Policy Watch: Lee Jae-myung forms committee for his soft power initiative
The Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, launched a committee dedicated to promoting South Korean popular culture content, his campaign office said Monday.
Lee's campaign said the committee will be headed by Yoo Hong-jun, who served as the director of the Cultural Heritage Administration, a Ministry of Culture-affiliated agency for managing the country's cultural assets.
Expanding Korea's soft power is one of Lee's key policy pledges. "I want to help turn South Korea into a cultural powerhouse," he said in a statement on his Facebook on April 18.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
an hour ago
- Korea Herald
Deputy national security, AI advisers named
President Lee Jae-myung appointed three deputy national security advisers and a senior secretary for artificial intelligence ahead of his trip to Canada to attend the Group of Seven summit, his presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said Sunday. Of the nominees filling the three deputy national security adviser posts under national security adviser Wi Sung-lac, two of them are career diplomats, according to Kang. Kim Hyun-jong, a retired three-star Army general, was selected as Lee's first deputy director of the presidential National Security Office, who will be dedicated to national defense and security strategies. Kim worked as a presidential secretary tasked with national defense reform and an aide to the chief of the Ground Operations Command under the Moon Jae-in government. Lim Woong-soon, South Korea's ambassador to Canada, was picked as the second deputy director of the NSO to handle matters related to South Korea's foreign affairs, overseas Koreans and unification policy. Kang said Lim is in Canada for onsite preparations ahead of Lee's visit. Oh Hyun-joo, South Korean ambassador to the Holy See, was named the NSO's third deputy director to oversee economic security and cybersecurity. Lee also named Ha Jung-woo, head of internet giant Naver's Future AI Center, as the new senior presidential secretary tasked with AI and future technology planning. Ha's work will involve policy related to nationwide adoption of AI, science and technology, population planning and climate change. Kang's announcement means most posts are now filled, but leaves the senior presidential secretaries for civil affairs and civil and social agenda not yet chosen as of Sunday. The civil affairs post is unoccupied as nominee Oh Kwang-soo stepped down last week amid growing controversies over his failed asset disclosures in his past mandatory filings as a senior prosecutor. None of the nominees would join the South Korean delegation led by Lee on a short trip to Canada from Monday to Wednesday, according to the presidential office. Also, according to Seoul, more personnel nominations for the Cabinet will be unveiled shortly after Lee's return to Seoul.
Korea Herald
8 hours ago
- Korea Herald
S. Korea reviews safety measures for nationals in Middle East after Israeli strike on Iran
South Korea's foreign ministry held a virtual meeting Sunday with its officials and heads of diplomatic missions in the Middle East to discuss response measures following Israel's strike on Iran. The video conference, presided over by Yoon Chu-sok, director general for overseas Koreans and consular affairs, focused on reviewing ways to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals in the region, the foreign ministry said. During the meeting, Yoon reiterated the importance of advising South Korean citizens to cancel or postpone travel to both Israel and Iran. He also emphasized the need to urge Korean nationals residing in those countries to remain in safe areas in accordance with guidance from local embassies. The foreign ministry confirmed that no damage or harm to South Korean nationals has been reported in relation to the Israeli strike. Approximately 100 South Koreans are currently staying in Iran. On Friday, the government raised the travel advisories for Israel and parts of Iran from Level 2 to Level 2.5, citing heightened security concerns.
Korea Herald
9 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Japanese Embassy in Seoul to host reception Monday marking 60th anniv. of diplomatic ties
The Japanese Embassy in Seoul will host a reception this week to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan, diplomatic sources said Sunday. The event, scheduled to take place at a hotel in Seoul on Monday, is expected to be attended by Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina and Akihisa Nakashima, a close aide to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, according to the sources. President Lee Jae-myung is unlikely to attend the ceremony in person due to a scheduling conflict, as he is set to travel to Canada for the Group of Seven (G7) summit. "(Lee) is reviewing the possibility of sending a congratulatory message," a presidential official said on condition of anonymity. "The message will be positive, highlighting the significance of the 60th anniversary and presenting a vision for future cooperation between South Korea and Japan." A similar event is also scheduled to be held by the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo on Thursday, with Ishiba "highly likely" to attend, other sources earlier said. The Tokyo reception will take place shortly after a planned bilateral meeting between Lee and Ishiba on the sidelines of the G7 summit, marking their first face-to-face talks. During their first phone conversation earlier, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and agreed to address regional security challenges through trilateral cooperation with the United States. Separately, another diplomatic source noted that Nakashima's visit to South Korea is aimed more at engaging with lawmakers than solely attending the anniversary event.
