Overview

• More than 20 editors and publishers from 19 countries in the Asia News Network met policymakers and executives at The Korea Herald’s HIT Forum in Seoul to chart a regional response to economic and security strains.
• Prime Minister Kim Min-seok called for deeper cooperation across Asia and credited journalists with helping Korea’s democracy withstand last December’s martial-law crisis involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
• Trade panelists cited fresh U.S. tariffs — about 20% on most Vietnamese exports and 10% on Singaporean goods — and urged greater use of RCEP, potential CPTPP accession, and new Digital Economy Agreements to diversify markets.
• Security discussions highlighted maritime flashpoints, cyber risks and the role of middle powers, with former envoy Lee Chung-min urging tighter ties with regional neighbors and recognizing that economics, security and technology now move together.
• Attention turns to the APEC summit in Gyeongju, where Seoul plans to outline a long-term AI agenda and where high-level attendance, including a possible visit by China’s Xi Jinping, is being closely watched.