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Korea Herald
14 minutes ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
How Korea's next leader should set foreign policy compass
JEJU ISLAND -- The crux of the new Korean government's foreign and security strategy, former foreign ministers said, must be adapting to a shifting, more inward-looking US -- one demanding greater burden-sharing from its allies under President Trump's 'America First' doctrine -- while keeping the alliance at the core of its foreign policy at this critical crossroads. Facing a wave of increasingly interconnected global crises and a more inward-looking Washington, the former top diplomats urged Seoul's next leadership to move beyond the conventional US-centric approach and adopt a more holistic, big-picture foreign policy suited to the shifting global order. 'What's most important as Korea's new government takes office is that we are facing not just one or two challenges, but a complex web of simultaneous crises. We all know that these issues are unfolding on multiple fronts at once,' former Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, who served under the former conservative Park Geun-hye administration, said during Thursday's session at the Jeju Forum held on the southern island of Jeju. 'Therefore, the new administration should not approach strategy solely through the lens of relations with the US, but should instead adopt a broader, more comprehensive perspective,' Yun said during a session on South Korea's diplomatic and security strategy ahead of the early presidential election on June 3. With no transition period before taking office, the new South Korean leadership will also need to quickly find its footing as it responds to growing US calls for greater responsibility in national and regional defense, as well as increased demands across the board within the bilateral alliance framework, Yun said. He also noted that, unlike in the past when North Korea's provocations were the main concern for an incoming administration, this time will be different: "the new government will need to prioritize how quickly it can formulate its own position in response to US priorities." 'Ultimately, it comes down to two main points: the role of US Forces Korea and South Korea's own regional role,' Yun explained. In Seoul, concerns are growing that the operational scope of US Forces Korea could extend beyond the Korean Peninsula and expand to regional defense, including being repurposed for a potential Taiwan contingency. 'In 2003, some units from US Forces Korea were redeployed to Iraq. Now, if they are redeployed -- not to Iraq, but to areas near Taiwan -- that could present a whole new set of challenges, and it's something we need to think about very carefully,' Yun said. 'From what I see, neither (presidential election) camp is fully prepared to address this issue yet.' Both the classified 'Interim National Defense Guidance,' as reported by The Washington Post, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's statement on the development of the 2025 National Defense Strategy make clear that US forces will prioritize deterring China as the sole pacing threat. Another key point is that allies should shoulder more responsibility for defending against other regional threats -- for South Korea, this means threats posed by North Korea. Former Foreign Minister Song Min-soon underscored that 'Korea needs to transform its current alliance system -- which is now overly dependent on the US -- into a more autonomous alliance, while still faithfully upholding the Korea-US alliance.' "This is something the US also wants," Song said. "However, in Korea, there is a fear that moving toward a more self-reliant alliance could lead to isolation from the US, and how to overcome that fear is the challenge." Song, who served in the former liberal Roh Moo-hyun administration, also called for the next South Korean government to 'more actively explore ways to achieve a nuclear balance between the two Koreas,' instead of merely relying on US extended deterrence. Extended deterrence refers to Washington's commitment to deter or respond to coercion and external attacks on its allies and partners with the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons. 'However, it doesn't necessarily mean that we need immediate nuclear armament,' Song continued. Former Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, however, said the next government should continue to focus on diplomacy with the United States and ensure that US extended deterrence is well maintained, opposing the idea of South Korea independently seeking a nuclear balance against North Korea. On the diplomatic front, Kim emphasized that the key challenge is how to navigate between the Korea-US alliance and China amid the shifting global order. "From the perspective of our diplomatic and security interests, regardless of who becomes the next president, the most important point is what stance South Korea should take between the US, our ally, and China, given our geopolitical realities," Kim said. "This remains our greatest diplomatic challenge." But Kim also pointed out that the US is no longer willing to unilaterally provide public goods as it did in the past, as it needs to focus its limited capacity on addressing mounting domestic challenges. Kim, who served under former conservative President Lee Myung-bak, expressed his concerns over a potential return to what's known as the 'Kindleberger Trap,' highlighting this as a key factor for South Korea to consider in devising its foreign policy. The trap refers to the failure of the international system due to the under-provision of global public goods and the dangers inherent in a shifting balance of power. "Looking at the current global order, if the US stops providing public goods, who will take on that role? Is Europe economically strong enough to take on that responsibility?" Kim said. "These are the kinds of questions we need to seriously consider in the context of international affairs."
