Former PM expresses support for PPP candidate in last-minute move ahead of presidential election SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - With less than a week left until next month's presidential election, former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon on Tuesday expressed his support for Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the ruling People Power Party (PPP). At a press conference in Seoul, Lee said he decided to join hands with Kim to prevent Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), from being elected, describing it as a "monster dictatorship." Lee, who was once a presidential contender from the DP in the previous election but defected amid internal strife to form the splinter New Future Democratic Party early last year, then added that he will work with Kim to form a joint government and pursue constitutional reform. "We agreed to work together to form a joint government and revise the Constitution to implement reforms," Lee told reporters. With Kim still trailing Lee in most polls, the surprise agreement could sway some swing voters or undecided voters ahead of the June 3 snap election, now less than a week away. But it remains to be seen whether their last-minute move will help the PPP candidate win over voters and narrow the gap with frontrunner Lee, as the former prime minister has been losing ground even in his stronghold in Jeolla provinces. Later in the day, Kim also met with disgraced former President Lee Myung-bak, in an apparent push to rally conservative voters. The ex-president reportedly advised him to "make a sincere effort to persuade" Lee Jun-seok of the minor centrist Reform Party (RP) until the last minute to field a single conservative candidate for the election. Meanwhile, next week's election comes after the Constitutional Court of Korea's ruling early last month to impeach disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law debacle late last year. 2025-05-27 17:10:39

Korean War veteran and former congressman Charles Rangel dies on Memorial Day SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - Charles Rangel, a Korean War veteran and former U.S. congressman, died at a hospital in New York on Monday, as the country observed Memorial Day. He was 94. Born in Harlem, Manhattan in 1930, Rangel was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1971. The 23-term lawmaker went on to serve in Congress for 46 years until his retirement in January 2017. During his time in Congress, the late Democrat, who consistently worked to support Washington's key Asian ally, played a key role in strengthening bilateral ties between South Korea and the U.S. while introducing a series of bills and resolutions related to South Korea. Rangel promoted peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula, advocated for the reunions of separated families between the two Koreas, and supported Korean War veterans. In recognition of his efforts, he received several awards and honors from South Korea including one in 2007 and another in 2021. 2025-05-27 15:05:26

BTS reunites this June after nearly two years of service SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - K-pop wonder BTS is on track for a full-group return this June, as the last of the members complete their military service. RM and V are set to be discharged on Jun. 10, followed by Jungkook and Jimin a day later. Suga wraps up his service on Jun. 21. Jin and J-Hope, who finished earlier, are already preparing for the group's long-awaited reunion. The group has been on hiatus since late 2022, when Jin became the first to enlist under South Korea’s mandatory military service law. Over the past two years, no other act has quite filled the void BTS left behind, and fans have been counting the days. Even while serving, members stayed active through pre-recorded content and solo releases. Jungkook’s “3D” and “Standing Next to You,” along with Jimin’s “Like Crazy” and “Who,” were among the most-played songs of 2025, according to the U.S. BMI Pop Awards. “Who” became the longest-charting K-pop solo track in Billboard Hot 100 history, holding on for 33 weeks. RM’s music videos, released before enlistment, also rippled across the world's music scene, winning four honors at the UK’s Shark Music Video Awards, including Best Music Video. However, not all attention was positive. In August, Suga was cited for riding an electric scooter under the influence, drawing criticism at the time. But the group pressed on, and momentum has steadily returned. Jin and J-Hope, the first to reenter the spotlight, have kept busy. Jin is preparing for a solo comeback with “Don’t Say You Love Me,” the lead track from his second mini album Echo, filmed in Singapore. J-Hope launched a solo world tour earlier this year and became the second male K-pop soloist — after Psy — to appear on the cover of Billboard magazine. BTS last performed together in June 2022 with the release of Proof, followed by a concert in Busan that October in support of the city’s World Expo bid. Since then, fans have been waiting. A specific comeback date hasn’t been announced. “No decision has been finalized,” BigHit Music told AJP. But the countdown has begun — and the excitement is already in motion. 2025-05-26 16:31:07

