Passenger numbers for Korean airlines jump 29% to record high in first half

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - Korean airlines carried a record 47.56 million passengers in the first half of 2024, marking a 29.1 percent growth year-on-year, driven by low-cost carriers (LCCs), government data showed Monday. The passenger number surpassed the previous record of 47.04 million set in the first half of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the data released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Domestic flights saw 18.15 million passenge

July 8, 2024

Cuba's K-pop fan community leader visits Korea amid renewed bilateral relations

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - Cultural exchanges between Korea and Cuba are showing signs of growth following the recent normalization of relations between the two countries. Last week, a dinner hosted by the Korean-Cuban Friendship Association brought together Han Byung-kil, head of the Korean Council on Latin America and the Caribbean (KCLAC) with several Cuban officials and others. Among the guests was Marta Maria Cabrera, president of ArtCor, a Cuban-based K-pop fanbase with about

July 8, 2024

Samsung Electronics workers begin three-day strike

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - The largest labor union at Samsung Electronics began a three-day strike on Monday, demanding higher pay and improved bonus systems. The walkout is led by the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union (NSELU), which represents about 24 percent of Samsung's 125,000 employees. About 5,000 members are expected to join the walkout, the group said, citing a survey of over 8,000 members. The union launched the strike with a rally at 11 a.m. in

July 8, 2024

Gov't to come up with new measures as doctors' strike persists

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - The government is set to come up with new measures for trainee doctors who continue their strike against the government's radical medical reform plans, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Monday. Health Minister Cho Kyu-hong is expected to announce the government's final decision regarding trainee doctors and how to handle their resignations. In an attempt to resolve the prolonged strike, the ministry lifted all administrative restriction

July 8, 2024

VISUALS: Teaser clip released for virtual artist Suvi's dance single 'Suncream'

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - Studio Meta-K, the agency behind virtual artist Suvi, released a teaser clip for her upcoming debut single "Suncream" on Sunday. The 22-year-old digital human is set to debut on Thursday with the dance song, which tells the story of a mermaid emerging from the sea in search of love, only to discover the joys of summer instead. Mina Myoung, a choreographer known for her work on the dance competition show "Street Woman Fighter 2," oversaw the

July 8, 2024

Opinion: French say 'non' to Le Pen's National Rally - but messy coalition government looks likely

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - Sunday's French elections' results are everything except what predictions had forecast. Only days ago, Marine Le Pen's National Rally party was tipped to win. But this weekend it became the clear loser of these French National Assembly elections. The far right National Rally is coming third, behind Macron's centrist Ensemble coalition in second. And in first place, somewhat against the odds, is the three-week-old left-wing alliance the New

July 8, 2024

Opinion: What we know about Britain's new prime minister and how he will lead

SEOUL, July 8 (AJU PRESS) - All prime ministers bring their own personality and approach to the job. Each has a different style of leadership, which can shape how things work and what gets done. Herbert Asquith famously summed it up when he said being prime minister is all about "what the holder chooses and is able to make of it." When searching for clues as to how Keir Starmer will choose to be Britain's prime minister, there isn't too much to go on. When asked di

July 8, 2024

PHOTOS: Seoul restricts tourist access to historic hanok village

SEOUL, July 05 (AJU PRESS) - In an unprecedented move, Seoul's Jongno District has decided to limit tourist access to the popular Bukchon Hanok Village starting next year, citing concerns over overtourism and residents' quality of life. Starting in March 2025, parts of the picturesque neighborhood in central Seoul, known for its well-preserved traditional Korean houses, or hanok, will be designated as a "special management area" under the Tourism Promotion Act. This deci

July 5, 2024

Virtual artist Suvi's sporty-themed photos unveiled ahead of next week's debut

SEOUL, July 5 (AJU PRESS) - Studio Meta-K, the agency behind virtual artist Suvi, released her photos on Friday, showcasing a sporty theme for her upcoming debut single "Suncream." The four photos unveiled on social media capture the vibrant energy of summer, the Korean tech startup said. The 22-year-old virtual singer is scheduled to debut next Thursday with the dance track. In the song, Suvi tells the tale of a mermaid emerging from the sea in search of love, only to

July 5, 2024

More Koreans suffer from mental illness, survey reveals

SEOUL, July 5 (AJU PRESS) Seven out of every ten Koreans experienced mental illness such as severe stress, insomnia and depression over the past year, a recent survey reveals. The online survey, conducted by the National Center for Mental Health, polled 3,000 people nationwide aged between 15 and 69 and found that some 73.6 percent suffered from such symptoms, showing an increase of nearly 10 percentage points from 63.9 percent in the same survey in 2022. Despite the increase, o

July 5, 2024