SEOUL - South Korea is set to host the third annual Summit for Democracy from March 18 to 20, focusing on the theme "Democracy for Future Generations," as announced by the presidential office on Tuesday. Initiated in 2021, the summit is a U.S.-led effort aimed at bolstering democratic governance and countering global authoritarian trends.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the summit will conduct its plenary session with international leaders through a virtual meeting on the evening of March 20. The agenda includes ministerial meetings and an expert roundtable on the first day, followed by workshops and debates facilitated by civic groups from around the world on the second day. South Korea's role as one of the five co-hosts of the previous year's summit, alongside the United States, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, and Zambia, underscores its commitment to advancing democratic values internationally.
SEOUL — President Yoon Suk Yeol appointed Park Sung-jae as the new justice minister on Tuesday, filling the position left vacant by the resignation of Han Dong-hoon in December. The appointment was confirmed following the National Assembly's adoption of a report on Park's confirmation hearing.According to Yonhap News Agency, Before stepping into his new role, Park Sung-jae served in the legal sector as a senior prosecutor and later as a lawyer. His prosecutorial tenure included a significant stint as the chief of the Seoul High Prosecutors Office. Park's appointment comes at a time when the ministry is navigating through a series of reforms and challenges within the justice system and the broader legal landscape of South Korea.
SEOUL - The Ministry of National Defense announced an expansion in the examination of educational materials for troops after the recall of materials that controversially described the Dokdo islets as a disputed territory. The initial recall and inspection began in December when the materials, intended for troop education, inaccurately listed Dokdo among territorial disputes in the region, prompting widespread controversy.According to Yonhap News Agency, the examination has broadened in scope to assess the entire content of the educational materials, beyond the initial focus on Dokdo. The islets have been a point of contention between South Korea and Japan, with Seoul maintaining a police presence on the islands and firmly rejecting any claims to the territory by Tokyo. The expanded review underscores the sensitivity of the issue and the ministry's commitment to accurate and appropriate educational content for its personnel.