Hearing scheduled later this week to decide former PM's arrest SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is scheduled to face a hearing later this week that will determine his arrest over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched martial law debacle last year. The Seoul Central District Court said on Monday that the hearing is set for Wednesday, following independent prosecutors' request for Han's arrest as part of their investigation into the debacle, after several rounds of questioning and raids on his home and former official residence in central Seoul. Prosecutors allege that Han conspired with Yoon and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to prepare documents related to Yoon's Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, which eventually led to Yoon's ouster from office in April this year. They are seeking Han's arrest on charges of dereliction of duty, perjury, and document falsification, citing the risk he may destroy evidence. Han, who initially denied all allegations, claiming he only learned of Yoon's plan to declare martial law during a late-night cabinet meeting that day, recently admitted he was aware of it, after CCTV footage and other evidence came to light. If the court issues a warrant, he would become the first prime minister to be arrested in the country's modern history. 2025-08-25 17:30:17

K-pop anime's sing-along screenings draw large crowds in US SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - Special two-day screenings of Netflix's South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" attracted a horde of K-pop fans and other moviegoers in the U.S. over the weekend. To capitalize on the seemingly unstoppable popularity of the animation, the American streaming giant offered sing-along screenings at more than 1,700 theaters across North America, many of which sold out as soon as tickets became available. The limited-time screenings allowed audiences to sing along with on-screen lyrics while watching the film, turning it into an interactive event for fans. According to the U.S. magazine Variety on Sunday, the popular anime was "estimated to have earned $18 million to $20 million" in ticket sales, based on "projections from rival studios and exhibitors." Since its release on June 20, the 100-minute animation, which tells the story of K-pop superstars who are not just "selling out stadiums" but also "using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats," has remained at the top of Netflix's weekly streaming chart since last week, after several weeks at No. 2. Its K-pop–infused soundtrack has also been a hit, with the main theme song "Golden" ranking No. 2 and three other tracks such as "How It's Done," "Soda Pop" and "Your Idol" included in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 last week. 2025-08-25 14:16:07

Elderly caregiver released after attempted murder of wife with dementia SEOUL, August 22 (AJP) - A 70-year-old South Korean man who admitted to trying to kill his wife, reportedly overwhelmed by the strain of caregiving, has been released from custody. The case underscores the growing toll that eldercare is taking in a country where the number of caregiving-related crimes has steadily risen. The Seoul Northern District Court on Thursday dismissed a request for the man’s arrest warrant, ruling he posed no risk of flight or evidence destruction. He had been held on suspicion of attempted murder after turning himself in following the attack. Police said the man struck his wife, who is in her 80s and has dementia, twice on the head with a blunt object at their home on Tuesday. He confessed to the charges, telling officers that "caregiving stress and various other reasons" led him to the act. The victim was taken to a hospital but did not suffer life-threatening injuries and has since returned home. She told police she does not want her husband punished. However, because attempted murder is not a charge that can be dropped at a victim's request, prosecutors will continue with the case. Police said they plan to refer the suspect to the prosecution without detention once their investigation is complete. Cases like this are part of a disturbing trend. A study published in June by the Police Science Institute at the Korean National Police University found that South Korean courts have issued 228 convictions for caregiving-related homicides between 2007 and 2023, averaging 17.5 cases a year over the past decade. The issue reflects the country’s wider demographic challenges. South Korea has already become a super-aged society, with 20.3 percent of its population, more than 10.5 million people, now aged 65 or older. A national dementia survey in 2023 reported that 9.25 percent of seniors live with the disease, with the number of patients expected to reach 970,000 by 2025. Nearly half of families caring for dementia patients said they felt overwhelmed, citing financial costs as the biggest strain, followed by insufficient policy support and mental health pressures. About 40 percent said caregiving had negatively affected their own lives. The costs are heavy. Annual expenses per dementia patient average 17.3 million won for those cared for at home and 31.4 million won for those in facilities. In most cases, caregiving expenses outweigh medical costs. With an aging population, rising dementia cases, and growing economic and psychological strain on families, South Korea now faces a mounting social crisis that is increasingly spilling into the justice system. 2025-08-22 17:27:47

US think tank spots another secret missile base in North Korea SEOUL, August 21 (AJP) - Another North Korean missile base has been spotted near Chinese border, U.S.-based think tank reveals. According to a report released on the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)'s Beyond Parallel website, the "undisclosed" missile base, believed to produce intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, is located in Sinpung, North Pyongan Province near the border with China. "The base is one of North Korea's approximately 15-20 ballistic missile bases, maintenance, support, missile storage, and warhead storage facilities which North Korea has never declared," it explained, based on the analysis of satellite imagery. The base "houses a brigade-sized unit" equipped with about a dozen "intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), or an as yet unknown ICBM, and their transporter erector-launchers (TEL) or mobile-erector-launchers (MEL)," the report also wrote, warning that they "pose a potential nuclear threat to East Asia and the continental United States." 2025-08-21 17:21:56

