Instant noodle-themed store in Seoul becomes pilgrimage site for tourists SEOUL, March 5 (AJP) - An instant noodle-themed store in Seoul has become something of a pilgrimage site for foreign tourists and other visitors. Drawn by the global popularity of K-pop and South Korean dramas, many who have seen their favorite idols enjoying instant noodles on screen flock to the store for an authentic taste. Run by convenience store chain CU, the store called "Ramyun Library," solely dedicated to instant noodles, has its shelves filled with a massive collection of these handy snacks from both home and abroad. Visitors may have their jaws dropped in awe as they step into the store in Seoul’s trendy Hongik University neighborhood, where over 100 different types of instant noodles and noodle cups from various brands including foreign varieties from Japan, Indonesia, and Viet Nam, greet them. According to CU, the store has sold a cumulative of 150,000 packs of instant noodles so far this year, since its opening in December 2023. "We have seen a surge in visitors from overseas, particularly from China and Japan, who came here through word of mouth on social media," said Kang Sang-min, a staffer who has been working there for about six months. "Now, even tour buses carrying foreign tourists stop here, as the store has become a must-see spot during their stay in Seoul," he added. To better appeal to visitors and encourage them to hang around while enjoying the atmosphere, the store plays medleys of hit K-pop songs all day long. "From the interior design to the products on display, every aspect of our store is carefully arranged with foreign visitors in mind," said store manager Kim Un-bin. "We want them to experience a taste of the country's unique culture, not just simply enjoy instant noodles." In fact, the store is not just a place to buy a wide variety of instant noodles. Its real draw lies in allowing visitors to cook a steaming bowl themselves, using special utensils provided on the spot. This procedure offers an inventive way to enjoy these convenient snacks, which have become a beloved meal substitute for many South Koreans. The vast assortment of instant noodles also caters to those with dietary preferences such as vegans, vegetarians, or Muslims. Apoorva Garigipati, a tourist in her late 20s from the U.S., recently visited the store during her week-long trip to South Korea with her parents and was delighted when a staffer helped her father find vegetarian options suitable for him. "I learned about this place through TikTok," said Garigipati. "The library setting makes it even more unique," she exclaimed. With the store attracting a steady influx of tourists, similar shops and copycat stores have begun mushrooming in other bustling commercial districts in Seoul. In the busy shopping district of Myeong-dong in downtown Seoul, a pop-up space run by instant noodle giant Nongshim opened last year, featuring its flagship Neoguri brand. Unlike typical convenience stores with self-serve counters, noodles are served to customers, just like they are in any restaurant. "It's nice to have someone cook it for me," said Naomi, a tourist from Japan. She admitted that the pop-up eatery's adorable raccoon-inspired mascot outside, holding a spicy bowl of noodles, was so tempting that it lured her in. It serves 400 to 500 customers a day, according to manager Lee Ye-lin. "I think our Neoguri character attracts many tourists because they find it really cute," she said. "And honestly, who can resist the smell of instant noodles while strolling through the shopping alleys of Myeong-dong?" 2025-03-05 15:28:11

North Korea 'seeks to attract foreign tourists with annual marathon race in Pyongyang' SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - North Korea appears to be gradually reopening its borders to foreign tourists after closing off from the outside world in early 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Koryo Tours, a British travel agency based in Beijing, is currently offering a packaged program that includes participation in the annual Pyongyang International Marathon, along with a guided tour of the isolated country's capital. Those who want to compete in the annual spring race for amateur runners scheduled for April 6 should sign up by the end of next week. But the agency said that South Korean, American, and Malaysian citizens may not be eligible for the program, citing "a few exceptions based on nationality, profession, or home country regulations." First held in 1981 to commemorate the birthday of the regime's founder Kim Il-sung, the marathon had been suspended due to the pandemic. The weeklong program offers travelers to look around Pyongyang's major points of interest including its glitzy Ryomyong Street which was leader Kim Jong-un's pet project as part of his modernization drive, along with newly-built high-risers and statues. It costs about 2,195 euros (US$2,360) per person, with additional fees required for visa issuance and marathon participation. Similar tour programs by other China-based travel agencies are also springing up, amid signs that the country, under international sanctions, is desperately seeking new sources of hard currency through tourism projects. In September 2023 with the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions, North Korea reopened to foreign tourists, allowing entry only for limited group tours from Russia. 2025-03-04 17:15:56

