Lee

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday he and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to work together to secure the safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and mitigate the broad impact from the war in the Middle East.

Lee addressed concerns over uncertainties in global energy supply chains following summit talks with Macron, during which the two leaders discussed ways to deepen economic ties and strengthen coordination on security issues.

“President Macron and I agreed to share policy-related experiences and strategies in order to jointly address the economic and energy crises triggered by the Middle East war. We also concurred on working together to reduce uncertainty in the global economy,” Lee said during a joint press announcement.

“We confirmed our commitment to bolstering energy security by expanding our cooperation in the nuclear and offshore wind power sectors while collaborating to secure safe maritime transport routes through the Strait of Hormuz,” he added.

Lee said the two leaders also agreed to boost trade and investment with a goal of reaching $20 billion in annual bilateral trade by 2030, up from $15 billion last year.

To boost cooperation across sectors, the two sides signed a series of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and other documents.

They pledged to expand cooperation in advanced technologies and future industries — including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technology — and to establish a ministerial-level joint committee on science and technology.

The two countries also signed a letter of intent on cooperation in critical mineral supply chains, aimed at combining South Korea’s manufacturing capabilities with France’s processing technology and infrastructure.

The state-run Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power signed MOUs with French nuclear firms, Orano and Framatome, as well as a separate MOU with France’s EDF on a joint development of an offshore wind power plant in the southwestern city of Yeonggwang.

Lee expressed hope that the agreements would ensure a stable supply of raw materials for South Korea’s nuclear power plants and lay the groundwork for joint entry into the global market.

He also laid out plans to cooperate in space and defense while pledging efforts to bolster collaboration in the cultural sector in light of an MOU signed between the two nations’ cultural heritage agencies.

During the talks, Lee said he explained Seoul’s efforts to resume dialogue with Pyongyang to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula, while Macron reaffirmed Paris’ support for peace and stability on the peninsula.

“We two leaders shared a profound understanding that peace on the Korean Peninsula has far reaching implications not just in Northeast Asia and Europe but also the rest of the world,” Lee said.

Lee noted that Seoul and Paris have expanded cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including future strategic industries, such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, space, nuclear energy and defense, and expressed hope to deepen coordination on the international stage.

“As responsible members of the international community, the two countries are also working together to respond to rapid changes in the global landscape,” he said.

Lee said Macron extended a formal invitation to the Group of Seven summit scheduled for June in Evian, France, adding that he accepted the invitation. If he attends, it would mark his second consecutive appearance at the G7, following his participation in Canada last year.

Lee welcomed the two countries’ decision to upgrade ties from “a comprehensive partnership for the 21st century,” established in 2004, to “a global strategic partnership,” calling it “a new milestone” in bilateral relations built on 140 years of trust and friendship.

Macron struck a similar tone, expressing hope to expand cooperation across a broad range of areas, including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, semiconductors, space and culture, under the upgraded partnership.

He said that Seoul and Paris could strengthen security cooperation and work together to help stabilize the situation in the Middle East, including ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The visit marks Macron’s first trip to South Korea since taking office in 2017 and the first by a French president in 11 years. It comes as the two countries mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations, established with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation between France and the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910).

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March 27 (Asia Today) — President Lee Jae-myung said Friday that building a peaceful Korean Peninsula while maintaining a strong defense is the historic mission left behind by South Korea’s fallen West Sea heroes.

Speaking at the 11th West Sea Defense Day ceremony at Daejeon National Cemetery, Lee said the 55 service members honored each year had protected not only a maritime boundary, but also the everyday peace South Koreans enjoy and the future their descendants deserve.

“Our task is to firmly protect our people and the territory of the Republic of Korea with strong national defense capabilities, while also building a peaceful Korean Peninsula free from the worries of war and hostility,” Lee said.

He said the waters defended by the fallen should no longer remain a symbol of conflict, but be turned into “a foundation of peace and prosperity.”

“Peace is our livelihood, and peace is the greatest security,” Lee said. “Winning a fight matters, but winning without fighting matters even more. More important still is a peace in which there is no need to fight.”

Lee said his government would work to end the legacy of confrontation and tension in the West Sea and open a new chapter of shared growth and prosperity.

He also paid tribute to the bereaved families, saying the government would remember the dead, preserve their record and honor them properly.

Lee said his administration was trying to close gaps in veterans support under the principle that special sacrifice deserves special compensation.

