Journalist
Han Jun-gu · Yoo-Na hyun
jungu141298@ajupress.com
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Samsung Elec's Pyeongtaek campus - protest instead of celebration of chip boom PYEONGTAEK, April 23 (AJP) -The usual soundtrack of the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus—the low, constant hum of fabrication lines—was drowned out Thursday by a different cadence: tens of thousands of workers chanting in lockstep, their placards snapping in the wind as a bonus fight spilled into the open. At 2 p.m., the newly ascendant Samsung Electronics Enterprise Union—now the company’s first majority union—filled the forecourt with an estimated 40,000 members, a sea of dark jackets punctuated by white placards: “Change it transparently” and “Abolish the cap.” The slogans rose and fell in waves, each chant snapping into unison under the emcee’s cadence. From atop a crane, union chairman Choi Seung-ho delivered a speech overlooking the tightly packed crowd, underscoring the union’s sharpened leverage after securing legal worker representative status on April 15 with around 74,000 members. The union warned it would launch a general strike from May 21 to June 7 if negotiations fail. Earlier in the day, a small counter-protest by the Korea Shareholder Movement Headquarters drew just four participants, who argued that shareholders oppose what they called excessive bonus demands and potential risks to the semiconductor operation. 2026-04-23 18:03:37 -
20,000 Farmers rally in Yeouido against agricultural cooperatives act revision SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - About 20,000 farmers and agricultural cooperative heads gathered in Yeouido on Tuesday to strongly oppose the government's push to revise the Agricultural Cooperatives Act, calling it an "infringement on autonomy." According to the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (NACF) on April 21, agricultural cooperative heads and farmers from across the country held the 'Farmers' Rally to Defend Agricultural Cooperative Autonomy' in Yeouido, Seoul, that afternoon, officially expressing their opposition to the government's proposed revision. Participants presented five key demands through a resolution statement: halting government oversight that infringes on agricultural cooperative autonomy, abolishing toxic provisions that undermine legal stability, maintaining supervisory authority over subsidiaries, withdrawing the creation of an inefficient audit body, and stopping attempts to change the direct election system for the federation president. 2026-04-22 12:28:09 -
Spring cleaning meets yellow dust SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) -Suspended high above the streets of Seoul, maintenance crews descend glass façades with ropes and squeegees, wiping away a season’s worth of dust and pollution. As fine particulate levels spike, building exteriors—windows, panels, and ledges—require frequent washing, turning the skyline into a vertical cleaning stage. 2026-04-21 17:26:58 -
TWICE's Sana shows off summer look ahead of season SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - TWICE member Sana attended the fashion brand 'Polo Play Bag' pop-up store opening event at Lotte World Mall in Jamsil, Seoul, on Tuesday. She showcased a refreshing summer fashion look in a white dress with a sky blue cardigan worn as a shoulder shawl, accented with a cobalt blue bag. 2026-04-21 17:21:18 -
Bakery fair underway in southern Seoul SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - A bakery fair is being held in southern Seoul, with around 300 booths from 100 bakeries and confectionery makers participating. Co-hosted by the Korea Confectionery Master Association and the Korea Bakery Association, the fair at COEX kicked off on Thursday and runs until Sunday under the theme of "Bake the World," showcasing bakery-related machinery, packaging solutions, and raw materials During the four-day run, a competition is also scheduled, featuring top-level pâtissiers showcasing their confectionery and baking skills. 2026-04-17 16:30:37 -
Annual coffee expo brings together industry professionals and coffee enthusiasts in Seoul SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - A large-scale coffee expo is underway in southern Seoul this week, bringing together industry professionals, baristas, and coffee enthusiasts. Co-hosted by the Korea Coffee Association and COEX, the annual expo, now in its 15th year, kicked off its four-day run on Wednesday and runs until Saturday, showcasing coffee-related machines, equipment, beans, and other products. Under the slogan of "Blend the World," the expo features a special pavilion showcasing coffee brands and products from Viet Nam, selected as this year's guest country of honor. 2026-04-17 15:57:08 -
Car exports edge up last month despite Middle East conflict PYEONGTAEK, April 16 (AJP) - South Korea's car exports increased last month despite the prolonged conflict in the Middel East. According to a report by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Thursday, the total amount of car exports stood at $6.37 billion in March, up 2.2 percent from the same period last year. Exports of hybrid vehicles drove the increase, surging by over 60 percent, despite a significant decline in shipments to the Middle East. 2026-04-16 17:44:49 -
Spring gives way to early summer heat SEOUL, April 16 (AJP) - This year's spring, which had only just begun, has suddenly disappeared, giving way to early summer heat this week, with daily highs hovering above 20 degrees Celsius nationwide. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), temperatures in most parts of Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area soared to 27 degrees Celsius on Thursday, marking one of the warmest levels recorded for April. The unusually high temperatures, compared with seasonal averages, are expected to last through this weekend. 2026-04-16 17:30:42 -
Remembering Sewol classmates, the silence still speaks 12 years later SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) -Desks remain as they were—names etched in pencil, jackets draped over chairs, notebooks opened mid-sentence. Time, here, does not move forward. It pauses, deliberately, asking each visitor to look closer. There are shoes that never made it home, ID cards that still carry smiling faces, and letters that were never meant to be final. Each object resists abstraction. This is not a number, not a headline, but 250 students and 11 teachers whose ordinary morning never found its way back. Visitors walk slowly. Some bow their heads. Others reach out, not to touch, but to feel the distance between then and now. The yellow ribbons—faded but persistent—tie grief to responsibility. The Memorial Classroom is not only about remembrance. It is an insistence. That safety is not an afterthought. That systems must answer for failure. That survival is not left to chance, nor to courage alone. The lesson is quiet, but it does not soften. Nothing here asks to be forgotten. 2026-04-16 07:26:35 -
Seoul spring festival turns Han river into a theme park SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Seoul's signature spring festival, the "Seoul Spring Festival," has transformed the Han River into a vibrant cultural hub. Running from April 10 to May 5, the iconic seasonal festival is Seoul's premier culture and tourism event that offers visitors trendy experiences involving K-Beauty, K-Fashion, K-Pop, K-Food, and K-Art all in one place. This year's festival takes place along the Han River, featuring diverse programs including a drone light show, the Wonder Show, a large-scale performance combining traditional Korean music, classical music, dance, and K-pop, a Han River carousel, Han River swings installed on building rooftops, and water playgrounds. 2026-04-14 17:32:28