President Lee Jae-myung convened a Senior Secretaries and Advisers Meeting at Cheong Wa Dae (CWD) on April 9, directing government officials to prepare for all possible scenarios following the recent U.S.–Iran ceasefire agreement, which he said has opened a new phase in the Middle Eastern conflict but warrants no complacency. Lee issued an urgent directive to mobilize all available diplomatic channels and networks to secure the safe return of Korean crew members and vessels currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. He further ordered accelerated efforts to secure additional crude oil and cri
The Korean government has unveiled its Sixth National Standards Master Plan, a five-year blueprint covering 2026–2030, jointly developed by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR) and 17 other ministries and agencies. With a total investment of approximately KRW 1.49 trillion (roughly USD 1.08 billion), the plan positions standardization as a core instrument of industrial competitiveness and technology diplomacy. The plan is built around four strategic pillars: 1. Leading Standards in Future Industries and AI Korea has identified 18 priority sectors for international standardizat