Strike by unionized railway workers averted after overnight negotiations

SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - A full-scale strike by unionized railway workers in Seoul was averted early Thursday morning after a breakthrough was made during overnight negotiations between labor and management. State-run rail operator KORAIL's workers called off its planned strike after both sides tentatively agreed to further discuss key issues including a hike in salaries and safety measures, allowing all trains to run as scheduled. The union had demanded performance-based

December 11, 2025

Seoul to hold govt briefings for policy roadmap to president live

SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will begin his first round of public-sector briefings starting Thursday, setting the stage for his administration’s initial policy roadmap across the economy, agriculture, labor, and data governance. Lee, who just completed his first six months in office, will receive reports from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and t

December 11, 2025

OPINION: Morning 3K, Keep going

My day begins with what I call a “morning 3K.” Since January, this routine has quietly reshaped my life. In summer, I rise at 5:30 a.m.; in early winter, at 6:30. As dawn breaks, I drink a glass of water and head to a nearby park. After a brief warm-up, I run three kilometers in about twenty minutes. The seasons have changed around me—spring, summer, fall, and now winter. In summer, sweat pours down, and I rinse my face with cool water. Even in late fall, I f

December 11, 2025

SM warns of legal action vs online harassment of Winter after rumor with Jungkook

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) -SM Entertainment has issued a sharp warning over what it calls a surge of malicious online posts targeting aespa member Winter, the South Korean agency threatening to expand legal action against defamation, sexual harassment and fabricated rumors circulating after recent dating speculation involving BTS member Jungkook. In a statement released Wednesday, the agency said it was “fully aware of the seriousness” of the growing wave of harmful co

December 10, 2025

Mystery thriller debuts at No. 2 on Netflix's non-English chart

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Netflix's latest South Korean series "The Price of Confession" ranked to No. 2 on the American streaming giant's chart for non-English-language shows, immediately after its release last week. Since its release on Dec. 5, the 12-episode series has racked up 2.2 million views as of Wednesday. It also made the top 10 lists in nine countries including Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. The mystery thriller starring actresses Jeon Do-ye

December 10, 2025

South Korean robotics leaders highlight rise of 'Physical AI' at COMEUP 2025

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - A discussion on the growing convergence of robotics and artificial intelligence drew a full audience at COMEUP 2025, South Korea's largest annual startup festival, on Wednesday, as two South Korean robotics entrepreneurs described how so-called "physical AI" is reshaping the sector and opening new markets for humanoid machines. The session, titled "Physical AI: Where Robotics Meets Intelligence," brought together ROBOTIS CEO Kim B

December 10, 2025

Coupang CEO resigns over data breach; US parent firm names interim chief

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Coupang said on Thursday that CEO Park Dae-jun has resigned following a major data breach, taking responsibility for the incident and its fallout. The e-commerce firm said Park apologized for disappointing customers and the public, and cited a sense of accountability in stepping down. The company’s U.S.-based parent, Coupang Inc., appointed Harold Rogers as interim CEO. Rogers, a legal and compliance specialist, has he

December 10, 2025

Korea takes more active approach to find missing persons through AI and viral media

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Kim Tae-hee had a habit of staring at things a little longer than others, narrowing his eyes to make sense of a world blurred by poor sight. His speech was halting, shaped by a lifelong mental disability, but he could say his name and home phone number. None of it helped on April 23, 1988, when he disappeared in Seoul's Gangnam District at age 14. Thirty-seven years have passed since. Today, at 51, this is what he might look like. What once required fo

December 10, 2025

LG Uplus accused of hindering data breach probe by destroying critical server

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has requested a police investigation into LG Uplus over allegations that the company intentionally disposed of a key server linked to a customer data breach. The ministry said the company discarded one of two APPM servers, which are critical for managing server account access and permissions, and submitted only the remaining server to a joint investigation team. “Both servers are required for an

December 10, 2025

PPP lawmaker of American descent resigns to return to medical practice

SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Ihn Yo-han, a lawmaker from the main opposition People Power Party, announced his resignation at a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, urging "national unity." His abrupt resignation comes amid the struggling party's internal division and conflicts in the wake of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched Dec. 3 martial law debacle last year. The great-grandson of American missionary Eugene Bell, who was born in the liber

December 10, 2025