Foreign tourists to Seoul near pre-pandemic levels

SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) -- Foreign tourist arrivals in Seoul topped 12 million in 2024, approaching pre-pandemic levels, city officials said Tuesday. The South Korean capital welcomed 12.12 million international visitors from January through November, reaching 95 percent of the record 12.74 million visitors in the same period in 2019, the Seoul Metropolitan Government reported. The rebound follows steady growth from pandemic lows, with annual visitor numbers rising from 2.19 mi

January 28, 2025

Holiday blizzard causes chaos across Korea

SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) - A powerful snowstorm disrupted transportation across South Korea on Tuesday, the fourth day of the six-day Lunar New Year holiday, causing multiple traffic accidents and grounding flights and ferries. Mount Halla on Jeju Island recorded 61.1 centimeters of snow accumulation since Monday, while the central county of Jincheon received 42.3 centimeters, and Seoul's Gwanak District measured 15.7 centimeters. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA

January 28, 2025

Heavy snow disrupts holiday traffic across Korea

SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) - Heavy snowfall blanketed much of South Korea on Tuesday, causing widespread travel disruptions during the Lunar New Year holidays. As of 8 a.m., weather authorities reported snowfall of 1 to 3 centimeters per hour in central and southern regions, with some areas experiencing up to 5 centimeters per hour. Mount Halla on the southern island of Jeju recorded an accumulation of 127.2 centimeters. Elsewhere, 84.9 centimeters were reported in Seolcheonbong

January 28, 2025

Prosecutors indict President Yoon on insurrection charges, citing 'unconstitutional martial law'

SEOUL, January 27 (AJP) - Prosecutors announced Sunday that President Yoon Suk Yeol has been indicted on insurrection charges, following an investigation that deemed his Dec. 3, 2024, declaration of emergency martial law an unconstitutional attempt to undermine South Korea's democratic order. Yoon is accused of using an unconstitutional martial law decree to block the National Assembly, seize electronic data from the National Election Commission (NEC), deploy soldiers to detai

January 27, 2025

S. Korea to develop subway congestion prediction system using weather data

SEOUL, January 27 (AJP) - The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) announced plans on Monday to develop a system that predicts subway congestion levels based on weather conditions. The system, slated for completion by the end of the year, will combine meteorological data with subway congestion information provided by Seoul Metro. According to South Korea's statistical information service, about five million people use Seoul’s subway trains daily, primarily for commu

January 27, 2025

Yoon indicted on charges of insurrection for first time as sitting president

SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol was formally indicted Sunday on charges of leading an insurrection, marking the first time in South Korea’s constitutional history that a sitting president has been prosecuted while in office. The indictment comes 54 days after Yoon’s controversial declaration of emergency martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, which sparked widespread protests and led to his impeachment by the National Assembly. The Seoul Central District Pro

January 26, 2025

Over four million families leave Seoul for Lunar New Year visits

SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - More than four million families are estimated to leave Seoul on Sunday to visit relatives in their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holiday, creating heavy traffic congestion on expressways and country roads nationwide. "Seollal," the Korean Lunar New Year, is one of the country's most significant holidays, drawing families to the home of the eldest member, often grandparents, to share traditional food and participate in ancestral rites. The

January 26, 2025

Holiday rush in S. Korea with over 35 million travelers expected

SEOUL, January 25 (AJP) - The annual mass migration began on Saturday as South Koreans travel to their hometowns to celebrate Lunar New Year, known as Seollal. Seollal, a traditional Korean holiday celebrating the first day of the lunisolar calendar, falls on Wednesday this year. With additional public holidays surrounding Seollal, an estimated 35 million people are expected to travel during the six-day holiday from Saturday to Thursday. The Ministry of Land, Infrastruct

January 25, 2025

Court rejects second bid to extend Yoon's detention

SEOUL, January 25 (AJP) - A Seoul court on Saturday rejected prosecutors' second request to extend the detention of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law declaration last month. On Friday, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed the prosecution's initial request for a 10-day extension, citing a lack of reasonable grounds for the prosecution to continue the investigation. Prosecutors filed their second request on Saturday, only to be denied on similar grounds.

January 25, 2025

Court rejects extension of Yoon's detention

SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - A court on Friday rejected prosecutors' request to extend the detention of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Earlier in the day, they filed for an extension with the Seoul Central District Court, as his detention period is set to expire early next week, amid his constant refusal to cooperate with questioning over his botched martial law debacle last month. But the court refused the request, citing a lack of proper grounds for prosecutors to proceed with the i

January 24, 2025