Yoon faces additional charge for alleged interference in arrest attempt

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing new charges of obstructing law enforcement by using an agency responsible for his personal security, police said Friday. Police said Yoon instructed the Presidential Security Service (PSS) to block officers from executing his arrest warrant. They explained that they had obtained encrypted messages exchanged between Yoon and PSS Deputy Chief Kim Sung-hoon via "Signal," a highly secure American messaging app.

February 21, 2025

PHOTOS: Exceptional flavor of Korean strawberries

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - Korean strawberries, renowned for their exceptional flavor, proved a popular draw at the Nonsan Strawberry Festival held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from Feb. 13 to 16. Cultivated in environmentally conscious greenhouses, these berries are not only delicious but also meet high standards of hygiene.

February 21, 2025

Hyundai Motor, GM to forge supply chain alliance amid tariff concerns

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group and General Motors are preparing to announce a comprehensive supply chain alliance as early as next month, industry sources said Friday. The agreement would allow both companies to share global production facilities and potentially mitigate the impact of a proposed 25 percent U.S. auto tariff under the Trump administration. Under the partnership, Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. would manufacture vehicles at GM’s 11 U.S. facilitie

February 21, 2025

SK hynix chief warns of growing AI risks while highlighting semiconductor role

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - SK hynix President and Korea Semiconductor Industry Association Chairman Kwak Noh-jung emphasized the Korean semiconductor industry's critical role in the expanding artificial intelligence trend, expressing concerns about increasing risks from AI evolution. "As AI continues to evolve, it's clear that risks are growing more than ever," Kwak wrote on his social media after attending SEMICON Korea 2025. "Reflecting on the time spent a

February 21, 2025

HYBE partners with songwriter Ryan Tedder to debut new boy band in US

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - K-pop behemoth HYBE will work with Ryan Tedder, a Grammy-winning producer and frontman of pop rock band OneRepublic, to debut a new boy band in the United States. The agency announced on Friday that anyone aged between 13 and 23 can apply for the audition through its official website. Applicants need to submit a profile picture, a self-introduction, and a video showcasing their vocal and dance abilities. As a producer and songwriter, Tedder has worked

February 21, 2025

Temu mandates data sharing for Korean users, raising privacy concerns

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - Chinese e-commerce platform Temu has updated its privacy policy to require South Korean users to share personal information — including addresses, phone numbers, and text messages — with 27 companies across six countries. Under the revised policy, unveiled Friday, users must consent to data sharing with third-party entities in South Korea, the United States, Singapore, Japan, Australia, and Indonesia as a prerequisite for accessing Temu&rsquo

February 21, 2025

Chinese account for big portion of foreign engineering students with PhD degrees in South Korea

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - The number of foreign engineers with PhD degrees from South Korean universities has nearly doubled in recent years, with Chinese making up a significant portion, an analysis reveals. According to a report released earlier this week by the Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP), Chinese students accounted for three out of every ten foreign engineering PhD graduates here as of 2023. China's share of foreign PhD graduates in enginee

February 21, 2025

UN urges Ukraine to protect North Korean POWs, opposes forced repatriation

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - The United Nations urged Ukraine on Thursday not to repatriate North Korean prisoners of war (POWs). North Korea allegedly deployed over 10,000 soldiers to Russia to assist Moscow's war in Ukraine, and two soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces on the battlefield in Russia's Kursk region last month. "International humanitarian law (IHL) requires POWs to be treated humanely at all times and with respect for their honour in all circumstan

February 21, 2025

Late actress Kim Sae-ron's posthumous film slated for release this fall

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - Actress Kim Sae-ron' s posthumous film will be released this fall. The 24-year-old, best known for her role in the 2010 hit action thriller "The Man from Nowhere," shocked the nation when she was found dead of apparent suicide at her home in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul last Sunday. Adapted from Kakao Page's hit webtoon series, "Everyday We Are" explores the moments of first love and friendship among high-schoolers. Kim portrays

February 21, 2025

South Korea's growth could sink to 1 percent, British firm warns

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - A London-based research firm has issued a dire warning about South Korea’s economic outlook, forecasting that the country’s growth rate could fall to just 1 percent this year — a sharp decline that underscores mounting political and financial pressures. In a report, Capital Economics revised its projection for South Korea’s real gross domestic product growth, lowering it from 1.1 percent to 1 percent. The firm cited a deepening po

February 21, 2025