South Korea ranks 41st in global democracy index

SEOUL, March 18 (AJP) - South Korea ranked 41st overall in an index gauging the level of democracy worldwide, according to an annual report compiled by a Sweden-based research institute and released on Monday. The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden surveyed some 179 countries to assess their levels of democracy for last year and South Korea was among five countries "in a substantial decline" along with Hong Kong, Indonesia, M

March 18, 2025

Advisory issued as rare spring snow blankets Seoul

SEOUL, March 18 (AJP) - Spring is just around the corner, but a snow advisory was issued as a heavy snowfall blanketed Seoul and other metropolitan areas overnight. It was the latest-ever snow advisory issued for late March in the capital since accurate observations began in 1999. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), an unseasonal cold snap brought about up to 11.9 cm of snow to Seoul as of early Tuesday, 13.8 cm to Uijeongbu, and 12 cm to Pocheon in Gyeong

March 18, 2025

South Korea belatedly scrambles to avoid fallout from inclusion on US 'sensitive country' list

SEOUL, March 17 (AJP) - Last week's abrupt revelation of South Korea being classified as a "sensitive country" has sent shockwaves through political circles and government agencies here, with key diplomatic figures and senior officials scrambling to assess its implications and potential fallout. Such a classification by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which could restrict cooperation in advanced technologies, may reflect a shift in U.S. policy toward South Korea,

March 17, 2025

Number of young unemployed people reaches 1.2mln

SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - The number of unemployed young people in South Korea, including those who lost their jobs, are job-seeking, or are simply staying at home without employment, reached 1.2 million last month, government data showed Saturday. Even among those who managed to find jobs, one in four were classified as short-term workers with limited working hours. According to data from Statistics Korea's National Statistics Portal (KOSIS), 269,000 people aged 15 to 29 w

March 16, 2025

78 percent of workers support reducing working hours this year

SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - More than three out of four South Korean office workers believe that working hours should be reduced within the year and that a cap on overtime work should be established, survey data showed Sunday. Gapjil119, a South Korean online-based labor rights advocacy group, commissioned polling firm Global Research to conduct a survey from Dec. 2 to 11 last year, targeting 1,000 office workers aged 19 and older nationwide. The survey found that 77.9 percent of respon

March 16, 2025

Police launch nationwide crackdown on online drug crimes amid rising youth offenders

SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - The National Police Agency announced Saturday that it will conduct a 15-week intensive crackdown on major public safety crimes, including drug trafficking and voice phishing, until Jun. 30. The National Police Agency said it will prioritize crackdown on key drug distribution channels such as online platforms, nightlife districts, and areas with high concentrations of undocumented foreigners. As part of the initiative, the existing "Dark Web and Virt

March 16, 2025

US defense secretary to skip Seoul visit amid political turmoil

SEOUL, March 15 (AJP) - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will skip South Korea during his first official tour of the Indo-Pacific region. Hegseth plans to visit Guam, Hawaii, Japan, and the Philippines later this month to discuss military cooperation and regional security concerns, according to Pentagon officials on Friday. A potential stop in Seoul was considered but later excluded, reportedly due to political uncertainty here in the wake of President Yoon Suk Yeol's ma

March 15, 2025

Nationwide demonstrations sweep across South Korea as Yoon's impeachment ruling nears

SEOUL, March 15 (AJP) - Mass protests both for and against President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment swept across South Korea on Saturday, just days before the Constitutional Court delivers its final ruling on his botched martial law declaration last December. The largest anti-impeachment rally took place near Gwanghwamun in central Seoul in the afternoon, organized by a conservative supporters' group. Protesters waved national flags and chanted slogans opposing the impea

March 15, 2025

US adds South Korea in bottom category of sensitive countries list

SEOUL, March 15 (AJP) - The U.S. government officially confirmed Friday that it added South Korea to its “Sensitive and Other Designated Countries List (SCL)” in early January. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said Friday that South Korea was placed in the lowest category on the list, labeled as an “Other Designated Country,” during the final days of the Biden administration. The list includes countries subject to additional oversight due to concerns re

March 15, 2025

Over half of South Koreans trust Constitutional Court, poll shows

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - Over half of South Koreans trust the Constitutional Court of Korea, a recent poll suggest. The survey results released on Friday could provide some insight amid an intense split over President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle last year, as the final verdict in his impeachment trial looms. Pollster Gallup Korea surveyed about 1,001 adults nationwide early this week and found that 53 percent of respondents expressed belief in the Constitutiona

March 14, 2025