midsize businesses and working households are the first to feel the biggest effects from a prolonged war in the Middle East. He said the government will actively communicate and seek ways to ensure the supplementary budget it has prepared provides practical help to small firms and ordinary people. Kim also said the COVID-19 crisis prompted improvements to the public health system and a stronger push to foster the biopharmaceutical industry. He urged ministries to manage immediate challenges while also identifying tasks needed to move toward change and innovation with an eye on the future. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 10:57:14
  • Korea Runs Unified Pavilion at Malaysia’s DSA 2026 Defense Show to Target Southeast Asia
    Korea Runs Unified Pavilion at Malaysia’s DSA 2026 Defense Show to Target Southeast Asia Korean defense companies are taking part in the DSA 2026 defense exhibition in Malaysia as they seek to expand in Southeast Asia. South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the Korea Institute for Defense Technology Planning and Advancement and the Korea Defense Industry Association are jointly operating a unified Korea pavilion at DSA 2026, being held from April 20 (local time) to April 23 at MITEC in Kuala Lumpur. Hosted by Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence, DSA 2026 is an international defense cooperation event drawing about 1,400 companies worldwide and government and military officials from more than 60 countries, the organizers said. A total of 23 Korean companies are participating, including major prime contractors such as LIG Defense & Aerospace (LIG D&A) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, along with smaller firms and region-based companies. Eight promising small and midsize Korean defense firms are exhibiting at the unified pavilion, organized through cooperation among DAPA, the institute and the association. The pavilion is intended to strengthen coordination between prime contractors and parts and component suppliers. Exhibits include battlefield awareness and detection equipment, intelligent command-and-control systems, tactical mobility and operational equipment, and sustainment and maintenance gear. Products aimed at the operational and maintenance needs of key Southeast Asian countries pursuing military modernization were also on display. Jeong Gi-yeong, head of DAPA’s Future Force Program Bureau, said Southeast Asian countries are pushing to modernize weapon systems and that interest in South Korea is high because it can offer both fast delivery and cost-effectiveness. Kim Tae-gon, a cooperation official at DAPA, said participation in DSA 2026 could be a major turning point for Korean defense companies to expand market share in Southeast Asia and build a sustainable basis for cooperation. He said the unified Korea pavilion will continue at major global exhibitions, including those in France and Poland, to broaden the reach of South Korea’s defense industry. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-22 09:30:57
  • National Unity Chief Lee Seok-yeon Calls Culture a Shared Memory
    National Unity Chief Lee Seok-yeon Calls Culture a Shared Memory The presidential National Unity Committee said on the 21st that Chair Lee Seok-yeon visited the National Museum of Korea and met with Director Yu Hong-jun. The committee said the visit was arranged to reflect on the community value of cultural heritage and to explore a foundation for national unity in a rapidly changing society. In his meeting with Yu, Lee said cultural heritage is not simply an artifact of the past but a “shared memory” that connects generations and social groups. “When there is this kind of common foundation, social conflicts can also be adjusted in a healthy way,” Lee said. Citing the museum’s recent performance, including 6.5 million visitors a year, Lee said it has become “a de facto venue for national unity and harmony, where people empathize and communicate through culture and history.” He added that he would continue working to expand a basis for unity “across culture and society as a whole.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 18:05:44
  • South Korea expresses regret over Japanese PMs offering to war shrine
    South Korea expresses regret over Japanese PM's offering to war shrine SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - South Korea expressed "regret" on Tuesday after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead but also enshrines convicted war criminals from World War II. "We express deep disappointment and regret that responsible leaders in Japan have repeatedly made offerings to or visited the shrine," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. The statement comes after Takaichi sent the offering earlier in the day, her first since taking office in October last year, having previously made regular in-person visits to the shrine. Key Cabinet members and other lawmakers also visited the shrine to pay their respects. "We urge to face history and humbly reflect on its past wrongdoings with sincere remorse," the statement added, saying that this would be an important foundation for building a future-oriented relationship based on mutual trust. The island country's first female prime minister has sought to restore relations with Seoul through shuttle diplomacy with President Lee Jae Myung, despite her widely known hardline stance on historical issues with South Korea as a key protégé of Abe's political legacies. But her recent offering to the shrine may again set back efforts to repair strained relations between the neighboring countries over historical issues. 2026-04-21 16:45:06
