Independent prosecutors summon ex-first lady to appear for questioning SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors on Monday asked former first lady Kim Keon Hee to appear for questioning early next month. Prosecutors led by Min Jung-ki, who are investigating a slew of allegations involving Kim, including the acceptance of a luxury handbag, involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, election-related meddling in candidate nominations, and several other accusations, summoned her, about three weeks after forming a team for the probe. According to them, Kim was notified by mail to appear for questioning scheduled for Aug. 6. The latest probe is part of three separate investigations by independent prosecutors, which include disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law last year and allegations of inappropriate interference by the Defense Ministry related to a Marine's death during a search mission in July 2023. These investigations were launched after the National Assembly passed relevant bills just a day after President Lee Jae-myung took office early last month. Held at a remand prison in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province since July 10, Yoon, who has been stalling investigations citing deteriorating health, was also asked to appear for questioning next Tuesday. 2025-07-21 16:42:28

Scorching heat returns with vengeance as monsoon season ends SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Scorching heat has returned, with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius across the country, as the monsoon season ended with a last bout of torrential rains that battered southern regions over the weekend. With recovery efforts from flooding and landslides still underway, temperatures climbed to as high as 34 degrees, prompting the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) to issue heat advisories for most parts of the country on Monday. Daytime highs reached 34 degrees in Daegu, Daejeon, and Gangneung, Gangwon Province, followed by 33 degrees in Gwangju and 31 degrees in Busan and Seoul. Tropical nights, when temperatures do not drop below 25 degrees, are also expected to persist for a while in several areas. The KMA advised people to refrain from outdoor activities during peak daytime hours, stay hydrated, and be mindful of heatstroke and food poisoning. "Scattered showers are forecast during the day in Seoul and other parts of the country, bringing a brief respite, but hot and humid weather will continue for the time being," a KMA official said. 2025-07-21 14:49:42

INTERVIEW: How literature is bringing South Korea and Poland closer together SEOUL, July 18 (AJP) - For many South Koreans, Poland once seemed like a distant European country, often known only for legendary figures such as pianist Frédéric Chopin and Nobel laureate chemist Marie Curie. But the Slavic country in central Europe has drawn closer to South Korea in recent years thanks to a burgeoning appreciation for its rich literary tradition and cultural heritage. "Although South Korea and Poland are geographically far apart and have had relatively few opportunities for mutual exchange or interaction, literature can serve as a bridge to help the two countries, which share cultural and historical similarities, build a deeper connection," said Lee Dang-kweon, director of the Korean Cultural Center in Warsaw, in a recent interview with AJP. Indeed, Poland has long been regarded as one of Europe's most renowned countries for literature. With five Nobel Prize laureates from Henryk Sienkiewicz in 1905 to Olga Tokarczuk in 2018 and other internationally acclaimed authors, literature is truly a beloved part of Polish culture. Particularly famed for its poetic brilliance, Polish literature, deeply intertwined with the country's turbulent history along with pride its cultural heritage, much like South Korea's, has served as a powerful form of resistance and cultural endurance, resiliently preserving and shaping national identity through language and storytelling. "The center, which opened in 2010 as the first of its kind in central Europe, has been offering diverse literature-themed programs, as I believe literature has the power to connect people and deepen relationships beyond cultural and territorial boundaries," Lee said. Among these activities, the regular gatherings of book lovers and literature enthusiasts, which began late last year, stand out the most, quickly gaining popularity from locals. "In the beginning, only a small circle of people gathered to share their thoughts on literature," Lee recalled. "But now each session attracts a large crowd." Such interest grew even stronger when writer Han Kang became South Korea's first Nobel Prize recipient in literature last year, ushering in a new chapter of cultural exchange between Seoul and Warsaw. In particular, Han's biographical collection of essays "HYNN" instantly stole Polish readers' hearts. Set in post-World War II Warsaw and written during her stay there, the book exemplifies Han's distinctive style of "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life," which was cited as the reason for awarding her the prestigious prize. Another boost to this growing interest came in May, when South Korea was selected as the Guest of Honor at this year's Warsaw International Book Fair, becoming the first Asian country to serve the role. "The center received a warm response and enthusiastic support from visitors when it first presented South Korean literary works at the fair in 2023, which soon led to an invitation to fulfill this year's honored role," Lee recalled, sharing his joy at achieving such a meaningful milestone at one of the largest annual literary events in Europe, which brings together numerous publishers and participants from around the world every year. Following the success of the fair, which drew even greater attention to South Korea, the center is expanding its efforts to promote the country's literature and culture by planning a variety of additional programs. It also seeks to create more opportunities for South Korean authors and writers by connecting them with various literary events and book fairs held across Poland. "More and more Polish people here are rediscovering South Korea through literary works and have even started organizing events to learn more about the country on their own," Lee said. "We will continue to support them and help more people in Poland connect with Korean culture through books." 2025-07-18 16:03:45

