Journalist

Lee Hugh
  • Qatar government organizes emergency flight for South Koreans stranded in Doha
    Qatar government organizes emergency flight for South Koreans stranded in Doha SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - An emergency direct flight carrying South Koreans departed Doha on Monday following negotiations between the South Korean Embassy in Qatar and the Qatari government. The Qatar Airways flight, carrying some 300 South Korean nationals, took off at approximately 3:45 p.m. (0645 GMT). According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the aircraft is scheduled to land at Incheon International Airport at 12:21 a.m. on Tuesday. The flight was arranged as the regional airspace remains under heavy restrictions due to the ongoing war involving Iran. Qatari airspace has been operating under a limited-opening policy, primarily allowing select emergency flights to Europe. MOFA stated that the South Korean Embassy in Qatar requested the resumption of flights to facilitate the return of its citizens. The Qatari government accepted the request, leading to the organization of this emergency departure. The evacuation follows a similar operation in the United Arab Emirates, where both commercial and chartered flights were used to transport South Koreans who had been stranded by the sudden closure of flight paths. South Koreans in neighboring countries, including Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain, have also sought assistance as commercial travel remains highly volatile throughout the Persian Gulf. South Korea has been coordinating with local governments across the Middle East to secure safe passage for its nationals since the escalation of hostilities in Iran led to widespread flight cancellations. Regional authorities have maintained that while most commercial corridors remain closed, humanitarian and evacuation flights are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 2026-03-09 16:55:38
  • Mug shots of alleged serial killer released
    Mug shots of alleged serial killer released SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - Prosecutors on Monday released the mug shots of a suspect arrested for allegedly committing a series of killings. The Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office released the suspect's photos along with personal information including her name and age, which will be made public until April 7. Kim So-young is accused of giving drinks containing benzodiazepine-class drugs to three men on separate occasions between mid-December and early February, causing two of them to die and one to lose consciousness but recover after treatment. Prosecutors also suspect she may have committed other crimes with laced drugs and that there could be more victims. During questioning, the 20-year-old admitted, "It's true that I mixed prescribed psychiatric medication into a hangover remedy and gave it to them," but added, "I didn't know they would die." Amid a sharp rise in a series of shocking crimes, such a disclosure becomes possible under relevant laws revised in 2010, which allow the publication of suspects' pictures in grave crimes such as homicide, serial killings, and the abduction or sexual abuse of children, but only when there are reasonable grounds to believe the suspect is the perpetrator and when it is deemed necessary for the public good. 2026-03-09 16:45:02
  • South Korea’s Cheongung-II Air Defense Missile Gains Combat Credibility in UAE
    South Korea’s Cheongung-II Air Defense Missile Gains Combat Credibility in UAE Modern warfare is shifting toward unmanned systems such as drones and missiles, increasing the importance of missile-based air defenses. As conflicts increasingly begin with missile launches — a so-called “button war” — competition is intensifying to counter missiles with missiles. ◆Cheongung-II said to have intercepted Iranian missiles, proving capability in the Middle East Industry officials said Monday that South Korea’s Cheongung-II, a medium-range surface-to-air missile deployed in the United Arab Emirates, has demonstrated interception capability in combat following the outbreak of war in the region. Rep. Yoo Yong-won, a member of the National Assembly Defense Committee, and others said the Cheongung-II deployed in the UAE hit Iranian missiles earlier this month with a 96% success rate. A Cheongung battery is reported to have fired about 60 interceptors at incoming targets. The reported rate is comparable to the U.S. Patriot, widely regarded as among the world’s top air defense systems. The UAE has recently asked the South Korean government for early delivery of interceptors, according to reports. Often described as a Korean version of the Patriot, the Cheongung-II is produced by LIG Nex1, Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Aerospace. It uses a cold-launch method, ejecting the missile vertically before igniting its engine in the air. The system includes a multifunction radar for tracking targets, an operations control center, launchers and vehicles, and is designed to strike targets at speeds of Mach 4 to 5. The Cheongung-II has a maximum