Beginning in May, spouses of financially struggling war veterans will receive monthly living support payments, he said.

Lee also said the government plans to expand the number of designated veterans medical institutions nationwide to 2,000 by 2030 so national meritorious persons can receive treatment more easily at nearby hospitals.

He said mandatory military service should be recognized as a legitimate social asset so former service members can take pride in their time in uniform.

To that end, Lee said the public sector will be required to count mandatory service periods when calculating pay grades and wages for discharged veterans.

West Sea Defense Day is a national commemoration honoring those killed in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong on June 29, 2002, the sinking of the Cheonan on March 26, 2010, and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island on Nov. 23, 2010.

Before the ceremony, Lee and first lady Kim Hye-kyung paid respects at the graves of those killed in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Yeonpyeong shelling, the 46 sailors killed in the Cheonan sinking and the late warrant officer Han Ju-ho.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260327010008430

KATIE Price has revealed plans for a second wedding to husband Lee Andrews in the UK while hitting back at trolls – despite claims he’s travel-banned. 

There is ongoing speculation that Lee, 43, is unable to leave Dubai after allegedly forging his ex-girlfriend Dina Taji’s signature to secure a £200,000 loan.

But Katie, 47, appeared to deny the claims as she responded to a follower on Instagram who mocked her romance with the businessman. 

After the former glamour model posted a loved-up snap of her and Lee, one troll was quick to reply: “Till the next.”

But Katie soon fired back: “Thank you for the follow. I’ll pass on your follow back request but please look forward to our wedding in the UK. 

“You clearly can’t get d*** and I can see why.”

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But some concerned fans suggested it was actually Lee commenting back on Katie’s account. 

When Lee suddenly appeared in the comments to have a pop at the troll, someone replied: “That was you responding wasn’t it on Katie’s page LOL. Katie doesn’t engage with people like that.”

It’s not the first time Lee has been accused of hijacking Katie’s social media. 

In February the couple sent fans and Katie’s family into a spin when they appeared to confirm she was pregnant just weeks after their wedding. 

While Katie later confirmed she was not carrying their child, sources close to her family to The Sun at the time said there were concerns she’d not written the apparent pregnancy announcement. 

An insider said: “That post doesn’t appear to have been written by Katie.

“She often makes spelling errors and this is word-perfect.“She also doesn’t know how to use Instagram Stories so we think Lee has done this.”

Last month Lee took to Instagram to deny ongoing speculation he is unable to leave Dubai – despite having never met his wife’s family or her five children.

Instagram to address the rumours, sharing a grab allegedly from an app which shows if someone has any travel bans in Dubai. 

He said: “Oh guys, I’ve never really been one to explain myself but there’s a lot of fake news going around so I better say something. 

“I’m going to share on the next story, after this one, that there is no travel ban, directly from the police UAE application. 

“It’s my profile. You can check those statuses, you can check any fines you’ve got, relating to traffic, and also if you’re allowed to travel.

“Allow me to share that. It’s not fabricated, I’m going on my honeymoon in a few days guys so definitely not on a travel ban.”

KATIE Price’s husband Lee Andrews has shown off his plethora of birthday gifts from his wife ahead of their Dubai reunion.

Lee celebrated his special day without Katie by his side as she was in England but she has jetted off to the Middle East, despite the ongoing concerns, today to join him.

However, Lee has taken to social media to reveal that Katie did indeed send him some birthday gifts ahead of her arrival.

On social media, he showed off a custom-made card from Katie that featured pictures of them both.

The card also contained the message: “Husband, you complete me.”

Katie also appeared to have got him a matching mug.

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A Louis Vuitton gift bag could also be seen in the background as Lee added the caption: “Wife is just the best.”

It appears to be the first time that Katie has splashed out on her husband with the star previously telling The Sun that she has never paid for anything during their marriage.

She insisted Lee had always paid for everything they did, including her flights out to see him.

Lee then shared a snap of another sentimental gift from his wife.

It was a small pin which featured the design of a man and woman embracing with the names Katie and Lee emblazoned on it.

Lee said of the gift: “The smallest thoughts mean the most.”

He went on to share a look at the words Katie had written for him in his card, which said: “To my forever husband!

“Happy Birthday! I will share your whole life celebrating with you!

“I love you to infinity love from your wife Katie x.”