GMA Network
17 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Blackpink in Philippine Arena: Ticketing details of 'Deadline' concert in November
Blackpink is coming back to the Philippines and will meet Filipino fans yet again for their 'Deadline' show on November 22 and 23 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. On Friday, Live Nation Philippines dropped the ticket prices and sale schedule for the South Korean girl group's upcoming concert. Here are the ticket prices: VIP Pit - P19,500 Floor Standing - P15,000 LBA Premium - P14,000 LBA Regular - P13,500 LBB Premium - P13,000 LBB Regular - P11,500 UBA - P9,000 UBB Premium - P7,000 UBB Regular - P6,000 UBB Sides - P5,000 UBC Premium - P4,000 UBC Regular - P3,000 The VIP Pit package comes with the ticket, a VIP gift, a VIP laminate and lanyard, early entry, and a dedicated merch lane. The Weverse BLINK membership (global) presale is set for June 10 at 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., while the VISA presale is scheduled for June 11 at 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. The general sale will take place on June 12 at 11:00 a.m. Blackpink's 'Deadline' world tour will kick off at the Goyang Stadium in South Korea on July 5 and 6 and will span across several cities in Europe, the United States, London, and Asia. Blackpink was also in the Philippines in 2023 for their 'Born Pink' concert. —Carby Rose Basina/CDC, GMA Integrated News
The 42
17 minutes ago
- Sport
- The 42
Six-way tie for US Women's Open lead, Leona Maguire eight shots back
LEONA MAGUIRE SHOT a round of four-over 76 after the first round of the 80th US Women's Open at Erins Hill in Wisconsin. Maguire is eight shots behind the leaders with six players tied at the top. The Cavan native was one-over after the front nine, her only birdie of the day arriving on the third, but dropped shots on the 2nd and the 8th. A double bogey on the par-five 14th was a major setback for Maguire, and another bogey arrived on the 17th, to leave her in a tie for 105th. Former champion Kim A-lim fired six birdies in a four-under-par 68 to headline a group of six players tied atop the log-jammed leaderboard. Fellow South Korean Im Jin-hee, Japan's Rio Takeda, Americans Yealimi Noh and Angel Yin and Spanish LPGA rookie Julia Lopez Ramirez shared the lead, one stroke in front of a group of five players tied on three-under-par 69. Another seven players were two adrift, but Kim said she wouldn't expend her energy worrying about who might be in striking distance. 'Honestly, I'm not thinking about (the) leaderboard because my job is process, not result,' said Kim, who won the 2020 US Open in her major championship debut. 'Next three days, I play the same thing as today: focus on my line, hit it. That's all.' Advertisement A Lim Kim, of South Korea, on the third tee during the first round of the U.S. Women's Open. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo With little wind, Erin Hills, the rolling 6,829-yard par-72 layout in Erin, Wisconsin, offered perhaps its most benign face for the first round of the first US Women's Open to be held there. Noh, who holed out for an eagle at the 14th and birdied the par-five 18th, called it a 'good scoring day'. But plenty of marquee names were unable to join the 33 players to shoot under par. - All about patience - World number one Nelly Korda was playing catchup after a bogey at the third, finally getting to even par 72 with a birdie at the par-five 18th. Defending champion Yuka Saso's bid for a third US Open title in five seasons got off to a rocky start with a two-over-par 74. World number two Jeeno Thitikul of Tailand opened with a three-over 75 while third-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand — whose resume includes three major titles but no US Open — posted a one-over 73. 'I think I'm happy with it,' Korda said. 'Obviously, I wish the ball found the bottom of the cup a little bit more. 'First day of the US Open, it's all about patience. I'm striking it pretty well, so hopefully I can carry that into the next couple days.' While Korda struggled to get things going, Kim opened with back-to-back birdies at the 10th and 11th. After a bogey at the 12th she added birdies at 16 and 17 and took the solo lead at five-under with birdie bombs at the first and third before giving a stroke back at the sixth. Takeda had three birdies and one bogey on each side while Im opened with nine straight pars and had all four of her birdies in a five-hole span from the 10th through the 14th. Lopez Ramirez was also bogey-free, an impressive performance for the 22-year-old who came through qualifying to book her first US Open appearance. Lopez Ramirez and Yin were among the afternoon starters, Yin shaking off an early bogey with five birdies — including three in a row at eight, nine and 10 — before a setback at 17. In the right rough off the tee she came up short of the green, then saw her third shot spin off into a collection area, from where she managed to salvage a bogey. 'This is what this course can do,' said Yin, who regained a share of the lead with a birdie at the last. – © AFP 2025
Malaysian Reserve
28 minutes ago
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
GC Biopharma's Phase 3 Clinical Trial Results for Hunterase Published in SCIE-Indexed Journal
YONGIN, South Korea, May 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — GC Biopharma, a South Korean pharmaceutical company, announced that the Phase 3 clinical trial results for Hunterase (idursulfase beta), its investigational drug for Hunter Syndrome (MPS II), have been published in Genetics in Medicine, an SCIE-indexed journal. Conducted at Samsung Medical Center, the Phase 3 clinical trial enrolled 24 newly diagnosed Hunter Syndrome patients with no prior treatment. It evaluated the efficacy and safety of Hunterase over a one-year treatment period. Hunter Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS), an enzyme critical for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) catabolism. This deficiency leads to the progressive accumulation of GAGs in various organs and tissues, resulting in multisystemic dysfunction, including joint stiffness and hepatosplenomegaly. The clinical trial results demonstrated that Hunterase significantly enhanced functional mobility, reduced urinary GAG concentrations, and markedly alleviated hepatosplenomegaly. In the 6-Minute Walk Test (6-MWT), the primary endpoint of the study, patients