range of 40 kilometers (25 miles) and is designed to destroy enemy missiles below 15 kilometers (9 miles) in altitude using a hit-to-kill direct-impact method. Mass production began in 2024, and two batteries are currently deployed in the UAE. LIG Nex1, the lead contractor, has secured about $9.5 billion (10.2 trillion won) in Middle East orders through contracts with the UAE (about $3.5 billion in January 2022), Saudi Arabia (about $3.5 billion in November 2023) and Iraq (about $2.5 billion in September 2024). Deliveries to Saudi Arabia and Iraq are expected soon. The system’s price — reported to be about half that of the Patriot — is also fueling expectations for additional orders. ◆Rising Middle East tensions expand the missile market As military tensions rise in the Middle East, demand for air defenses is growing quickly. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is confirmed to operate missiles including the Khorramshahr 4, with a range of more than 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles), as well as the Shahab-3B medium-range ballistic missile and short-range ballistic missiles such as the Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar for precision strikes. The missiles can reach not only Iran’s territory but also Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and southeastern Europe, making stronger air defenses a priority for neighboring countries. Last month, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth warned that Iran continues to expand missile production and could possess at least 5,000 ballistic missiles by the end of 2027. With the Russia-Ukraine war followed by war involving the United States, Israel and Iran, missile demand is spreading beyond the Middle East and the Caucasus to parts of Europe. Hanwha Aerospace’s Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher has gained traction in those regions. The system can fire up to 12 rockets and can use guided munitions of varying ranges, offering precision-strike capability. It has signed contracts with Poland, Estonia and Norway, and is also reported to have been delivered to some Middle Eastern countries. The broader push for missile capabilities is also feeding competition to develop hypersonic missiles. The Agency for Defense Development recently said it is working with Hyundai Rotem to field a hypersonic missile by 2034 that can fly at six times the speed of sound. Hyundai Rotem began developing a hypersonic vehicle called “Hycore” in 2018 and said a 2024 test launch maintained stable propulsion at speeds above Mach 6. Russia’s Zircon is a hypersonic cruise missile with a top speed of Mach 9 and a range of about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles). The United States is developing the AGM-183 ARRW hypersonic missile, and China has entered the competition with the DF-17. Hypersonic missile development is limited to a small number of countries because it requires advanced technology. Choi Ki-il, a professor of military studies at Sangji University, said modern warfare is increasingly defined by precision strikes using unmanned systems such as missiles and drones rather than traditional wars involving large troop formations. He said the battlespace is expanding beyond land, sea and air to include digital and space domains, and demand for missile weapons is likely to keep rising.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-09 16:39:24
  • Travel time suggests USFK assets may join Iran nuclear raid
    Travel time suggests USFK assets may join Iran nuclear raid SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - As Tehran remains defiant with the war entering its second week, intelligence signals suggest the United States and Israel are preparing for a potential special forces raid on Iranian nuclear facilities — an operation that could involve key air defense assets stationed in South Korea. Defense authorities in Seoul and Washington stressed Monday that the combined defense posture on the Korean Peninsula remains “ironclad,” regardless of any tactical redeployment. Major international outlets including Bloomberg and Axios reported Monday that the U.S. Department of Defense and the Israeli military are finalizing plans for the latter phase of “Operation Epic Fury.” The objective would be to secure or destroy roughly 450 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent believed to be hidden inside underground tunnels in Isfahan, Iran. Uranium enriched to 60 percent — considered near weapons-grade — can be further refined to weapons-grade levels of 90 percent within weeks. Experts estimate the amount in question could be sufficient to produce as many as 11 nuclear bombs. Most of Iran’s highly enriched uranium is believed to remain in underground facilities within the Isfahan nuclear complex, which was heavily damaged during U.S.