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☆ Meet Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's 6 children
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Olivia Singh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

AdvertisementVivienne Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, and Shiloh Jolie-Pitt at the world premiere of "Eternals" at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on October 18, 2021. On her 18th birthday on May 27, Shiloh filed to legally change her name to Shiloh Jolie, TMZ and People reported. Knox, Zahara, Pax, Jolie, Vivienne, and Shiloh at the world premiere of "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" in 2019. AdvertisementShiloh Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Jolie-Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt and Knox Jolie-Pitt at the UK premiere of "Eternals" on October 27, 2021 in London, England. Vivienne is listed as "Vivienne Jolie" in the Playbill, but it's unclear if she legally changed her name.

Persons: —, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Jolie, Pitt, Maddox Jolie, Maddox, Yoon Suk, Stefani Reynolds, Rath Vibol, Maddox Chivan Thornton Jolie, Billy Bob Thornton, he'll, Maleficent, Jason Merritt, Zahara, Joe Biden, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Zahara Marley Jolie, Christopher Jue, Disney Jolie, Kung, Shiloh, Kevin Winter, Robert Procop, Vivienne Jolie, Zahara Jolie, Shiloh Jolie, Jon Kopaloff, Pax, Matt Sayles, Invision, Jolie's, Oprah, tracksuits, Marilla, Marilla Sicilia, Vivienne, Doja, Hamilton Evans, He's, he's, Brad, Pax Jolie, Pax Thien, JC Olivera, Knox, Knox Léon Jolie, Issei Kato, Knox Léon, Vivienne Marcheline, Leon, Marcheline, Vivi, Marie Claire, Princess Aurora, Tigress, Knox Jolie, Karwai Tang, Getty Images Knox, Viv, isn't Organizations: Service, Miraval, Business, South, White, Getty, Pitt Foundation, Netflix, Vogue, Pitt, FBI, Yonsei University, British Vogue, Japan, Disney, Entertainment, El Capitan Theatre, Lexus, Spelman College, Spelman's Alpha Kappa Alpha, AP Pitt, Fair, Rome, Pax Thien Jolie, JR, Museum, Tolerance, BBC, REUTERS, Getty Images, Marvel, People Locations: France, Washington ,, Cambodia, Pitt's, Seoul, South Korea, British, Tokyo, Japan, Zahara, Ethiopia, Shiloh, Hollywood, Atlanta, Marilla Sicilia, Vegas, Vietnam, Paris, Knox, Los Angeles, London, England

☆ South Korea midterms: Opposition wins landslide parliamentary vote in resounding blow to Yoon
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Heather Chen | Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —South Korea’s liberal opposition parties scored a landslide victory in a parliamentary election held on Wednesday, dealing a resounding blow to President Yoon Suk Yeol and his conservative party but likely falling just short of a super majority. A splinter liberal party considered allied with the DP was expected to take at least 10 seats, projections showed. It marked the highest ever turnout for a parliamentary election, though the numbers were down from the 2022 presidential vote that narrowly brought Yoon to power. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, watches election results at his district office in Incheon, South Korea, on Thursday, April 11, 2024. “Given his likely lame duck status, the temptation for Yoon will be to focus on foreign policy where he will still have statutory power,” Richey said.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon Suk, Lee Jae, myung, Lee, Yoon, ”, Kim Keon Hee, SeongJoon Cho, Mason Richey, “, ” Richey Organizations: South Korea CNN, South, Democratic Party, National Election Commission, Dior, People Power Party, Election Commission, NEC, Bloomberg, Getty, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Incheon

☆ How a Dior bag shook South Korean politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Yoonjung Seo | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is months out from a crucial election seen as a barometer of his mid-term popularity, but surveys show he has a big problem – the latest scandal surrounding his wife. “But with the Dior bag, there is this powerful visual evidence.”South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, attend an Independence Movement Day event in Seoul on March 1, 2023. The channel also provided Choi with the wristwatch and the Dior bag, according to the pastor. By appearing to not reject the bag, Kim gave ammunition to critics who have long accused her of using her position for personal gain. In a Gallup Korea survey last month, 56% of respondents said Kim should apologize for allegedly receiving the Dior bag.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Yoon, Kim, Dior, “, ”, Cho Hee, Jung Yeon, Choi Jae, Choi, Yoon Suk, ” Yoon, Shin Pyeong, ’, Cho, it’s, Hongik University Choi, Kim Yun, Park, hye, Patrick van Katwijk, Marie Antoinette, Han Dong, Han, he’d, Leon Neal, ” Kim, ” Kim Yun, Kyung Hee University “ She’s, Deutsch, Kim’s Organizations: South Korea CNN — South, CNN, Hongik University, “, Getty, of, KBS, Kyung Hee University . South, Gallup Korea, Gallup, Power Party, Democratic Party, PPP, South, Kyung Hee University, Kookmin University, Deutsch Motors, BMW Locations: Seoul, South Korea, American, of Seoul, North Korea, Pyongyang, Netherlands, Gallup Korea, Bali , Indonesia, Korea

