Journalist
Han Jun-gu and Kim Dong-young
jungu141298@ajupress.com
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Over 200 South Koreans return home on military aircraft from Middle East SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) - Some 204 South Korean nationals residing in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries returned home on a military transport aircraft on Sunday. Amid the prolonged Middle East conflict, which began with U.S.-led airstrikes on Iran late last month, the South Korean government launched an evacuation mission, dubbed "Operation Desert Shine," to ensure the safe return of its nationals. A multipurpose transport aircraft flew to Saudi Arabia to evacuate citizens from the region, 142 from Saudi Arabia, 24 from Bahrain, 14 from Kuwait, and 28 from Lebanon. The plane took off from Riyadh, the Saudi capital, the previous day carrying a total of 211 people, including 204 South Korean nationals, five of their foreign family members, and two Japanese nationals. They arrived at a military air base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, around 6 p.m. 2026-03-16 18:01:22 -
Rice, beans, eggs among items under price control watch SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) -Rice, beans and eggs are among 13 fresh food and grocery items authorities will keep a close eye on amid signs of price increases linked to a prolonged cold spell. In total, 23 items were selected during a government meeting on consumer prices. Of these, 13 items — including rice, beans, garlic, imported fruits, eggs, pork, frozen meat, flour, starch sugar, cooking oil, mackerel, dried seaweed and processed foods — were classified as essential consumer food items. Officials said rice and beans will receive particular attention, with the government ready to release stockpiles to stabilize supply and prices if needed. Authorities will also monitor market conditions and sales when the reserves are supplied. 2026-03-16 17:48:56 -
Shopping arcade in Seoul finds new life as elderly hangout SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) - A shopping arcade in central Seoul has found an unlikely second life as a favorite hangout for elderly people with little money. On the first floor of Nakwon Arcade in Jongno, a boisterous crowd of seniors fills the tables daily, some seated, others standing nearby, their laughter and chatter echoing all the way to the entrance. This is where the neighborhood’s best janggi (or Korean chess) players gather to compete. With recreational activities banned in nearby Tapgol Park, once a popular gathering spot for the elderly, the arcade has emerged as a new alternative, giving seniors a place to relax and enjoy their favorite pastimes. The faces of those seated said it all - anger, joy, the tension of their matches. Seventeen janggi tables now fill the space, but it was not always that way. The room originally housed twelve janggi tables and five for baduk, but baduk players had their own gathering spot nearby and rarely showed up. Eventually, all seventeen became janggi tables. The aisles between tables are unusually wide, enough to fit another table. The reason is simple: their matches attract kibitzers who like to offer advice and tips. The extra space lets people move freely even when spectators line the sides. At peak times around sixty people fill the room. No food or smoking is allowed. When someone steps out for a cigarette or a coffee, another player naturally takes their seat. No fees. No restrictions. Visitors come from as far as other provinces. They play against new opponents, test their skills, and find worthy rivals. Unofficial rules sometimes emerge suddenly among them. 2026-03-12 10:23:16 -
Activists rally in Seoul to mark 15th anniversary of Fukushima disaster SEOUL, March 11 (AJP) - Activists held a rally in central Seoul on Wednesday to mark the 15th anniversary of Japan's Fukushima disaster in 2011. The protesters, wearing boards shaped like nuclear reactors, were members of an anti-nuclear civic group. They gathered in front of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Gwanghwamun, reading a declaration to urge remembrance of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, oppose the construction of additional nuclear power plants, and advocate for nuclear phase-out policies. 2026-03-11 17:45:38 -
Tools to detect deepfakes and voting fraud showcased ahead of local elections SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - A demonstration to detect artificial intelligence (AI)-generated deepfakes and prevent other election-related fraud was held at the government complex in central Seoul on Tuesday. It was part of efforts by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to prevent any illegal activities in voting and other violations ahead of local elections slated for early June. The ministry said it has worked with the National Forensic Service since 2024 and can now detect deepfakes with 92 percent of accuracy, a significant improvement from the previous 76 percent. The ministry pledged to work closely with relevant agencies to protect citizens and crack down on false information and deepfakes. 2026-03-10 17:58:23 -
Independence fighter's lifelong dedication remembered SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - People gathered at a memorial hall in southern Seoul on Tuesday to mark the 88th anniversary of the death of independence fighter Ahn Chang-ho. They laid flowers and bowed their heads in remembrance of his enduring devotion and sacrifice for the country. It was the Sino-Japanese War that changed everything for him. At the age of just sixteen, watching foreign powers clash on Korean soil in 1894, he realized that it was because the country had no strength to defend itself. From that moment, he resolved to dedicate his life to his country, not merely in words but in action. In 1905, he founded the Gongnip Association, the first Korean political organization established in the U.S., drawing 600 members within just two years. He then returned home in 1907 and formed the Sinminhoe, a secret patriotic organization dedicated to restoring Korean sovereignty from Japanese colonial rule. He also established a school in Pyongyang, spearheading educational movements to enlighten people. After the March 1st Independence Movement in 1919, Ahn became Minister of Interior for the Provisional Government in exile in Shanghai. Through both political action and a lifelong commitment to education, Ahn, also known by his pen name Dosan, dedicated himself entirely to the independence of his country. He died in March 1938 at the age of 59, yet his spirit and legacy continue to inspire to this day. 2026-03-10 17:35:53 -