-Israeli strikes last year. Intelligence assessments suggest portions of the stockpile may have been dispersed to the Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities. The strategic shift toward possible ground operations reflects growing military assessments that airstrikes alone may not be sufficient to eliminate nuclear material buried deep underground. U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at such a possibility during a recent briefing. “We haven’t talked about it. At some point maybe we will. It would be a great thing. Right now we’re just decimating them,” Trump said when asked about the possibility of deploying ground troops into Iran, leaving open the prospect that the air campaign could eventually expand into a limited ground operation. Strategic airlift activity detected in Korea Signs of potential preparation for such an operation have been detected as far away as the Korean Peninsula. Six C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft and two C-5 Galaxy strategic airlifters departed Osan Air Base between Feb. 28 and March 7, according to flight tracking data. While the aircraft’s final destinations were not disclosed, flight times exceeding 14 hours suggest they were bound either for the U.S. mainland or staging areas in the Middle East. The movements have drawn particular attention because the C-5 Galaxy is the only aircraft capable of transporting an entire Patriot PAC-3 missile defense battery in a single lift. Flight tracking data indicates the aircraft likely traveled through Anchorage, Alaska, with potential onward staging points including Ramstein Air Base in Germany or Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean — both key hubs used for Middle East operations. Military experts say such redeployments could indicate that U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) air defense units — widely regarded as among the most experienced in the world — are being repositioned to help shield allied special forces from potential Iranian ballistic missile retaliation during any ground raid. Defense experts urge caution Analysts cautioned that the movements should not immediately be interpreted as a weakening of defenses on the Korean Peninsula. “Of the eight Patriot batteries operated by USFK, only those positioned at core strategic sites are actively deployed, while others remain in reserve storage,” said Jung Kyeong-woon, a research fellow at the Korea Association of Military Studies. “If the assets moved were drawn from these reserve units, it would be difficult to conclude that current interception readiness has been reduced,” Jung said. He added that the U.S. Central Command continuously monitors Iranian missile inventories and the consumption rates of allied interceptors to determine where global air defense assets are most urgently required. “Such decisions are typically made after assessing that redeployment will not compromise deterrence levels in other regions, including the Korean Peninsula,” he said. Both USFK and South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense declined to comment on specific operational movements. “For reasons of operational security, we do not comment on the movement or relocation of specific assets,” a USFK spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that USFK “remains focused on maintaining a robust and ready combat posture on the Korean Peninsula” and reiterated that the U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea “remains ironclad.” A Ministry of National Defense official similarly said it would be inappropriate for Seoul to comment on the internal force operations of USFK. “South Korea and the U.S. will continue close communication and coordination to maintain a combined defense posture that contributes to peace and stability in the region,” the official said. 2026-03-09 16:16:13
  • New Books: Venturenomics Urges Shift From Real Estate to Startups in South Korea
    New Books: 'Venturenomics' Urges Shift From Real Estate to Startups in South Korea Venturenomics=By Kim Gi-yeong, Jium Media. The author says South Korea’s economy is confronting a “trilemma” of real estate dependence, a low birthrate and U.S.-China tensions, and argues the country must break through with innovation. He writes that “the Republic of Korea’s runway is rapidly getting shorter.” In startup terms, “runway” means how long cash reserves can sustain survival. Without innovation, he warns, the national “aircraft” could fail to take off. As what he calls the only solution to secure a runway for a new leap, he proposes a “venture nation” strategy. A central argument is that a real estate-centered structure has weakened innovation capacity. Money tied up in property, he writes, not only resists innovation but also reinforces preferences for jobs at large companies, in professional fields and in the public sector, creating a social climate that discourages entrepreneurship and moves to startups. By contrast, the book says the Chinese government, despite a multiyear property downturn, has refrained from large-scale stimulus and instead focused on strategic industries such as electric vehicles, batteries and artificial intelligence. It says China’s advanced-technology competitiveness has been strengthening quickly, citing the release of DeepSeek as an example. The author calls for “more innovative startups” and points to overseas examples readers can study: Israeli startups