Latest news with #Korea-Japan
Japan Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
Ishiba, Lee agree to build stable ties between Japan, S Korea
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed Monday to build stable bilateral ties amid a severe strategic environment, with both expressing hope to meet in person at an early date. In their first telephone conversation since Lee took office last week, Ishiba and the South Korean leader also confirmed the importance of trilateral cooperation with their shared ally, the United States, the Japanese government said. Japan and South Korea see each other as partners who can tackle global challenges, as the Asian neighbors have seen a thaw in ties long marred by issues linked to wartime history and territory, the two governments said. During the roughly 25-minute conversation, Ishiba was quoted by the government as telling Lee he wants to advance bilateral ties, building on the "foundation" the two governments have already laid. Ishiba sought Lee's cooperation in addressing challenges posed by North Korea, including Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s, according to Japan. South Korea's presidential office also said that Lee and Ishiba agreed to build a "stronger and more mature Korea-Japan relationship based on mutual respect, trust and a responsible attitude." Lee, a liberal who has taken a firm stance on the bilateral spat over wartime labor and territory, said last week as president that he places importance on consistency in bilateral relations with Japan. After taking office following the ouster of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, over the abrupt imposition of martial law, Lee indicated he would uphold the previous administration's approach to compensating South Korean wartime laborers. The Korean Peninsula was under Japanese colonial rule between 1910 and 1945. The earliest possible opportunity for an in-person summit meeting would come on the fringes of a three-day meeting of the Group of Seven nations to be held in Canada from Sunday. Ishiba is expected to attend the summit as head of G7 member Japan, while Lee has accepted an invitation to attend the gathering as a non-member. Japan and South Korea hope to maintain momentum in improving bilateral ties as they mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization this year. The two countries share a view on the need to deepen three-way cooperation with the United States amid growing security threats from North Korea, which is seeking closer military ties with Russia. According to South Korea's presidential office, the two leaders expressed their "commitment" to jointly responding to various geopolitical challenges within the tripartite framework. © KYODO
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Delve into Hangeul's beauty through crafts
National Hangeul Museum to offer hands-on program in Japan The National Hangeul Museum is launching a new educational program dubbed "Atelier Hangeul" in Japan in June as part of a cultural exchange marking the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations. The hands-on educational program will familiarize participants Korean writing system while making unique leather craft items using Hangeul letters and traditional Korean patterns. Ten sessions will be held from Tuesday to Saturday at the Korean Cultural Centers in Tokyo and Osaka. More details about the registration are available on the cultural centers' websites. "Hangeul is not just a way to write words or share information, but it can also be seen as a form of art and culture, and it helps connect people with each other. We hope that Japanese people will be able to discover the modern value and beauty of Hangeul through this program," Kang Jeong-won, head of the National Hangeul Museum, said in a press release.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
An exhibition of Taekwondo's history
A Taekwondo team from Korea performed a special emonstration at the exhibition A new exhibition at the Korean Cultural Centre takes visitors through the history of Taekwondo – from its beginnings in the 1940s to its growth as a global sport. The exhibition, titled Taekwondo, Facing the World , was inaugurated recently in the presence of Korean Ambassador Lee Seong-ho. Through a collection shared by the National Taekwondo Museum in Korea, the exhibition explores themes such as the development of protective equipment, the standardisation of uniforms, the recognition of Taekwondo as Korea's national sport, and its rise in the world. Korean Ambassador Lee Seong-ho(left) at the event The exhibition showcases the development of protective equipment used in matches. From the first use of protective gear (head and hand protectors) in 1961 at a Korea-Japan Tang Soo Do martial arts contest, to today's electronic protective systems, the evolution — from bamboo to smart technology — is presented Black belt worn by Choi Yeong-gil, a member of the Korean national team in 1966 Rise of Taekwondo 'Between 1944 and 1947, five Taekwondo kwans (schools) were established. In 1959, the first demonstration team was sent to Vietnam, where they taught the martial art for nearly a decade. During this time, an estimated 200,000 Vietnamese practiced Taekwondo. In 1965, a Taekwondo goodwill mission was dispatched overseas to enhance the martial art's national prestige through global demonstrations. The mission visited Germany, Italy, the UAE, Turkey, Malaysia, and Singapore over a span of about one month. Throughout the 1960s, a total of 169 Taekwondo masters were sent to 19 countries,' reads a wall panel at the exhibition. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
US, Japan congratulate Lee Jae-myung as South Korean president-elect, pledge strong trilateral partnership
The United States and Japan on Wednesday congratulated South Korea's President-elect Lee Jae-myung and stressed the continuity of the trilateral partnership between South Korea, the US and Japan. US President Donald Trump's administration voiced its expectations for strong cooperation in various areas, especially security and the economy. 'The alliance between the United States and South Korea, which is rooted in our mutual defense treaty, shared values and deep economic ties, is ironclad. We are also modernizing our alliance to meet the demands of today's strategic environment and respond to emerging economic challenges,' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an official statement. The secretary reaffirmed the commitment to strengthen the trilateral cooperation with Japan to reinforce regional security, enhance economic resilience, and uphold democratic principles. Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also welcomed the election of Lee as South Korea's next president and said he hoped to work closely with him to promote active exchanges between the two countries. Emphasizing the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between Seoul and Tokyo, Ishiba expressed his hopes to work with Lee to overcome many common challenges, including a rapidly declining birth rate, aging populations, concentration of populations in metropolitan areas, foreign and security policies with their respective alliances with the US. 'On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations, I would like to promote bilateral and trilateral cooperation with President Lee Jae-myung,' said Ishiba. 'Japan sincerely wishes to build stronger ties with South Korea, including those in the private sector. The government will be committed to supporting such efforts,' he added. The prime minister also showed his willingness for an early meeting with Lee, saying, 'It would be best to hold a bilateral summit between South Korea and Japan as soon as possible.' Lee was elected president in Tuesday's presidential election in South Korea, with conservative party candidate Kim Moon-soo and Rep. Lee Jun-seok, the presidential candidate of the minor conservative New Reform Party, conceding defeat and congratulating his opponent.
Korea Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
KCCI chair meets Japan PM, calls for closer trade ties
Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also heads SK Group, met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday in Tokyo, calling for close economic cooperation between the two countries. The meeting came as Seoul and Tokyo mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations, according to the KCCI. Chey was joined by Park Il-joon, executive vice chairman of KCCI and Lee Hyung-hee, vice chairman of Seoul Chamber of Commerce and Industry and president of SK Supex Council. 'At a time when both Korea and Japan are facing difficulties due to the spread of global protectionism, including reciprocal tariffs from the US, there is a need for the two countries to deepen bilateral economic cooperation,' Chey was quoted as saying to Ishiba, requesting the Japanese government's support and attention for corporate activities for both countries. Chey also asked for Ishiba's interest in the upcoming APEC CEO Summit to be held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in October, hosted by KCCI. He also requested participation from leading Japanese companies. Following the meeting with Ishiba, Chey visited the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where he met with Chairman Ken Kobayashi. The visit was Chey's first to the JCCI in three years, with discussions centering on the upcoming bilateral chamber meeting and ways to enhance collaboration between the two organizations. The 14th chairs' meeting of the KCCI and JCCI is expected to take place in South Korea later this year. Chey is also expected to attend the 30th Nikkei Forum on the Future of Asia from Thursday to Friday. Last year, he participated as a speaker and stressed the importance of Korea-Japan cooperation.
