Season's first snow expected in Seoul

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - The season's first snow is expected in Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas on Thursday, with sub-zero temperatures lingering, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. "A heavy snowfall is expected later in the day over a few hours, which may disrupt the evening rush hour," the KMA said, advising people to stay updated with the latest weather forecasts. The capital region may see 1 to 5 centimeters of snow, while northeastern

December 4, 2025

INTERVIEW: China's Roborock challenges Samsung, LG with high-end robot vacuums

SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - Roborock is upending South Korea’s home appliance market — long dominated by Samsung and LG — by rapidly expanding its foothold with high-end robot vacuums. Priced at around 2 million won ($1,370), the company’s premium models have won over consumers and helped propel the robot vacuum segment to a 1 trillion won market. Roborock’s strategy of moving beyond cleaning into full home automation is setting a new benchmark for

December 4, 2025

National team coach Hong Myung-bo arrives in Washington for World Cup draw

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - National team coach Hong Myung-bo arrived in Washington, D.C., just days before this week's group draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Speaking to reporters at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia on Wednesday, Hong said, "Just qualifying for the World Cup is a great honor." When asked which countries would be ideal opponents for South Korea in the upcoming quadrennial sporting event next summer, which will be the first to fea

December 4, 2025

INTERVIEW: South Korea's Tesolo targets global humanoid market with robotic hand

SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - South Korean robotic gripper maker Tesolo is positioning itself at the forefront of the emerging “physical AI” era, betting that its multi-joint robotic hand can become a core component of next-generation humanoids. The company plans to accelerate commercialization through partnerships with major Korean manufacturers and global humanoid robotics startups. In an interview, CEO Kim Young-jin said Tesolo’s competitive edge lies in its

December 4, 2025

PHOTOS: One year after martial law, citizens return to the streets

SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - On December 3, marking one year since the declaration of martial law, groups from both the progressive and conservative blocs held separate rallies in Yeouido, Seoul. Progressive groups, including the Emergency Action for Ending Insurrection and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, gathered around National Assembly Station, calling for the dismantling of martial law. Participants held light sticks and candles, recalling the night the de

December 4, 2025

North Korea-U.S. Summit without denuclearization: a 'Korea passing'

When South Korea’s new Democratic Party president took office in June, his administration moved quickly to explore the possibility of a summit between North Korea and the United States. During his first meeting with the U.S. president, President Lee Jae Myung described himself as a “pace maker” and the American president as a “peace maker,” signaling his intention to shepherd the two sides toward dialogue. His approach echoes the Moon Jae-in government’s diplo

December 4, 2025

Gov't ramps up safety inspections for high-rise buildings after Hong Kong's deadly fire

SEOUL, December 3 (AJP) - Following a massive fire at a high-rise apartment complex in Hong Kong, government authorities here are conducting emergency safety inspections of buildings over 30 floors. Despite current regulations mandating the use of non-combustible materials and the installation of safety-related equipment, some buildings constructed before these regulations took effect still use flammable materials. Of some 140 skyscrapers over 50 floors or 200 meters, 18 are affec

December 3, 2025

Korean authorities up penalties and tax probe to fight online scalpers

SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - Scalping of concert and sports tickets has exploded across Korea—surging 41-fold over the past five years—despite tougher penalties and enforcement, prompting regulators and tax authorities to intensify punitive measures. Ticketbay, the country's largest resale platform, is now capping all resale prices at 1 million won ($681) in an attempt to rein in runaway premiums and speculative behavior. The platform said Monday that listings wit

December 3, 2025

Chief Justice calls for thorough discussion on judicial reform

SEOUL, December 3 (AJP) - The Supreme Court's Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae emphasized the need for thorough public discussion on ongoing talks for judicial reform, citing the importance of protecting citizens' rights and maintaining social order. Speaking at a luncheon with President Lee Jae Myung at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, Cho said, "While not everyone may agree with judicial decisions, these verdicts gain legitimacy and trust through the constitution

December 3, 2025

Samsung wins national technology award for GDDR7 as AI inference demand grows

SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics’ latest graphics memory was recognized by South Korea’s government as a key technology underpinning the country’s future AI competitiveness, amid growing industry focus on AI inference rather than model training. At the 2025 Korea Tech Festival, hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy at COEX in Seoul on Wednesday, Samsung received the Korea Technology Awards Presidential Prize for its 12-nanometer, 40 g

December 3, 2025