Journalist

·JEONG SE HEE
  • Fire at apartment complex in Seoul leaves two in critical condition, dozens evacuated
    Fire at apartment complex in Seoul leaves two in critical condition, dozens evacuated SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - A fire broke out at an apartment complex in Songpa, southern Seoul, early Wednesday morning, leaving two people in cardiac arrest and dozens evacuated. According to fire authorities, the blaze started at around 5:36 a.m. on the fifth floor of the Olympic Athletes' Village, which was built just ahead of the 1988 Seoul Olympics to house athletes and journalists and was later converted into a residential complex. Rescue officials said a man and a woman in their 60s were found unconscious and remain in critical condition. Another man and woman in their 70s who were rescued at the scene suffered minor discomfort after being exposed to smoke, while some 35 residents evacuated on their own. Some 87 firefighters were mobilized, and the fire was fully extinguished at around 7:11 a.m., roughly 90 minutes after it broke out. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire. 2025-12-24 08:59:18
  • Unionized rail workers postpone strike for now
    Unionized rail workers postpone strike for now SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - Unionized railway workers called off their planned all-out strike after receiving a new offer on bonus payments overnight. State-run rail operator KORAIL's workers, who had planned to go on strike starting with the first train on Tuesday unless the agreements are fulfilled, said they would discuss further on performance-based bonuses, as management proposed gradually restoring them from 80 percent of base pay to 90 percent next year and to full pay in 2027. With their last-minute decision to hold off on a strike for now, all trains are running normally. A union official said, "Commuters may have been inconvenienced by concerns late into the night," adding that rail workers would repay them with a safer public railway. 2025-12-23 08:59:01
  • KT Wiz infielder Hwang Jae-gyun to end 20-year baseball career
    KT Wiz infielder Hwang Jae-gyun to end 20-year baseball career SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Infielder Hwang Jae-gyun is retiring from baseball, the KT Wiz said on Friday. In a statement released by the club, Hwang said, "Despite a good offer from the club, I decided to retire after much consideration." He added, "Thanks to the fans who always supported me enthusiastically, I was able to play for 20 years." "It was a great honor to be selected for the national team and to compete in international sporting events such as the Olympics and Asian Games," he recalled. "I also hope to be remembered as a player who consistently performed well without major injuries." He also expressed his gratitude to his family, coaches, teammates, and the clubs he played for. Making his professional debut in 2007 with the now-defunct Hyundai Unicorns in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) league, Hwang played for the Kiwoom Heroes and Lotte Giants, and also had a brief stint with the San Francisco Giants in Major League Baseball in 2017. He then joined the KT Wiz in 2018 and spent the remainder of his career with the team. He appeared in 2,200 games, posting a .285 batting average, 2,266 hits, 227 home runs, and 235 stolen bases. KT Wiz will hold an official retirement ceremony for Hwang early next year. 2025-12-19 16:40:22
  • Construction site collapse leaves one in cardiac arrest, several injured
    Construction site collapse leaves one in cardiac arrest, several injured SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - A steel bar collapsed at a subway construction site near Yeouido in Seoul, trapping several workers, police authorities said on Thursday. According to rescue officials, the collapse occurred at around 1:20 p.m., and all seven workers were rescued shortly afterward. Among them, one man in his 50s was found in cardiac arrest and was taken to a nearby hospital, while another man in his 50s suffered a minor ankle injury. A foreign worker in his 30s escaped on his own and was later treated at the scene for an injury to his wrist. The accident is believed to have occurred about 70 meters underground when the steel bar fell during concrete pouring work. Police said they plan to investigate whether there were any safety lapses during the work. 2025-12-18 16:22:44
  • Two workers still missing after construction site collapse in Gwangju
    Two workers still missing after construction site collapse in Gwangju SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Rescue workers have been searching for missing workers on Friday after a steel structure collapsed at a construction site in the southwestern city of Gwangju the previous day. The collapse occurred at the site for a library, leaving four workers trapped under the debris. Two of them were found dead and two others remain missing. Authorities believe the collapse started while concrete was being poured on the second-floor roof, burying the workers under debris. They plan to investigate the exact cause of the accident after completing rescue operations, looking into whether any flaws were involved in attempts to shorten the construction period. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-12 16:48:14
  • Seoul to hold govt briefings for policy roadmap to president live