☆ South Korea's Yoon Vows Clearer Rules After Wife's 'Dior Bag Scandal'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Heekyong Yang and Josh SmithSEOUL (Reuters) - The release of hidden camera footage showing South Korea's first lady accepting a Dior bag as a gift was a "political manoeuvre", President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Wednesday, but vowed to draw clearer lines to ensure such incidents do not happen again. The comments were his first public response to a controversy, dubbed the "Dior bag scandal" by local media, that has roiled his ruling party ahead of a key election in April. "What's important is to set clearer boundaries with others to prevent something like this from happening in the future." A Gallup Korea weekly poll on Friday showed that Yoon's approval ratings had fallen to 29%, the lowest in nine months. (Reporting by Heekyong Yang and Josh Smith; Additional reporting by Ju-min Park, Editing by Kylie MacLellan)

Persons: Heekyong Yang, Josh Smith SEOUL, Dior, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Yoon, it's, Kim's, Abraham Choi, Josh Smith, Kylie MacLellan Organizations: People Power Party, KBS, Reuters, Gallup Korea Locations: North Korea, April's

☆ The First Lady and the Dior Pouch: A Political Crisis Grips South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Choe Sang-Hun | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Then came a much more personal scandal: spy cam footage that showed his wife accepting a $2,200 Dior pouch as a gift. The video of Ms. Kim, which emerged late last year, has caused a rift between Mr. Yoon and one of his most trusted lieutenants. It has roiled his political party — one senior member called on Ms. Kim to apologize and compared her to Marie Antoinette. For nearly two years, Ms. Kim has challenged how this deeply patriarchal society views the role of the presidential spouse. She has talked about Mr. Yoon’s devotion to her, saying in 2022 that he had vowed to cook for her and “kept that promise for the past decade.”

Persons: Yoon Suk, Kim Keon Hee, Kim, Yoon, Marie Antoinette, “, ” Locations: South Korea, United States, Japan

☆ South Korea to ban production and sale of dog meat for human consumption
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

After a three-year grace period, the bill would make slaughtering, breeding and sales of dog meat for human consumption illegal from 2027 and punishable by 2-3 years in prison. Dog meat consumption, a centuries-old practice on the Korean Peninsula, is neither explicitly banned nor legalized in South Korea. Recent surveys show more than half of South Koreans want dog meat banned and a majority no longer eat it. But South Korea's dog meat industry has drawn more attention because of the country's reputation as a cultural and economic powerhouse. There is no reliable official data on the exact size of South Korea's dog meat industry.

Persons: —, Yoon Suk Yeol, JungAh Chae, It's, Won, Son, Kim Keon Hee, Song, ryung, Ju, Cheon JinKyung, Kim Myung, Jeong Yoon Hee Organizations: Service, Business, Assembly, Cabinet, National Assembly, Humane, The Associated Press, Farmers, Constitutional, Agriculture, Korea Animal Rights Locations: South Korea, Korea, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, North Korea, Seoul

☆ Asia’s year in review: Who had it good — and who had it bad — in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-22 | by ( Curtis Chin | Jose B. Collazo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

As 2023 comes to a close, we take a look at the year that was in Asia and the Pacific region. But who had it good and who had it bad in 2023? Bad year: China's property marketWith millions of Chinese citizens still waiting for homes they put down payments on — but might never be built — 2023 was a particularly bad year for China's property market. A newly built property is seen from the air in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, Dec 15, 2023. Chinese families and individuals who once saw homes as more than somewhere to live but also as investments have reason to fear 2023 won't be the last bad year they face.

