Six cities call on central government to cover losses from free subway rides SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - Subway operators from six major South Korean cities, including Seoul, the southern port city of Busan, and the western port city of Incheon, are once again calling on the government to cover mounting losses from free rides provided to elderly passengers and other eligible groups. On Wednesday, Seoul Metro and five other urban rail operators issued a joint statement urging national funding to support what they describe as a public service obligation mandated by law. The proposal, signed by representatives from Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, and Daejeon, was submitted to the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee Chairman Maeng Sung-kyu and related ministries. Since 1984, South Korea has offered free subway rides to seniors aged 65 and older, people with disabilities, and recipients of national merit. While this program has been considered a core element of the country’s transportation welfare system, the financial burden has largely fallen on local operators with no direct compensation from the government. According to the six operators, free ride losses have averaged 558.8 billion won ($401 million) per year over the past five years. Last year, for the first time, the combined annual loss exceeded 700 billion won. Seoul Metro alone reported a deficit of 413.5 billion won, accounting for more than half the total. These losses are expected to grow as the population continues to age. Seoul Metro said its annual free ride losses have been rising by around 10 percent each year, and estimates that by 2040, they could surpass 500 billion won annually. The subway operators also pointed to what they see as an unfair disparity with Korail, the national railway operator. Korail receives government subsidies for free ride losses, but the same support does not apply to city-run subway systems. The government has maintained that urban subway deficits are a local matter and can be addressed by raising fares. Despite several attempts to revise relevant laws, including the Urban Railroad Act, the Welfare of Senior Citizens Act, and the Welfare of Disabled Persons Act, no progress has been made. Union and management representatives at the meeting voiced frustration, saying the government is both the creator and beneficiary of the free ride system and must therefore take responsibility for the financial burden. “If we are serious about maintaining this national policy and ensuring mobility rights for the elderly and vulnerable, then government support is essential,” they said. Baek Ho, president of Seoul Metro, called the joint statement reflects the urgent situation facing subway operators nationwide. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “We need to push for real legislative and policy changes to deal with the growing financial crisis in our public transit systems.” 2025-05-07 17:58:28

India wraps up first WAVES summit, spotlighting its creative economy ambitions SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - India’s first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) closed on May 4 in Mumbai, marking a significant moment in the country’s bid to position itself as a global creative powerhouse. Spanning four days at the Jio World Convention Centre, the event brought together key players from across the media and entertainment spectrum -- from industry veterans and tech innovators to policymakers, investors, and emerging creators. With packed halls, dynamic panels, and a broad range of topics from film and digital content to gaming and fashion, the summit drew wide attention. The event opened with Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivering the inaugural address. "WAVES is not just an acronym," he said. "It is a wave of culture, creativity, and universal connectivity." Modi urged Indian creators to share their “one billion untold stories” with the world and invited global investors to back not only platforms but also people. Declaring the start of India’s Orange Economy, he called on the youth to lead this creative movement. Throughout the summit, more than 140 sessions unfolded across multiple venues, featuring over 100 speakers, including Ted Sarandos, Neal Mohan, Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani, and Shantanu Narayen. Attendees also took part in 40 masterclasses and 55 breakout discussions on subjects ranging from artificial intelligence and OTT platforms to comics, animation, and virtual production. Representatives from Meta, Google, Amazon, Netflix, NVIDIA, and others were in attendance. A major business highlight was the WAVES Bazaar, where deals totaling 1,328 crore rupees ($156,965) were inked. Among them was a new content partnership between Prime Video and Korea’s CJ ENM. The Maharashtra government also signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth 8,000 crore rupees aimed at boosting investment in the creative sector. The Global Media Dialogue, another key component of the summit, saw representatives from 77 countries adopt the “WAVES Declaration,” a joint commitment to bridging the digital divide and promoting peace through media. Speaking at the forum, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized the need to balance tradition with innovation and to invest in skill development for the younger generation. Startups were also highlighted. WAVEX, a dedicated accelerator, selected 30 early-stage companies to pitch to a group of investors. Over 100 more exhibited their projects in a dedicated startup pavilion, drawing attention from both angel investors and larger media companies. South Korea played a notable role in the program. Kang Sung Kyu, CEO of the Busan Film Commission, joined as a panelist and discussed the ongoing recovery of traditional filmmaking following the pandemic. He emphasized the importance of transparent financial practices and support for cultural diversity to help the sector regain momentum. 2025-05-07 16:24:32

Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo to meet for talks on single candidacy SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo and independent contender Han Duck-soo are set to meet Wednesday evening to discuss the possibility of unifying their campaigns ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Both camps have confirmed that the meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on May 7, though the location will be disclosed later. With both men seen as key conservative figures, the discussion is drawing attention as a potential step toward forming a single candidacy to take on Democratic Party frontrunner Lee Jae-myung. Kim, who won the PPP nomination last week, had previously indicated he was open to unification when he was still in the running as a primary candidate. He floated the idea of holding a public debate and using polling to determine who should lead a joint ticket, and said he would take responsibility for driving that effort if named the party nominee. But since securing the nomination, tensions have grown. Kim pushed back against pressure from party leadership to move quickly on a deal, and over the weekend, he suspended his campaign schedule in protest. That makes Wednesday’s meeting with Han a possible turning point in the conservative camp’s efforts to coordinate. Meanwhile, the PPP is surveying party members Wednesay through an automated poll (ARS) to measure support for candidate unification. The poll also asks whether any merger should happen before or after official candidate registration, which begins May 10. The party’s general assembly of lawmakers is also scheduled for the day, with the question of a unified candidacy expected to dominate the agenda. 2025-05-07 10:28:16

Kim Moon-soo calls for broad candidate unification in conservative bloc SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo on Sunday expressed support for a broad-based conservative candidate unification, saying it would be desirable to include as many contenders as possible. “It would be best if everyone could participate together as broadly as possible,” Kim told reporters during a visit to Jangja Village in Pocheon, north of Seoul. His comments came in response to a question about whether a potential unification effort would include only independent candidate Han Duck-soo or also Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party. Kim said that no specific timeline or personnel decisions have been made regarding the launch of a unification task force within his campaign, but added that discussions are ongoing. The conservative camp is currently exploring ways to consolidate support ahead of the presidential election on June 3. While Kim secured the PPP nomination last week, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is running as an independent with a platform focused on constitutional reform. Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok is also in the race, appealing to younger and more reform-minded voters. Observers say the outcome of any unification process could significantly impact the race, particularly as Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung continues to lead in recent polls. 2025-05-04 18:06:28

Measles cases rise in S. Korea amid global surge SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - South Korea is seeing its highest number of measles cases in six years, as diseases once considered nearly eliminated begin to reappear, fueled by global outbreaks and increased travel, South Korea’s disease control body reported on Sunday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), 52 measles cases were reported between Jan. 1 and Apr. 1, already surpassing the total of 49 reported throughout 2024. This marks the highest annual figure since 2019, when 194 cases were recorded. The country had previously declared measles eliminated in 2006 following a major outbreak in the early 2000s and was officially recognized as a measles-free nation by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2014. That status remains, as most recent cases have been linked to overseas travel. Of the 52 cases this year, 34 were imported, mostly from Vietnam, while the remaining 18 were domestic transmissions traced to the imported cases, often spreading in households or hospitals. “With measles cases rising globally, we expect more imported infections,” a KDCA official told reporters. “Still, our high vaccination rates and strong monitoring systems reduce the risk of a large-scale outbreak.” Other so-called “neglected” diseases are also making a comeback. South Korea reported 17,944 tuberculosis cases in 2024. Though numbers have declined steadily from over 50,000 in 2011, the target of eradicating the disease by 2030 remains challenging. Foreign nationals now account for about 6 percent of all TB cases. Scabies, a contagious skin condition caused by mites, also continues to affect tens of thousands each year. The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service reported 34,921 cases in 2024, with over 31,000 patients treated between January and August alone. Health officials say the resurgence of these illnesses is driven by increased overseas travel, global vaccination gaps, and demographic shifts such as an aging population. In the case of measles, lower vaccination rates in countries like the United States have contributed to renewed outbreaks worldwide, making it harder to keep the disease entirely at bay. 2025-05-04 16:40:10

Two dead from suspected gas poisoning at paper factory manhole in Jeonju SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - Two workers died and three others were hospitalized after inhaling toxic gas at a paper factory in Jeonju City on Sunday. According to the North Jeolla Fire Department and Jeonju Deokjin Police Station, an emergency call was made at 9:44 a.m. reporting that a worker had fallen into a manhole and lost consciousness from suspected gas exposure at the factory in Jeonju some 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of Seoul. One of the victims, a man in his 40s, was pulled out of the manhole in a semi-conscious state and transported to a nearby hospital. Two other workers, including a man in his 50s, who were on a nearby ladder, also reported symptoms of dizziness and were taken to the hospital. Authorities believe the five employees had come to the factory that day to clean equipment. For an unknown reason, one of the workers reportedly entered a 3-meter-deep manhole filled with paper sludge. His coworkers, noticing his absence, found him inside and attempted to rescue him, resulting in the accident. Police confirmed all five individuals involved were South Korean employees of the paper company. A police official stated, "The manhole was not scheduled for cleaning, and his colleagues are unsure why he entered it." The official added that investigators suspect the victims were poisoned by toxic gas and are questioning personnel to determine the exact circumstances. 2025-05-04 14:56:10

