Journalist

Kim Yoon-seop
  • South Koreas GS E&C builds solar power complex in India
    South Korea's GS E&C builds solar power complex in India SEOUL, January 27 (AJP) - South Korea's GS Engineering & Construction has entered India’s renewable energy market, completing a solar power project in Maharashtra state and beginning full commercial operations. The company said on Tuesday the Patur solar power complex has an installed capacity of 12.75 megawatt-peak (MWp) and is expected to generate between 18 million and 20 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to supply power to about 6,000 households for a year. GS E&C said the project would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 8,000 tons a year compared with fossil-fuel power generation. The South Korean builder participated in the project as a developer, overseeing construction and operating the facility to sell electricity directly and generate revenue. Under a long-term agreement, GS E&C will supply about 13.9 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity a year — roughly 69 percent of the project’s total output — to Iljin Global India for the next 25 years. The remaining power will be sold to a local Indian real estate developer. The project uses an “open access captive” model, which allows industrial users to procure electricity directly through India’s transmission and distribution network. GS E&C said rising electricity prices in India are driving demand for renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, and it expects the market for the model to expand. GS E&C said it established an India renewable energy development corporation in 2023 as part of preparations to enter the market. The company plans to strengthen its position as a renewable energy developer in India and expand its portfolio beyond solar into wind power, GS officials said. The company will initially focus on working with South Korean companies operating in India before gradually diversifying its customer base, they added. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-27 14:04:28
  • Ssangyong Engineering secures major contracts in UAE, Singapore
    Ssangyong Engineering secures major contracts in UAE, Singapore SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - Ssangyong Engineering said on Monday it has secured major construction contracts in the United Arab Emirates and Singapore. The company said it has won a $250 million contract from Dubai state-owned real estate developer WASL to build Avenue Park Tower, a residential project in central Dubai. The project comprises two residential towers ranging from 37 to 43 stories above ground in a key downtown development area about 10 minutes from Dubai International Airport. Ssangyong said it earned the client’s trust after successfully completing WASL’s Hyatt Centric hotel and One Residence projects in 2022. Since 2023, Ssangyong has secured additional projects in Dubai, including Immersive Tower, the Kifaf development and Creek Waters. The company is currently carrying out six projects in the emirate with a combined value of about 1.3 trillion won ($960 million). In Singapore, Ssangyong last month won a contract for the Alexandra Hospital outpatient building, a $580 million project commissioned by the Ministry of Health. The company formed a joint venture with Japan’s Shimizu Corp. and Singapore’s Kimly, with Ssangyong holding a 40-percent stake valued at about 3.4 trillion won. The project includes three basement levels and 12 stories above ground, housing examination rooms, clinics, offices and a four-story parking facility. Ssangyong said it has built advanced medical facilities worldwide with a combined capacity of around 12,000 beds. In Singapore, its track record includes projects such as Tan Tock Seng Hospital in 1998, the new K.K. Hospital in 1999 and the Woodlands Health Campus in 2024. The company has completed about 40 projects in Singapore, including the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-26 13:54:57
  • Daewoo E&C to build AI data centers in southwestern counties
    Daewoo E&C to build AI data centers in southwestern counties SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - Daewoo Engineering & Construction announced a plan Friday to build artificial intelligence data centers with a combined power capacity of 500 megawatts in South Jeolla Province. The company said it signed a memorandum of understanding with the municipal governments of South Jeolla Province, Jangseong County, Gangjin County and a consortium of public and private partners, to develop AI data centers in the region. Under the agreement, the partners plan to build two major AI data centers in Jangseong and Gangjin counties, with power capacities of 200 megawatts and 300 megawatts, respectively. Daewoo E&C will serve as a core construction partner in the consortium, participating across the engineering, procurement and construction process. Daewoo E&C has been expanding its non-housing businesses, including data centers, to reduce reliance on the housing market and to strengthen its role as a developer involved in development, investment and operations. As part of that strategy, the company has broadened its data center portfolio, starting with the Empyrion Digital AI Campus project in Seoul’s Gangnam district and expanding into projects such as the Jangseong Fine Data Center, described as South Jeolla’s first data center, where it participates as both an investor and builder. Chairman Jung Won-ju attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Jangseong Fine Data Center on Dec. 15, where he said data centers are “core infrastructure” for the AI era and can play a key role in revitalizing regional economies and strengthening national competitiveness. The consortium said it plans to build high-efficiency, environmentally friendly data centers and develop AI infrastructure with global competitiveness. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-16 15:39:13