    Seoul to hold govt briefings for policy roadmap to president live SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will begin his first round of public-sector briefings starting Thursday, setting the stage for his administration’s initial policy roadmap across the economy, agriculture, labor, and data governance. Lee, who just completed his first six months in office, will receive reports from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the Data Agency, along with their affiliated institutions. The sessions will examine some of the administration’s most urgent as well as mid-term challenges: stabilizing the exchange rate and consumer prices, overhauling tax policy, expanding K-food exports, and rolling out a basic income program for rural regions. Labor and safety policy will also be a focal point. Officials are expected to outline plans to reduce industrial accidents and ensure the smooth implementation of the so-called Yellow Envelope Act, which strengthens protections for workers engaged in labor disputes. In total, the briefing process spans 228 public institutions, including 19 ministries, five offices, 18 agencies, and seven governmental committees. Meetings will be held across Sejong, Seoul, and Busan. Most sessions will be broadcast live to the public, with the exception of briefings related to diplomacy and national security. Lee has emphasized the significance of these inaugural briefings. At a recent Cabinet meeting, he instructed ministries to prepare “as if presenting a transparent national blueprint to the public, not merely reporting to the president,” underscoring his push for what he calls “national normalization” and Korea’s broader transformation agenda. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-11 07:30:07
  • Comedienne Park Na-rae suspends activities amid mounting allegations
    Comedienne Park Na-rae suspends activities amid mounting allegations SEOUL, December 8 (AJP) - A slew of allegations from verbal abuse and tantrums to illegal medical practices that emerged last week has led comedienne Park Na-rae to suspend all activities. In a message posted on social media on Monday, Park said, "I have decided to stop all activities until everything is resolved," adding, "I cannot continue to burden my colleagues on the programs ." In response, the shows and programs she had regularly appeared on soon parted ways with her, confirming her departure. MBC's long-running reality show "I Live Alone" said, "Considering the gravity of the situation..... we have decided to halt her appearance on the show." The broadcaster also canceled altogether a planned travel-themed reality show that was set to feature Park along with her colleagues Jang Do-yeon, Shin Ki-ru, and Heo Anna, scheduled to air sometime in January. Cable channel tvN's "Amazing Saturday" also said, "We respect Park's decision to suspend her activities and will allow her to leave the show." Following a decade of obscurity, the 40-year-old, who had enjoyed a spectacular rise by striking a chord with viewers through her cheerful and candid character while leading a seemingly fun-filled life, became embroiled in controversy last week when two former managers accused her of verbal abuse, physical assault, and forcing them to run personal errands, among other allegations. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-08 16:12:57
  • Seoul Metro increases subway trains as heavy snow disrupts commuters
    Seoul Metro increases subway trains as heavy snow disrupts commuters SEOUL, December 5 (AJP) - More subway trains were put into service during the morning rush hour in Seoul on Friday to prevent delays and disruptions caused by heavy snowfall the previous night. Seoul Metro said, "To minimize inconvenience due to snow, we increased the number of trains between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m." The capital and other metropolitan areas saw their first snow of the winter the previous day, with more than 5 centimeters falling in just a few hours, paralyzing traffic and causing numerous accidents. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-05 09:01:43
  • Yonsei University embroiled in another cheating scandal
    Yonsei University embroiled in another cheating scandal SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - Another cheating incident has surfaced at Yonsei University, which was previously embroiled in a similar large-scale scandal. About 200 students took an online quiz for an education-related course early this month. Some allegedly shared questions and answers via anonymous chat rooms, while others collaborated using Google Docs, according to multiple university sources on Thursday. The online course had already faced cheating allegations during midterms in October, prompting the prestigious university to switch the final exam to an in-person format, though the quiz remained online. The university is currently conducting further investigations. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 14:48:26
  • Seasons first snow expected in Seoul
    Season's first snow expected in Seoul SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - The season's first snow is expected in Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas on Thursday, with sub-zero temperatures lingering, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. "A heavy snowfall is expected later in the day over a few hours, which may disrupt the evening rush hour," the KMA said, advising people to stay updated with the latest weather forecasts. The capital region may see 1 to 5 centimeters of snow, while northeastern Gyeonggi Province and other mountainous areas could receive up to 8 centimeters. Meanwhile, a cold snap persists in Seoul, with morning lows at -9.4 degrees Celsius, and is expected to abate a little over the weekend. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-04 09:30:26