Opposition scores major victory in South Korean parliamentary polls

SEOUL, April 11 (AJU PRESS) - The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and its satellite party scored a major victory in Wednesday’s general elections, securing a comfortable majority of 175 out of 300 National Assembly seats up for grabs. This is another major setback for President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling People Power Party (PPP), which managed to win 108 seats. The wider opposition bloc, including the Rebuilding Korea Party led by former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, ha

April 11, 2024

Opposition Democratic Party set for landslide victory in S. Korea's parliamentary elections

SEOUL, April 11 (AJU PRESS) - The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea is poised to achieve a landslide victory in South Korea's parliamentary elections held on Wednesday. The Democratic Party, led by Lee Jae-myung, dealt a significant blow to the main ruling People's Power Party by securing at least 167 seats, compared to the conservative ruling party's tally of 94 seats. According to the National Election Commission, more than 95 percent of the ballots for legis

April 11, 2024

Exit poll shows opposition's major victory in parliamentary elections

SEOUL, April 10 (AJU PRESS) - The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), led by Lee Jae-myung, is predicted to secure a stable majority in the 300-member National Assembly, according to the results of a joint exit poll, released after voting closed on Wednesday. According to the poll, conducted by major TV networks, the DPK and its satellite party, "The Minjoo Union" for proportional representative seats, are expected to win between 184 and 197 seats. The

April 10, 2024

[Photos] On eve of general elections

SEOUL, April 09 (AJU PRESS) - Voters will cast ballots Wednesday to choose 300 new National Assembly members, with 254 of them through direct elections. The remaining 46 proportional representation seats will be allocated to parties depending on the portion of votes they win overall. Wednesday was their final day of the 13-day official general election campaign.

April 9, 2024

S. Korean single-person households exceed 10 million in 2024

SEOUL, April 09 (AJU PRESS) - Driven by aging population, low marriage rate, and declining fertility rate, the number of single-person households in South Korea has surpassed 10 million as of March 2024, according to state data. Data released by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on Tuesday revealed that the number of single households in South Korea exceeded the 10 million mark for the first time in history. The number stood at 10,021,413, accounting for 41.8 percent of total

April 9, 2024

S. Korean school to provide Korean classes for children with non-native parents

SEOUL, April 08 (AJU PRESS) - In a bid to help children with at least one parent with immigrant background to quickly adapt to the learning environment, an elementary school in Ansan, a city located southwest of Seoul, will offer Korean language programs every Saturday. Over 90 percent of Ansan Wongok Elementary School's 472 students are children of multicultural backgrounds with at least one parent from another country. According to data released by the state-run Korean Educa

April 8, 2024

More than 40% of S. Koreans feel burdened by annual healthcare bills: survey

SEOUL, April 08 (AJU PRESS) - Despite South Korea's robust national health insurance program, more than 40 percent of citizens feel burdened by their annual personal healthcare expenditures, according to survey data released by the National Health Insurance Service. In 2021, the average South Korean spent about $710 on medical services, excluding costs covered by insurance. South Korea's state-operated health insurance program is globally recognized, providing citizens and l

April 8, 2024

Two-day early voting begins ahead of next week's general elections

SEOUL, April 05 (AJU PRESS) - The two-day early voting began, Friday, ahead of the April 10 general elections, largely seen as a referendum on the administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

April 5, 2024

Busan Port welcomes largest-ever fleet of foreign cruise ships

SEOUL, April 03 (AJU PRESS) - Amid a surge in foreign travelers to South Korea following the COVID-19 pandemic, Busan Port, the country's largest maritime gateway, witnessed a historic moment with four foreign cruise ships simultaneously docking at its piers for the first time. With an annual handling capacity of 20 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), Busan Port serves as South Korea's primary hub for both cargo and passenger ships. Typically, passenger ships shuttlin

April 3, 2024

Exports of S. Korean beverage products soar to new high

SEOUL, April 01 (AJU PRESS) - Exports of South Korean beverage products, including non-alcoholic drinks such as soft drinks and fruit-flavored dairy products, soared to a record $572.3 million in 2023. This surge in exports can be attributed to the growing recognition and popularity of South Korean products on the global stage. The export volume of South Korean beverage products has seen a consistent upward trend since 2020, reaching new highs each year. The increasing popularity

April 1, 2024