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, 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 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

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

Four injured in explosion during military training in Paju SEOUL, December 2 (AJP) - Four people were injured in an explosion at an army training site in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday. The accident occurred during anti-aircraft shooting drills when a 30-mm shell became stuck in a launcher. According to military authorities, the injured included three non-commissioned officers and one civilian employee. They were airlifted to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in the province with injuries such as shoulder wounds and tinnitus, but are reportedly in stable condition. A military official said, "The exact cause of the accident is under investigation." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-02 15:22:28

Firefighters struggle to contain wildfire in Inje SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - Firefighters are still battling a wildfire in the mountainous areas of Inje, Gangwon Province, with about 60 percent of the flames contained as of early Friday morning. According to the Korea Forest Service, more than 300 rescue officials were mobilized overnight to extinguish the blaze which broke out at around 5:30 p.m. the previous day, but the rugged mountain ranges made the operation difficult. Additional helicopters were also deployed at sunrise to help fully extinguish the fire. The affected area is estimated at 20 hectares, or roughly 49 acres. No injuries have been reported, but about a dozen villagers have evacuated to a temporary shelter. Once the fire is fully contained, fire authorities will investigate the cause and assess the damage. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-21 10:16:28

Lee departs for Johannesburg to attend G20 summit SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Friday headed to Johannesburg to attend the Group of 20 (G20) summit, which will be held in South Africa this weekend, after wrapping up his visit to Egypt. During his stay in Egypt earlier this week, Lee met with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to discuss expanding trade and cultural cooperation as the two countries mark 30 years of diplomatic relations. He also delivered a speech at Cairo University. In a joint press statement following the summit, Lee said, "South Korea and Egypt have agreed to work together to promote international peace in regions including the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East." The leaders also agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation and exchanges under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). After arriving in Johannesburg later in the day, Lee is expected to meet with leaders of the cross-regional consultative group known as MIKTA, which includes Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey and Australia, on the sidelines of the G20 gathering. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-21 09:41:22

First mate, helmsman held over ferry accident SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - The first mate and helmsman of a passenger ferry that ran aground on an uninhabited islet off the southwestern coast overnight were arrested on Thursday over their alleged negligence, according to police. Police detained the first mate in his 40s, and the helmsman, an Indonesian also in his 40s, after both were found to have neglected their duties, causing the 26,000-ton ferry Queen Zenobia II to run aground. Initial investigations revealed that the first mate missed a crucial moment to change the ship's course because he was distracted by his cellphone. The vessel was supposed to alter its direction, but he failed to do so, leading to the accident. The area is known for its narrow and dangerous passages, requiring manual navigation instead of autopilot. However, he allegedly did not switch to manual mode while being distracted. Initially, he claimed a malfunction in the steering gear but later admitted he missed the turn while searching for news on his phone. Police seized their phones to investigate their activities at the time of the accident. The vessel's captain is also under investigation, though he has not been detained. He was not in the steering room at the time, as he was off duty. The vessel carrying 46 passengers and 21 crew members departed from the southern resort island of Jeju at 4:45 p.m. the previous day and ran aground near Sinan in South Jeolla Province at around 8:17 p.m., becoming stranded. All passengers were safely rescued several hours later, although some reported minor injuries or stress and were taken to hospitals. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-20 16:34:22

Ferry runs aground after navigator distracted by phone, initial investigation suggests SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - The navigator of a passenger ferry carrying 246 passengers and 21 crew members was distracted by his phone, causing the vessel to run aground on an uninhabited islet off the southwestern coast overnight coastguards said Thursday. Initial investigations revealed that he failed to switch from autopilot to manual control while passing through a narrow passage, leading to the accident. The 26,000-ton ferry Queen Zenobia II departed from the southern resort island of Jeju at 4:45 p.m. the previous day and ran aground near Sinan in South Jeolla Province at around 8:17 p.m., becoming stranded. Preliminary findings indicate that the navigator's negligence caused the ferry to miss a critical turn, leading to its collision with the islet. Vessels usually do not rely on autopilot in the area, as it requires extra caution. Authorities plan to pursue criminal charges against those responsible for the accident. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-20 10:49:55

Two more dead, bringing death toll to four in truck crash in Bucheon SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - Two more people have died from a deadly crash at an open-air market in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province last week, bringing the death toll to four. According to police on Wednesday, a man in his 20s and a woman in her 80s, who were seriously injured last Thursday when a pickup truck plowed through the market, died earlier this week. Two women in their 60s and 70s died at the scene, and a number of injured people have since been receiving treatment. The driver, a fish vendor in his 60s at the market, allegedly confused the accelerator with the brake, causing the truck to crash into stalls and shoppers. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-19 14:02:06