Police forward Gangnam Style rapper Psy to prosecution over illegal drug prescriptions SEOUL, June 02 (AJP) - South Korean police have referred Gangnam Style rapper Park Jae-sang, globally known as Psy, to prosecutors on charges of violating medical laws by using his staff to illegally obtain highly regulated prescription drugs. The case highlights South Korea's strict enforcement of regulations governing psychotropic medications. The 48-year-old singer is accused of bypassing mandatory face-to-face medical consultations to secure sleeping pills and anxiety medication over a June 2, 2026

Researchers discover natural substance capable of slowing down cancer cell growth SEOUL, June 02 (AJP) - Scientists from South Korea and the United States have discovered that a natural substance produced when the body breaks down dietary fats can directly block a key protein responsible for cancer cell growth, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology said Tuesday. The joint study, led by Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) Professor Kim Se-yoon and Korea University Professor Byun Young-joo, identified that a fat byproduct called 13-HODE June 2, 2026

Consumer prices hit 26-month high as fuel prices soar SEOUL, June 2 (AJP) - South Korea's consumer prices rose 3.1 percent in May from a year earlier, the Ministry of Statistics and Data said on Tuesday. Consumer prices, which serve as a key gauge of inflation, rose above 3 percent for the first time in 26 months since February 2024, fueled by sharp increases in petroleum and industrial product prices. An index measuring the prices of daily necessities also rose to 3.3 percent, the highest level since March 2024, suggesting that households co June 2, 2026

SK hynix reports no production disruption after minor spark at Cheongju plant SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - SK Hynix confirms no production disruption after minor pipe spark at Cheongju plant SK Hynix reported zero disruptions to semiconductor production following a minor spark at its Cheongju plant in South Korea, despite the incident triggering the evacuation of 3,600 employees. The company stated that no major injuries occurred during the maintenance work and manufacturing operations remain fully intact. The incident began at 10:32 a.m. on the 1st in a sixth-floor gas room c June 1, 2026

BOK's two-day conference opens with warnings over stablecoins and digital money shift SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - The spread of stablecoins could reinforce the dominance of the U.S. dollar and weaken monetary sovereignty in other economies, European Central Bank executive board member Isabel Schnabel warned on Monday at the Bank of Korea's annual conference in Seoul on Monday. At the two-day conference held under the theme "Central Banks and the Future of Money" at the central bank's annex hall, Schnabel said in her keynote speech that the rapid spread of stablecoin June 1, 2026

Fire and toxic gas leak at SK hynix plant force 3,600 workers to evacuate SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - A fire and subsequent toxic gas leak at an SK Hynix factory in Cheongju, South Korea, prompted the evacuation of 3,600 employees on Monday morning. Seven workers were transported to an affiliated hospital after exposure to the chemicals, though the company reported no disruption to overall production, firefighters said. The incident began at 10:32 a.m. (0132 GMT) in a sixth-floor gas room connecting the M15 and M15X facilities at the company's Cheongju 4 Campus. Spri June 1, 2026

Update: Five killed in South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace factory explosion SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - An explosion at a Hanwha Aerospace factory in South Korea killed at least five people and injured two on Monday morning, according to police and rescuers. The blast prompted an emergency response as rescue workers continue to search for three unaccounted individuals. The incident occurred at 10:59 a.m. (0159 GMT) at the company's plant in Oesam, located in Daejeon's Yuseong District. Emergency dispatchers received about 30 simultaneous calls from people in the are June 1, 2026

Thousands explore South Korean palaces during central Seoul walking event SEOUL, May 31 (AJP) - More than 2,000 people walked through the historic royal palaces of central Seoul on Sunday to experience South Korean traditional culture. The event aimed to showcase the harmony between the capital city's modern landscape and its historical sites. The 2026 Seoul Foreigner Palace Walking Contest, hosted by Aju News Corporation, brought together about 1,200 foreign nationals and 800 local citizens. The seven-kilometer circular route started at Gwanghwamun Plaza May 31, 2026

KOSPI surges to record 8,476 on Iran-Hormuz deal reports SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - The KOSPI surged 3.55 percent to close at a record 8,476.15, its sharpest advance this week, as reports of a United States-Iran deal in principle to reopen the Strait of Hormuz unleashed a broad rally that lifted autos and batteries alongside semiconductors — a breadth the AI-driven run had conspicuously failed to deliver in prior sessions. The catalyst was unambiguous. A senior American official confirmed during the session that Washington and Tehran had reached a f May 29, 2026

Korea's tax revenue brims from strong stock and corporate earnings SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - South Korea’s national tax revenue expanded sharply during the first four months of this year on track for excess revenue of 25.2 trillion won ($17 billion) this year on blistering stock market rally and corporate earnings, the government said Friday. According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Friday, cumulative national tax revenue from January to April reached 164.1 trillion won ($109.7 billion), adding 21.9 trillion won from the same period last year. May 29, 2026