targeting the U.S. market from the earliest stages, and Finnish tech firms such as Supercell rising through what he calls the “Nokia diaspora.” He repeatedly notes that domestic-focused Korean startups such as Toss, Baedal Minjok and Zigbang have posted large operating losses, and again stresses the need to expand overseas. He also proposes creating a “startup sovereign wealth fund.” He adds that South Korea’s education structure — often labeled a “medical school republic” — could, paradoxically, become an opportunity to grow K-bio and K-health care industries. The book, however, does not address how to actively cultivate physician-scientists or how the government could build conditions for entrepreneurs to try again after failure, a gap the article notes. Another challenge is breaking what it calls the long-entrenched “myth that real estate never loses.” Soaring home prices are widely seen as obstacles not only to innovation but also to consumption, marriage and childbirth. The president has repeatedly used X to call for stabilizing the real estate market, but the article says no one can guarantee whether the current “war on home prices” will change the market’s direction. “The problem is the nature of capital. Money tied up in real estate rejects innovation. Even when new technology emerges, that capital does not take risks. The entire country’s appetite for risk declines, and the total amount of innovation shrinks. It means capital that flowed into ‘Eterno Cheongdam’ is unlikely to create next-generation semiconductor IP or become seed money for an AI startup. In Korea, real estate is not just an asset but the center of the financial order. As a learned result over the past 20 years, ‘rational’ Koreans came to trust leverage more than labor. Real estate is seen as almost the only ‘investment that does not fail’ in Korean society.” (p. 10) You Are a Runner, Too=By Runnerimba (Yoo Moon-jin), Editor. The author, an experienced runner who logs 800 kilometers a month, writes that “running is the easiest start and creates the biggest change.” He presents running not as simple exercise but as a force that can reshape daily life. Even on days when the body feels heavy, he says, pushing oneself outside to run can ultimately build the confidence of “I can do it.” The book describes benefits of running, saying even short runs can improve cardiovascular endurance and help relieve stress. It also offers practical advice for beginners, including a two-week start plan: for 20 minutes, walk for one minute and run for two minutes, repeating the cycle to build consistency. It also covers when and where to run, pros and cons of morning versus evening runs, and seasonal clothing. The book addresses how to run without knee pain, what to eat before running, how office workers can design routines, how to overcome slumps, and how to prepare for marathons. At the end of each chapter, short tips labeled “Runnerimba’s one-line comment” aim to steady readers when they feel like quitting. Among them: “What a first-time runner needs is not a speedometer but the will to run,” and “Consistency isn’t running every day; it’s continuing to run.” “So the best standard when you jog is this: ‘Can you run while talking?’ It’s simple and applies to anyone. If you can keep a natural conversation while running alongside a friend, that’s jogging. If you’re gasping and can’t finish a sentence, that’s not jogging but high-intensity training. And if you can speak a full sentence without needing to catch your breath afterward, you’re jogging at an appropriate pace. This standard works even when you run alone. You don’t have to actually speak. Count ‘one, two, three, four...’ in your head, hum lyrics, or think, ‘At this pace, I could talk if someone were next to me.’ If you feel that, you’ve already found a great jogging speed.” (pp. 68-69)* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-09 16:03:27
  • Oil Tops $100 as Bond Yields Rise, Raising Risk of 7% Mortgage Rates in South Korea
    Oil Tops $100 as Bond Yields Rise, Raising Risk of 7% Mortgage Rates in South Korea Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pushed international oil prices above $100 a barrel, adding to upward pressure on market interest rates. If bond yields keep climbing, some analysts say mortgage rates could top 7%. As of the 9th, the five major commercial banks — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH NongHyup — were offering five-year fixed (hybrid) mortgage rates of 4.14% to 6.74%, according to the banking sector. Compared with early this year’s 3.94% to 6.24%, the top end has risen 0.50 percentage points in about two months. Mortgage rates have continued to rise even though the Bank of Korea has kept its policy rate unchanged for six straight meetings, largely because yields on financial bonds used as benchmarks have moved higher. The five-year financial bond yield jumped 43.1 basis points — from 3.497% in early January to 3.928% on the 9th. (One basis point equals 0.01 percentage point.) Markets have also seen weakening expectations for rate cuts, while talk of a possible supplementary budget has raised concerns