Signs indicate North Korea's nuclear reactor in operation, IAEA says SEOUL, March 4 (AJP) - There are signs that North Korea is resuming operations at its nuclear facilities, according to Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "There are indications that the uranium enrichment plants at Kangson and Yongbyon continue to operate," said the IAEA chief during a meeting of the agency's Board of Governors in Vienna, Austria on Tuesday. He also said the agency has spotted activities at Yongbyon's 5-megawatt-electric (MWe) reactor in North Pyongan Province "resumed operation in mid-October 2024, following a shutdown period of approximately 60 days. This shutdown is assessed to be of sufficient length to refuel the reactor," he said raising suspicions of "strong indicators of preparations for a new reprocessing campaign." The latest assessment comes after its leader Kim Jong-un reportedly inspected such sites late last month, raising concerns over its growing nuclear weapons program. "This development follows the publication in September 2024 of photographs of an undeclared enrichment facility at . The undeclared enrichment facilities at both Kangson and Yongbyon..... are of serious concern," he added. The North's continuous nuclear weapons development program and operations of nuclear facilities "are clear violations of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and are deeply regrettable," he added, urging Pyongyang to return to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and undergo IAEA inspections. North Korea unilaterally pulled out of the NPT in 2003, after announcing its intention to withdraw in 1993. 2025-03-04 15:19:24

Nearly 60 percent support Yoon's impeachment over martial law debacle, survey shows SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - Nearly 60 percent of South Koreans favor impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law debacle last year, a poll suggests. According to the survey of 1,000 adults conducted by Pollster Gallup Korea earlier this week, about 50 percent of respondents supported impeachment and 35 percent were against it. The rest were undecided. By political inclination, nearly all or 97 percent of supporters of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) were in favor, while 84 percent of those backing the ruling People Power Party (PPP) were opposed. By age, those in their 20s showed the highest level of support for impeachment at 71 percent, while 58 percent of those in their 70s, Yoon's main support base, were opposed. This survey was conducted through telephone interviews with those randomly selected. Meanwhile, as the final verdict by the Constitutional Court of Korea to decide Yoon's fate nears, tens of thousands of protesters, both for and against impeachment, are expected to gather for large-scale rallies in downtown Seoul including Gwanghwamun and Yeouido to mark March 1st Independence Movement Day, likely causing heavy traffic over the long holiday weekend. However, rain is forecast nationwide, which may disrupt their plans. 2025-02-28 17:16:32

South Korea slips in global democracy rankings amid political turmoil SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - South Korea's democracy has been mired in political turmoil caused by President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle last year. In the latest report released on Thursday by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a think tank affiliated with the U.K. magazine, the country's democracy index ranked 39th among 167 countries in the world, down ten spots from a year ago. Since 2006, the EIU has evaluated countries in five categories – electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties – to classify them into four types of statuses, "full democracies," "flawed democracies," "hybrid regimes," and "authoritarian regimes." South Korea scored an average of 7.75 points out of 10, down from 8.09 the previous year, when it ranked 22nd. The country's lowest ranking has relegated it to the status of a "flawed democracy" from its previous status as a "full democracy," which it had maintained since 2020. "Although South Korea's parliament and the general public demonstrated widespread respect for democratic institutions in the country, the episode (the Dec. 3 declaration of martial law) served as a reminder of the comparatively short track record (37 years) and relative fragility of democracy in South Korea," the report wrote. It also predicted continuous political tensions "in the form of heightened polarization" between opponents, adding that "public dissatisfaction with South Korea's democracy could increase." Meanwhile, Norway was accessed as the most democratic country with 9.81 points on average, followed by New Zealand (9.61), Sweden (9.39), Iceland (9.38) and Switzerland (9.32). Nort Korea was placed near the bottom of the list at 165th ad classified as an "authoritarian regime," a level where any form of democracy is impossible to expect. 2025-02-28 16:34:49