US Senate defense bill aims to preserve troop presence in South Korea SEOUL, July 18 (AJP) - A newly passed United States Senate defense bill signals congressional intent to maintain current American troop levels in South Korea amid renewed debate over the future of U.S. military commitments abroad. The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), approved last week by the Senate Armed Services Committee, includes language that blocks any reduction in the U.S. military presence on the Korean Peninsula or transfer of wartime operational control without formal certification from the Secretary of Defense. According to a summary released by the committee, such changes would require confirmation that the move is in the national interest. The bill also mandates that top military officials—including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Commander of Indo-Pacific Command, and the Commander of U.S. Forces Korea—complete an independent risk assessment before any adjustments can move forward. This provision mirrors a restriction introduced during former President Donald Trump’s administration, which was later removed under President Joe Biden. Its return comes as speculation grows that a second Trump term could revisit efforts to scale back U.S. troop deployments overseas. The NDAA, passed annually, serves as a blueprint for U.S. defense policy and spending. The final version will be negotiated between the Senate and House before being sent to the president for approval. 2025-07-18 13:52:46

Acclaimed Korean artist honored with France's cultural order SEOUL, July 17 (AJP) - South Korean artist Kim Soo-ja has been awarded the Officier rank of the French Order of Arts and Letters, in recognition of her contributions to contemporary art and cultural exchange between Korea and France. The award ceremony was held last week at the French ambassador’s residence in central Seoul, where French Ambassador to Seoul Philippe Bertoux presented the honor to Kim. Bertoux praised her for helping to shape France as “a country of creativity,” and said she has significantly contributed to strengthening the cultural dialogue between France and Korea," ahead of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year. Established in 1957, the French Order of Arts and Letters honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the arts and literature, conferred by the French Ministry of Culture. Kim was first named Chevalier in 2017 and has now been promoted to Officier. Born in Daegu in 1957, Kim is internationally recognized for her multidisciplinary works across performance, video, and installation art. After graduating from Hongik University, she studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris and was selected as a French government scholar in 1984. Her work has been showcased in major museums and global art biennales. In 2019, she led the city-wide project Traversées / Kimsooja in Poitiers, France, and more recently presented her installation To Breathe – Constellation at the Pinault Foundation in Paris. 2025-07-17 16:54:24

Torrential rain batters central regions, with more downpours expected through this weekend SEOUL, July 17 (AJP) - Torrential downpours swept through central South Korea on Thursday, leaving at least two people dead and forcing over 1,000 people to be evacuated due to flooding. Heavy rain pounded most parts of the country with some areas with an intense rainfall of over 100 mm per hour, resulting in two fatalities. A man in his 40s died after a wall of an overpass collapsed onto his car in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, while another man in his 50s was found dead inside a submerged vehicle in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province. A heavy rain advisory was issued for the Seoul metropolitan area and surrounding regions as the seasonal monsoon front brought rainfall of up to 80 mm per hour, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Seosan in South Chungcheong Province saw the heaviest rainfall, with about 419.5 mm of accumulated precipitation falling within just five hours overnight. Nearby Hongseong and Dangjin also recorded over 300 mm of rainfall. "Additional rainfall with even greater intensity is expected in most part of central regions until this weekend, after a temporary lull on Thursday afternoon," a KMA official said. 2025-07-17 15:46:10