treated with Hunterase walked an average of 62.2 meters more after treatment. This improvement was more than eight times greater compared to the placebo group, which saw an average increase of just 7.3 meters. The 6-MWT measures the distance a patient can walk on a flat surface within 6 minutes. It is a widely used clinical measure for evaluating functional mobility, cardiopulmonary function, muscle strength, and overall physical health. In the context of Hunter syndrome, it serves as a standardized and meaningful indicator of disease progression and quality of life. In addition to the primary endpoint, the study also achieved positive outcomes in secondary endpoints, including changes in urinary total glycosaminoglycan (GAG) levels, as well as heparan sulfate (HS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) levels. The GAG levels decreased by 71%, while HS and DS levels decreased by 89% and 88%, respectively. Moreover, liver and spleen volumes were reduced by 27% and 26%, respectively, demonstrating the drug's effectiveness in addressing organ enlargement commonly associated with the disease. Hunterase also demonstrated a favorable safety profile. Most adverse events were mild or moderate, and no patients discontinued treatment due to side effects. Notably, only 19% of the patients had neutralizing antibodies detected three or more consecutive times, which is significantly lower than the 62.5% observed with the existing treatments. This suggests that Hunterase may offer a more sustained therapeutic effect compared to other currently available therapy. 'This clinical trial is especially meaningful as it represents the first Phase 3 study in Asian patients to validate the clinical efficacy of Hunterase', said Professor Young Bae Sohn of Ajou University School of Medicine and Ajou University Hospital, the journal's first author. 'The results showed significant clinical improvement not only in metabolic markers but also in organ size normalization and restoration of physical mobility.' 'We are thrilled to publish our encouraging phase 3 clinical trial results', stated Jae Uk Jeong, Head of R&D at GC Biopharma. 'Hunterase, developed in Korea using our proprietary technology, has the potential to significantly improve the lives of patients with Hunter syndrome.' Hunter Syndrome is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, affecting approximately 1 in 100,000 male births. In severe cases, the patients experience early death before they reach adulthood, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and treatment. Currently, two treatments are widely available worldwide for Hunter Syndrome: GC Biopharma's Hunterase and Takeda's Elaprase. About GC Biopharma GC Biopharma (formerly known as Green Cross Corporation) is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Yong-in, South Korea. The company has over half a century of experience in the development and manufacturing of plasma derivatives and vaccines, and is expanding its global presence with successful US market entry of Alyglo™(intravenous immunoglobulin G) in 2024. In line with its mission to meet the demands of future healthcare, GC Biopharma continues to drive innovation by leveraging its core R&D capabilities in engineering of proteins, mRNAs, and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) drug delivery platform to develop therapeutics for the field of rare disease as well as I&I (Immunology & Inflammation). To learn more about the company, visit This press release may contain biopharmaceuticals in forward-looking statements, which express the current beliefs and expectations of GC Biopharma's management. Such statements do not represent any guarantee by GC Biopharma or its management of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors. GC Biopharma undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. GC Biopharma Contacts (Media) Sohee Kimshkim20@ Yelin Junyelin@ Yoonjae Nayjy6520@
Korea Herald
38 minutes ago
- Health
- Korea Herald
Watchful of summer COVID-19 resurgence, Korea urges older adults to get vaccinated
The South Korean government is closely monitoring COVID-19 resurgences in regional neighbors including Hong Kong, China and Thailand, amid growing worries that a summer resurgence may hit the country again this year. At a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting Friday, Director Lee Han-kyung warned of worsening COVID-19 trends abroad. "In regions close to us — Hong Kong, China and Thailand — COVID-19 infections are rising, and this is a cause for concern," Lee said at the meeting. He urged senior citizens aged 65 and above, as well as residents in high-risk facilities, to get vaccinated, stressing that vaccination is key to preventing severe illness and death. According to government data, recent overseas COVID-19 cases are showing a noticeable uptick. In Hong Kong, confirmed cases for the week of May 11 to 17 totaled 977, exceeding the country's previous summer peak of 796. China's rate of positivity COVID-19 test results is steadily climbing toward last year's peak of 21.1 percent, while in Thailand, more than 65,000 new cases were reported in the three weeks following the Songkran holiday in April. Despite the global trend, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Korea remained at around 100 each week over the past month. Currently, South Korea estimates the number of confirmed cases in select hospitals on a weekly basis. Still, the government is taking a proactive stance in consideration that domestic cases last year surged sharply from late July to mid-August. Weekly confirmed cases jumped from 456 in the fourth week of July to over 1,400 by mid-August in 2023. To mitigate potential risks, health authorities have extended the vaccination period for high-risk groups until June 30, two months beyond the initial April 30 deadline. The Korean Medical Association also issued a public advisory, pointing to the seasonal temperature shifts, increased domestic and international travel and a noticeable drop in personal hygiene practices such as hand-washing. It recommended six precautionary measures: maintaining personal hygiene, wearing masks, prompt response to symptoms, testing for high-risk individuals and recent international travelers, getting vaccinated and improving indoor ventilation. Recalling difficulties caused by last summer's surge, the association emphasized that preventive habits such as hand-washing and mask-wearing remain crucial.