Persons: Curtis, Chin, Jose B, —, Vikram, Amit Dave, Narendra Modi, Taylor Swift, Kim Ji, Jennie, Kim Jennie, Roseanne Chae, Lisa, Lalisa, King Charles, Rose, Roseanne Park, Jisoo Kim, Jennie Kim, King Charles III, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Victoria Jones, Blackpink, Michelle Yeoh, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, San Francisco —, China Evergrande, Moody's, Asia's Organizations: Asian Development Bank, RiverPeak Group, ISRO —, Indian Space Research, Orbiter, ISRO, Buckingham, Sustainable, COP26, Getty, YG Entertainment, APEC, U.S, International Monetary Fund Locations: U.S, Asia, Turkey, Syria, Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, Pacific, India, Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad, Korea, British, LONDON, ENGLAND, Glasgow, London, England, South Korea, Malaysian, New Zealand, Thailand, China, San Francisco, United States, Taiwan, South China, Country, Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province

☆ Blackpink renews group contracts with agency, YG shares spike 29%
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-06 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

(Photo by Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images)Shares of K-pop agency YG Entertainment spiked as much as 29% after the company announced that it has renewed exclusive group contracts with all four members of girl group Blackpink. The stock closed at 48,000 South Korean won ($36.58) per share on Tuesday, near its 2023 low of 47,000 won. But on Wednesday, it surged at the open and hit an intraday high of 61,900 South Korean won per share. This could bring an end to the long running contract saga between the popular K-pop group and the agency. Shares of YG previously plunged each time South Korean media reported that members of the group will not renew with the label.

Persons: Lisa, Lalisa, Rose, Roseanne Park, Jisoo Kim, Jennie Kim, King Charles III, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Victoria Jones Organizations: COP26, YG Entertainment, South Korean, YG, Munhwa Ilbo Locations: ENGLAND, British, Glasgow, London, England, South Korea, South Korean

The time is now to put an end to the controversy around eating dog meat, party members have said, adding there was broad support from the opposition party, which currently controls parliament, and from the public. A Gallup Korea poll last year showed almost two-thirds of respondents opposed eating dog meat, with only 8% saying they had eaten dog within the past year, down from 27% in 2015. The farmers scuffled with police who outnumbered them and set up barricades to stop them from crossing the street to move closer to the presidential office. While the practice of eating dog meat has declined in popularity, the farmers and restaurant owners who serve the meat have been fighting to keep it legal. The farmers have accused First Lady Kim, a vocal critic of dog meat consumption, of exercising what they call improper pressure on the government and the ruling party to bring in the ban.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Kim Keon Hee, Ju, Lady Kim, Jimin Jung, Dogyun Kim, Hongji Kim, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Jamie Freed Organizations: Korean Association, Edible, Presidential, Gallup, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, SEOUL, Gallup Korea

HWASEONG, South Korea, Nov 24 (Reuters) - As South Korea moves to ban eating dog meat, many of those involved in the centuries-old controversial practice are fighting to keep it legal. A Gallup Korea poll last year showed almost two-thirds of respondents opposed eating dog meat, with only 8% saying they had eaten dog within the past year, down from 27% in 2015. Despite its declining popularity and opposition from animal rights activists, previous attempts to ban dog meat have failed because of industry protests. With the backing of the public, and bipartisan support in parliament, there are signs that the ban could soon become law. Nam Sung-gue who has run a restaurant selling dog meat boshintang, or "restoring" soup, for the past 30 years, said the ban was unfair, even though his business is fast declining.

Persons: Lee Kyeong, I've, Nam Sung, Kim Keon Hee, Yoon Suk Yeol, gil, Daewoung Kim, Soo, hyang Choi, Jack Kim, Miral Organizations: Power Party, Gallup, Korean Association, Edible, Minwoo, Thomson Locations: South Korea, Korea, Seoul, Gallup Korea