Chung Soon-mi becomes first overseas Korean awarded top Norwegian medal SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Musician Chung Soon-mi has become the first overseas Korean to receive Norway’s highest state honor, the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav, the South Korean Embassy in Norway said on Saturday. Chung was awarded the Knight First Class medal of the prestigious Order on Sunday in recognition of her significant contributions to Norwegian arts and culture. Established in 1847 by King Oscar I of Norway, the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav is the country’s most distinguished decoration, bestowed upon individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Norwegian society. Chung studied at esteemed institutions including the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris, the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Since 1981, she has been a professor at the Barratt Due Institute of Music, Norway’s premier music education institution, training generations of musicians. Her previous honors include the City of Oslo Culture Award, the Lindeman Prize, the Anders Jahre Culture Prize, and the Norwegian Arts Council Award of Merit. 2025-05-26 11:04:51

DP's Lee maintains lead as presidential race tightens SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - With South Korea’s presidential election just two weeks away, Lee Jae-myung, candidate of the Democratic Party (DP), maintains a clear lead over his rivals despite recent setbacks, a new poll showed on Friday. According to a survey of 1,002 voters conducted earlier this week by pollster Gallup Korea, Lee garnered 45 percent support as the preferred presidential candidate. Kim Moon-soo, the candidate for People Power Party (PPP), followed in second place with 36 percent, narrowing the gap significantly by gaining 7 percentage points from the previous week, while Lee’s support dropped by 6 points. Kim, a former Minister of Employment and Labor, has recently gained traction, especially among conservative voters, amid controversies following former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s departure from the PPP and heated exchanges during the first televised debate. Lee, who initially sought to broaden his appeal among moderate and conservative voters, saw declining support from conservatives, down from 22 percent to 18 percent, and a slight drop among moderates, from 52 percent to 49 percent. Lee Jun-seok, leader of the minor Reform Party, reached double-digit support for the first time, securing 10 percent. Lee’s rise was notably strong among young voters in their 20s and 30s. Regionally, Lee Jae-myung maintained strong leads in Seoul, and the densely populated area surrounding it, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon in the northwest. In contrast, Kim dominated traditional conservative strongholds, including Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province in the southeastern part of the country, as well as the southeastern coastal cities of Busan and Ulsan along with South Gyeongsang Province. Both candidates were nearly tied in the central Daejeon-Chungcheong region. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party led party preference ratings with 42 percent support, ahead of the PPP, which stood at 36 percent. The Reform Party achieved its highest-ever support at 6 percent since its establishment. 2025-05-23 16:18:12

British Embassy in Seoul celebrates King Charles III's birthday SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - The British Embassy in Seoul hosted a special reception on Thursday evening to celebrate the birthday of King Charles III, marking Britain’s most significant diplomatic event of the year. The King’s Birthday celebration, organized annually by British embassies and high commissions worldwide, was held with the support of numerous British and South Korean companies and organizations, including Dulwich College. This year’s event was themed “The Best of British,” offering guests a chance to experience British culture, cuisine, beverages, and music. The evening also featured K-pop artists moderating and performing, including performances of the national anthems of both nations. “The relationship between the UK and Korea is growing deeply and ambitiously,” British Ambassador to Seoul Colin Crooks said. “Based on the Downing Street Accord, which underpins our cooperation, our two countries have strengthened ties in trade, investment, defense, security, climate, science, technology, and energy.” Crooks expressed confidence in future cooperation, adding, “The upcoming FTA negotiations over the next 12 months are expected to further enhance our trade and investment relations. The visit of the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales will further reinforce our joint efforts for regional and global security.” He also highlighted cultural cooperation, noting, “the appointment of British architect Thomas Heatherwick as General Director of the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism reflects both countries’ strong soft power.” 2025-05-23 15:19:35