K-pop anime tops Netflix chart again SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - Netflix's South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" has once again topped the global streaming giant's latest chart released on Wednesday. According to Netflix's ranking website Tudum, the animation garnered 26 million in cumulative views during the week ending last Sunday, reclaiming the top spot in its ninth week of release. The second-most-watched movie for the week was American crime thriller "Night Always Comes," followed by rom-com "My Oxford Year." Since its release on June 20, "KPop Demon Hunters," which deals with the story of K-pop superstars who are not just "selling out stadiums" but also "using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats," briefly held the top spot earlier before staying at No. 2 for several weeks. Along with the global popularity of the 100-minute-long animation, its K-pop-infused soundtrack has also been a hit, with eight of its songs entering Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. Meanwhile, President Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to appear on a special program aired on broadcaster Arirang TV later in the day to discuss the future of K-pop, with a focus on the recent huge sucess of "KPop Demon Hunters." 2025-08-20 16:33:19

North Korea condemns South Korea's joint exercise with US SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - North Korea on Tuesday denounced South Korea's ongoing joint military exercise with the U.S. which began the previous day, calling it a "clear expression" of its hostile stance toward Pyongyang, state media reported on Tuesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim lambasted the exercise, saying it revealed the South's "intention to remain most hostile and confrontational" toward the North, despite the annual drill being scaled down amid President Lee Jae-myung's repeated overtures to engage with North Korea. Kim also accused Seoul and Washington of "destroying the peace and security environment in the region," leaving Pyongyang with no choice but to pursue a "rapid expansion of nuclearization." Expressing satisfaction with the country's ongoing naval modernization, Kim made the remarks while inspecting a new 5,000-ton naval destroyer at a shipyard in Nampo, South Pyongan Province, accompanied by senior military officials. Launched in April this year, the multipurpose destroyer, named after Choe Hyon, a comrade of the nation's founder Kim Il-sung during his days as a partisan fighter, is believed to be capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the annual exercise, involving some 18,000 South Korean troops and a similar number of U.S. personnel, runs until Aug. 28 and includes computer-simulated drills as well as field training to strengthen the two allies' combined defense posture against North Korean threats and other security challenges. 2025-08-19 16:43:17

Zombie-themed comedy tops summer box office with 4.5 million viewers SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - Actor Jo Jung-suk's latest film has attracted over 4.5 million moviegoers as of Monday, less than three weeks after its release late last month, becoming this year's first South Korean film to achieve the milestone. According to the Korean Film Council, "My Daughter is a Zombie" drew about 762,000 moviegoers over the long holiday weekend marking the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day which began last Friday, dominating the box office here for three consecutive weeks since it hit local theaters on July 30. Adapted from a popular web-based cartoon by Lee Yun-chang, the horror comedy revolves around a man who tries to protect his daughter infected with an unknown zombie virus by training her to survive. Despite an overall downturn of the film industry which struggles with falling audience numbers, the comedy's success appears fueled by family outings, with many viewers bringing their kids during the summer vacation season. Meanwhile, racing drama "F1" starring former Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt, has surpassed 4 million viewers in its cumulative attendance, ranking a solid second at the box office as it continues to draw viewers since its release in late June, buoyed by strong word-of-mouth, becoming the early '90s star's highest-grossing film ever. 2025-08-18 17:17:39

Commemorative US coin honoring activist of Korean decent issued this week SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Commemorative 25-cent coins featuring American activist Stacey Park Milbern are now available in the U.S., making her the first woman of Korean descent to appear on U.S. currency. The quarters honoring her life and legacy went on sale starting this week "in two- and three-roll sets, as well as 100-coin bags," according to the U.S. Mint. The issuance came several months after the Mint revealed this year's honorees to be featured on the backs of the coins in November last year. They are available for purchase with prices ranging from US$42 to $63. In its statement last week, the Mint described Milbern as a "visionary leader and powerful activist for disability justice." It added, "Born with physical disabilities, her life experiences led her to inspire and empower others, championing the belief that everyone is inherently valuable." The coins, the fourth in this year's series, come under the Mint's program, which honors "a diverse group of notable American women who made significant contributions in a variety of fields, including suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, humanities, science, space, and the arts." The previous honorees include African-American investigative journalist Ida B. Wells, Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low and astronomer Vera Rubin. The front of the coins features the first U.S. President George Washington, as on other quarters, while the back bears an engraved portrait of Milbern sitting in a wheelchair. Born in 1987 to a U.S. Army soldier father and a South Korean mother, Milbern, also known by her Korean name Park Ji-hye, suffered from congenital muscular dystrophy. She began advocating for disability rights as a teenager and later gained recognition by advising the Barack Obama administration on disability-related policies. She died in 2020 after battling complications from a kidney tumor. 2025-08-12 15:29:43