☆ Foreign ministers of S.Korea, China, Japan to discuss trilateral summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The foreign ministers of South Korea, China and Japan will meet for talks in South Korea on Sunday, South Korea's foreign ministry said on Friday, as the three countries seek to hold their first leaders' summit in four years. The meeting of foreign ministers, which will take place in the South Korean port city of Busan, is also the first such meeting since 2019. "The foreign ministers plan to exchange views extensively on the direction of development of trilateral cooperation including preparations for a ninth trilateral summit, and regional and global issues," the South Korean foreign ministry said in a statement. The talks come as South Korea and Japan have seen improving ties and also deepening security cooperation with the United States amid concerns over China's growing regional influence. Beijing has previously warned that U.S. efforts to strengthen ties with South Korea and Japan could increase tension and confrontation in the region.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon, Issei Kato, Hyonhee, Ed Davies, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Tokyo International, REUTERS, Rights, Sunday, South Korean, South, Thomson Locations: Korean, Tokyo, Japan, Rights SEOUL, South Korea, China, Busan, United States, Beijing, North Korea

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III honored the K-pop band Blackpink on Wednesday, saluting their work in raising awareness among young people about the threat of climate change. On the second day of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s three-day state visit to London, Charles made Blackpink members Jennie Kim, Jisoo Kim and Lalisa Manoban honorary Members of the Order of the British Empire. The awards are part of Britain’s honors system, which recognizes outstanding service to the nation and the wider world. Charles had lauded the K-pop girl group on Tuesday during a state banquet in honor of Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee. “I can only admire how they can prioritize these vital issues, as well as being global superstars."

Persons: — King Charles III, Yoon Suk, Charles, Jennie Kim, Jisoo Kim, Lalisa, Roseanne, Yoon, Kim Keon Hee, Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, Rose, ” Charles, “ Organizations: British Empire Locations: London, British, New Zealand, Buckingham, Glasgow, Scotland

☆ Blackpink receive honors from Britain’s King Charles
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters —King Charles III on Wednesday presented K-Pop band Blackpink with honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire medals in the presence of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during his state visit to the United Kingdom, Buckingham Palace said. The quartet – Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rose – chatted, laughed and took photographs with the British monarch as he presented the medals. King Charles III presents honorary MBEs to Blackpink during a special investiture ceremony in Buckingham Palace in the presence of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee. Victoria Jones/Pool/Getty Images“It’s amazing you’re still talking to each other after all these years,” King Charles jokingly said to the band at the ceremony. Blackpink received the MBEs in recognition of the band members’ role as COP26 Advocates for the United Nations climate summit held in Glasgow in 2021, Buckingham Palace said.

Persons: King Charles III, Yoon Suk, Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, Rose – chatted, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Victoria Jones, ” King Charles, “, Blackpink, Buckingham Organizations: Reuters, CNN’s Royal, United, YouTube Locations: British, United Kingdom, Buckingham, Buckingham Palace, United Nations, Glasgow, London

☆ Britain to launch South Korea trade talks as president visits
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

King Charles greeted President Yoon Suk Yeol with a royal guard of honour following his arrival in London, and then rode with him by carriage to Buckingham Palace. He will hold talks with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday, and sign an accord on closer diplomatic ties. Under the accord, the countries will agree to work closely on areas such as semiconductors - of which South Korea is an important producer - and artificial intelligence. [1/4]Members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) welcome South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, as they arrive at Stansted Airport, near London, Britain, November 20, 2023. "REFRESHED, MODERNISED DEAL"Under Yoon, South Korea has focused on strengthening economic, political, and military ties with the U.S. while seeking to maintain trade with China and working to overcome historical disputes with Japan.

Persons: Yoon, King Charles Yoon, King Charles, Yoon Suk, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Toby Melville, David Beckham, Son Heung Min, Kemi Badenoch, Alistair Smout, Kylie MacLellan, Sarah Young, Josh Smith, Alistair Bell, Stephen Coates, Timothy Heritage, David Gregorio Our Organizations: LONDON, British, Accord, Trade, Downing, North, Royal Air Force, South, Stansted Airport, REUTERS, Trans, Pacific Partnership, European Union, Thomson Locations: Britain, Korea, London, Buckingham, United Kingdom, Downing, South Korea, North Korea, U.S, China, Japan, Seoul

☆ South Korea to Ban Eating Dogs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Ju-min ParkSEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea aims to ban eating dog meat and put an end to the controversy over the ancient custom amid growing awareness of animal rights, a ruling party policy chief said on Friday. The government and ruling party would introduce a bill this year to enforce a ban, Yu said, adding that with expected bipartisan support, the bill should sail through parliament. First lady Kim Keon Hee has been a vocal critic of dog meat consumption and, along with her husband, President Yoon Suk Yeol, has adopted stray dogs. Eating dog meat has been an age-old practice on the Korean peninsula and is seen as a way to beat the summer heat. A Gallup Korea poll last year showed 64% opposed dog meat consumption.