  • Railway passenger numbers hit record due to surge in high-speed train usage
    Railway passenger numbers hit record due to surge in high-speed train usage SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - South Korea saw a record number of railway passengers last year, as more people used high-speed trains not only for travel but also for daily commutes, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Wednesday. The total number of railway passengers reached 172.22 million as of the end of las year, up 0.6 percent from the previous year and the highest on record. Among them, passengers on high-speed bullet trains KTX and SRT totaled 93 million and 26 million, averaging 254,000 and 71,000 per day, respectively. The ministry said the increase is partly due to a new railway line connecting Jecheon in North Chungcheong Province and Wonju in Gangwon Province and other southern areas, which opened in December 2024, carrying about 2.75 million passengers so far. Passengers on conventional slower trains with frequent stops fell 3.6 percent from a year earlier to 53 million, indicating a shift toward high-speed trains. By destination, trains to the southern port city of Busan carried the most passengers, totaling 83.60 million. Of these, 61.40 million traveled on high-speed trains and 20.22 million on conventional trains. Seoul Station in the capital was the busiest, with 43.90 million passengers, followed by Busan (26.10 million), Dongdaegu (20.50 million), Daejeon (19.60 million) and Yongsan (15.10 million). To meet growing demand, the ministry expanded discount programs for the elderly, people with disabilities, families with multiple children, and pregnant women. It also installed around 300 new ticketing machines, offering various services including remote consultations and other assistance. Some 385,000 families with multiple children and 699,000 pregnant women benefited from substantial discounts for their fares. The ministry also said it will come up with tour programs aimed at revitalizing local tourism in areas facing population decline by attracting visitors. Kim Tae-byeong from the ministry said, "We will ensure the safety of passengers while continuing to improve services." 2026-01-14 16:15:32
  • Korean pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon arrested over alleged role in court rampage
    Korean pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon arrested over alleged role in court rampage SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -South Korean ultra-right pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church was arrested at court on suspicion of orchestrating a violent rampage at the Seoul Western District Court following the arrest of former President Yoon Suk Yeol last year on Wednesday, the same day prosecutors asked for a death penalty for Yoon for his ill-served marital-law attempt. The Seoul Western District Court issued an arrest warrant for Jeon after a pre-arrest hearing, citing concerns that he could destroy evidence or flee. Senior Judge Kim Hyung-seok, who presided over the warrant review, said the risk factors justified taking Jeon into custody. Jeon is accused of instigating aggravated trespass of a public building by encouraging supporters to storm the court in the early hours of Jan. 19, 2025, shortly after Yoon’s arrest. Prosecutors allege that demonstrators smashed court fixtures and assaulted police officers during the incident. Investigators say Jeon exerted psychological control over followers under the guise of religious devotion and provided financial support to close aides and conservative YouTubers to incite violence. Police believe such actions played a central role in mobilizing the crowd. A total of 141 people have been sent to trial in connection with the rampage, including two individuals described as Sarang Jeil Church “special mission evangelists.” During the warrant hearing, police argued that Jeon posed a flight risk, citing his regional network known as “Freedom Village” and the possibility he could leave the country. Authorities also raised concerns about evidence destruction, noting that a church office computer was replaced in July last year shortly before a search and seizure. Before attending the hearing at around 9:50 a.m., Jeon held a news conference and denied the allegations, saying, “Now that it’s a left-wing president, they’re having a fit trying to arrest me.” He has consistently rejected claims that he instigated the violence, maintaining that he urged supporters not to clash with police. The arrest follows a procedural delay. Prosecutors initially rejected a police request in December to seek warrants for Jeon and Shin Hye-sik, head of the YouTube channel Shinui Hansu. After supplementary investigations, prosecutors requested a warrant for Jeon alone on Jan. 7. Police said they plan to soon refer Jeon’s case to prosecutors along with other suspects, including Shin. Jeon’s arrest marks the fourth time he has been taken into custody. In 2018, he was sentenced in a first trial to 10 months in prison for violating the Public Official Election Act during the 19th presidential election. An appeals court later reduced the sentence to six months, suspended for two years. He was arrested again in February 2020 ahead of the 21st general election on another election-law violation and released on medical bail. In September that year, he was re-imprisoned for violating bail conditions but later released after being acquitted. Jeon also faced a possible arrest in January 2020 during the Moon Jae-in administration over allegations that he led a violent protest near the presidential office, though a warrant was denied at the time. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was edited by AJP. 2026-01-13 22:27:14
