Journalist

Kim Bongcheol
  • President Lee Thanks HMM Labor-Management Deal to Move Headquarters to Busan
    President Lee Thanks HMM Labor-Management Deal to Move Headquarters to Busan President Lee Jae-myung said the government would provide needed support after HMM’s management and labor agreed to relocate the company’s headquarters to Busan. Lee wrote on X on the afternoon of April 30 that “the government will not spare the necessary support so that HMM can establish itself as a global shipping company.” He thanked both sides for “continuing difficult negotiations,” adding, “Above all, I express my deep gratitude to HMM employees for making a decision for the greater good.” Lee said he hoped the agreement would help strengthen South Korea’s shipping competitiveness and contribute to balanced regional development. He also said he trusted the parties would continue “constructive discussions” and complete the relocation smoothly. HMM’s management and labor signed an agreement that day to move the headquarters to Busan. The relocation is part of Lee’s campaign pledge to foster a “southeastern maritime capital region.” HMM said the scale and timing will be finalized through further labor-management talks.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-05-01 07:21:17
  • Lee Jae-myung to Host First Blue House Labor Day Ceremony With Both Major Unions
    Lee Jae-myung to Host First Blue House Labor Day Ceremony With Both Major Unions President Lee Jae-myung will invite leaders of the country’s two largest labor federations and workers to Cheong Wa Dae’s state guesthouse on May 1, Labor Day, to hold a commemorative ceremony. Cheong Wa Dae said April 30 that Lee will host about 120 guests, including key figures from labor, management and government and workers from a range of occupations and generations, to mark Labor Day, which it said was restored 63 years ago. Both the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions plan to attend, Cheong Wa Dae said. It will be the first time Cheong Wa Dae has hosted a Labor Day ceremony, and the first time the two federations have held a joint Labor Day event. Cheong Wa Dae said the event was made possible as organized labor responded to the Lee administration’s governing stance of “respect for labor.” It said Lee, who it described as a former “boy factory worker,” plans to reflect on the meaning of the restored Labor Day, share in the value of labor and thank workers for their dedication. Lee is expected to use his commemorative address to outline the government’s labor policy direction, including goals he has emphasized since taking office such as “eradicating industrial accidents” and “redistributing the fruits of growth.” With a Samsung Electronics union recently warning of a large-scale strike, attention is also focused on whether Lee will address the issue. Labor Day has been observed since 1923, but in 1963 its name was changed to “Workers’ Day.” The government restored the name Labor Day last year and designated it a legal public holiday this year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 18:12:24
  • South Korea’s Lee orders public debate on school field trips, review of teacher liability
    South Korea’s Lee orders public debate on school field trips, review of teacher liability President Lee Jae-myung on April 30 ordered officials to gather views from across society on school field trips and to review whether teachers face unreasonable legal burdens, amid what has been dubbed the “picnic controversy.” Senior presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said at an afternoon briefing at Chunchugwan that Lee directed the government to collect opinions through an open public debate involving teachers, parents and experts on school experiential learning trips. Kang said Lee also instructed the Education Ministry and the Justice Ministry to examine whether teachers are being subjected to unfair responsibility and whether the scope of legal liability and immunity needs adjustment. At a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on April 28, Lee said he had heard that schools are increasingly avoiding picnics and class trips. “A picnic or a class trip is also part of instruction, isn’t it?” he said, adding, “You shouldn’t throw out the whole jar because you’re worried about maggots.” Cheong Wa Dae explained the next day, April 29, that Lee’s remarks were aimed at strengthening protections for teachers from safety accidents during field learning and ensuring they can carry out their core duties despite heavy workloads.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 17:04:34
  • Lee warns excessive union demands can hurt other workers
    Lee warns excessive union demands can hurt other workers President Lee Jae-myung on April 30 called on workers to show solidarity with one another, saying labor’s strength comes from unity among people in the same position. Presiding over a meeting of senior presidential aides at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee said the guarantee of the “three basic labor rights” exists for that reason. The rights refer to the freedom to form and join unions, the right to bargain collectively, and the right to take collective action such as strikes. Lee also stressed responsibility by labor unions and employers. “Management should treat workers as valued partners in running a company,” he said, adding that “unions, too, must share a sense of responsibility.” His remarks were widely interpreted as aimed at the Samsung Electronics union, which has demanded performance pay equal to 15% of operating profit and has warned of a general strike. Lee said if “some organized workers” make excessive or unfair demands “just to save themselves” and draw public criticism, it can harm not only that union but other workers as well. He said responsibility and solidarity are needed to build a society where “all workers, and all citizens,” can live together, not one driven by “only I survive.” He added that employers should take the same approach, saying most people will be workers or employers within their families and, more broadly, all are members of South Korea who should try to see issues from the other side. Lee noted that May 1 will be the first Labor Day since his government