Another senior US official to skip Seoul on Asian tour

SEOUL, April 16 (AJP) - Another senior U.S. official will skip Seoul during his Asian tour, which begins this week. According to the U.S. Department of State on Wednesday, Sean O'Neill, senior bureau official for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, is embarking on a trip to Cambodia, Japan and Vietnam from Wednesday to next Friday, but Korea has been excluded. O'Neill will meet with Vietnamese government officials in Ho Chi Minh City to discuss the two countries' "sh

April 16, 2025

Lee Jae-myung sparks momentum in DP primary, urges victory for hope and progress

SEOUL, April 16 (AJP) - Lee Jae-myung, a Democratic Party (DP) presidential contender, described the upcoming June 3 election as a critical junction in South Korea’s political history, calling it “a turning point between the past and the future.” Speaking at the DP’s fair election pledge ceremony held at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Lee stressed, “We must win, whoever the final candidate is, not for personal gain, but for the future of the coun

April 16, 2025

Han Duck-soo considers independent presidential bid as parties close primary registration

SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - Acting President Han Duck-soo is weighing an independent run for the presidency after deciding not to join the People Power Party’s (PPP) primary race. While he has not confirmed his candidacy, political observers say he is keeping the option open. On Apr.15, both the PPP and the Democratic Party (DP) closed registration for their presidential primaries. The PPP plans to announce its final candidate by May 3, and the DP will select its nominee on Apri

April 15, 2025

City data shows aging sewer infrastructure linked to sinkholes and ground settlements

SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - Seoul’s aging underground infrastructure is drawing attention after newly released data linked deteriorating sewer systems to a series of sinkholes and ground settlement incidents across the city. According to figures submitted to Democratic Party (DP) lawmaker Jin Sun-mi, 3,300 kilometers (2,050 miles), roughly 30.4 percent, of Seoul’s total 10,866 kilometers of sewer lines had been in use for over 50 years as of December 2023. The data, provid

April 15, 2025

South Korea on US 'sensitive' countries list despite last-ditch efforts to avoid inclusion

SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - South Korea's inclusion on the U.S.' list of "sensitive" countries goes into effect on Tuesday, despite Seoul's efforts to halt the move. Such a classification by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) could restrict bilateral cooperation in scientific and advanced technologies, as new procedural requirements are likely to cause unavoidable disruptions. Once it takes effect, researchers from the listed country will be required to submit

April 15, 2025

Police to step up protection for presidential candidates amid rise in political threats

SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - South Korean police are preparing to strengthen security around presidential candidates ahead of the June 3 election, responding to a sharp rise in threats and politically motivated incidents following the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol. Authorities say they are reviewing plans to increase the number of officers assigned to each candidate’s security detail, noting that recent months have seen an unusual spike in extreme acts such as ars

April 14, 2025

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo declares presidential bid

SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Hong Joon-pyo, former Daegu mayor and veteran politician on Monday declared his candidacy for South Korea's upcoming presidential election, becoming the latest candidate from the ruling People Power Party (PPP). Vowing sweeping reforms as part of his presidential agenda, Hong said the June 3 election to fill a power vacuum following the impeachment of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier this month will be "not about a change in leadershi

April 14, 2025

Namwon kicks off countdown to Chunhyang Festival with press day

SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Namwon City hosted a press day and ambassador networking event on April 10 in Seoul to mark 20 days ahead of the opening of the 95th Namwon Chunhyang Festival, South Korea’s longest-running local cultural celebration. Held at Park Hall in the Peace & Park Convention Center in Yongsan-gu, the event brought together travel journalists, foreign correspondents, influencers, and cultural figures to preview this year’s expanded festival lineup and

April 14, 2025

Former DP leader maintains lead over rivals in poll ahead of presidential election

SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - With the presidential election less than two months away after disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's ouster, Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, remains far ahead of other candidates, a new poll shows. According to a survey of over 1,500 adults conducted last week by pollster Realmeter and released on Monday, 48.8 percent expressed support for Lee as the most suitable presidential candidate. Former Employment and

April 14, 2025

Korea opens pavilion at Osaka Expo, highlighting technology, tradition, sustainability

SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - South Korea opened its national pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, Sunday, aiming to showcase its technological innovation, cultural heritage, and vision for a sustainable future over the course of the six-month international event. Organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, the opening ceremony marked the start of a 184-day exhibition set within one of the expo’s signature structures, the

April 13, 2025