  • Special counsel seeks death penalty for ex-President Yoon over failed martial law bid
    Special counsel seeks death penalty for ex-President Yoon over failed martial law bid SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk on Wednesday sought the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk Yeol, accusing him of leading an insurrection through his short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. Cho’s team asked the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 25, presided over by Judge Ji Gui-yeon, to impose the maximum sentence during the final sentencing hearing, describing Yoon as the “ringleader” of an anti-constitutional attempt to seize control of the state. The prosecution’s sentencing request had originally been expected on Jan. 9 but was postponed after the review of documentary evidence and final arguments by Yoon and other defendants ran past midnight. The court scheduled an additional hearing, which concluded on Wednesday. Special counsel Park Eok-su said the martial law episode “betrayed the constitutional duty to safeguard citizens’ freedoms” and “essentially infringed upon national security and the survival of the people,” adding that its purpose, methods and execution bore “the character of anti-state activity.” Park said it had become clear whom Yoon had labeled “anti-state forces” to justify the declaration, criticizing what he called an unprecedented “serious destruction of the Constitution.” He cited the storming of the National Assembly and the National Election Commission, as well as attempts to cut off electricity and water supplies to media outlets. According to the prosecution, Yoon declared martial law to seize control of the judiciary and legislature and to remain in power for an extended period, mobilizing state resources meant to serve the national community. Park added that Yoon had shown no reflection on the harm caused to constitutional order and democracy, arguing that “the biggest victims were the people who protected democracy through sacrifice against dictatorship and authoritarianism.” Yoon is accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others to declare unconstitutional and illegal martial law despite the absence of war, armed conflict or a comparable national emergency. Prosecutors allege he incited a riot aimed at undermining the constitutional order. He is also accused of deploying martial law troops and police to block access to the National Assembly in an effort to prevent lawmakers from voting to lift the decree, and of attempting to arrest and detain key political figures. Those allegedly targeted include National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, President Lee Jae Myung, who was then leader of the Democratic Party, former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, and senior officials at the National Election Commission. The trial involves eight defendants regarded as ringleaders of the martial law attempt, including Yoon and Kim. Yoon triggered a major political crisis when he announced the suspension of civilian rule in December 2024 and dispatched troops to parliament. The attempt collapsed within hours after lawmakers scaled fences and broke through a security cordon to convene and vote down the decree. He was detained in January 2025, becoming the first sitting South Korean president to be taken into custody. If convicted, Yoon would become the third South Korean president found guilty of insurrection, following former military leaders Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, who were convicted for their roles in a 1979 coup. In 1997, the Supreme Court upheld life imprisonment for Chun and a 17½-year sentence for Roh, though both were later pardoned. Even if Yoon is sentenced to death, an execution is considered highly unlikely. South Korea has observed an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment since December 1997, following President Kim Dae-jung’s inauguration in 1998. The court is expected to deliver its verdict in February, bringing to a close more than a year of political upheaval following Yoon’s failed martial law declaration. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was edited by AJP. 2026-01-13 22:16:29
  • HanmiGlobal, KEPCO team up with UK firm on overseas nuclear projects
