Son of ex-president tapped as new envoy to China SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Roh Jae-heon, the eldest son of former President Roh Tae-woo, has been tapped as South Korea's new ambassador to China, according to government sources on Thursday. Despite not being a career diplomat or a key political figure, Roh, 60, has engaged in various activities related to China including serving as an adviser to an international council of the Chinese city of Chengdu in 2016 and participating in exchange programs to foster ties with Beijing through his role as director of the East Asia Culture Center in Seoul. His surprise appointment comes after he traveled to Beijing last month as part of an entourage delivering a letter from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to Chinese President Xi Jinping. During the visit, he met senior officials, including Vice President Han Zheng. If confirmed, he will become the first envoy to China under the Lee administration. He is expected to assume the post as soon as agrément procedures from China are finalized. 2025-09-11 13:47:00

Daegu Photo Biennale to bring together 200 photographers from over 30 countries SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - The Daegu Photo Biennale will be "the best yet," Daegu Arts Center director Kim Hee-chul said Wednesday. The 10th Daegu Photo Biennale, hosted by the city of Daegu, begins next Thursday and runs for two months. This year’s theme is "Life," with about 200 photographers from more than 30 countries taking part and roughly 700 works, including photographs, videos and installations. Kim and this year’s artistic director, Emmanuelle de l’Ecotais, outlined the biennale at the French Embassy in Seoul on Wednesday. De l’Ecotais, who holds a PhD in art history, regularly curates exhibitions in France and abroad and is the founder and artistic director of "Photo Days Festival," one of Europe’s most popular annual photography festivals. On this year’s theme, de l'Ecotais said the exhibition looks beyond humans to include plants, animals and even forms of life that are hard to see, inviting visitors to think about "how all living things depend on one another" and "how we should relate to the world." Alongside the main exhibition, there will be special programs including a symposium where domestic and overseas experts discuss how artificial intelligence is affecting photography, and networking sessions for photographers. The biennale runs through Nov. 16. 2025-09-11 00:00:28

Pilot program for hiring foreign domestic helpers suspended amid weak demand SEOUL, September 8 (AJP) - A pilot program allowing families to directly hire foreign domestic helpers has been terminated, according to the Ministry of Justice. The program was launched in March this year with the aim of addressing the country's extremely low birthrates by helping couples juggle childcare and housework, enabling them to work with fewer worries. However, it soon drew criticism, as some households could afford the service while some foreign workers were not enthusiastic, given that private contracts could not guarantee pay in line with the legal minimum wage. Available in Seoul and a few southern provinces, the program, which was open to international students and members of migrant families, saw few sign-ups, with many participants not matched to households, eventually leading to its termination. "We decided to halt the program due to complaints about pay amid low interest," a ministry official said Sunday. "But there is still demand for affordable domestic helpers, so we will gather feedback and come up with alternative measures." Meanwhile, the termination does not affect another similar program run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, which allows families to hire Filipino domestic helpers. 2025-09-08 17:52:13

