Journalist

Kang Min seon
  • IU donates 200 million won to charities
    IU donates 200 million won to charities SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Singer and actress IU has donated 200 million won (about US$ $139,000) to charities, sharing holiday joy with the underprivileged. According to her management agency EDAM Entertainment, IU made the donation to several charities, which will be distributed to support single mothers facing economic hardship and social prejudice, children and youth in poverty, individuals with hearing disabilities, and the elderly at risk of going hungry during the cold winter. IU has donated on numerous occasions including her birthday and other anniversaries. 2025-12-31 15:50:19
  • Cooking show returns to top spot as most-watched non-English series on Netflix
    Cooking show returns to top spot as most-watched non-English series on Netflix SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - The second season of Netflix's hit South Korean series "Culinary Class Wars" has remained at the No. 1 spot for a second consecutive week since its release earlier this month. According to the global streaming giant's ranking website Tudum, the series garnered 4.7 million views last week, the highest among non-English TV shows overall. The previous season also claimed the top spot for three consecutive weeks when it was released in September last year. With the first three out of 13 episodes released on Dec. 16, the survival show features an intense culinary battle between lesser-known chefs, referred to as "Black Spoons," and celebrity chefs known as "White Spoons." 2025-12-31 14:07:05
  • Man arrested for making hundreds of prank calls
    Man arrested for making hundreds of prank calls SEOUL, December 3 (AJP) - A man in his 50s has been arrested for making more than hundreds of false reports with the police over several months. According to police authorities, the man allegedly made 750 false reports and prank calls to emergency hotlines from March until last month, claiming incidents such as finding a weapon linked to an unsolved case and a bus driver operating under the influence. He also reportedly committed theft at local businesses and threatened store owners who reported him. He is expected to face charges of obstructing official duties and committing theft. During questioning, he reportedly said he had no specific reason for his actions. A police officer said, "These habitual false reports have wasted administrative resources. We will continue to rigorously investigate false reports and prank calls." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-03 15:04:11
  • K-pop quintet donate 200 million won to aid victims of Hong Kongs deadliest fire
    K-pop quintet donate 200 million won to aid victims of Hong Kong's deadliest fire SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - K-pop group (G)I-DLE donated money to support victims of Hong Kong's deadliest fire earlier this week. The multinational quintet with Chinese member Yuqi donated 200 million won (approximately US$136,000) to support emergency relief efforts for those affected by the fire, the Shanghai-based nonprofit Fosun Foundation said on Friday. The donation comes a few days after Yuqi posted a message on social media expressing her hope for everyone's safety. As of early Friday morning, 94 people were dead, 76 injured, and many others still missing after a fire broke out at a large housing complex in Tai Po, northern Hong Kong on Wednesday. Seven of the complex's eight buildings were affected, with flames spreading to adjacent blocks. About 900 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters at nearby schools, and more than 1,250 firefighters have been mobilized to extinguish the blaze and carry out search and rescue operations. Donations continue to pour in to help victims, with other K-pop groups such as aespa and RIIZE also joining in. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-28 15:26:48
  • Seoul apartment transactions surge in October ahead of new housing curbs
    Seoul apartment transactions surge in October ahead of new housing curbs SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Apartment sales in Seoul saw a dramatic jump in October, fueled by a wave of last-minute purchases ahead of sweeping government real-estate curbs, official data and policy documents show. Nationally, housing transactions — including apartments and other types of residences — reached 69,718 last month, up 10 percent from September and 23.2 percent from a year earlier, according to the October housing statistics from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. According to analysts, this frenzied pace was driven by apprehension over newly announced curbs. On Oct. 15, the government unveiled its most aggressive housing regulation package yet: all 25 districts of Seoul and 12 municipalities in the surrounding Gyeonggi Province were designated as regulated zones. In the capital region, transactions surged. The Seoul metropolitan area recorded 39,644 deals — a 26.7 percent rise from September and 58.5 percent increase compared with October 2024. Within that, the city of Seoul alone logged 15,531 transactions, up 41.3 percent month-on-month and 116.8 percent year-on-year. By contrast, outside the metropolitan region non-metro areas saw a decline: transactions fell 6.2 percent from September and 4.7 percent from the same month last year. On the apartment market, the trend was even more pronounced: nationwide apartment sales reached 56,363 — up 13.5 percent from the prior month and 31.3 percent from a year earlier. Apartment transactions in Seoul soared by 62.5 percent month-on-month and an extraordinary 176 percent year-on-year. In the broader metropolitan zone, apartment deals rose 35.5 percent from September and 79.4 percent compared with last October. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-28 08:33:36
