Lee, Takaichi agree to deepen energy, supply chain cooperation SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi agreed on Tuesday to expand cooperation on energy security and supply chains amid the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. After a summit at Lee's hometown of Andong, a historic city in southern South Korea, the two leaders shared the view that Seoul and Tokyo need to work more closely together as global supply chains and energy markets face growing uncertainty. "We ag May 19, 2026

Korea, Japan leaders to talk serious at Andong summit amid Gulf risks SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are expected to move quickly beyond ceremonial diplomacy when they meet Tuesday in Andong, focusing instead on a growing list of shared strategic anxieties ranging from Middle East energy disruptions to regional security and AI-driven industrial competition. The summit, held in Lee’s hometown in North Gyeongsang Province, marks the leaders’ third bilateral meeting in jus May 19, 2026

Andong flavors to headline Lee-Takaichi summit dinner SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Traditional cuisine and symbolic Korean-Japanese pairings will take center stage Tuesday when South Korean President Lee Jae Myung hosts Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae for a summit dinner in Andong, the country's iconic southeastern city of loyalty and tradition. According to the presidential Blue House on Sunday, the dinner will feature fusion Korean dishes inspired by “Suunjapbang,” a treasured ancient cookbook from an Andong head f May 18, 2026

Lee scores high on US ties in first-year diplomacy review SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung may appear domestically focused — his cabinet meetings are live-streamed and his social-media presence is constant — but his first year was defined by foreign affairs. He traveled to 15 countries and held 45 summit meetings, according to his vice foreign minister, a pace that far outstrips his recent predecessors: both Moon Jae-in and Yoon Suk Yeol visited nine countries in their respective first years. Much May 15, 2026

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi to visit President Lee's hometown of Andong SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will visit Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, the hometown of President Lee Jae Myung, for a summit with the South Korean leader on May 19, the presidential office said Friday. Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said Takaichi will make a two-day visit to Andong from May 19 to 20 to meet Lee. The two leaders are scheduled to hold both a small-group summit and an expanded summit, followed by a joint press announcement, a May 15, 2026

'Garden of Gratitude' memorial sparks political sparring ahead of Seoul elections SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - Gwanghwamun Square, which gained international attention after hosting a Netflix-streamed BTS concert in March, has now added a new multinational landmark to its symbolic landscape. The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Tuesday officially opened the “Garden of Gratitude” at Gwanghwamun Square, a memorial space dedicated to the 22 United Nations member states that fought alongside South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War, unveiling a politically char May 14, 2026

Seoul stays cautious on blaming Iran over HMM Hormuz attack SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun maintained a cautious stance Monday, stopping short of directly blaming Iran for the attack on a Korean-operated cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz despite the government’s initial conclusion that the vessel had come under an external strike. “There are still things that need to be studied before making a judgment,” Cho told reporters, signaling Seoul’s reluctance to escalate tensions before the i May 11, 2026

South Korea's first constitutional reform push in decades fails amid boycott SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - South Korea's National Assembly came close this week to passing its first constitutional amendment in nearly four decades aimed at preventing presidential abuses of power such as martial law declarations, but the effort collapsed after a boycott by the opposition People Power Party. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik withdrew plans to resubmit the amendment shortly after Thursday's plenary session opened after the People Power Party warned it would May 8, 2026

INTERVIEW: Chip czar rides AI chip boom to challenge political Goliath for Gyeonggi governorship SEOUL, May 05 (AJP) - Bidding for the gubernatorial post that birthed the current president — whose approval rating is nearing 60 percent — while facing a ruling-party heavyweight known for colliding head-on with disgraced former president Yoon Suk Yeol would not be an easy race for most politicians. But for Yang Hyang-ja, the determination appears rooted in something deeper than party politics: an almost singular devotion to semiconductors, the industry responsible for May 5, 2026