A city built for healing: Daejeon’s bid to welcome the Invictus Games

DAEJEON — “I didn’t want these venues to become places where an event simply comes and goes,” said Moon Hyun-kyu, director of rehabilitation sports at the Korea Disabled Veterans Association, as he looked across the spectator stands of Yongun International Swimming Pool on Wednesday. Gesturing toward the rows of tiered seating, Moon said organizers hope to fill as many as 3,000 seats with local residents during the Games. Standing beside him, Invictus Games Foundation Chief Executive Rob Owen wa

Feb. 25, 2026

USFK chief expresses 'regret' to Seoul defense minister over air standoff incident with China

The commander of the US Forces Korea has said South Korea had been notified of a recent US Air Force exercise that led to a rare standoff with Chinese fighter jets, while voicing regret that South Korean commanders were not briefed on such drills in time. Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of the USFK, made the remarks in a phone call with Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back as the brief aerial standoff with Chinese fighter jets last week prompted Ahn to lodge a protest that the drills were not properly s

Feb. 25, 2026

USFK chief apologizes to S. Korea following air standoff with China: sources

The commander of the US Forces Korea has delivered an apology to Seoul after a US Air Force exercise over the Yellow Sea prompted a rare standoff with Chinese fighter jets, sources said Tuesday. Gen. Xavier Brunson delivered the apology to South Korean military authorities over the situation surrounding the US Air Force drill staged from last Wednesday to Thursday, according to the sources. His apology came after Defense Miㅎnister Ahn Gyu-back delivered a complaint in a call with Brunson last we

Feb. 24, 2026

S. Korea turns down US offer for 3-way drills with Tokyo right before Japan's commemoration on Dokdo

South Korea has effectively turned down the United States' proposal to stage a trilateral aerial exercise with Japan this month as the proposed date was right before Tokyo's annual celebration for its territorial claim to South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo, sources said Monday. On Jan. 15, the US proposed holding trilateral drills with Seoul and Tokyo in February, but the proposed schedule overlapped with this year's Lunar New Year holiday from Feb. 15-18 and was also right before Japan's

Feb. 23, 2026

Allies differ over joint drills as Lee pushes to ease tension with NK: sources

South Korean and United States military authorities are showing differences over details of the annual springtime joint exercise, sources said Sunday, delaying a planned joint announcement of the drill schedule. The allies had planned to jointly unveil details of the Freedom Shield exercise — scheduled for March 9–19 — on Wednesday, but postponed the announcement as consultations continued over the scope of outdoor field training, according to military officials. An official from South Korea’s J

Feb. 22, 2026

Defense minister lodges protest with USFK over US-China aircraft standoff

South Korea's defense minister has lodged a protest with the US Forces Korea early this week over its brief standoff with Chinese fighter jets during a rare air exercise, military sources said Saturday. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back has delivered a complaint in a call with Gen. Xavier Brunson, the commander of the Combined Forces Command and the United States Forces Korea, immediately after he received a report of the incident on Wednesday, according to the sources. Gen. Jin young-sung, the chai

Feb. 21, 2026

USFK exercise prompts Chinese fighter response in rare US air drill

US Forces Korea and Chinese fighter aircraft engaged in a brief aerial face-off over the Yellow Sea earlier this week after a rare US Air Force exercise prompted Beijing to deploy its own jets, military sources said Friday. According to multiple sources, 10 USFK F-16 fighter jets took off from Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek late Wednesday and flew over international waters in the Yellow Sea, maneuvering toward airspace between South Korea’s and China’s air defense identification zones. The aircraft

Feb. 20, 2026

Defense Ministry should put standards before military background: experts

The Ministry of National Defense is moving to open senior posts long reserved for uniformed officers to civilian officials, a shift experts say could strengthen policy capacity and reinforce civilian oversight — so long as institutional standards keep pace. The ministry is expanding the number of civilian officials in positions traditionally held by active-duty officers as part of a broader effort to reinforce civilian oversight of the military. "Someone coming from outside the field isn't bound

Feb. 19, 2026

S. Korea seeks to reinstate no-fly zone under suspended 2018 inter-Korean military pact

South Korea will seek to reinstate a no-fly zone over the border with North Korea under the suspended 2018 inter-Korean military pact aimed at easing tensions, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Wednesday. Chung disclosed the plan at a press briefing after expressing regret earlier this month over drones sent into North Korea by South Korean civilians, which the North denounced as a violation of its sovereignty. "In cooperation with military authorities, (the government) will preemptivel

Feb. 18, 2026

Seoul seeks to revive inter-Korean no-fly zone

Seoul will pursue a partial reinstatement of the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement, particularly the return of no-fly zones, to prevent a repeat of unauthorized drone flights into North Korea, the unification minister said Wednesday. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said he “formally expressed our regret to the North Korean side” over drone flights carried out by South Korean civilians on Jan. 4. The incident has been under investigation by a joint military-police task force following Py

Feb. 18, 2026

14 generals dismissed in martial law probe, more pending

The Defense Ministry has dismissed 14 generals under its toughest levels of military discipline over the Dec. 3 martial law declaration, as further proceedings remain underway, Seoul's ministry said Wednesday. The dismissals follow a six-month investigation by the ministry’s task force, conducted as part of a pangovernmental effort. The task force deployed about 120 personnel to examine 24 military units and institutions and question roughly 860 individuals. A total of 35 military personnel, all

Feb. 18, 2026

[Exclusive] War Memorial says independence fighter Hong Beom-do was born in Andok. His journal says otherwise

South Korea’s War Memorial is facing criticism over its description of the birthplace of Gen. Hong Beom-do as historical records regarding his origins remain disputed. Hong is an independence fighter who led armed resistance against Japanese forces during the late Joseon era (1392-1910) and early Japanese colonial period (1910-1945). A description attached to Hong’s bust at the memorial’s headquarters in Yongsan, central Seoul, states that he was born in Andok, South Pyongan Province, in what is

Feb. 13, 2026

Navy chief removed from duty over alleged role in Yoon martial law episode

South Korea’s Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Kang Dong-gil has been removed from duty over allegations of involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 3, 2024 martial law declaration, the Defense Ministry said Friday. According to the ministry, Kang is accused of having been involved in the formation of the martial law command structure at the time, when he was serving as head of the Military Support Headquarters under the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the martial law episode. “The ministry pla

Feb. 13, 2026

Defense Ministry set to return to Yongsan compound: officials

The Defense Ministry is set to move its headquarters back to its original compound, where the presidential office was previously located, more than three years and 10 months after it was forced to relocate to make way for the presidential office. According to military authorities on Thursday, the Finance Ministry approved a plan in late January allowing the Defense Ministry to reoccupy its former headquarters building, clearing the way for the relocation. The ministry moved to its current buildi

Feb. 12, 2026

Foreign Ministry launches task force for nuclear-powered sub talks with Washington

The Foreign Ministry said Thursday it has set up a dedicated team to support negotiations with Washington over Seoul's plan to develop nuclear-powered submarines, as the allies continue follow-up talks on agreements reached at recent summits. According a notice sent to reporters, the new "nuclear-powered submarine negotiation team" has been established under the ministry's North America bureau to serve as a working channel for consultations with the US. "The two countries agreed on the construct

Feb. 12, 2026