Persons: Yu, Chung Hwang, keun, Kim Keon Hee, Yoon Suk, Ed Davies, Robert Birsel Organizations: Power Party, Agriculture, Humane Society International, Gallup Locations: SEOUL, Korea, South Korea, Gallup Korea

☆ South Korea to ban eating dogs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Ju-Min Park | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Nov 17 (Reuters) - South Korea aims to ban eating dog meat and put an end to the controversy over the ancient custom amid growing awareness of animal rights, a ruling party policy chief said on Friday. The government and ruling party would introduce a bill this year to enforce a ban, Yu said, adding that with expected bipartisan support, the bill should sail through parliament. First lady Kim Keon Hee has been a vocal critic of dog meat consumption and, along with her husband, President Yoon Suk Yeol, has adopted stray dogs. Eating dog meat has been an age-old practice on the Korean peninsula and is seen as a way to beat the summer heat. A Gallup Korea poll last year showed 64% opposed dog meat consumption.

Persons: Yu, Chung Hwang, keun, Kim Keon Hee, Yoon Suk, Ed Davies, Robert Birsel Organizations: Power Party, Agriculture, Humane Society International, Gallup, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Korea, South Korea, Gallup Korea

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — K-pop superstar Rosé said Friday at a mental health awareness event hosted by first lady Jill Biden that it's important for the world to understand that famous people grapple with emotional struggles, too. Rosé, a part of the supergroup BLACKPINK, said having a large social media following makes her feel vulnerable, particularly when people are critical. “People who are older -- we never, ever spoke about mental health,” Biden said. Apple CEO Tim Cook opened the event but blanked briefly when the teleprompter went out. Cook recovered, telling the crowd he'd “go ahead and ad lib," then thanked everyone for coming and introduced the first lady.

Persons: —, Rosé, Jill Biden, there’s, ”, ” Biden, Vivek Murthy, Tim Cook, “, Cook, Wan, Wan Ismail, you’ve, ” Cook, ” Kim Keon Hee, Rachael Marape, Louise Araneta Organizations: FRANCISCO, Apple, Economic Cooperation, Marcos Locations: Cupertino, Asia, Pacific, California, Malaysia, South Korea, Papua New Guinea, Philippines

LONDON (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will be greeted with royal pomp and ceremony before commemorating the sacrifice of British soldiers during the Korean War when he travels to the U.K. for a state visit later this month. The president and first lady will later take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean War Memorial to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war. They will then visit Westminster Abbey, where the president will lay a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior. The president will address members of both houses of Parliament before attending a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. Political Cartoons View All 1237 ImagesThe president and first lady will arrive to the United Kingdom on Nov. 20 and depart on Nov. 23.

Persons: Yoon Suk, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Kim Keon Hee, Buckingham, Yoon, Rishi Sunak Organizations: Horse Guards, South, Korean, Westminster Abbey Locations: London, Buckingham, United Kingdom

Seoul, South Korea CNN —South Korea showcased an arsenal of advanced weaponry in a military parade on Tuesday, rolling tanks and missiles down the streets of its rain-soaked capital during the first event of its kind in a decade. South Korean troops marched during the military parade in Seoul, South Korea, on September 26, 2023. Soldiers in vehicles waved to the crowd as they passed by; several carriers had the South Korean flag affixed to the exterior. Yoon has previously stated his goal to make South Korea one of the world’s top four arms exporters, after the US, Russia and France. South Korean weaponry and vehicles were on display during a parade in Seoul on September 26, 2023.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Hong, ” Yoon, –, Peter Layton, Kim Keon Hee, ”, Yoon, it’s, Layton, Chung Sung, Joe Biden, Biden, Fumio Kishida, David Organizations: South Korea CNN, 75th Armed Forces, Seoul Air Base, Reuters, South, Ministry of National Defense, Korean, Griffith Asia, Griffith University, Export, Import Bank of Korea, Japanese Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Korea, United States, Japan, Pyongyang, North Korea, Washington, China, Russia, France, Maryland

☆ South Korea's Yoon to Pay State Visit to UK in November
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will pay a state visit to Britain in November following an invitation from King Charles, Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday. Charles will host Yoon and his wife Kim Keon-hee at the palace for the second official state visit of his reign. The first was by South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa last November. The king previously met the South Korean president at a reception the evening before the funeral for his mother Queen Elizabeth in September last year. The palace said further details of the visit would be announced at a later date.

