Seoul:President Lee Jae Myung's relocation to the official presidential residence at Cheong Wa Dae is being planned for this year, according to an official on Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee and first lady Kim Hea Kyung have been residing at the official residence previously used by former President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul's Yongsan Ward while renovations are underway at Cheong Wa Dae.
Unification Minister Chung Dong-young addressed concerns about the stability of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, asserting that the partnership remains strong despite differing interests. He made these remarks during a meeting with reporters, countering opposition claims that he was weakening the alliance. These criticisms arose after U.S. restrictions on intelligence-sharing with South Korea were linked to Chung's comments about a suspected North Korean uranium enrichment facility in Kusong.
Seoul's stock market experienced a significant decline on Monday, with shares plummeting over 3 percent. This drop marked the fourth consecutive session of losses, driven by a substantial sell-off in technology stocks amid inflation concerns and rising oil prices. Despite this, the Korean won appreciated against the U.S. dollar.
The head of South Korea's Military Manpower Administration, Commissioner Hong So-young, expressed regret over the behavior of South Korean footballers who celebrated their exemption from mandatory military service after winning gold at the recent Asian Games. His comments, made during a parliamentary audit, followed public backlash against the athletes' remarks in interviews and on social media, leading to renewed calls for a policy review.