took office. He said that starting this year, Labor Day has regained its “proper name” and has been designated a legal public holiday, giving it special meaning. He said he hopes the day will be a time for people to share and reflect on the value of work. Lee said narrowing gaps in the labor market is important to building a country where work is respected, and he called for stronger efforts to improve workplace safety. He said policy effects are becoming visible, including a recent decline in deaths from industrial accidents, but added that the government should move faster on stronger on-site oversight and related institutional improvements. He also said working conditions for nonregular workers should be improved in a fair and reasonable direction. Calling the government the country’s largest employer, Lee said it should set an example as a model employer. He also warned that a major shift driven by artificial intelligence will expose labor and industry to fundamental change, and said overcoming the challenge will require a spirit of shared growth and cooperation.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 14:46:33
  • Lee Jae-myung calls for tough punishment for fake news, abusive comments
    Lee Jae-myung calls for tough punishment for fake news, abusive comments President Lee Jae-myung said on the 30th that “fake news that shows a complete lack of humanity, and insulting comments, deserve severe punishment.” Lee wrote the message on X (formerly Twitter) after linking a news report that police had arrested a man in his 50s accused of repeatedly posting online content that disparaged the Sewol ferry disaster, the Itaewon crowd crush and the victims’ families. He warned that “police task forces will respond strictly in the future as well to fake news and comments that amount to secondary harm.” The National Office of Investigation at the National Police Agency said it arrested the man for repeatedly posting, over a long period, about 70 online items that spread false information and defamed victims and bereaved families of the Sewol and Itaewon disasters. The man is accused of continuously posting false claims and disparaging content about the Sewol and Itaewon disasters from 2021 to 2024 using platforms in and outside South Korea, police said. Police said he circulated photos of bereaved families while repeatedly mocking them with claims such as, “Sewol bereaved families were recycled as Itaewon bereaved families.” The case is the second arrest since the National Police Agency launched its unit to investigate crimes involving secondary harm in July last year.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 14:07:41
  • South Korea to expand AI-related cooperation with Qatar, presidential aide says
    South Korea to expand AI-related cooperation with Qatar, presidential aide says SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - South Korea has agreed with Qatar to expand cooperation in advanced industries including artificial intelligence (AI), biotech, and semiconductors, according to presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik. In a post on Facebook on Wednesday evening, Kang said he met with Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Trade Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed to discuss ways to expand cooperation between the two countries. Their meeting came a few weeks after Kang visited Qatar on April 13 as a special envoy for strategic economic cooperation and met with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during which Kang called for expanding cooperation beyond energy into advanced industries such as AI, and the emir promised to send a delegation promptly. Kang said a large delegation from relevant sectors, led by Al Sayed, visited Seoul "just two weeks after" his trip to the Gulf state. He added that both sides agreed to move beyond their current focus on natural gas and energy trade, expanding ties into areas like AI, semiconductors, and biotechnology. Touting Al Sayed as an investment expert who previously served as CEO of Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, Kang said the minister is scheduled for a series of meetings with investors and tech companies during his visit, hinting at potential "win-win deals" for both countries. 2026-04-30 10:24:01
  • Kang Hoon-sik Meets Qatar Trade Minister to Expand Investment Cooperation in AI, Other High-Tech Sectors
    Kang Hoon-sik Meets Qatar Trade Minister to Expand Investment Cooperation in AI, Other High-Tech Sectors Kang Hoon-sik, the president’s chief of staff, met with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Sayed to discuss ways to expand investment cooperation in advanced industries. Kang disclosed the meeting in a Facebook post on April 29, saying the two sides agreed to broaden ties beyond natural gas trade and orders for liquefied natural gas carriers to investment cooperation in high-tech sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and biotechnology. Kang previously visited Qatar on April 13 as the president’s special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, meeting with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation. Kang said he told the emir it was time to extend cooperation centered on energy into investment in advanced industries such as AI, and that the emir promised to send a delegation promptly. “Indeed, within two weeks, a large delegation led by Minister of State Al Sayed visited South Korea,” Kang wrote, adding it included officials from Qatar’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the sovereign wealth fund. Kang said Al Sayed is also a leading investment expert who previously served as CEO of the Qatar sovereign wealth fund, which he described as the world’s eighth-largest by assets and managing $580 billion. Kang said Al Sayed thanked the South Korean government for arranging meetings with many advanced-technology companies during the visit, saying it is most important to meet companies directly when making investment decisions. Kang said he told Al Sayed to contact him at any time and that he would move first to resolve any difficulties related to investment in South Korea. Kang said investment fund officials traveling with the Qatari delegation were holding detailed talks with potential investee companies, and he expressed hope that “win-win” investment cooperation cases would emerge soon.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-30 09:03:08
