Ex-president declines to comment at first public court appearance SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday appeared for a trial over charges of insurrection and abuse of power over his botched martial law debacle late last year. During his previous two court appearances last month, Yoon managed to avoid public attention by being whisked into the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul through a secluded passageway from the underground parking lot. Amid controversy over alleged preferential treatment of the impeached president due to his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, the court denied such an entry this time, so Yoon was seen as he arrived at the court around 9:55 a.m. When asked by reporters with a barrage of questions, he declined to comment and immediately entered the court without saying a word. But Yoon posted a message on Facebook the previous day, urging support for Kim Moon-soo, the presidential nominee of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), who had suddenly gained prominence from fervent conservatives after siding with Yoon and refusing to apologize for the debacle at the National Assembly, which eventually led to his nomination after years of being out of the spotlight. Meanwhile, two high-ranking military officers have also been summoned to testify as witnesses at the trial. 2025-05-12 14:31:31

South Korea posts current account surplus for 23rd straight month SEOUL, May 9 (AJP) - South Korea continued its current account surplus streak for the 23rd straight month, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said on Friday. According to preliminary data compiled by the central bank, the surplus reached around US$9.14 billion in March, up $2 billion from the previous month. Exports of goods rose slightly from a year earlier to around $59.31 billion, backed by a recovery in shipments of semiconductors and computer-related devices. Imports also went up more than two percent to $50.82 billion. The service account, which includes tourism and shipping, remained in the red but narrowed its deficit to $2.21 billion, down from $3.21 billion the previous month, as the spring travel season began. By country, exports saw a surplus with Southeast Asian nations and Europe, but posted a shortfall with China. Meanwhile, the BOK raised its gloomy outlook, suggesting that its projection of $75 billion for this year's current account surplus is likely to be revised downward due to the effects of U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff policy. 2025-05-09 17:59:46

Teaser for 'Squid Game' finale unveiled ahead of release next month SEOUL, May 7 (AJP) - Netflix teased a trailer for the third and final season of its hit South Korean series "Squid Game" on Tuesday, ahead of its release next month. The 90-second clip immediately garnered over 208,000 views, just three hours after being unveiled on YouTube, reflecting fans' high expectations for the upcoming series. The teaser suggests that the deadly, high-stakes game continues with deeper and more intricate storylines, as contestants vie for an even more enticing prize. Released in September 2021, the first season of the dystopian thriller shattered multiple Netflix records as the most popular show of all time, accumulating about 1.65 billion viewing hours in less than a month. The series also made history the following year as the first non-English drama to win six Emmy Awards. The series' second season, released last December, also maintained its popularity on the platform, proving its enduring appeal to global viewers. Starring original cast members Lee Jung-jae and Lee Byung-hun along with returning actors like Yim Si-wan and Park Sung-hoon, the latest season with seven episodes is slated for release on June 27. 2025-05-07 13:37:00

Acting President expected to declare presidential bid later this week SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) -Acting President Han Duck-soo is expected to announce his presidential bid later this week, with the upcoming snap presidential election just a month away. Under relevant laws, a presidential candidate must resign from any official post at least 30 days before the election, meaning that Han must step down by May 4 to be eligible for the June 3 election. In political circles, there is speculation that Han could announce his candidacy as early as Wednesday, a day after a regular Cabinet meeting or Thursday, ahead of the long holiday weekend that lasts from Children's Day and Buddha's Birthday on May 5 to the makeup holiday the following day. The seasoned bureaucrat and diplomat, has suddenly emerged as one of the strong candidates for the ruling People Power Party's (PPP), probably backed by his recent response to U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff threats, as there is no formidable contender within the PPP capable of competing against Lee Jae-myung, the nominee of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), who remains far ahead of other candidates in most opinion polls. But Han's possible bid could be controversial, as the election comes amid a power vacuum following the impeachment of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law debacle late last year. If Han, who would be tasked with managing the situation as acting president, decides to leave the post to join the presidential race, he may face severe criticism, as that would mean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok returning as acting president again just a month after Han's recent return. Moreover, whether he runs as an independent candidate or not, Han would eventually join the PPP and face the conservative party's final candidate, who is set to be decided after its internal primary wraps up on Tuesday, to field a single nominee, raising questions about the credibility and fairness of the party's primary and nomination process. For this reason, Han is likely to agonize until the last minute, but he is apparently leaning toward running, with his decision expected to be made before the holiday weekend, which typically draws less attention. Meanwhile, a survey by pollster Hankook Research last week revealed that over 70 percent of voters were opposed. Even among conservative voters, more than half were against. 2025-04-28 16:50:19