Protesters gather for legalization of same-sex marriages in Seoul

SEOUL, October 11 (AJP) - People gathered to protest South Korea's current law prohibiting same-sex marriages at a press conference held in Seoul on Thursday. Their protest came just a day before they filed a lawsuit seeking to legalize LGBT marriages. About two dozen protesters from 11 same-sex couples argued for their rights to marry and pursue happiness regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. They argued same-sex couples should have the same l

October 11, 2024

Han Kang becomes first South Korean novelist to win Nobel Prize in Literature

SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - Han Kang won the Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday, making history as the first South Korean novelist to receive this prestigious honor. The Swedish Academy selected the 53-year-old author for her "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life." The academy praised her "unique awareness of the connections between body and soul, the living and the dead" as well as her "poetic an

October 10, 2024

Korea to join FTSE Russell global bond index next year

SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - Korea will join one of the world's top three bond indexes, managed by London-based FTSE Russell, starting in November 2025. FTSE Russell said Tuesday that the nation's government bonds will be included in the World Government Bond Index (WGBI). This marks the fourth attempt and successful inclusion since being appointed to the index provider's review list in September 2022. FTSE Russell explained that South Korea's market accessibilit

October 10, 2024

Ambassador lodges complaint as China lays claim to authentic South Korean dishes

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - The government has expressed concerns to China over its attempts to list traditional South Korean dishes as part of its own intangible cultural heritage. South Korean Ambassador to China Chung Jae-ho said he lodged an official complaint on Monday, as such attempts have sparked controversy here. "We are closely monitoring the matter to address any historical distortions preemptively and take appropriate actions," Chung said. He added the embassy is

October 8, 2024

Festival offers Vietnamese culinary delights

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - A food festival promoting Viet Nam's famous noodle soup Phở was held in Seoul over the weekend. Hosted by Viet Nam's daily newspaper Tuổi Trẻ and travel agency Saigontourist Group, the two-day event delighted many visitors with the culinary offerings of the Southeast Asian country. "The festival is a way of experiencing various aspects of Vietnamese culture through food," said Vietnamese Ambassador to Seoul Vu Ho during the opening ceremony

October 8, 2024

Lawmakers call for probe into 4 trillion-won cryptocurrency fraud

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - Democratic Party lawmakers Yang Moon-suk and Min Hyung-bae called for a thorough investigation into a cryptocurrency fraud that has caused an estimated four trillion won ($29.7 billion) in damages, during a National Assembly audit in Seoul on Monday. The so-called "KOK" token, promoted through a multi-level marketing scheme, attracted 1.86 million domestic and international investors. Promises of monthly interest rates between 4 percent and 20 perc

October 8, 2024

Two dozen minors earn millions annually in Korea

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - About two dozen minors in Korea have earned over 100 million Korean won annually over the past five years, according to data released by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) on Monday. Data also showed that there were 360 business owners who are teenagers or under, as of August this year. Among them, 20 earned over 100 million won, 41 between 50 million and 100 million won, and the rest below 50 million won. One of these young high-earners was under

October 7, 2024

Korean regulator to investigate TikTok's potential privacy law violations

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - Korea's media regulator plans to investigate TikTok for potential violations of information and data protection rules, industry sources said Monday. The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) is examining the social video platform's policy, which automatically requires users to consent to receiving marketing and advertising materials during sign-up, while such consent should be optional under the nation's information act. The KCC plans to inves

October 7, 2024

Surge in unpaid wages for foreign workers in Korea amid economic downturn

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - An increasing number of foreign workers in Korea have faced issues with receiving their wages or experiencing delays in receiving their wages. According to a report by People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Kim So-hee based on data from the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service on Monday, government payouts to cover these unpaid wages have nearly doubled over the past four years. In 2022, about 79.1 billion Korean won (US$58.8 million) in back wa

October 7, 2024

North Korea continues to send trash-filled balloons toward South Korea

SEOUL, October 7 (AJP) - North Korea sent more trash-filled balloons toward the South, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on Monday. The isolated country resumed this bizarre campaign just three days after a similar launch occurred late last week. Since late May, North Korea has sent thousands of these balloons in retaliation for leaflets sent across the border by North Korean defectors and activists here. The JCS warned that these balloons could drift into Gyeonggi

October 7, 2024