Annual South Korea–US joint military exercise underway SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - The annual joint military exercise between South Korean and U.S. troops has been underway since early this week. The exercise, dubbed "Freedom Shield," which kicked off on Monday, aims to prepare for contingencies on the Korean Peninsula while assessing combat readiness to prepare for the transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul. Approximately 18,000 troops are participating in this year's exercise, similar to last year's level, but the number of field training sessions has been reduced to around 22, less than half of last year's 51. North Korea, which has hysterically reacted to these exercises, responded again as Kim Yo-jong, the country's unofficial mouthpiece as the sister of the country's leader Kim Jong-un threatened that it may "cause unimaginably terrible consequences." The exercise runs until March 19. 2026-03-10 16:48:18 -
A film, a fallen monarch, and a nation looking back SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) -Thirty-one days after its release, The King’s Warden crossed the ten-million admissions mark, becoming the 34th South Korean film to reach that milestone — and still counting as the crowds kept on growing. The numbers came quickly. One million in five days. Two million by day twelve. Three million on Lunar New Year. Four million the next day. By March 10, cumulative admissions reached approximately 11.7 million. But the film's impact has not been restricted to theaters. Cheongnyeongpo in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province—where King Danjong, the sixth monarch of Joseon, was exiled—has seen a steady stream of visitors. Over one weekend, thousands arrived. On March 8 alone, Cheongnyeongpo and Jangneung received 4,622 visitors by 2:10 p.m. The day before, 7,047 people came. In just two days, more than 10,000 visitors walked through the site. By March 8 afternoon, the year's cumulative visitor count reached approximately 109,112. Last year, it took until June to surpass 100,000. This year, that number was reached in just two months. The film's influence also spread to bookstores. According to YES24, sales of books with the keyword "Danjong" surged 2,565.4% in the month following the film's February 4 release compared to the same period the previous year. From the classic novel The Tragedy of Danjong to children's history books and the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, diverse genres saw rising sales together. Annals of the Joseon Dynasty 3: Sejong, Munjong, Danjong recorded an approximately 800% (9-fold) increase, while Danjong's Sorrow, Sejong's Tears rose about 2,700% (28-fold) during the same period. A single film led people beyond the theater. To an exile site. To books. Into history. A story that began on screen is coming alive again in real places and historical records. The film ends in two hours, but the questions it leaves continue. Who was Danjong? What was his era like? And why do we now seek to remember him? The King’s Warden became a ten-million-viewer blockbuster. Yet perhaps its deeper significance lies elsewhere — in how a single film led a nation to look back, and rediscover a chapter of its own history. 2026-03-10 13:47:16 -
Indian spring festival brings colors flying in Miryang SEOUL, March 09 (AJP) - Miryang city in South Gyeongsang Province held the 16th Holi Hai Festival at the Sunshine Miryang Theme Park Cultural Plaza on March 8. Approximately 1,000 Korean and foreign participants joined the event. Holi is a traditional Indian festival celebrating the arrival of spring where people throw colored powder and water at each other. The event was designed as a platform for communication where citizens and foreign residents can enjoy together beyond barriers of nationality and language. The festival began with traditional Indian food experiences and wellness programs, followed by an afternoon session where participants threw colored powder to DJ music. The Yoga Culture Town within the Sunshine Theme Park where the festival was held blended authentic Indian yoga culture with the Holi festival. 2026-03-09 15:49:23 -
South Koreans return home from Middle East SEOUL, March 06 (AJP) - Korean travelers who departed for the Middle East are returning home one by one as many air routes have been disrupted in the aftermath of Middle East tensions. Additionally, the Dubai-Incheon route, which had been suspended due to the aftermath of Iran's airstrikes, resumed on March 6. The flight took off three hours and ten minutes later than scheduled due to local airport conditions. Korean Air has suspended flights to the Middle East until March 8. Meanwhile, the government is reviewing plans to deploy chartered planes and military transport aircraft to the UAE and other locations as early as this weekend, and is in discussions with UAE authorities for this purpose. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held a phone call with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the night of March 5 to discuss plans for chartered plane takeoffs and landings to support the return of Korean nationals staying in the region. 2026-03-06 15:01:55