China accuses Philippines of setting up ‘obstacles’ to attending Asean defence meeting

South China Morning Post - Oct 29, 2026

China has accused the Philippines of setting up “numerous obstacles” to attending a meeting with defence ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and of violating “basic diplomatic protocols”. The row, which follows years of tension over the two countries’ competing claims to the South China Sea, saw Beijing sending its defence attache to the meeting in Lapu-Lapu in the Philippines – the lowest-ranking Chinese representative at the event since it was first held in 2010. “The...

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PM says to foster 200 'frontier' bio, pharmaceutical firms by 2030

PM says to foster 200 'frontier' bio, pharmaceutical firms by 2030

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Thursday that the government will select 200 bio and pharmaceutical companies by 2030 and help them grow enough to compete on the global stage. Han made the remark at a national policy coordination meeting held at a Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp. factory in the central city of Cheonan, stressing that Korea should identify and foster innovative firms armed with new technologies and ideas. She said 50 "frontier" companies will be selected every year by 2030 and the government will provide them with "support for research, development and investment at each stage of growth from the development of candidate substances to clinical trials and commercialization." The government plans to assign a dedicated director to each selected company to provide customized support for up to five years. It will also inject 150 billion won ($112 million) in policy financing over three years, comprising 60 billion won in investments through banks specializing in research and development (R&D) and 90 billion won in guarantees from the Korea Technology Finance Corporation.

Incheon Global Campus aims to become engine of regional innovation

Incheon Global Campus aims to become engine of regional innovation

Students seeking degrees from prestigious universities overseas could head straight to their main campuses overseas. But Incheon Global Campus (IGC) is making a case for choosing Korea instead, offering access to the country's thriving high-tech industries alongside a world-class education. Located in the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), IGC is seeking to turn its proximity to major biotechnology, semiconductor and other advanced technology companies into a competitive advantage, connecting international education with hands-on industry experience and career opportunities. "Simply having prestigious foreign universities in Incheon is no longer enough to prove our value," said Byun Ju-young, CEO of the Incheon Global Campus Foundation, during an interview with The Korea Times. "What matters now is whether their education and research capabilities can translate into technological innovation and job creation in the region." Established in 2012, IGC was designed to serve as a global education hub within the IFEZ, attracting foreign universities while nurturing talent for the region's strat

Korea seeks 'top-down' approach with US for breakthrough in OPCON transfer

Korea seeks 'top-down' approach with US for breakthrough in OPCON transfer

Korea will seek a "top-down" approach with the United States for a breakthrough in the wartime operational control (OPCON) transition, the defense ministry said Thursday, dismissing the view that a delay of the allies' annual security talks signals a setback in the transfer timeline. The allies announced Wednesday the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), a key dialogue between their defense chiefs, has been pushed back to early next year, following bilateral talks between Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the Philippines earlier in the day. The ministry said Kang and Hegseth plan to meet again for another round of talks in Washington in December, viewed to be a rare move given that the SCM typically works "bottom-up" — bringing the defense chiefs together to finalize agreements reached during prior working-level consultations between their top military officers. "We intend to produce a successful outcome through a 'top-down' approach, whereby the defense chiefs present a policy direction based on evaluations of military authorities of the two s

Lee vows to leave no suspicions unresolved on 4th anniv. of Itaewon crowd crush

Lee vows to leave no suspicions unresolved on 4th anniv. of Itaewon crowd crush

President Lee Jae Myung vowed Thursday to leave no suspicions unresolved regarding the deadly 2022 Itaewon crowd crush as he marked its fourth anniversary. Lee made the promise during a memorial event at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, which brought together some 1,000 people, including victims, bereaved family members and lawmakers. "I will make sure the people are never again sacrificed unjustly due to the state's absence and negligence," he said, alluding to the preceding administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol, which was in office at the time of the tragedy. "My administration is focusing the nation's capabilities on creating a country where everyone is safe," he added, citing new legislation aimed at better protecting people from disasters and accidents. Lee noted that under his administration the mandate of a special commission investigating the disaster has been extended until September 2027. "This is a promise to uncover the truth until not a single suspicion remains and ensure the truth leads to preventing a recurrence," he said. The tragedy happened on Oct. 29, 2022, during Hallowe

