North Korean hacker slapped with US sanctions over cyber scam

SEOUL, July 9 (AJP) - A North Korean hacker, accused of being involved in a scheme for illegal cyber activities, was slapped with sanctions along with several Russian firms, the U.S. Department of the Treasury said Monday. The department said it sanctioned Song Kum-hyok, linked to a hacking group run by the North's Reconnaissance General Bureau, known as Andariel, for facilitating North Korean IT workers to find remote jobs overseas with "falsified identities and nationalit

July 9, 2025

Foreign language media association celebrates 10 years of connecting South Korea with the world

SEOUL, July 09 (AJP) - The Foreign Language Newspaper Association of Korea marked its 10th anniversary on July 8 with a ceremony at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul. Lawmakers, diplomats, media executives, and business leaders gathered to reflect on the press's evolving role in a time of global tension and rapid change. Established in 2015, the association brings together South Korea's major foreign-language news outlets. Over the past decade, it has helped deliver

July 9, 2025

North Korea to offer AI-related courses at universities

SEOUL, July 9 (AJP) - North Korea is expected to embrace new technologies with universities likely to offer courses related to artificial intelligence (AI). The move was part of an educational reform discussed at a recent two-day Workers' Party gathering which was held late last month and attended by leader Kim Jong-un, the state-run Rodong Sinmun reported on Wednesday. The daily further explained that universities have reorganized their study programs by consolidating depart

July 9, 2025

Korean agricultural machinery firms brace for 25 percent US import tariff

SEOUL, July 09 (AJP) - South Korea’s agricultural machinery industry is bracing for a major blow after the United States announced it would impose a 25 percent retaliatory tariff on all Korean imports beginning August 1, a move that threatens to disrupt one of the country's most export-reliant sectors. Among the hardest hit are leading tractor manufacturers Daedong and TYM, both of which derive a substantial portion of their revenue from the North American market. Dae

July 9, 2025

Power demand hits July record, prompting emergency measures

SEOUL, July 09 (AJP) - South Korea’s electricity demand surged to its highest level in three years this week, as an unusually early and intense heat wave swept across the country. National power consumption reached 93.4 gigawatts on Monday, surpassing the previous July record of 92.99 GW set in 2022. By Tuesday evening, the load climbed further to 95.7 GW, pushing electricity reserves below the critical 10 percent threshold for the first time this summer, according to data f

July 9, 2025

Trump claims South Korea pays 'very little' for USFK upkeep

SEOUL, July 9 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump once again raised the issue Tuesday that South Korea is paying "very little" for the upkeep of maintaining some 28,500 U.S. troops here, arguing that it should pay for its own defense. "We rebuilt South Korea. We stayed there..... and they pay us very little for the military," Trump said during a cabinet meeting at the White House, while falsely claiming that 45,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea. "

July 9, 2025

From streetwear to skincare, Seoul's Seongsu-dong emerges as Korea's 'Style Capital'

Editor's Note: This is the sixth article in our series exploring the evolving landscape of the Korean beauty industry and the products that captivate international visitors. SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - In the heart of Seongsu-dong, a once-industrial neighborhood now transformed into one of Seoul’s trendiest enclaves, foreign visitors will find a curated showcase of South Korea’s rising fashion and beauty prowess — all under the banner of e-commerce powerhouse Musi

July 9, 2025

TRAVEL: Korea's coastal 'fan trail,' where land meets sea

GANGNEUNG, July 09 (AJP) - Along South Korea's rugged East Coast, a unique pedestrian path known as the Badabuchae-gil Trail offers a captivating journey where ancient geology meets stunning ocean vistas. Stretching from Jeongdongjin to Simgok Port in Gangneung, this coastal walk is distinguished as the nation's sole trail built along a marine terrace, a testament to millions of years of geological transformation. The coastal terrace at Jeongdongjin, a prominent feature

July 9, 2025

KAIST president urges action for South Korea to join AI's global top three

SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung on Monday called for South Korea to take bold steps to become one of the world's three leading artificial intelligence powers, stressing the urgency of building a fully independent AI ecosystem. Speaking at a national science and technology policy forum held in Seoul on Monday, Lee laid out a wide-ranging strategy that ties AI development to national infrastructure, education, semiconductors, and global alliances. &qu

July 8, 2025

Teaser video for BLACKPINK's new single builds excitement ahead of release this week

SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - K-pop girl group BLACKPINK unveiled a teaser video for their upcoming single on Tuesday, just days ahead of its release later this week. The music video for "Jump," which is set for release on Friday, was created by multiple Grammy-winning American director Dave Meyers, according to their agency YG Entertainment. The quartet already showcased the song during their two-day concert in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province last weekend, where the four members reu

July 8, 2025