South Korea gears up for APEC summit in Gyeongju this fall SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - South Korea is ramping up its preparations for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, scheduled for October in the southern historical city of Gyeongju. President Lee Jae-myung has sent invitation letters to the leaders of all 20 APEC member countries including Canada, China, Japan, Russia, Viet Nam and the U.S. for the first major multilateral summit since his inauguration early last month, his office said on Wednesday. Shortly after taking office, Lee reportedly offered a personal invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping during their first phone conversation. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is on a two-day visit to Gyeongju this week to inspect key facilities and other venues for the summit, coming shortly after a similar visit last week. 2025-07-16 15:26:20

Honduran diplomat's immunity revoked over alleged sexual harassment in Busan SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - A Honduran diplomat, who has been booked for allegedly harassing and assaulting another man in South Korea, has been stripped of his diplomatic immunity by his home country. The Honduran Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that it revoked his diplomatic protections due to what it cited as "a serious incident," adding that he should face "legal consequences" if any wrongdoing is found. The ministry further stated that the diplomat's passport could be confiscated upon his return, warning its diplomats to comply with the laws of host countries. According to police here, the diplomat working at the Honduran Embassy in Seoul has been under investigation after being accused of sexually harassing a man, which led to a physical assault on a subway train in the southern port city of Busan last month. The incident occurred in the early morning, with the diplomat who was reportedly drunk while on a business trip to Busan. Earlier, the Foreign Ministry here expressed serious concerns to the Honduran Embassy and requested strong measures to prevent similar incidents. Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, foreign diplomats are generally granted immunity from the criminal, civil, and administrative jurisdiction of the host country. But if their home country waives this immunity, local authorities may proceed with legal actions. 2025-07-16 15:02:11

Russian airliner to launch direct flights to Pyongyang SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - A direct flight linking Pyongyang and Moscow will be launched later this month, Russia's Transport Ministry said Monday. According to the ministry, Russian carrier Nordwind Airlines will offer the first-ever direct passenger flights to Pyongyang twice a week starting in late July, connecting the two countries' capitals. The non-stop route, which takes about eight hours, was approved last week by Russia's aviation authorities following a request from Nordwind in June. The new flight comes as part of broader efforts to foster cooperation and exchanges amid closer ties between the two countries. Until now, the only available air route has been a flight connecting Pyongyang to Vladivostok three times a week, which resumed last August after a halt during the coronavirus pandemic. During a visit to North Korea's tourist zone of Wonsan in the eastern coastal area of Kangwon Province last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also revealed plans to restore maritime routes, which would boost trade and tourism between the two countries. 2025-07-15 16:32:10

US think tank proposes slashing USFK troops in Seoul to 10,000 SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - A Washington-based think tank has proposed cutting the number of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea by more than half, according to a report released on Wednesday. Stressing the need to "revise the U.S. global military posture to be consistent with protecting vital national interests," the report by Defense Priorities argued that the U.S. should cut its military presence in South Korea "by more than 50 percent, leaving about 10,000 personnel along with two fighter squadrons (including a larger super squadron) and support forces." Currently, there are about 28,500 the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) troops in South Korea. Written by Jennifer Kavanagh, a senior fellow at the think tank, and Dan Caldwell, former chief adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the report said that South Korea "has a significant conventional military advantage over its neighbor to the North, and so should be able to effectively defend itself even without U.S. support, if not immediately then in the near term.” As part of the rationale for the proposed reduction, it wrote, "Seoul has not offered the United States unrestricted contingency access to use its bases for operations elsewhere in the theater during a conflict. Forces remaining in South Korea might be sidelined in the event of a regional war." Pointing to "China's growing military power," the report said, "It is increasingly unrealistic for the United States to maintain a position of hegemony in Asia. It is entirely plausible, however, for the United States to balance Chinese power and prevent it from gaining its own hegemonic position." The report also called for similar reductions worldwide. In Europe, it recommended cutting ground troops from 90,000 to 30,000, while in the Middle East, it suggested reducing troop levels from 40,000 to 25,000. Caldwell, who was stepped down from his position earlier this year over his alleged involvement in a security breach known as "SignalGate," is no longer in government but reportedly remains influential in conservative circles. The proposal comes amid U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated demands for greater defense cost-sharing from Seoul. 2025-07-10 16:31:27