Overseas Koreans can now renew military discharge cards at embassies

Overseas Koreans can now renew military discharge cards at embassies

Overseas Koreans living abroad can now easily apply for the reissuance of their military discharge certificates at Korean diplomatic missions, including embassies and consulates, without appointing a proxy in Korea. The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) and the Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA) announced Thursday that the expanded consular service takes effect immediately. Previously, diplomatic missions provided military service certificates, but lacked a system to issue replacement discharge certificates. Consequently, Koreans residing overseas who lost or damaged their certificates had to designate a representative back home to handle the application process, causing significant inconvenience. To honor veterans and streamline administrative support, the MMA issues wallet-sized, card-style discharge certificates in both Korean and English. Under the new arrangement, the MMA updated the relevant legal framework and established an integrated network with the OKA’s Consular Services 24 system. Overseas Koreans can now submit reissuance requests directly at local diplomatic missions, wh

Cheong Wa Dae seeks fairer priority system for postpartum care centers

Cheong Wa Dae seeks fairer priority system for postpartum care centers

Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday it will consider revising the law to ensure greater fairness and rationality in prioritizing access to postpartum care centers. Postpartum care centers, where new mothers stay and recover after childbirth, are popular in South Korea. Those subsidized by local governments, in particular, face intense competition for reservations because they charge relatively low fees. The issue drew media attention after President Lee Jae Myung shared an online community post on his X account Wednesday, which questioned whether mothers from multicultural families and mothers recognized as persons of national merit should be placed in the same second-priority category for reservations at Seoul-style postpartum care centers. Lee said the government would conduct an in-depth review, including consultations with local governments and possible legal amendments, to determine whether there is a compelling need to provide multicultural families with preferential treatment. In response, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday it would consider revising the enforcement decree of the Mother and Chil

K-water signs MOU with Austin to share AI water management technology

K-water signs MOU with Austin to share AI water management technology

Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water) signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday with Austin, Texas, to cooperate on artificial intelligence (AI) water management, meeting with a delegation led by Michael Rogers, the city’s assistant city manager. The pact aims to share data-based smart water management solutions in response to the climate crisis and the growth of advanced industries, while strengthening a sustainable global water cooperation network. Key areas include sharing best practices and technologies, holding joint seminars to build smart water management capabilities, and identifying and implementing joint proof-of-concept projects for local application. Discussions began in January at CES 2026, when the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce expressed interest in K-water’s technologies. Following exchanges that included K-water’s August attendance at the Central Texas-Korea Summit, the Austin delegation’s Korea visit and the signing of the agreement have laid the groundwork for substantive cooperation. Austin Water, the city’s water utility, has recently shown

Special counsel again seeks death penalty for ex-President Yoon over martial law declaration

Special counsel again seeks death penalty for ex-President Yoon over martial law declaration

A special counsel team on Thursday sought the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol during his appeal trial on insurrection charges stemming from his failed attempt to impose martial law. Special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team requested the sentence during proceedings at the Seoul High Court, eight months after a lower court sentenced Yoon to life imprisonment for staging a riot through his declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. The team had recommended capital punishment during the first-instance trial as well. "There is no reason to hesitate to hand down the death penalty," a member of the team said. "The strongest argument for objection to the death penalty is the possibility of a misjudgment just in case, but in this case, there is no room for that." Yoon declared martial law with the stated aim of eradicating anti-state forces, though the order was lifted six hours later by a vote by the National Assembly. During those six hours, troops were deployed to the National Assembly compound, which the lower court ruled in February was an attempt to paralyze parliament and arrest