  • Cabinet OKs Capital Gains Tax Relief for Multi-Home Sellers Who Apply by May 9
    Cabinet OKs Capital Gains Tax Relief for Multi-Home Sellers Who Apply by May 9 A measure to exempt multi-homeowners from higher capital gains tax rates when selling homes in regulated areas was finalized on the 21st, provided they complete an application for land transaction approval by May 9. The government said it approved revisions to the enforcement decrees of the Income Tax Act and the Real Estate Transaction Reporting Act at the 17th State Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok that morning. As previously announced, the temporary suspension of higher capital gains tax rates for multi-homeowners selling homes they hold in regulated areas will end May 9. However, acknowledging that obtaining land transaction approval can take time, the government said it will not apply the higher tax rates to cases in which the approval application is filed by that date, easing selling conditions to some extent. The Cabinet also approved a revision to the enforcement decree of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, abolishing the per-transaction cap on small overseas remittances ($5,000) and switching late-payment penalties for the foreign exchange stability levy from a monthly to a daily basis. The government said the changes are intended to make remittances more convenient while refining penalties. A revision to the Public Official Election Act also cleared the Cabinet, introducing a mid-sized electoral district system for metropolitan council elections for the first time in the June 3 local elections and increasing the share of proportional representation seats. The total number of local council members will rise by 80 compared with the 2022 quota. A revision to the Political Parties Act also passed, allowing a party members’ council or local committee to operate one office to support smoother management of lower-level city and provincial party organizations. The Cabinet further approved a bill to enact a basic law on patients, broadly covering patients’ rights and duties, and a revision to the Child Welfare Act to strengthen protections for the right to learn for children who have suffered abuse. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 16:06:31
  • South Korea Voices Regret Over Japanese Prime Minister’s Yasukuni Shrine Offering
    South Korea Voices Regret Over Japanese Prime Minister’s Yasukuni Shrine Offering South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on 21 expressed deep regret after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent an offering to the Yasukuni Shrine’s autumn festival in Tokyo, where Class-A war criminals from the Pacific War are enshrined. In a spokesperson’s statement, the ministry said the South Korean government was “deeply disappointed and regretful” that “responsible Japanese leaders” again made offerings or visited the shrine, which it said glorifies Japan’s past wars of aggression and enshrines war criminals. The ministry urged Japan’s leaders to “face history” and to show “humble reflection and sincere remorse” over the past through their actions, adding that this is an important foundation for building a future-oriented South Korea-Japan relationship based on mutual trust. Takaichi made the offering to the shrine on 21. Other Cabinet ministers and key politicians from the ruling coalition also made offerings or visited, the ministry said.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 15:05:14
  • South Korea Defense Ministry Denies U.S. Forces Commander Protested Minister Over Jung Dong-young Remarks
    South Korea Defense Ministry Denies U.S. Forces Commander Protested Minister Over Jung Dong-young Remarks South Korea’s Defense Ministry on Monday denied a claim that the commander of U.S. Forces Korea protested to Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back over a controversy involving Unification Minister Jung Dong-young’s remarks about a North Korean nuclear facility. In a statement issued Monday afternoon, the ministry said it was “not appropriate in terms of South Korea-U.S. military diplomacy” and “not true at all” that the U.S. commander lodged a protest with the defense minister. The ministry added that South Korea and the United States communicate frequently on major issues and strictly comply with their military information protection agreement. Sung Il-jong, a lawmaker from the ruling People Power Party and chair of the National Assembly Defense Committee, said at a news conference Monday morning that, based on information he had obtained as committee chair, the U.S. Forces Korea commander “urgently” visited Ahn to strongly protest Jung’s mention of Guseong as the location of a third North Korean nuclear facility. Sung also claimed that the U.S. Embassy’s intelligence chief strongly protested the matter to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service. Jung said Sunday, “I explained the policy to describe the seriousness of the North Korean nuclear issue, and it is deeply regrettable to frame this as an information leak.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-21 14:26:18