about heavier government bond issuance and supply-demand pressure. Analysts say the latest surge in oil prices has added to the upward push on bond yields. West Texas Intermediate futures briefly rose to $111.24 on the morning of the 9th, breaking above the psychological $100 level for the first time since July 2022, when prices were driven up by the war in Ukraine. With oil rising, the upper end of mortgage rates is expected to exceed 7% soon. Market estimates suggest a 10% rise in oil prices could lift government bond yields by up to 15 basis points. If banks’ funding costs and spreads are also adjusted, the increase in mortgage rates could widen to around 40 basis points, analysts said. In July 2022, five-year fixed mortgage rates were about 4.2% to 6.1%. As the impact of oil above $100 filtered through with a lag, rates topped 7% by October that year, reaching 5.3% to 7.4%. With the Iran situation raising even a “$150 oil scenario,” some analysts say mortgage rates could climb into the mid-7% range if tensions persist. Banks’ efforts to manage household lending are also accelerating the rise in borrowing costs. KakaoBank raised mortgage rates by 0.36 percentage points on March 5, lifting its maximum rate to about 6.5%. It was the bank’s second increase this year, following a 0.1-point hike in January. Industrial Bank of Korea also reduced the limits on its interest-rate discount coupons for mortgages and jeonse loans by 0.1 percentage point and 0.2 percentage point, respectively. Cutting preferential rates has the effect of raising borrowers’ loan rates. Kim Jina, a researcher at Eugene Investment & Securities, said worries are resurfacing that higher oil prices could fuel inflation, lead to policy-rate hikes and push up market rates, as seen during the Russia-Ukraine war. “Korea is especially sensitive to inflation and rate increases, so the swings will be severe,” she said. 2026-03-09 15:57:00
  • Black Monday exposes vulnerabilities of external-reliant Korean economy
    Black Monday exposes vulnerabilities of external-reliant Korean economy SEOUL, Mar 09 (AJP) - The Black Monday bombshell in South Korean capital markets has once again laid bare the vulnerabilities of the country’s external-reliant economy, now facing the dreaded triple highs of oil prices, the dollar and interest rates — a classic recipe for stagflation. Crude prices touched above $110 per barrel for the first time since the early months of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, marking one of the fastest climbs since the oil crises of the 1980s. Futures on U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude soared more than 25 percent Sunday and more than 50 percent since attacks on Iran began on Feb. 28. Dubai crude — the benchmark most relevant for South Korea — closed Friday at $99.14. The jump marks the sharpest escalation in 31 months, since intraday prices briefly cleared $100 in mid-2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The sudden spike in the three major benchmarks — which had stabilized near $80 just a week earlier — was triggered by news that Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, has officially succeeded his father. Mojtaba, long seen as a shadow power broker who famously backed former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is widely viewed as a hardliner whose ascension reinforces fears of a prolonged conflict and the potential shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict has already brought tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to a near standstill. Roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day — about one-fifth of the world’s seaborne crude supply — normally passes through the narrow waterway linking the Persian Gulf to global markets. Data from Vortexa shows that roughly 16 million barrels per day of oil have effectively been stranded behind the strait and cut off from global supply chains. Retail fuel prices have quickly followed the surge. As of Sunday, the average price of gasoline at filling stations in the Seoul metropolitan area reached 1,945.73 won ($1.35) per liter, while diesel climbed to 1,967.19 won — up 11 percent and 18 percent respectively since Feb. 28. In a rare reversal, diesel prices have now surpassed gasoline for the first time since February 2023. Analysts attribute the inversion to rising marine fuel demand and surging maritime logistics costs as tanker traffic reroutes. U.S. President Donald Trump attempted to calm markets by granting India a temporary waiver to import Russian oil and posting on social media that prices would drop “when the destruction of the Iranian nuclear threat is over.” Market sentiment, however, remained rattled. Asia’s energy exposure magnifies the shock The rapid breach of the $100 psychological threshold reverberated across East Asian markets due to the region’s heavy dependence on Middle Eastern energy supplies. In 2025, Asia absorbed 87 percent of the crude oil and 86 percent of liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea remains particularly exposed. The country relies on the Middle East for 70.7 percent of its oil imports