South Korea convenes emergency meeting after Trump threatens tariff hike SEOUL, January 27 (AJP) - An emergency meeting was convened to discuss how to respond after U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly threatened to raise tariffs again, Cheong Wa Dae said on Tuesday. The meeting, chaired by presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom along with key officials from relevant ministries, comes after Trump posted on his own social media platform Truth Social that he would raise reciprocal tariffs from 15 percent to 25 percent, citing delays in their implement January 27, 2026

Team Korea in Canada under watch as Korea's defense manufacturing moves to global center SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) -As countries accelerate rearmament amid a more inward-looking U.S. security posture, South Korea’s defense manufacturing capacity has moved to the center of global procurement — a shift underscored by Seoul’s decision to dispatch a high-level delegation to Canada to back a $44 billion submarine bid. Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik departed for Canada on Monday, leading a delegation that includes Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and January 26, 2026

Korea's ex-PM Lee Hae-chan to be honored with five-day public funeral SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - The funeral of former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, who died during a business trip to Vietnam, will be held over five days this week in the format of a public funeral in recognition of his contributions to South Korean society, officials said Monday. Lee, the vice chair of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC) that directly reports to the president, died Sunday at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City after suffering cardiac arrest. He was 73. The f January 26, 2026

Trams to return to Seoul after 58 years, powered by batteries not overhead wires SEOUL, January 26 (AJP)-Trams are set to return to Seoul for the first time in nearly six decades, but in a distinctly modern form: battery-powered, sensor-equipped and free of overhead wires. The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) said Monday it has completed installation of key infrastructure for the Wirye Line tram, including tracks and a depot, and will begin large-scale test operations next month. The city plans to move the first trainset into the depot early Tuesda January 26, 2026

Team Korea heads for Canada for final push in $41 bn submarine bid SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung’s chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik departed for Canada on Monday as a special envoy for strategic economic cooperation, seeking to support South Korea’s bid to secure Canada’s major submarine procurement project estimated at up to 60 trillion won ($40.9 billion). Kang left Incheon International Airport for Toronto as South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean competes for Canada’s Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (C January 26, 2026

Former prime minister Lee Hae-chan dies in Viet Nam SEOUL, January 25 (AJP) - Former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan died at a hospital in Viet Nam on Sunday after suffering a heart attack the previous day. He was 74 years old. The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC), a presidential consultative body, said, "The senior vice chairperson died at 2:48 p.m. local time," adding it is currently discussing arrangements for transporting his body to Seoul and funeral services with his family and relevant authoritie January 25, 2026

Lee withdraws nomination of budget minister as controversy mounts SEOUL, January 25 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday withdrew the nomination of Lee Hye-hoon, a nominee to head the newly established Ministry of Planning and Budget amid mounting criticism over a series of allegations. Senior presidential secretary for political affairs Hong Ik-pyo said at a briefing that Lee made the decision after carefully considering a wide range of views and public assessments. Hong said she "regrettably" did not meet public expectations fo January 25, 2026

Enhypen's Sunghoon to serve as torchbearer for Winter Olympics next month SEOUL, January 25 (AJP) - Sunghoon, a member of boy band Enhypen, will participate in a torch relay for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo and Milan, scheduled to kick off early next month. The relay began its journey of carrying the flame across over 100 Italian provinces early last month, but details about which stretch Sunghoon will cover have not been disclosed. The former figure skater-turned-singer is expected to deliver a "message of peace and f January 25, 2026

Washington wants South Korea to take primary responsibility in defense vs North Korea -NDS SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) -The Trump administration has formally signaled a shift in security responsibilities on the Korean Peninsula, stating that South Korea is capable of taking “primary responsibility” for deterring North Korea with more limited U.S. military support. The assessment appears in the unclassified version of the U.S. National Defense Strategy (NDS) released Saturday by the Pentagon, a foundational policy document outlining Washington’s global defens January 24, 2026

South Korea PM tells US there was no discrimination against Coupang SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok assured U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance on Friday (local time) that Seoul has not discriminated against e-commerce giant Coupang, pushing back against allegations from American investors that the company faced unfair treatment. The two officials met at the White House for about 50 minutes, exceeding the originally scheduled 40 minutes, as the Coupang dispute emerged as a thorny issue in bilateral relations. Kim's January 24, 2026