Katie has been spotted at the airport heading to see Lee after a few weeks back in the UK.

Her decision to travel to the UAE comes amid growing concern over troubles in the Middle East.

The ongoing Iran crisis is still causing chaos for travellers following more drone attacks in Dubai, including a missile dropping on the airport.

But Katie was spotted at Gatwick airport late last night with her luggage and passport in hand.

Katie was dressed in a polka-dot tracksuit top and leggings, which showed off her tiny legs.

Katie was seen smiling and was in good spirits, despite boarding a plane to an at-risk country.

The star was seen chatting to the airline staff as she checked in her huge suitcase for her trip.

Despite Katie flying off to Dubai, the ongoing crisis in Iran has continued to affect travel with British Airways cancelling all flights there until June.

The airline took this decision due to the “uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East”.

Other companies are running limited flights whilst the fighting continues.

SEOUL, March 16 (UPI) — South Korea’s Ministry of Intellectual Property has appointed former Go champion Lee Sedol as its first ambassador, 10 years after his landmark competition with AlphaGo.

The ministry said Friday that the appointment would help it communicate its policy direction to the public in a more symbolic and accessible way.

A few years after the 2016 contest against AlphaGo, Lee retired from the strategic board game that is popular in Korea, Japan, and China. He is now a special professor at the country’s Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology.

Back then, AlphaGo ultimately beat Lee in the five-game series. However, Lee managed to secure a historic victory in the fourth game.

“Professor Lee is recorded as the first and also the last human to defeat AI,” Intellectual Property Minister Kim Young-sun said at the event.

“Regardless of the outcome of his match against AI, I believe that he demonstrated a desirable model for the AI era — not viewing AI merely as something to overcome or challenge, but as a partner with which we can cooperate and coexist,” he said.

Lee promised to support the ministry, the country’s government organization responsible for policies related to patents trademarks, and other intellectual property rights.

“Ten years ago, there was the match against AlphaGo. I think that may have been the starting point of AI. Now it has become difficult to imagine a world without AI,” Lee said.

“In line with these changes, I believe that an important task for the MOIP is how well it collaborates and adapts to this environment to continue developing and advancing,”

KATIE Price’s new husband Lee Andrews has “ran up a HUGE bill” at the luxury hotel where they got married.

The self-confessed ‘millionaire’, 41, and the former glamour model, 47, tied the knot just two weeks after meeting each other, leaving her family in shock.

The Sun revealed that the pair had married in a very intimate ceremony at The One&Only Royal Mirage, a 5-star luxury beachfront resort.

Our exclusive photos showed Katie in a white cut-out gown saying ‘I do’ in a private gardens as they exchanged their vows while holding hands.

But now it has been claimed that Lee has not coughed up a penny, which is believed to run into the thousands of pounds.

Despite promising to return and pay the outstanding cost, he still hasn’t paid and it has reportedly left staff “frustrated”.

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“Lee Andrews has not yet paid the One&Only Royal Mirage hotel where he and Katie Price got married. He promised to settle the outstanding bills but still hasn’t, and it’s been over six weeks,” an insider told the Mail.

When the publication approached Lee for comment and he insisted it was “fully paid”, adding: “It was an SMS on my HSBC locally. I will ping it to you so you can see it.”

But they have still not been provided any proof of payment.

The Sun has reached out to Lee for comment.

It comes just The Sun revealed that Lee had been begging women for money just a week before be proposed to Katie.

Self-proclaimed millionaire Lee whinged about surviving on 20p ready meals weeks before he married Katie.

He even begged a former friend for $4,000 just mere days before proposing to the former glamour model.

Lee popped the question to Katie on January 23, and the couple tied the knot in Dubai just 48 hours later.

He recently boasted about his love for his new wife the The Sun, and Katie even showed us  “proof” he owned a £36million property in Dubai.

Katie also claimed Lee had paid for every single one of her first-class flights to and from Dubai.

She also said he had forked out for all the romantic dates they had been on since January, with her not spending a penny.

Katie recently gushed to The Sun: “I can reassure everyone at home that I haven’t gone for a con man.

“I haven’t gone for a scammer.

“There was no love bombing.

“I’ve gone for a beautiful human being who genuinely makes me happy, who I’m so in love with,” she gushed.