and 20.4 percent of LNG supplies, of which roughly 15 percent comes from Qatar. Compounding concerns, Qatar’s main LNG export facility — which normally accounts for roughly 17 percent of global LNG flows — is currently offline after being struck by an Iranian drone. On March 6, Qatar’s energy minister Saad al-Kaabi told the Financial Times that it could take “weeks to months” to restore normal operations even if the war were to end immediately. Financial markets buckle Foreign investors reacted swiftly to the deteriorating outlook, dumping more than 3.3 trillion won ($2.4 billion) worth of KOSPI shares on Monday. The benchmark index plunged nearly 8 percent, while the Korean won weakened toward the 1,500-per-dollar level — its lowest point since the aftermath of the global financial crisis 17 years ago. The panic quickly spilled into the bond market. The three-year government bond yield jumped 25 basis points to 3.477 percent, while the 10-year yield rose 15.3 basis points to 3.769 percent — the biggest single-day increase in 41 months since the aftermath of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s aggressive tightening cycle in September 2022. Verbal intervention from policymakers did little to calm investors. President Lee Jae Myung ordered “extraordinary vigilance” from fiscal and monetary authorities, while Bank of Korea senior deputy governor Ryoo Sang-dai warned that the moves in interest rates and the exchange rate appeared “excessive.” The central bank also announced an extension of its currency swap agreement with the Swiss National Bank. Spillover into the real economy The financial turbulence underscores how sensitive South Korea’s economy remains to oil price shocks. A report released March 3 by the Hyundai Research Institute noted that while South Korea ranked as the world’s 12th-largest economy in 2024, it was the seventh-largest consumer of oil globally. The combined shock of rising crude prices and a weakening won is expected to intensify inflationary pressure. Hyundai Research Institute estimates that if international oil prices average $150 per barrel, consumer inflation could rise by 0.8 percentage points to 2.9 percent, while economic growth could slow by a similar margin from its current 2 percent forecast. The Bank of Korea and government projections of roughly 2 percent growth were based on oil prices averaging around $62 per barrel. Should growth slip below 2 percent — following an already weak 1 percent expansion in 2025 — economists warn the economy could drift toward stagflation as import-driven inflation collides with slowing output. “As South Korea is a net energy importer, the upward trend in the current account surplus is likely to lose momentum as oil prices rise,” said Lee Min-hyuk, a researcher at KB Kookmin Bank. Stock rally loses steam The geopolitical shock has also punctured the optimism surrounding Korea’s stock market rally. “Since the KOSPI had outperformed other markets, there is still room for profit-taking, and with a lack of positive catalysts further declines are possible,” said Cho Jun-ki, an analyst at SK Securities. The benchmark index surged 76 percent in 2025 — nearly triple the gains of Japan’s Nikkei 225 or Taiwan’s TAIEX. Even before Monday’s crash, the KOSPI had risen 14.9 percent in 2026, more than double the Nikkei’s roughly 7 percent gain. Bond markets may also face sustained pressure. “During the 2011 Libyan crisis, government bond yields rose by more than one percentage point between the start of the year and August,” said Kim Sung-soo, a researcher at Hanwha Investment & Securities. Kim expects a similar trajectory this year, projecting a ceiling of around 3.5 percent for the three-year yield and 3.9 percent for the 10-year yield. “A quick recovery is unlikely,” he said. Oil outlook remains grim Energy markets are bracing for further volatility. Goldman Sachs warned in a Sunday report that crude prices could exceed $150 per barrel by the end of March, noting that the roughly 20 million barrels of oil transiting the Strait of Hormuz each day places the current crisis on a scale comparable to the oil shocks of the 1970s. Daishin Securities reached a similar conclusion, saying oil could remain above $100 for an extended period if global strategic petroleum reserves begin to tighten. South Korea currently holds strategic petroleum reserves equivalent to roughly 200 days of consumption, according to the Korea National Oil Corporation — the sixth-largest reserve among non-oil-producing countries. 2026-03-09 15:54:59
  • Indian spring festival brings colors flying in Miryang
    Indian spring festival brings colors flying in Miryang SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - Miryang city in South Gyeongsang Province held the 16th Holi Hai Festival at the Sunshine Miryang Theme Park Cultural Plaza on March 8. Approximately 1,000 Korean and foreign participants joined the event. Holi is a traditional Indian festival celebrating the arrival of spring where people throw colored powder and water at each other. The event was designed as a platform for communication where citizens and foreign residents can enjoy together beyond barriers of nationality and language. The festival began with traditional Indian food experiences and wellness programs, followed by an afternoon session where participants threw colored powder to DJ music. The Yoga Culture Town within the Sunshine Theme Park where the festival was held blended authentic Indian yoga culture with the Holi festival. 2026-03-09 15:49:23