North Korea deploys more troops to Russia, spy agency says SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - North Korea is believed to have deployed additional troops to assist Russia's war in Ukraine, South Korea's spy agency said on Thursday. "North Korea has apparently sent its troops to Russia's frontline region of Kursk, a territory currently occupied by Ukraine, starting from the first week of February," the National Intelligence Service (NIS) here said in a press release. "We're assessing the exact number of the latest deployment, but it appears to be about 1,000 soldiers, with the possibility of further troop dispatches," it added. The NIS estimates that more than 4,000 North Korean troops in Russia have been killed or injured, after North Korea sent over 11,000 soldiers to Russia since last October, though neither Pyongyang nor Moscow have confirmed or denied their presence. 2025-02-27 15:27:24

J-Hope of BTS to drop new single next week SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - J-Hope, a member of K-pop boy band BTS will release a new single next week, his agency Big Hit Music said on Thursday. "Sweet Dreams" is a romantic ballad about a heartfelt desire to love and be loved, featuring Grammy-winning R&B artist Miguel. To promote his upcoming solo track, J-Hope is set to hold a showcase on Friday, a week ahead of the single's release on March 7. He will also host an up-close-and-personal event with fans in Seoul, where he will meet 613 ardent supporters, known as the "Army." This specific number of fans was invited to the event to celebrate the septet's debut on June 13, 2013. 2025-02-27 11:01:48

HYBE partners with songwriter Ryan Tedder to debut new boy band in US SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - K-pop behemoth HYBE will work with Ryan Tedder, a Grammy-winning producer and frontman of pop rock band OneRepublic, to debut a new boy band in the United States. The agency announced on Friday that anyone aged between 13 and 23 can apply for the audition through its official website. Applicants need to submit a profile picture, a self-introduction, and a video showcasing their vocal and dance abilities. As a producer and songwriter, Tedder has worked with Beyoncé, Adele, and Ed Sheeran. He has also contributed to songs for HYBE artists, including TXT’s “Back for More,” &TEAM’s “Dropkick,” and Cat’s Eye’s “Debut.” “Artists under HYBE Music Group consistently achieve global success, dominating prestigious music charts year after year,” said HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk. “Collaborating with Tedder to introduce a new boy group is a significant step forward in continuing our legacy in the music industry.” “Our goal is to create the most fan-centric group with the best music possible,” Tedder said. The initiative is also backed by HYBE America CEO Scooter Braun. He is recognized for managing and contributing to the careers of global pop stars such as Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. 2025-02-21 14:33:40

Late actress Kim Sae-ron's posthumous film slated for release this fall SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - Actress Kim Sae-ron' s posthumous film will be released this fall. The 24-year-old, best known for her role in the 2010 hit action thriller "The Man from Nowhere," shocked the nation when she was found dead of apparent suicide at her home in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul last Sunday. Adapted from Kakao Page's hit webtoon series, "Everyday We Are" explores the moments of first love and friendship among high-schoolers. Kim portrays a student who is passionate about basketball. The coming-of-age romance film will also be made into a seven-part drama series later. Once seen as one of the most promising starlets, Kim's career came to an abrupt halt in 2022 when she was caught driving under the influence. Kim had revealed her financial struggles after being repeatedly denied roles because of the lingering criticism over the incident. Kim's sudden death has raised concerns about malicious rumors and online scrutiny against stars and other celebrities. 2025-02-21 10:31:05

BLACKPINK to embark on world tour in July, including performance at iconic Wembley Stadium SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - K-pop girl group BLACKPINK will kick off their world tour with a concert in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province in July, according to their management agency YG Entertainment. The quartet will perform at major stadiums in around a dozen cities across the world, with stops including Barcelona, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Tokyo, and Toronto. A leg of their tour includes a performance at London's Wembley Stadium, the largest in the U.K. and the second-biggest in Europe, with a capacity of 90,000, making them the second K-pop act to take the stage there after boy band BTS in 2019. The upcoming tour comes after their previous "Born Pink" tour, which ended on a high note, drawing over 2 million fans worldwide in 2023. 2025-02-21 08:36:37