  • 2.2-magnitude earthquake shakes Wanju in southern South Korea
    2.2-magnitude earthquake shakes Wanju in southern South Korea SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - A magnitude 2.2 earthquake struck near Wanju in southern South Korea, prompting several residents to report feeling tremors in the area. According to fire authorities, the earthquake occurred at around 8:06 p.m. on Wednesday, 6 kilometers southeast of Wanju in North Jeolla Province. The epicenter was located at 35.89 degrees north latitude and 127.23 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 5 kilometers. Tremors, accompanied by a loud noise, were observed in nearby areas like Jeonju and Iksan, but no structural damage or injuries were reported. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-27 11:26:50
  • Fire at Hallym University forces hundreds of students to evacuate in Chuncheon
    Fire at Hallym University forces hundreds of students to evacuate in Chuncheon SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - Hundreds of students were evacuated overnight after a fire broke out at a university in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, in the early hours of Thursday. The fire occurred at around 1:27 a.m. on the fourth floor of a dormitory at Hallym University. Fire alarms sounded, prompting 346 students to evacuate, and no injuries were reported. The blaze damaged part of the building including two electrical panels before being extinguished in about 20 minutes. Police and fire authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-27 09:23:11
  • National Assembly set to vote on arrest motion for PPPs former floor leader
    National Assembly set to vote on arrest motion for PPP's former floor leader SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - The National Assembly is set to decide on whether to pass the arrest motion for Choo Kyung-ho, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP)'s former floor leader over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle in December last year. Choo has been accused of interfering with parliamentary efforts to lift the martial law declared by Yoon on Dec. 3. The motion, initiated by independent prosecutors investigating the debacle, requires a majority of lawmakers present to pass. With the Democratic Party holding a majority, it is likely to be passed. If passed, a court will proceed with a hearing to determine whether to issue an arrest warrant for him. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-27 09:06:03
  • Delinquencies on Koreas mom-and-pop business loans hit highest level since 2015
    Delinquencies on Korea's mom-and-pop business loans hit highest level since 2015 SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - Delinquencies on loans to South Korea’s mom-and-pop businesses rose to their highest level in more than nine years in the third quarter, even as the banking sector’s overall nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio edged down, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said on Thursday. The NPL rate for personal business loans climbed 0.02 percentage points from the previous quarter to 0.61 percent, the highest since June 2015. The FSS attributed the rise to a weak economic environment and higher borrowing costs, which have placed growing pressure on small self-employed borrowers. Across the banking sector, the overall NPL ratio stood at 0.57 percent in September, down 0.02 percentage points from the previous quarter but up 0.04 percentage points from a year earlier. Total NPLs amounted to 16.4 trillion won, a decline of 2 trillion won from June. Corporate loans made up 13.1 trillion won of the total, household loans 3 trillion won, and credit card loans 300 billion won. Banks generated 5.5 trillion won in new NPLs during the July–September period, down 900 billion won from the previous quarter but up 400 billion won from a year earlier. Household loan defaults remained at 1.4 trillion won, while corporate loan defaults fell by 1 trillion won to 3.9 trillion won. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-27 08:43:38
  • Online sexual violence on the rise among teenagers, report finds
    Online sexual violence on the rise among teenagers, report finds SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - Nearly 30 percent of teenagers have experienced sexual violence over the past three years, according to a report released by the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center (KSVRC) on Wednesday. Based on an analysis of reported cases from 2022 to 2024, the report found that there were 14,146 cases in 2022, 15,542 in 2023, and 14,874 in 2024. Among them, cases involving those under 19 increased from 27.6 percent in 2022 to 28.6 percent in 2024. The report also revealed a concerning rise in the number of offenders under 19. Juvenile offenders increased from 1,962 in 2022 to 2,042 in 2023 and 2,069 in 2024, accounting for approximately 13 percent of all offenders last year. "Online spaces have become an integral part of many children's lives these days, leading to a rise in digital sexual violence," the center said. "Cases of online grooming, where perpetrators demand photos or videos and then use them for threats or illegal distribution, are on the rise. Many victims remain unaware of their exposure for extended periods," it added. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-26 16:57:11