    HanmiGlobal, KEPCO team up with UK firm on overseas nuclear projects SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - South Korea's HanmiGlobal said Monday it has signed a strategic alliance agreement with Korea Electric Power Engineering & Construction and U.K.-based project management firm Turner & Townsend to jointly pursue nuclear power projects overseas. The agreement follows a nuclear cooperation MOU signed last year between HanmiGlobal and KEPCO E&C. The three companies will build an integrated advisory package covering nuclear plant design, engineering, project management, and cost and schedule control to target the global nuclear market, HanmiGlobal said in a press release. HanmiGlobal has carried out about 3,200 project management assignments in 66 countries. It recently entered the nuclear sector after winning a project management contract for the life-extension project for Unit 1 at Romania’s Cernavoda nuclear power plant. KEPCO E&C has designed multiple nuclear plants in South Korea and overseas, including the Hanbit nuclear power plant and the Barakah plant in the United Arab Emirates. Turner & Townsend, headquartered in the U.K., operates 247 offices in 62 countries and works in project management and quantity surveying. It is handling integrated project management for the U.K.’s new Hinkley Point C nuclear plant and the Sellafield nuclear site, and provides consulting for the U.K. government’s small modular reactor program. HanmiGlobal said it plans to identify joint opportunities in key markets including Europe, the Middle East and Asia, in partnership with KEPCO E&C and Turner & Townsend. They also plan to cooperate on data-driven upgrades to nuclear project management using digital twin, BIM and AI technologies, and to expand cooperation across the nuclear life cycle, including large-scale plants, SMRs, decommissioning and radioactive waste disposal facilities. “By combining the core capabilities of the three companies, we will further strengthen competitiveness in global nuclear projects,” a HanmiGlobal official said. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2026-01-12 13:54:54
  • Lunar New Year train tickets to go on sale next week
    Lunar New Year train tickets to go on sale next week SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - Advance train tickets for the Lunar New Year break will go on sale next week, railway operator KORAIL said Wednesday. Tickets will be available online for a week starting next Thursday, about a month in advance, for trains running during the weeklong holiday from Feb. 13 to 18. The first two days of pre-booking will be reserved for senior citizens aged 65 and older, people with disabilities, and recipients of national merit honors. Ordinary citizens can book tickets for the remaining days until Jan. 21. However, booking dates may vary by destination. KORAIL said it has extended the booking period from two to three days to prevent overcrowding and server congestion. 2026-01-07 15:44:55
  • China travel surge lifts Incheon airport to record passenger traffic
    China travel surge lifts Incheon airport to record passenger traffic SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - Incheon International Airport handled a record 239,530 passengers on Jan. 4, the highest daily total since the airport opened in 2001, its operator said on Monday. The figure surpassed the previous record of 234,171 passengers set on Aug. 4, 2019, by nearly 5,000, and was up 13.7 percent from the same day a year earlier, when 210,891 passengers used the airport. By destination, travel to and from China accounted for 49.2 percent of total passenger traffic and recorded the largest year-on-year increase, which the airport operator attributed to visa-free entry policies and a recovery in outbound and inbound tourism. Passenger traffic involving Hong Kong and Taiwan rose 24 percent. Travel demand to Southeast Asia, however, showed relatively modest growth of 1.7 percent despite the winter peak season, partly due to recent developments in Cambodia, the operator said. Despite the surge in traffic, airport congestion remained close to normal levels. As of Jan. 4, the average wait time at departure security checkpoints in Terminal 1 was 7.9 minutes, with a peak of 42 minutes at around 6 a.m. Incheon International Airport Corp. said it is expanding the use of automated systems such as Smart Pass, enhancing training for security screening staff, hiring additional personnel and widening operations at Gate 1 in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. 2026-01-05 16:00:44
  • Incheon Airport sets daily passenger record with nearly 240,000 travelers
    Incheon Airport sets daily passenger record with nearly 240,000 travelers SEOUL, January 5 (AJP) - A record 239,530 passengers passed through Incheon International Airport last Sunday, the most in a single day since it opened in 2001, operators said on Monday. The figure was nearly 5,000 higher than the previous record of 234,171 set on Aug. 4, 2019, and was also up about 13.7 percent from a year earlier, when 210,891 passengers used the airport. Chinese passengers accounted for the most at 49.2 percent of all travelers, seeing the biggest increase, likely due to a temporary year-long visa-free entry program between South Korea and China that runs until the end of this year. Passenger traffic from Chinese-speaking countries such as Hong Kong and Taiwan also rose by 24 percent. However, the number of travelers to and from Southeast Asia remained relatively low, rising by just 1.7 percent despite the winter peak season, which was attributed to recent revelations of online phishing scams and other crimes, mostly in Cambodia. Despite the record passenger numbers, the airport appears to be handling the surge smoothly, with an average processing time of just 7.9 minutes and a peak wait of 42 minutes at around 6 a.m. The airport said it is expanding automated immigration clearance systems and adding additional security and screening staff. Lee Hak-jae, the airport's president, said, "We will continue to improve convenience for foreign travelers and other visitors by revamping multilingual signage and increasing more personnel." 2026-01-05 14:55:34