Lee to meet former President Moon at Cheong Wa Dae next week SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung will hold a lunch meeting with former President Moon Jae-in in Seoul next week, Cheong Wa Dae said on Thursday. In a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung told reporters that Lee and Moon are scheduled to have lunch at 11:30 a.m. at Cheong Wa Dae on July 1. It will be Lee's first official meeting with Moon since taking office in June last year, drawing attention to what topics the two will discuss. The mee June 25, 2026

Lee vows peaceful Korean Peninsula on war anniversary SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday vowed to build a peaceful Korean Peninsula "free from the fear of war" as the country marked the 76th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950–53 Korean War. Speaking at a ceremony held in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province and attended by war veterans, military officers and government officials, Lee said, "We will protect the people and the territory through strong defense capabilities and build a peaceful Korean June 25, 2026

Korea's business sentiment dips, divide deepens on narrow chip-led growth SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) - South Korea's business sentiment deteriorated by the steepest clip in 15 months while factory confidence climbed to its highest level in nearly four years, further underscoring the widening divide in the economy whose vitality is concentrated on chipmaking floors, central bank data showed Thursday. According to the Bank of Korea, the Composite Business Sentiment Index (CBSI) for all industries fell 1.2 points from a month earlier to 97.7 in June. The de June 25, 2026

Lee visits front-line unit near maritime border ahead of Korean War anniversary SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday visited a front-line military unit near the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border with North Korea and stressed the importance of strong deterrence to maintain peace. His visit to the Marine Corps unit on Yeonpyeong Island, one of the country's westernmost islands, came a day ahead of the 76th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-53). Lee sat down with service members for lunch, where he un June 24, 2026

BOK warns higher rates could cool asset risks but strain households SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) -Higher interest rates could help cool leveraged bets on stocks and property, but they would also increase burdens on households and create fresh financial risks, the Bank of Korea warned on Wednesday, as senior officials continued to signal that the benchmark rate would rise from the current 2.50 percent. In its June Financial Stability Report, the central bank said Korea’s financial system remains broadly stable, supported by stronger economic growth, June 24, 2026

Seoul seeks to raise free subway age to 70 SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - South Korea's capital is moving to overhaul one of its longest-standing welfare benefits for older citizens, proposing to raise the eligibility age for free subway rides from 65 to 70 as the country grapples with the realities of a superaged society. If approved, the ordinance would authorize the Seoul city government to offer free or discounted bus rides to residents aged 70 and older who live in the city. The city would decide later how many free ride June 24, 2026

Financial authorities seek to calm concerns after MSCI setback SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - South Korean financial authorities said Wednesday that it expects to be included in MSCI’s developed-market index in due course if it continues to press ahead with foreign exchange and capital market reforms, after the country again failed to make the index provider’s watchlist for a possible upgrade. The Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Financial Services Commission said in a joint statement that MSCI recognizes the government’s eff June 24, 2026

Lee to meet Samsung chief later this week amid AI boon share debate SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is expected to meet Samsung Group Chairman Lee Jae-yong later this week, according to government sources. Their upcoming meeting, likely to be held at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Thursday, follows a series of talks Lee has held with major business leaders as part of efforts to drive balanced regional development, which is one of the key agendas of his administration. Lee has reportedly already met with SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won an June 23, 2026

Mandatory facial recognition to exempt foreign residents SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - South Korea will mandate facial recognition for all new mobile phone subscriptions starting in July to combat financial crimes, but the system will launch entirely without foreign residents. The exclusion creates an immediate regulatory loophole, as foreign-registered accounts make up nearly half of all illegal burner phones used in the country's voice phishing networks. By pushing ahead with a domestic-only rollout, the Ministry of Science and ICT risks June 23, 2026

South Korean PM to deliver address at Summer Davos in China SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is set to deliver a special address at the World Economic Forum (WEF)'s Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC), which opens in Dalian, China on Tuesday. In his address, Kim is expected to outline South Korea's vision and propose ways to strengthen international economic cooperation. The AMNC, also known as the "Summer Davos" runs through Thursday under the theme "Innovating at Scale," with discussi June 23, 2026