Lee meets religious leaders to seek advice SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Monday asked major religious leaders to help unite South Koreans as social conflict and divisions deepen. At a luncheon meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul with leaders of South Korea's seven key religious orders including Buddhist monks, Catholic priests, Christian pastors, and others, Lee said, "As many people feel, conflict, hatred, and hostility in our society seem to have increased." He added that the president's most important job is to bring people together, but "even though I'm trying, there are many limits." Lee asked them to do more so that people can "live hand in hand" with harmony and inclusion, saying that the essence of religion is to practice love. He added that he would take their advice to heart and do his best to move the country toward a society where people "reconcile, forgive, and embrace one another." Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the New Year's gathering was held to seek wisdom and advice from the religious community. 2026-01-12 15:39:54

DP's newly elected floor leader calls for unity ahead of local elections SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - The ruling Democratic Party (DP)'s newly elected floor leader Han Byung-do, has called for unity to build momentum for a resounding victory in the upcoming local elections slated for this summer. The three-term lawmaker Han Byung-do was elected on Sunday to replace Kim Byung-ki, who resigned late last year amid a spate of bribery allegations and other misconduct. In a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Han said, "There is no room for division and conflict," urging unity to win the local elections in June and ensure the success of the current Lee Jae Myung administration. Expressing that he felt a "heavy sense of responsibility," Han added, "To earn the public's trust, we must join forces on issues that improve people's lives, as the public is watching." He said the ruling party's role is to bring the party, government, and presidential office together to adjust differences through discussion. Han also suggested that he is willing to talk with the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on state affairs. "I'm ready to discuss and negotiate with opposition parties on all issues," he said, "unless they oppose solely for the sake of opposition." Han, widely considered among aides close to former President Moon Jae-in, will serve the remainder of Kim's term until May. 2026-01-12 10:27:08

Lee asks Xi to play mediator role for peace on Korean Peninsula SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday said he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to play a mediator role in maintaining peace and security on the Korean Peninsula including North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Lee made the remarks at a luncheon in Shanghai with South Korean reporters, after his talks with Xi in Beijing the previous day. "We have to find a realistic path that helps everyone," Lee said, questioning whether North Korea could give up its nuclear weapons now, even as denuclearization remains a long-term goal. He said he asked Xi to convey South Korea's sincerity regarding the proposed phased approach to North Korea. Lee also urged caution in interpreting Xi's remarks at the summit, in which Xi said leaders should "stand firmly on the right side of history and make the correct strategic choice." When asked about the comment, Lee said he interpreted it as a Confucian saying, meaning that people should live kindly. Lee returns home later in the day. 2026-01-07 17:11:27

Lee begins final leg of China trip with startup forum in Shanghai SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung, on a state visit to China, is set to meet entrepreneurs from both countries to discuss partnership and promote future cooperation at a forum in Shanghai on Wednesday. In a written press briefing, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said that the final leg of Lee’s four-day trip to China begins with a forum attended by about 400 entrepreneurs from startups and venture companies, where they will discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries while laying the groundwork for South Korean firms seeking to make inroads into the Chinese market. The forum will feature a dialogue session and business meetups. Products and technologies from leading South Korean startups seeking to expand into China will also be on display. Participants include Huo Jianjun, general manager of China Merchants Bank International, better known as CMBI, a subsidiary of China Merchants Bank, one of China's largest commercial banks. 2026-01-07 10:29:06

Lee heads to Shanghai after meeting with Chinese Premier SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung, on a state visit to China, on Tuesday met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and expressed hope that the talks would mark a turning point for a "breakthrough" in bilateral relations. During his meeting with Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, Lee shared that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed the previous day to develop a "strategic cooperative partnership" that contributes to people's livelihoods and peace. Lee expressed expectations for Li's role in enhancing bilateral relations, saying that Li oversees China's economic affairs and is responsible for stabilizing livelihoods, and has contributed to "laying the foundation for peace and cooperation in the region." Lee also hoped the two countries would expand "mutually beneficial" cooperation and promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula for shared prosperity. Citing the Korean saying "Friends are better the longer you know them, and clothes are best when they're new," Lee said he was able to exchange views candidly with him like "old friends" as it was his third meeting with Li. Lee then added China probably has a similar expression. Li responded by praising Lee for boosting the economy and improving livelihoods as his top priorities since taking office in June last year. As he wraps up his itinerary in Beijing with the meeting with Li, Lee is now traveling to Shanghai. 2026-01-06 17:10:09

Lee seeks Chinese legislature's support in strengthening relations SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung started his third day in China by holding talks with Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, on Tuesday. Lee met with Zhao earlier in the morning, a day after his 90-minute summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and called for support in strengthening bilateral relations. Sharing what the two discussed, Lee said they agreed to "maturely develop a strategic cooperative partnership." Stressing the role of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's supreme organ, Lee said he believes it could help raise mutual understanding and broaden common ground. Lee also praised Zhao for helping facilitate exchanges between the two countries. Zhao was quoted as saying that deepening the bilateral relationship serves the "interests of both peoples" and contributes to the peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula and global security. Zhao also pledged that China would work with South Korea to implement agreements reached by the two leaders and to deepen cooperation. 2026-01-06 14:28:13

