SEOUL, July 01 (AJP) - As South Korea’s National Assembly continues to deliberate the government’s proposed 30.5 trillion won ($22.5 billion) supplementary budget, lawmakers on Tuesday approved one of its most contentious items, a 13.2 trillion won plan to distribute universal consumption coupons. The decision was made as part of a broad policy review session, where ruling and opposition parties clashed over fiscal responsibility and the effectiveness of key spending prop

SEOUL, July 1 (AJP) - As an early heat wave grips the country, several cities have recorded their highest average daily temperatures for this time of year, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Tuesday. According to the KMA, the average temperature in the southern port city of Busan climbed to 26.2 degrees Celsius on the last day of June, the highest ever recorded for the month since weather observations began in 1904. The southwestern city of Mokpo also set a new re

SEOUL, July 1 (AJP) - Former disgraced President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday failed to appear for questioning by independent prosecutors, prompting them to set a new date later this week. Yoon had been asked to appear at 9 a.m. for another round of questioning over his botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law last year, after his first questioning last Saturday was cut short due to procedural issues and other disagreements. Prosecutors now want him to appear for questioning on Satu

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung will hold his first press conference later this week to mark his first full month in office, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said on Monday. The conference, slated to take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, will allow Lee to outline his key policies while discussing a wide range of issues in a town-hall setting which includes an interactive Q&A session with journalists. Meanwhile, according to a recent survey of over 2,500 vote

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung talked with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong over the phone, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said on Monday. In their first phone conversation since Lee took office early this month, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various fields. According to Kang, Wong congratulated Lee on his election and expressed hope for closer ties, as this year marks the 50th anniversa

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - This summer's first heat wave advisory was issued for Seoul as daytime highs soared to over 30 degrees Celsius on Monday. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued the advisory for the capital at noon, about 11 days later than last year. Such an advisory is issued when daytime highs soared over 33 degrees Celsius and are expected to persist for two days or longer. According to the KMA, the advisory came after the capital sweltered through

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - Salaried workers or those with a five-day workweek will have 118 days off next year including weekends, one day fewer than this year, the Korea Aerospace Administration said Monday. There will be 52 Sundays and 20 national holidays including Lunar New Year's Day and other make-up holidays. Three national holidays - Memorial Day, Liberation Day, and National Foundation Day - fall on a Saturday while some others such as March 1 Independence Movement Day a

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - Golfers Im Jin-hee and Lee So-mi secured their maiden LPGA title by winning the Dow Championship in the U.S. on Sunday. In the fourth and final round of the championship in Midland, Michigan, the South Korean pair finished at 20-under 260, leading to a playoff in which they birdied the first hole to beat the American team of Megan Khang and Lexi Thompson. Another South Korean team, Park Sung-hyun and Yoon Ina, tied for fourth at 11-under. With Sunday'

SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Sunday unveiled a slate of high-profile cabinet nominees, selecting experienced bureaucrats and longtime political allies to lead his administration through a pivotal early phase. The appointments include key posts overseeing the economy, judicial reform, education, and national safety. Koo Yun-cheol, a veteran technocrat and former chief of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, was tapped as Deputy Prime Minister and