Nearly 2,000 separated family members die this year only in South Korea

SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - Nearly 2,000 separated family members in South Korea died during the first eight months of this year without reuniting with loved ones in North Korea, according to government data released Sunday. A total of 1,961 applicants for government-arranged reunions passed away between January and August, raising the total number of such deaths to 96,352. As of late August, around 134,160 people had registered with the unification ministry for family reunion ev

September 15, 2024

PHOTOS: Shoppers throng Seoul's Gyeongdong Market ahead of Chuseok holiday

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - Gyeongdong Market, one of the nation’s largest traditional markets located in eastern Seoul, bustled with shoppers on Friday, one day before the five-day Chuseok fall harvest holiday begins. People flocked to the market to purchase items for ancestral rites and family feasts, like fruits, meats and rice cakes. Gyeongdong Market opened in 1960, specializing in herbal medicine and ginseng.

September 13, 2024

Indian Embassy's annual festival next month to feature classical dance and cinema

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - An annual event promoting Indian culture to Korea is returning early next month, the Indian Ambassador to Korea said on Thursday. "Since its inception in 2015, the Sarang Festival has blossomed into a flagship cultural event of the embassy that introduces the rich and diverse heritage of India to our friends in Korea," Amit Kumar said. The festival's name, "Sarang," which means "love" in Korean, refers to "colorfu

September 13, 2024

Nuclear energy projects top agenda for Yoon's visit to Czech Republic next week

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to prioritize expanding economic cooperation during his trip to the Czech Republic next week. According to the presidential office, Yoon will visit Prague from Sept. 19 to 22, where he will sit for talks with Czech President Petr Pavel to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation with a particular focus on nuclear energy. One of the key topics on Yoon's agenda is likely to be seeking support for Korea

September 13, 2024

PHOTOS: Parade marks 74th anniversary of Incheon Landing

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - A military parade took place along a street in the western port city of Incheon on Wednesday to commemorate the historic Incheon Landing Operation during the Korean War (1950-53). The 1.4-kilometer procession featured 1,800 Korean and U.S. military personnel and veterans, along with 30 military vehicles, including tanks and armored personnel carriers. The parade was part of the events marking the 74th anniversary of the amphibious landing, which occurred on Sept. 1

September 13, 2024

Modi touts global ambition for Indian-made chips

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi outline his ambition for Indian-made chips to be used in devices worldwide at the country's semiconductor event. The statement was made during his opening speech at Semicon India 2024 on Wednesday, where he highlighted the potential of India's semiconductor industry and government support. "This is the right time to be in India. In 21st-century India, the chips are never down. When the chips are down, yo

September 13, 2024

Telegram: A hotbed for narcotics, digital sex crimes

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - It took this reporter just a few minutes to find a dozen channels selling illicit narcotics on Telegram. A simple search for "weed" in Korean on X (formerly Twitter) yielded several keywords and invitation links for Telegram chat groups. To maintain discretion, these groups used jargon like "ice" and "herbs" to refer to methamphetamine and marijuana, respectively. "MDMA, also known as ecstasy ... induces soft, warm, and

September 13, 2024

Southeast Asian markets surge as global investors anticipate Fed rate cut

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - Global investors are shifting their focus to Southeast Asian markets as the U.S. Federal Reserve's pivot on monetary policy approaches. Bloomberg reports that four of the top five performing Asian stock indices this month are from Southeast Asia, with Thailand leading the pack. Foreign capital has flowed into these markets for five consecutive weeks, pushing the MSCI ASEAN index near its highest level since April 2022. The index has outperformed the M

September 13, 2024

Typhoon Yagi death toll surpasses 270 in Southeast Asia

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - Super Typhoon Yagi's devastating impact on Southeast Asia continues to escalate, with the death toll now surpassing 270. Viet Nam, the hardest-hit country, has confirmed 226 fatalities, 104 missing, and around 800 injured. The storm's aftermath has left millions struggling with flooding, power outages, and widespread infrastructure damage. In Viet Nam alone, over 250,000 hectares of farmland have been affected, and UNICEF estimates that more than

September 13, 2024

Samsung plant strike in southern India enters 5th day

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - Unionized workers continued their strike Friday at Samsung Electronics' plant in southern India for the fifth day, demanding wage increases and improved working hours, news reports said. Hundreds of workers at the plant in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, began an indefinite walkout on Monday in one of the largest labor disputes in India in recent years. Tamil Nadu's labor minister, C.V. Ganesan, met with union representatives and Samsung officials o

September 13, 2024