OPINION: Upgrading democracy: Should we change how we talk about politics?

SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - If President Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment is upheld by the Constitutional Court next month and if Lee Jae-myung or another Democratic Party candidate wins the election to replace him, media will predictably report that Korea’s leadership has changed from right to left. Some might modify these words a little and say we have moved from the center-right to the far-left. Or, they might say we have gone from the far-right to the center-left. Bu

February 28, 2025

Orion's Choco Pie hits record sales of 4 billion units in 2024

SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - Orion Corp.'s signature confection, the Choco Pie, achieved record-breaking global sales in 2024, surpassing 4 billion units and generating revenue of 580 billion won ($435 million), the company said Friday. The chocolate-covered marshmallow treat, which marked its 50th anniversary last year, has sold more than 50 billion units since its 1974 debut. Over the past five decades, total sales have exceeded 8 trillion won, with international markets ac

February 28, 2025

North Korea conducts artillery drill with 'strategic cruise missiles'

SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - North Korea conducted an artillery drill earlier this week in waters off its west coast, North Korean state media reported on Friday. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), several strategic cruise missiles were launched and "precisely hit their targets" during the drill, which was observed by its leader Kim Jong-un last Wednesday. The drill was aimed at demonstrating the North's "counterattack capability in any space and

February 28, 2025

INTERVIEW: Quebec envoy seeks to deepen ties with South Korea through cultural collaboration

SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - As South Korea continues to expand its economic and cultural exchanges with Quebec, the French-speaking province in eastern Canada is also establishing a more independent presence here across various fields. Separate from the Canadian Embassy, it seeks to establish direct relations with Seoul to strengthen its presence and foster deeper collaboration. In an interview with AJP earlier this week, Damien Pereira, the chief representative of the Quebec governm

February 28, 2025

Constitutional Court rules Acting President's refusal to appoint justice unconstitutional

SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - The Constitutional Court of Korea ruled on Thursday that Acting President Choi Sang-mok's refusal to appoint one of nominees for a court justice last year was unconstitutional. In its ruling, the court said that Choi's decision infringed on the National Assembly's legislative power by not appointing Ma Eun-hyuk, a nominee recommended by the main opposition Democratic Party, but it dismissed a request to assign him the post, deem

February 27, 2025

Video streaming firm Wavve faces damage suit for copyright infringement

SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - The Korea Music Copyright Association (KOMCA) has filed a lawsuit against the online video streaming service Wavve, seeking approximately 40 billion won ($27.7 million) in damages for alleged copyright infringement, the association said on Thursday. The lawsuit, submitted to the Seoul Central District Court on Feb. 11, follows years of what KOMCA describes as Wavve’s refusal to pay legally required royalties for the use of copyrighted music in its st

February 27, 2025

PHOTOS: A journey through Korea's past at National Folk Museum

SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Nestled on the eastern grounds of Gyeongbok Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea offers a glimpse into the daily life and traditions of Korea's ancestors, from architecture to social customs. Upon entering the museum’s outdoor exhibition, visitors encounter a tableau of traditional Korean symbols: stone towers, cone-shaped structures believed to ward off misfortune; jangseung, totem poles carved with human faces, serving as village guardians; and sotd

February 27, 2025

PHOTOS: 10 elderly female divers, or haenyeo, retire in Jeju

SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Aboard a yacht off Jeju Island, 10 haenyeo, the island's renowned female divers, marked their retirement on Feb. 26 in a ceremony punctuated by the warm appreciation of their successors.

February 27, 2025

North Korea deploys more troops to Russia, spy agency says

SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - North Korea is believed to have deployed additional troops to assist Russia's war in Ukraine, South Korea's spy agency said on Thursday. "North Korea has apparently sent its troops to Russia's frontline region of Kursk, a territory currently occupied by Ukraine, starting from the first week of February," the National Intelligence Service (NIS) here said in a press release. "We're assessing the exact number of the latest de

February 27, 2025

Major Korean card firms likely to adopt Apple Pay next month

SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Shinhan Card and KB Kookmin Card are set to introduce Apple Pay as early as next month, following Hyundai Card’s initial rollout. The expansion is expected to significantly widen the mobile payment service’s reach from its current 12.65 million users to potentially all iPhone users in South Korea. The broader adoption of Apple Pay, however, may place financial pressure on small business owners. Only 10 percent of South Korea’s 3.2

February 27, 2025