King Charles offers condolences over deadly wildfires in South Korea

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - King Charles III on Sunday expressed deep condolences over the massive wildfires devastating southeastern South Korea, calling the disaster “catastrophic” and extending sympathy to those affected. “My wife and I were utterly appalled to hear of the catastrophic wildfires currently burning in the southeast of South Korea, a region that I know extended such a warm welcome to my late mother during her State Visit in 1999,” The British m

March 31, 2025

Police launch special unit to combat online drug trafficking

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - Police launched a new specialized unit on Monday dedicated to tackling the surge in drug trafficking through digital platforms, consolidating resources previously spread across 17 provincial departments. The "Online Drug Investigation Team" will target illegal transactions conducted through dark web marketplaces, encrypted messaging services like Telegram, and unregulated virtual asset exchanges that have become primary channels for drug distributio

March 31, 2025

Gov't proposes supplementary budget for disaster relief and economic recovery

SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - The government on Sunday proposed a supplementary budget of at least 10 trillion won (US$6.8 billion) to shore up the struggling economy, which has been further battered by massive wildfires that have ripped through the southeastern region since last week, amid lingering political turmoil following President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle late last year. During an emergency meeting with key officials, Economy and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mo

March 30, 2025

Man booked for allegedly sparking wildfires in southern region

SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - Police said on Sunday they have nabbed a man suspected of igniting the massive wildfires that have devastated the southeastern part of the country since last week. The 56-year-old man is accused of sparking the blaze around noon on March 22 during an ancestral rite at his family grave in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province. The flames then rapidly spread to nearby areas including Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok, fueled by strong winds and dry w

March 30, 2025

Pressure mounts on Constitutional Court to rule on Yoon's impeachment

SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - With the Constitutional Court still wrestling over President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial for more than a month, it remains uncertain when the court will deliver its verdict, as public division and conflict continue to escalate amid the country's prolonged leadership vacuum. Given that at least two days are required for security arrangements and other preparations, the verdict is now expected sometime in April, as the court has yet to set a final

March 30, 2025

South Korea offers $2 million humanitarian aid to quake-hit Myanmar

SEOUL, March 29 (AJP) - The South Korean government has pledged $2 million (approximately 3 billion won) in emergency humanitarian assistance to Myanmar following a powerful earthquake that struck the country on Friday. South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday that it hopes the aid "will help efforts to save lives in the affected areas." The ministry added that it "will closely monitor the damage situation and consider additional support if

March 29, 2025

Death toll from South Korean wildfires rises to 70 as flames reignite

SEOUL, March 29 (AJP) - The death toll from South Korea's devastating wildfires has climbed to 70 people, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Saturday. The fires have caused 25 deaths, 5 serious injuries, and 24 minor injuries across five cities and counties in North Gyeongsang Province, including Uiseong, Andong, Cheongsong, Yeongyang, and Yeongdeok. In South Gyeongsang Province, wildfires in Sancheong and Hadong resulted in 4 deaths, 5

March 29, 2025

Acting President attends ceremony remembering fallen sailors

SEOUL, March 28 (AJP) - Acting President Han Duck-soo on Friday condemned North Korea for persistently resorting to the development of nuclear weapons programs and continuous provocations against South Korea, vowing to immediately and resolutely respond to them. He made the remarks at an event in Daejeon to commemorate the deaths of around 55 South Korean sailors who lost their lives during naval skirmishes with North Korea and other incidents in the West Sea. "The repressiv

March 28, 2025

US offers condolences to South Korea over wildfires, pledges support

SEOUL, March 28 (AJP) - The U.S. extended its condolences to South Korea on Friday for the loss of life caused by weeklong massive wildfires here, pledging to offer any necessary support. "The United States offers our sincere condolences to the people of for the tragic loss of life and the extensive damage caused by ongoing wildfires in the southeastern region," said Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department in a statement. "The deadly

March 28, 2025

Firefighters battle worst-ever wildfires as death toll rises to 28

SEOUL, March 28 (AJP) - With massive wildfires ravaging the southeastern part of the country for a week, the death toll continues to rise, leaving at least 28 people dead and dozens more injured as of Friday. Nearly 40,000 residents have been forced to evacuate as around 48,000 hectares of land and forests have been burned, making it the worst wildfire ever. The fires also decimated around 3,500 houses and other buildings, turning them into ashes, while affecting villages and tow

March 28, 2025