Lee's approval rating rises to 46%: poll

Lee's approval rating rises to 46%: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rose to 46 percent this week, surpassing his disapproval rating for the first time in nearly two months, a biweekly poll showed Thursday. In a survey of 1,000 adults nationwide conducted Monday through Wednesday, positive assessments of Lee's job performance rose 2 percentage points from two weeks earlier, according to the National Barometer Survey (NBS). Negative assessments fell 5 percentage points to 44 percent. Lee's approval rating last exceeded his disapproval rating in late August, when positive assessments stood at 50 percent. It then fell to a record low of 43 percent for two consecutive surveys in mid-September and the first week of October, before rising to 44 percent in the previous poll. Support for the ruling Democratic Party rose 3 percentage points to 36 percent, while that of the main opposition People Power Party fell 3 percentage points to 25 percent. When asked whether Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae should be impeached, 34 percent of respondents supported his impeachment, while 45 percent opposed it. In recent weeks, so

Seoul arson suspect referred to prosecution for attempted murder

Seoul arson suspect referred to prosecution for attempted murder

Police referred the suspect in last week's arson fire at two buildings in southern Seoul to prosecutors Thursday, pressing additional charges of attempted murder after determining that the crime was premeditated with intent to kill random people. The suspect in his 70s, surnamed Lee, was taken into custody on Oct. 20 shortly after setting fires at two patent firms in two separate buildings in Seoul's Gangnam Ward. The blazes left 26 people injured, including a patent attorney, who suffered cardiac arrest. Lee claimed he had no intention of hurting anyone, but the Seoul Suseo Police Station sent the suspect to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on Thursday on charges of arson resulting in injuries and attempted murder, after concluding that the attack had been planned in advance with intent to cause the deaths of unspecified people According to police, Lee purchased two containers and two lighters between Sept. 24 and Oct. 5. He filled the two containers with gasoline he purchased on Oct. 19, indicating he had prepared tools for the crime. Police also viewed the cancellation o

Special counsel team moves local election ballots to storage from handball arena

Special counsel team moves local election ballots to storage from handball arena

A special counsel team on Thursday moved boxes of ballot papers out of a handball arena where they had been kept since June's local elections as part of its investigation into ballot shortages on election day. Special counsel Lee Tae-han's team removed the ballot boxes from the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southeastern Seoul after conducting an on-site inspection of the 2.47 million ballots for more than 12 hours until past midnight, according to the National Election Commission (NEC), the state election watchdog. Lee's team has been investigating an unprecedented shortage of ballots that occurred on the day of the June 3 local elections, which forced some people to turn back without casting their votes. All 2.47 million ballots, which had been cast in the southeastern Songpa Ward, were inspected by the special counsel team and placed in some 420 boxes, of which all but 13 were taken to a storage facility managed by the NEC in the capital area, a commission official said. In accordance with the election law, those ballots will be stored for the duration of the elected officials' te

Innovation Wing provides equipment, workspace, guidance for hands-on projects

Innovation Wing provides equipment, workspace, guidance for hands-on projects

HONG KONG — Students were busy working on their projects when The Korea Times visited the Innovation Wing under the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) in early September. The space was filled with 3D printers, equipment and displays of projects developed by students. “This place is for experiential learning activities,” said Kevin Tien-Hsuan Wu, a lecturer at HKU’s Innovation Academy, who guided reporters around the facility on Sept. 2. “Students come here not just to do their homework, but to turn their ideas into prototypes.” The Innovation Wing gives students a place to put what they learn in class into practice. They can develop their own ideas or form groups with others who share their interests, with the university providing equipment, workspace and academic advice. “We encourage students to do hands-on work here,” Wu said. “They learn the knowledge in the classroom, and they actually build things here.” Students can use 3D printers to produce parts and prototypes and small jobs are supported as part of the service. Staff are on hand to h

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