  • First Lady Kim Hye-kyung Makes Hope Cookies With Children With Glycogen Storage Disease
    First Lady Kim Hye-kyung Makes 'Hope Cookies' With Children With Glycogen Storage Disease First Lady Kim Hye-kyung joined children with glycogen storage disease on April 29 to make cookies and deliver messages of encouragement. Kim, the wife of President Lee Jae-myung, visited Children’s Grand Park in Seoul’s Gwangjin District and took part in a “Hope Cookies” baking activity with children living with the rare disease. In a written briefing, presidential office deputy spokesperson Ahn Gui-ryeong said glycogen storage disease is a rare condition in which the body cannot properly break down glycogen, leading to repeated episodes of low blood sugar. She said Hope Cookies are a snack developed by parents of affected children by lowering the proportion of carbohydrates. The event was arranged as a follow-up to a “communication event with rare disease patients and families” attended by the presidential couple on Dec. 24 last year. At that event, a parent of a child with the disease appealed for greater attention to rare illnesses and presented Hope Cookies to the president. Kim said, “The story of Hope Cookies I heard on Christmas Eve stayed with me,” adding, “I really wanted to be part of making cookies that children with glycogen storage disease can eat without worry.” Wearing an apron, she baked with the children and told them, “You’re doing so well. Did you practice before coming?” She added that Hope Cookies “seem like a healthy snack that would be easy to make at home,” and said they would also go well as a late-night snack for the president. “My husband eats something at night, too, so it would be nice to make something like this for him,” she said. While the cookies baked, Kim walked around the park with the children. Afterward, she tasted the finished cookies and exclaimed, “It’s delicious.” Kim also introduced Jang Jun-woo, a student who entered Minjok Leadership Academy despite living with the disease, and told the children she hoped they would “grow up to be wonderful and healthy like Jun-woo.” After the event, she gave participants Hope Cookies and gift packages. Ahn said Hope Cookies are also planned to be delivered on Children’s Day to pediatric patients who could not attend. Ahn said the government is pursuing a plan to further lower the health insurance out-of-pocket rate for high-cost treatment for rare diseases from the current 10%, with implementation planned for the second half of this year after a vote by the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 18:21:12
  • South Korea Says It Is Consulting Iran on Korean Ships’ Passage Through Strait of Hormuz
    South Korea Says It Is Consulting Iran on Korean Ships’ Passage Through Strait of Hormuz Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday it is actively seeking ways to resolve navigation issues involving South Korean vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including through consultations with the Iranian government. Senior presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung made the remarks at a briefing at the Chunchugwan press center, responding to a question about whether there had been progress for South Korean ships after reports that a Japanese tanker had made its first passage through the strait with Iranian authorization. Kang said the matter requires consideration of multiple factors, including ship safety and the position of the shipping company, and noted that more than one country is often involved, requiring broad communication and cooperation. She added that the South Korean government maintains that, within international norms, freedom of navigation and safety must be guaranteed for all vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including South Korean ships, and said talks are underway based on that position. According to foreign media reports, a Japanese tanker was confirmed to have transited the Strait of Hormuz on the morning of April 28 local time.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 18:01:16
  • South Korea Trains 10 UAE Presidential Guard Officers in Four-Week Protection Course
    South Korea Trains 10 UAE Presidential Guard Officers in Four-Week Protection Course The Presidential Security Service said it provided four weeks of commissioned training for 10 protection officers from the UAE Presidential Guard Command, running from late last month through April 24. The service said on April 29 the program was held at its Security and Safety Training Institute in Seoul’s Gangseo District and other sites. It said the curriculum was tailored to UAE requests while incorporating the agency’s protection capabilities. Weeks 1 and 2 covered protection theory and core skills, while weeks 3 and 4 focused on advanced training and response drills. The Presidential Security Service and the UAE Presidential Guard Command have conducted commissioned training 14 times since 2010, the service said, building a close cooperation framework. Including those sessions, the institute has provided 55 commissioned training programs since 2006 for overseas protection agencies, including those from Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, Vietnam, Indonesia, Jordan, Russia and Mongolia, it said. A UAE Presidential Guard Command official said, “We express our deep gratitude to the Presidential Security Service for providing an excellent course through systematic planning and high-quality operation.” The official added, “Based on the cooperation and exchanges of experience built so far, we hope the scope of cooperation between the two countries’ protection agencies will further expand and develop.” PSS Chief Hwang In-kwon said the UAE is a key partner that has a “special strategic partnership” with South Korea, and he hoped the training would further strengthen security cooperation. He said the service would continue “protection diplomacy” by sharing “K-security” capabilities to help build trust between countries. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 17:21:39