  • UAE airlifts Korean MSAM II interceptors as Gulf tensions rise
    UAE airlifts Korean MSAM II interceptors as Gulf tensions rise SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - South Korea has delivered more than 30 interceptor missiles for its Cheongung-II (M-SAM II) medium-range surface-to-air missile system to the United Arab Emirates ahead of schedule, as the Gulf state seeks to bolster its air defenses amid rising tensions with Iran. According to government sources, the UAE had requested early delivery of additional Cheongung-II batteries. Seoul reportedly found the request difficult to meet due to existing supply commitments to other buyers such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq, as well as logistical challenges in transporting military equipment to an active conflict zone. The UAE instead asked South Korea to accelerate shipments of interceptor missiles as its stockpiles were being depleted. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a prominent Emirati political scientist widely regarded as an unofficial adviser to the UAE president, wrote on X on Monday that Seoul had swiftly supplied the interceptors to help reinforce the country’s missile defense capabilities. “Thank you, South Korea, for urgently sending 30 M-SAM2 interceptor missiles to strengthen our missile defense system against Iranian aggression,” Abdulla said. He added that the missiles were transported in two batches using C-17 military transport aircraft. “South Korea quickly transported the interceptors twice using C-17 aircraft. The Korean missile defense system is already operational in the UAE,” Abdulla wrote, adding that “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” South Korea’s Cheongung-II, also known as M-SAM II, is a domestically developed medium-range air defense system designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles and aircraft. A single Cheongung-II battery can fire up to 32 interceptor missiles. The additional interceptors supplied to the UAE are expected to be deployed immediately to replenish stocks amid ongoing missile exchanges involving Iran, according to reports. The UAE signed a $3.5 billion deal in January 2022 to acquire the Cheongung-II system from South Korea. Of the 10 batteries contracted, two have already been deployed and are operational in the country. Those batteries reportedly achieved an interception success rate of about 96 percent during recent missile and drone attacks linked to Iran targeting U.S. and Israeli interests in the region. The system has been used to intercept ballistic missiles and drones as the conflict involving Iran, the U.S. and Israel spreads across the Middle East, demonstrating its combat effectiveness. Each Cheongung-II battery costs more than 400 billion won ($268 million), while a single interceptor missile is estimated to cost around 1.5 billion won, roughly one-third the price of a U.S. Patriot interceptor. A Hanwha Aerospace official declined to comment, saying, “We cannot confirm details at this time.” Analysts say that if the Middle East conflict continues to escalate, demand for air defense systems and munitions could surge, potentially boosting global interest in Korean weapons systems that have demonstrated operational performance. 2026-03-09 15:48:05
  • South Korea on alert as nearly 200 sailors remain in Persian Gulf
    South Korea on alert as nearly 200 sailors remain in Persian Gulf SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - Some 183 South Korean sailors are confirmed in the Persian Gulf, with the government here stepping up efforts to ensure their safety amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. After a meeting chaired by Vice Minister and Acting Minister Kim Seong-beom, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said on Monday that about 146 sailors are aboard 26 South Korean-flagged ships, while 37 are on foreign-flagged vessels as of last Sunday. No South Korean sailors have left the ships or asked to do so, though crew numbers may continue to change as sailors board and disembark. According to the ministry, all these South Korean vessels have at least one month's worth of essential supplies, with additional goods available through local agents in the Middle East, except at certain ports. The ministry said it is working with relevant ministries and South Korean diplomatic missions in the Middle East to monitor the situation and provide daily updates to ensure the sailors' safe return if the conflict continues. Kim said the ministry will "carefully prepare measures to ensure sailors' safety in case the situation is prolonged," urging officials to remain on alert and ready to respond to any emergencies until the situation ends. 2026-03-09 15:44:02