INTERVIEW: What surprised foreign job seekers about life and work in Seoul SEOUL, September 7 (AJP) - At a career forum in Seoul's trendy Seongsu-dong on Saturday, more than 40 panelists shared hard-won lessons with international students seeking job opportunities here. Hosted by Exprivé, a company that connects over 10,000 foreign influencers living in Korea to promote Korean culture worldwide, Saturday's event aimed to help job seekers bridge into local industries and drew a packed crowd. On the sidelines, four Asian panelists from Singapore, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia sat down with AJP to share what settling here has felt like, what surprised them, and what advice they would give. Saule, a global marketing manager at beauty startup Eleven Corporation, opened with a simple point about daily life. "In Korea, there is a strong 'do-things-together' culture," she said. "Back home, no one minds if you spend your lunch or free time on your own. Here, people tend to spend that time with the people around them. I’ve almost never eaten alone." Desmy, who completed an MBA at Yonsei University and now works at Samsung C&T Corporation, recalled awkward comments. "I've been asked, 'Isn't Southeast Asia poor? Is Singapore also part of that?'" she said. "There was no obvious bad intention, but the way some people think and view the world or other countries felt very narrow." Tsolmon, a University of Seoul graduate who now coordinates hospital programs at Exprivé, also shared a similar experience. "Some people are very kind to English-speaking foreigners but behave differently toward other foreigners, especially toward non-English-speaking Asians," she said. "When I interviewed for a part-time job at a café while in college, I was told, 'If customers ask whether you're a foreigner, say you're Korean because you look similar, but don't say you're Mongolian.'" Anna, a senior sales manager at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul who studied business at Sungkyunkwan University, pointed to the problem of Korean society's intense competition, especially in the job market in Seoul. "In China, even if it's not Beijing, you have other options in other cities," she said. "In Korea, so much is concentrated in Seoul that everyone wants to settle down here, and the competition is very severe. There's also a feeling that you should be 'perfect' in everything—your career, your appearance, and, if you are married, housework and childcare." All four said visas and paperwork are a major hurdle for foreigners who want to settle down in Korea. "Many students study really hard and try hard to stay," they said. "But strict visa conditions can lead to trouble, such as working without proper papers or staying without permission." They also pointed out the problem of some companies that exploit desperate foreigners who want to stay in Korea. "Some treat the minimum salary for a work visa as the most they need to pay, saying, 'There are plenty of other foreigners who would take this job at this wage to stay in Korea. If you don't take this, someone else will.'" They further described problems at immigration offices. "Western foreigners often receive friendly service in English," they said, "while people from Southeast or Central Asia are told to speak Korean—or addressed in very casual Korean that can feel disrespectful. This is often cited as a discriminatory experience by foreigners from those countries." Still, they stressed what they have learned here: be on time, respect others, and use gentle, considerate language. Tsolmon said she has developed the habit of using polite words in nearly every situation. Desmy added, "People say I've become calmer after living in Korea." They also advised newcomers on what they could learn from Korean society. "It is true that Korean society can feel difficult to settle into and highly competitive," they said. "But what we can learn from adapting here is that people here are always looking for ways to improve themselves and are working hard for the future. In such an environment, we push ourselves too, and we can see that we are improving and becoming better versions of ourselves day after day." 2025-09-07 21:37:13

[[K-Drama]] Song Joong-ki returns to romance drama after 9 years SEOUL, September 05 (AJP) - Actor Song Joong-ki will return to a romance drama for the first time in nine years with a new Friday series on a local cable channel. "It was exciting to finally find a script that touched me again. I wanted to play a character who feels real and ordinary, and that made filming enjoyable," Song said at a press conference on Thursday. The series "My Youth" follows a former child star who becomes a florist and reunites with his first love 15 years later. Song plays the lead character, who spent his 20s focused on acting to make a living and begins to rediscover himself after meeting her again. Song described romance as a genre many actors want to try. "Romance is something most actors dream of doing," he said, adding, "The main reason I took this role was Chun Woo-hee. She was the best partner I could ask for." Chun, who plays a management agency team manager and Song’s first love, said she accepted the role because of him. "I joined because I trusted Song Joong-ki and wanted to work with him. This drama will remind viewers of their own first love," she said. The drama premieres Friday at 8:50 p.m. on JTBC. 2025-09-05 17:37:20

68 countries to join Seoul Defense Dialogue next week SEOUL, September 05 (AJP) - The defense ministry will host the 14th Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) in central Seoul from Monday to Wednesday, bringing together senior officials from around the world. Launched in 2012, the annual forum is designed to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and strengthen regional security cooperation. This year, more than 1,000 participants from 68 countries and international organizations are expected to attend, according to the ministry. Defense ministers from Japan, South Africa, Mongolia, Croatia and the Philippines will join vice defense ministers from eight countries and the chairman of NATO’s military committee as panelists in key sessions. Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani will visit Seoul for the first time in a decade and is set to hold talks with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek. Participants are expected to discuss pressing global security issues, including ways to ease military tensions, restore strategic stability and build future security capabilities. "The SDD is a platform for the international community to strengthen cooperation and pursue common goals for peace and stability," a ministry official said. "It will also help South Korea enhance its role as a responsible member of the global community." 2025-09-05 13:32:20