North Korea admits newly developed destroyer damaged in launch mishap SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) -North Korea admitted that its newly developed warship was accidentally damaged during a launch ceremony earlier this week. According to the official state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the accident occurred Wednesday when a 5,000-ton destroyer was being launched at a shipyard in Chongjin, a key industrial city in the northeast. The vessel tilted and eventually overturned after a support mechanism at the stern prematurely released as it entered the water. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who reportedly witnessed the incident, expressed severe displeasure and immediately ordered a thorough investigation. "An investigation group of the destroyer launch accident got down to a full-scale investigation," KCNA reported. "No matter how good the state of the warship is ... those responsible for it can never evade their responsibility for the crime." KCNA added expert opinion, saying, "It will take two or three days to keep the balance of the warship by pumping up the seawater from the flooded chamber and making the bow leave the slipway and 10-odd days to restore the warship's side." However, Beyond Parallel, a project by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, commented that it is unclear yet whether the vessel received damage and how long it would take to salvage it. The damaged destroyer is reportedly identical to the "Choe Hyon," another multipurpose destroyer launched by North Korea last month. 2025-05-23 13:50:44

Soprano Sumi Jo to receive France's highest cultural honor next week SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - Soprano Sumi Jo is set to receive France's highest cultural honor next week, according to the Korean Cultural Center in Paris. Jo will be awarded the Commander's medal of the Order of Arts and Letters in recognition of her contributions to French art. Established in 1957 by the French Ministry of Culture, the prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made "significant contributions to the arts and literature both in France and internationally." Jo will be the second South Korean to receive the top honor, following conductor Chung Myung-whun in 2011. Other previous South Korean recipients of the lower-ranked Officer's medal include the late actress Yoon Jung-hee, filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, painter Kim Tschang-yeul, and jazz vocalist Nah Youn-sun. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on May 26. After making her debut in Italy in 1986 with Verdi's masterpiece "Rigoletto," Jo quickly rose to fame worldwide, with legendary conductor Herbert von Karajan praising her as "a voice from heaven." Jo, who regularly performs at major venues around the world, has reportedly been tied up with a packed year-round schedule. Last year, Jo hosted her namesake singing competition for the first time at a historic castle in central France. Set to be held every two years, the event is the first international vocal contest abroad named after a South Korean artist. 2025-05-22 15:57:20

Search underway to find new US envoy for North Korean human rights SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - Washington's post for a special envoy on North Korean human rights issues, which has remained vacant since early this year, is expected to be filled soon. When asked during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday whether there are plans to appoint someone to the post left vacant since former envoy Julie Turner stepped down in January, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that thorough vetting procedures are currently underway to "find the right person." He then added, "We are working through it, but obviously our intention is to have someone as the statute requires." The post had remained vacant for nearly six years during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term after he declined to nominate a successor to then-envoy Robert King. After the prolonged vacancy, Turner was nominated by former U.S. President Joe Biden in January 2023 and later assumed the position tasked with raising awareness of human rights abuses in North Korea. With Turner's sudden departure after a brief stint in the position, which was belatedly revealed several months later, there have been doubts about the appointment of a new envoy under Trump's current non-consecutive second term, which appears to place less focus on international human rights issues. 2025-05-22 14:07:16

Seoul records season's hottest morning temperature SEOUL, May 21 (AJP) - Seoul recorded its hottest morning temperature for May in more than a century on Wednesday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The morning low soared to 23 degrees Celsius, the highest early summer temperature since weather observations began in 1907, breaking the previous record of 21.8 degrees set in May 2018. Partly due to humid southerly winds, the unusually warm conditions came, coinciding with "Soman," the eighth of the twenty-four seasonal periods, which literally means the creeping arrival of summer according to the lunar calendar. Morning temperatures in other metropolitan areas also rose, reaching 20.7 degrees in Incheon and 20.1 degrees in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. The KMA forecast that the early summer heat will linger until Thursday. 2025-05-21 16:45:04