Lee, Xi push economic cooperation as summit sidesteps regional flashpoints SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Monday to deepen economic and technology cooperation and frame 2026 as a “year of full restoration” in bilateral ties, even as the summit conspicuously avoided addressing several sensitive security and geopolitical issues looming over the region. Meeting for about 90 minutes at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Lee called the talks the first state-level diplomatic engagement of 2026 for both leaders and pledged to make bilateral relations an “irreversible trend of the times.” He emphasized expanding cooperation in areas tied to people’s daily lives and jointly supporting peace on the Korean Peninsula. Xi welcomed Lee’s state visit - the first by a South Korean president in about nine years, stressing the importance of frequent high-level exchanges between the two neighbors amid a rapidly destabilizing global environment. “Friends grow closer the more they interact, and neighbors grow closer the more they visit,” Xi said in opening remarks, urging the two sides to meet more often and communicate regularly. “In just two months, we have met twice and made mutual visits,” Xi said, calling it a sign that both countries attach great importance to South Korea–China relations. Xi said the world is undergoing “changes unseen in a century,” with international affairs becoming increasingly complex. Against that backdrop, he said South Korea and China share “a major responsibility” to safeguard regional peace and promote global development, adding that the two countries have broad overlapping interests and should “stand firmly on the right side of history” by making the right strategic choices as great-power competition sharpens. The two governments signed 14 memorandums of understanding and one deed of donation, spanning science and technology, digital cooperation, startups and small businesses, climate and environment, transportation, food safety, intellectual property protection, and quarantine procedures for animal and plant trade. The agreements underscored a shared effort to anchor the relationship in practical, economy-focused cooperation after years of diplomatic strain. Yet the summit’s carefully calibrated agenda also revealed what was left unsaid. North Korea fired a ballistic missile on the day Lee traveled to Beijing — a development that underscored heightened security risks on the Korean Peninsula — but the provocation was not publicly addressed in joint remarks or official readouts. While Lee reiterated the need for peace and stability, there was no explicit reference to Pyongyang’s latest launch, nor to concrete coordination measures with Beijing. The leaders also avoided direct mention of the United States’ recent military intervention in Venezuela, an issue with far-reaching implications for global energy markets and geopolitical alignments. Xi referred only broadly to rising international instability, without naming specific conflicts or actors. The omissions appeared deliberate, reflecting a shared preference to keep the summit tightly focused on restoring bilateral ties and advancing economic cooperation, while steering clear of issues that could expose strategic differences or complicate relations with Washington. Lee reaffirmed South Korea’s respect for China’s “one-China” position, a long-standing stance that remains a sensitive diplomatic signal amid rising cross-strait tensions. Discussions on other contentious issues — including North Korea’s denuclearization, maritime concerns in the Yellow Sea, and the easing of China’s informal restrictions on Korean cultural content — were described as ongoing but incremental. The Beijing meeting followed the leaders’ first summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Gyeongju in November, signaling a rapid resumption of high-level diplomacy after years of friction. Still, analysts say the summit highlighted the limits of rapprochement, with Seoul and Beijing opting for pragmatism and restraint over confronting the region’s most volatile fault lines head-on. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-05 20:23:47

Lee calls for stronger economic cooperation at Beijing forum SEOUL, January 5 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung called for stronger "economic cooperation" between South Korea and China during a business forum in Beijing on Monday, where he met with a slew of corporate leaders and executives from both countries as part of his state visit. In his opening remarks, Lee said the two countries were "like ships sailing on the same sea in the same direction," adding, "The two countries have worked together while also competing with each other on this great journey." Lee further explained that the two countries have achieved economic growth and technological advances at the forefront of the global economy, but the current global trade environment no longer allows them to "easily follow the same set route as in the past." "A rapidly changing technology and unpredictable supply chains require us to chart a new path," he stressed. Pointing out that bilateral trade has stalled at around US$300 billion, he emphasized the need to open new routes and new markets. Lee said a "new level of cooperation" would be enabled as the two countries share similar historical and cultural values due to geographic proximity, highlighting that artificial intelligence (AI) could further accelerate it across various sectors including manufacturing and service industries. Citing Chinese President Xi Jinping's reference to South Korea as an "inseparable neighbor," Lee expressed hope that the forum would help participants make a fresh start toward a "mutually beneficial, friendly relationship in economic sectors" through candid talks and discussions. After wrapping up the forum, Lee is set to hold talks with Xi later in the day. 2026-01-05 16:28:53