French bestseller 'Empire of the Ants' to be released as webtoon SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) - French novelist Bernard Werber’s 1991 bestseller "Empire of the Ants" will be released as a full-color webtoon in Korea and France in November. Weber is one of the most popular foreign novelists among South Korean book lovers. First published in 1991, Empire of the Ants explores human and ant societies through science fiction, focusing on survival, evolution and social order. Translated into Korean in 1993, the novel became a bestseller and established Werber as one of France’s leading authors. The adaptation will be created by webtoon artist Kim Yong-hoe, known for "Dr. Fine’s Daily Life" and "Why Did You Come to Goblin Hill?," and will be produced in vertical scroll format with support from the Korea Creative Content Agency. "I am delighted that my story will reach a new generation of readers in webtoon," Werber said, noting its appeal more than three decades after publication. Kenaz, a global webtoon company, said the project aims to capture “the scientific imagination of the original work and the dynamic world of ants” in a vivid, full-color style. 2025-09-04 16:26:17

Trump calls Beijing parade 'impressive,' mentions Kim and Putin SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - United States President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was "very surprised" that Chinese President Xi Jinping did not highlight America’s role in World War II during a speech at a military parade in Beijing. "I watched the speech last night. President Xi is a friend of mine," Trump told reporters at the White House as he met with Polish President Karol Nawrocki. "I thought that the United States should have been mentioned last night during that speech, because we helped China very, very much." China staged the parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, with Xi flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Before a crowd of more than 50,000, Xi thanked "the foreign governments and international friends who supported and assisted the Chinese people," according to an official account, but he did not specifically mention the U.S. Trump also praised the event. "I thought it was a beautiful ceremony. I thought it was very, very impressive," he said. "But I understood the reason they were doing it, and they were hoping I was watching, and I was watching." On Truth Social the previous day, Trump had asked whether Xi would note the "massive amount of support and blood" given by the U.S. during the conflict. "Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory," he wrote. "I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!" The president emphasized his ties with the three leaders in Beijing. "My relationship with all of them is very good," he said. "We’re going to find out how good it is over the next week or two." In another post, Trump wrote to Xi, "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America." 2025-09-04 14:32:20

Trump says 'not concerned at all' on Beijing military parade SEOUL, September 3 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday brushed off suggestions that deepening ties among China, Russia and North Korea posed a challenge to Washington as the leaders of those countries gathered in Beijing for a military parade. In an interview with the Scott Jennings Radio Show, Trump said he was "not concerned at all" about the possibility of an "axis" against the United States. He added, "They would never use their military on us ... that would be the worst thing they could ever do." Speaking to reporters at the White House later the same day, Trump again rejected the idea that the joint appearance of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the parade could amount to a challenge to U.S. influence. "Not at all," he said. "China needs us, and I have a very good relationship with President Xi ... China needs us much more than we need them. I don't see that at all." The parade held Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II showcased China’s military capabilities, with Xi standing alongside Putin and Kim. The parade followed a Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in Tianjin earlier in the week that both Xi and Putin attended. 2025-09-03 13:22:50

President Lee to speak at UN General Assembly later this month SEOUL, September 2 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month. According to the presidential office, Lee will deliver a keynote address on September 23 and chair an open debate of the Security Council the following day. In his keynote speech, Lee will share South Korea's experience of overcoming difficulties after the Korean War, as well as recovery and development in politics and the economy, and outline his administration’s vision and policies on the Korean Peninsula and other global challenges. His 15-minute address will be delivered during the morning session. Lee will also preside over a Security Council open debate on artificial intelligence and international peace and security, marking the first time a South Korean president has chaired such a meeting. South Korea holds the rotating presidency of the Council for September. "The General Assembly’s high-level week is held every September, bringing together leaders from all 193 member states and making it the world’s largest multilateral diplomatic stage," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said. "With the U.N. marking its 80th anniversary this year, global attention will be greater than ever," she added. 2025-09-02 15:23:53