KATIE Price’s furious sister Sophie has revealed her true thoughts on the glamour model’s whirlwind marriage to Lee Andrews – admitting she was left shocked over the nuptials.

The mum-of-five married Lee in Dubai just ten days after meeting him, leaving her friends and family back home blindsided.

Following the nuptials, we revealed how Katie’s family were worried for the star and concerned Lee was a ‘conman’ .

It came after he was unmasked as fantasist businessman who faked celebrity links using AI-generated photos.

Katie and Sophie even pulled the plug on their weekly podcast, The Katie Price Show, as the eponymous star admitted her family were ‘angry’.

But now, they have made up and returned to the show with a comeback episode – during which Sophie revealed her true thoughts on the situation.

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Opening the show – which is their first since late January – Katie revealed that her year so far has been ‘fantastic’.

While Sophie said her has been ‘s**t’ due to her sister’s antics.

She began: “I’m not going to lie, this year for me has not been great.

“Mine has been a really f***ing s**t start to the year.”

Katie replied: “But you have had s*** as well. Do you know what I mean?”

“Yeah, caused by you,” said Sophie.

She added: “You, this year, you, this year have been a pain in the a**.

“No, it’s not funny. Mum has been horrendous, is she talking to you yet?”

Katie confirmed that she is talking to her mum, who is currently in hospital.

As they spoke about their mum Amy, Sophie added that Katie had “traumatised” the whole family with her shock romance.

The pair then moved on to other news throughout the episode as Sophie said she “didn’t want to hear it” when it came to conversation surrounding Lee.

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday called for authorities to swiftly introduce a cap on local fuel prices, and preemptive responses to cope with surging gas prices and volatility in foreign exchange markets as the U.S.-led war with Iran has intensified in the Middle East.

Lee made the remarks during an interministerial meeting to assess the latest developments following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, which have prompted the price of Brent oil to surge through US$100 per barrel.

“As the crisis in the Middle East deepens, uncertainty in the domestic and global economic environment is expanding significantly, posing a considerable burden on the Korean economy relying heavily on global trade and energy imports from the Middle East,” Lee said.

Lee also called for preemptive responses Monday with worst-case scenarios in mind to address the economic fallout from heightened tensions in the Middle East, urging financial stability measures and the exploration of alternative energy routes.

“As it is difficult to predict how the situation will unfold, the government must prepare preemptive response measures with a sense of urgency, keeping even the worst-case scenario in mind,” he added.

Lee urged the government and the Bank of Korea to prepare additional preemptive measures to respond to rising volatility in financial and foreign exchange markets, instructing authorities to expand the 100 trillion-won ($66.8 billion) market stabilization program if necessary.

“We should identify hidden risks and meticulously prepare response measures.”

Lee also called for measures to address uncertainty surrounding energy supplies amid concerns over disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global shipping route.

“We will coordinate with strategic partner countries to promptly explore alternative routes that do not have to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

In addition, he urged the government to crack down on collusion between refiners and gas stations, price fixing, and hoarding, calling for strict punishment of violators and the implementation of a price cap system on gasoline and diesel.

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March 6 (Asia Today) — South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s approval rating rose to 65%, matching its highest level since he took office, according to a new national poll released Thursday.

A survey conducted by Korea Gallup from Monday through Wednesday among 1,001 adults nationwide found 65% of respondents approved of Lee’s job performance, up 1 percentage point from the previous week. Negative evaluations fell 1 point to 25%.

The poll shows Lee’s approval rating has increased steadily in recent weeks, rising from 63% in mid-February to 64% in late February and reaching 65% in the latest survey.

The figure matches the peak level recorded in early July shortly after Lee’s administration began, marking a return to the highest level in about eight months.

Regionally, approval exceeded 60% in most parts of the country, except in the conservative strongholds of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, where support stood at 49%, and Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province, where it reached 58%.

Support was strongest in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province, where Lee recorded a 94% approval rating.

Across age groups, approval ratings exceeded 50% among all generations. Support was highest among voters in their 40s at 79% and those in their 50s at 77%. Among centrist voters, approval reached 70%.

Respondents who evaluated Lee positively most frequently cited economic and livelihood policies at 18%, followed by real estate policy at 16% and foreign policy at 11%.

Among those with negative views, the most common reasons included dissatisfaction with real estate and economic policies at 13%, concerns about changes to laws at 8% and criticism of authoritarian leadership at 7%.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260306010001693