Korea bets on AI-driven productivity as new engine of growth in 2026 SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) -South Korea is entering 2026 with a renewed push to reset its growth model around artificial intelligence, as the government and corporate leaders converge on AI-led productivity and solution-based innovation as the country’s next economic engine, according to New Year's addresses by key officials from the government and private sector. In his New Year’s address Thursday, President Lee Jae Myung raised urgency on a national transition beyond recovery and incremental growth toward structural change powered by technology. “Now we are only at the starting line,” Lee said, “Because we started late, we must now run faster.” He pledged to make 2026 “the first year of a great leap forward,” calling for a fundamental shift in the country’s growth paradigm. Lee stressed that Korea can no longer rely on familiar development paths, saying the country must “completely change the growth paradigm” and move onto “a new road of transformation.” Growth, he said, should be driven not by concentration or scale alone, but by innovation, decentralization and new engines of productivity. At the core of that transformation is artificial intelligence, which policymakers increasingly view as essential infrastructure rather than a standalone technology. Deputy Prime Minister and Science and ICT Minister Bae Kyung-hoon described AI as a decisive factor for national survival in the coming decade. “Information security has become a prerequisite for the survival of both nations and companies in the AI era,” he said, signaling a tougher stance on governance as AI adoption accelerates. Bae defined 2026 as a turning point for science and technology policy, saying the government will push forward an “AI basic society” in which “all citizens can enjoy the benefits of artificial intelligence.” Rather than focusing only on cutting-edge research, the government is emphasizing practical, solution-oriented AI that directly raises productivity across the economy. The science ministry plans to secure world-class domestic AI models and deploy them across manufacturing, shipbuilding, logistics and other core industries to accelerate digital transformation. AI-based public projects will be expanded so citizens can experience tangible improvements in daily life. “We will promote AI transformation across key industries and expand AI-based livelihood projects so people can feel real change,” Bae said. Nationwide AI education programs, competitions and training initiatives will be expanded to ensure broad participation, while startups and young entrepreneurs will receive targeted support to translate ideas into viable businesses. A central pillar of the strategy is the creation of a “full-stack K-AI ecosystem,” linking semiconductors, software, data, platforms and services into a single value chain. The government plans to accelerate global expansion of Korean AI companies while strengthening the ecosystem that connects chips, infrastructure and applications. Officials say this approach is intended to move Korea beyond its traditional role as a component supplier toward becoming a provider of integrated AI solutions. This direction closely mirrors the private sector’s message. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said AI is already reshaping global industry and will define competitiveness going forward. “AI is no longer a distant future but a reality that has entered deep into our daily lives,” Chey said in his New Year’s message. “The era of AI has only just begun, and the opportunities ahead will be far greater than we can imagine today.” He said SK aims to become a leader in the global AI ecosystem by offering integrated AI solutions rather than isolated technologies. “AI innovation is not limited to semiconductors,” he said, stressing that energy, telecommunications, construction and bio businesses can all serve as foundations for AI-driven value creation. Chey added that successful transformation depends on strengthening core businesses first. “We must solidify the fundamentals of what we already do well and layer AI innovation on top of them to create differentiated value,” he said. As AI adoption accelerates, the government is also tightening its stance on cybersecurity and accountability. Bae warned that cyber threats linked to AI pose structural risks, saying the government would “respond at the national level” to hacking and security breaches. He said corporate leaders will face clearer legal responsibility for security failures, and repeated incidents could result in punitive penalties. The goal, he said, is to ensure that trust and safety become the foundation of AI-driven growth rather than an afterthought. The government plans to expand regionally autonomous R&D budgets and establish AI-based innovation clusters linked to local industries. Large-scale demonstration projects will anchor these hubs, enabling regions to develop sustainable growth engines tailored to their industrial strengths. This aligns with President Lee’s broader vision of moving away from a capital-centric structure toward a more distributed growth model, in which multiple regions serve as engines of innovation. Alongside AI, the government highlighted biotechnology, quantum technology and nuclear fusion as next-generation strategic sectors. A so-called “K-Moonshot” initiative will support long-term, high-risk research aimed at securing core technologies essential for future competitiveness. Bae emphasized that science and technology are central to overcoming Korea’s low-growth trap. “Science and technology are the key tools to unlock our economic potential,” he said, pledging stronger institutional support for basic research, scientists and young talent. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-01 14:37:05

Presidential office to move back to Cheong Wa Dae early next week SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung is set to move into the sprawling compound of Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul early next week, after vacating the current presidential office in Yongsan, his officials said on Wednesday. The relocation of the presidential office comes roughly three years and seven months after former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached earlier this year, moved it to the nondescript Defense Ministry building in Yongsan on the first day of his inauguration in May 2022. As the presidential office completes its relocation, a symbolic flag representing the country's head of state will be raised at Cheong Wa Dae again starting next Monday. The flag features the national flower mugunghwa or rose of Sharon at the center, flanked by two mythical phoenixes facing each other. 2025-12-24 15:40:13