Persons: Yoon Suk, King Charles, Buckingham, Charles, Yoon, Kim Keon, Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, Queen Elizabeth, Michael Holden, William James Organizations: South Locations: Britain, South Korean

☆ Japan, S.Korea to discuss FX swap deal in first finance talks since 2016
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The swap deal expired in 2015 amid worsening relations over issues related to Japan's wartime occupation of the Korean Peninsula, and its restoration would symbolise the improvement in relations, analysts say. "We must strongly raise the momentum for historic improvement of Japan-South Korea relations. The ministers will also discuss global economic developments, infrastructure investment in developing countries, and the role both countries could play in multilateral financial cooperation. The bilateral finance talks, the eighth of their kind, were last held in 2016. Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto; Editing by Leika Kihara, Simon Cameron-Moore and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon, Issei Kato TOKYO, Shunichi Suzuki, Choo Kyungho, Masato Kanda, Suzuki, Choo, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Leika Kihara, Simon Cameron, Moore, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Tokyo International, REUTERS, Japanese Finance, Korean, Thomson Locations: Korean, Tokyo, Japan, South Korea, China, North Korea, Ukraine

At its peak in 2011, the swap deal was worth $70 billion. With both sides sitting on ample foreign exchange reserves, the swap deal is unlikely to be put into action anytime soon, he added. Masato Kanda, Japan's vice finance minister for international affairs also said the currency swap deal would promote co-operation. The bilateral finance talks were to have taken place every year under a 2006 agreement, but were last held in 2016. With China and North Korea growing concerns, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in May, the third between the two this year, marking a thaw in years of icy relations between the Asian neighbours.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon, Issei Kato, Shunichi Suzuki, Choo, Suzuki, Masato Kanda, Kanda, Fumio Kishida, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Jihoon Lee, Edwina Gibbs, Clarence Fernandez, Kim Coghill Organizations: Tokyo International, REUTERS, Japanese Finance, Korean, Japanese, South Korea, Thomson Locations: Korean, Tokyo, Japan, Seoul TOKYO, SEOUL, South Korea, Seoul, China, North Korea, South

Seoul, South Korea CNN —Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska asked South Korea to provide non-lethal military hardware when she met with President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on Tuesday, both countries have reported. But an official from Yoon’s office said Zelenska stopped short of asking for lethal weapons, acknowledging that South Korea would have found it difficult to oblige had any such request been made. Since the war broke out in Ukraine, South Korea has maintained its stance of not providing lethal weapons to a warring country, although Yoon has hinted at a possible major policy shift. The Ukrainian first lady handed Yoon “a personal letter and an invitation from the president of Ukraine” to visit her country, the Ukrainian side said. Last year, she met US first lady Jill Biden privately at the White House to discuss American support for Ukraine.

☆ Jill Biden and the Statement of No Statement Dressing
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Vanessa Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The day after President Biden released a video announcing he would be running for a second term, he and the first lady, Jill Biden, stood in black tie and evening gown on the red carpet outside the north entrance to the White House to welcome President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, to the second state dinner of the Biden administration. If the dinner itself largely takes place behind closed doors, one photo always goes wide: the greeting portrait, the two couples, side by side, dressed in pomp and circumstance and symbolism. It tells an implicit story of soft power and priorities. The chairs were bamboo, with cushion designs evoking traditional Korean brush painting! — the one subject they did not officially communicate on was what the first lady was wearing?

CNN —President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden capped South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official state visit with a glamorous state dinner at the White House Wednesday night to celebrate the two nations’ 70-year alliance. May we do it together for another 170 years.”But Biden wasn’t the only leader who took the mic. Following a round of musical performances, his South Korean counterpart joined him on stage to give his own – a karaoke rendition of Don McClean’s “American Pie” – which received a standing ovation from the crowd. The elaborate dinner is the result of weeks of careful diplomatic preparations, with each detail meticulously planned by a team of White House chefs, social staff, and protocol experts. U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose with South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee in front of the Grand Staircase of the White House before an official State Dinner, in Washington, U.S. April 26, 2023.

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