Seoul bus union faces strike as talks stall over wages SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - The standoff between Seoul’s city bus union and management showed no sign of easing on Sunday, raising the likelihood of a second consecutive year of strike action. Despite a warning protest on Apr. 30, where drivers followed traffic laws to the letter to deliberately delay schedules, no breakthrough has been made in wage and collective bargaining talks. The union and Seoul Bus Transport Business Association have not resumed negotiations since the second round of mediation broke down on April 29 at the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission. The union has secured the legal right to strike and is now openly considering it, frustrated by the lack of progress. “We chose a legal protest to avoid public disruption and keep talks going, but nothing has changed,” said a union official. “If this continues, we’ll have no choice but to move toward a full strike.” The union will meet with representatives from the Korea Automobile Workers’ Union on May 8 to discuss specific strike plans. There is also a possibility of coordinating action with unions in other regions. 2025-05-04 13:40:42

N. Korean leader Kim Jong-un praises progress in tank modernization during inspection SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a key tank production facility to praise the development of North Korean-style armored weapons and outline plans to modernize the country’s armored forces. Pyongyang’s state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the visit on Sunday but did not disclose the exact date of the inspection. According to KCNA, Kim was briefed on ongoing research, modernization, and production efforts during a tour of the facility. He was accompanied by senior officials, including Kim Yong Hwan, president of the Academy of Defence Sciences. Kim said replacing aging armored vehicles with new-generation tanks and armored vehicles was “the most important issue in the building of armed forces and modernization of the army.” He noted that the new North Korean-style tanks featured improved structural design and an upgraded firepower system aimed at enhancing combat performance and crew convenience. The updated tanks reportedly include a high-thrust engine, integrated power transmission devices, and modern active and passive protection systems. Electronic warfare capabilities have also been enhanced. KCNA described these features as representing “great progress in the core technology of Korean-style tanks.” Kim stressed the need for a fundamental reassessment of tank design based on changes in the strategic environment and modern warfare, stating that North Korea must define the military function and role of tanks accordingly. He also supported a comprehensive modernization plan for the tank factory, aimed at creating large-scale production capacity for cutting-edge tanks and self-propelled guns. This, he said, would help realize the strategic goals of the Workers' Party of Korea in what he described as a “second revolution in armored force.” In addition to production, Kim called for improvements to the labor environment at the facility and urged it to serve as a model for munitions industry culture in the “new century.” 2025-05-04 10:27:22

Conservatives weigh unification strategy as Han Duck-soo enters race SEOUL, May 02 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s presidential bid is prompting a strategic rethink across South Korea’s conservative bloc, as leaders weigh the risks and rewards of unifying behind a single candidate before official registration begins next week. The 75-year-old former Prime Minister formally declared his candidacy on Friday, offering a transitional vision centered on constitutional reform. “I will form a presidential task force on constitutional reform on day one,” he said at the National Assembly. “In my third year, I will hold a new presidential and general election under the revised constitution, and immediately resign from office.” His entry into the race comes at a moment of political volatility. President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached earlier this year after declaring martial law without notice last December. Han, who had been acting president, resigned on Thursday to run. His expected successor, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, also stepped down after facing an impeachment motion. Education Minister Lee Ju-ho took over as acting president on May 2. Now, with just days until candidate registration on May 10 and 11, the People Power Party (PPP) must quickly decide how to respond. A party convention on May 3 will determine whether former labor minister Kim Moon-soo or former justice minister Han Dong-hoon becomes the party’s official nominee, an outcome that could define the course of any conservative consolidation effort. Kim has openly supported unification talks with Han Duck-soo. He has proposed holding a debate and conducting public polling as a mechanism to select a single candidate, and said he would seek a meeting with Han if nominated. “If I become the official PPP candidate, I’ll offer a more responsible position,” Kim said Friday. “We’ll be in touch.” Han Dong-hoon, meanwhile, struck a sharply different tone. Speaking to reporters at Masan Fish Market in the southern port city of Changwon on Friday, the former justice minister dismissed Han Duck-soo’s chances of defeating Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung. “In this do-or-die dog fight, he is not the one who can beat Lee,” he said. Han went on to say, “This is likely to turn into a mud fight. I don’t welcome that, but conservative politics should carry a sense of dignity. To me, dignity means stepping into the mud on behalf of the people and fighting injustice without letting the public get splashed.” He added, “Others may find that difficult. I’ll be the one to fight and win.” Despite the differences, party leaders remain keen to wrap up any unification process quickly. “As soon as registration ends, the campaign starts,” a senior PPP official told reporters Friday. “Voters need to know who our candidate is.” 2025-05-02 15:22:56

Han Duck-soo declares presidential run, pledges constitutional reform and early exit SEOUL, May 02 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced his bid for the presidency on Friday, pledging to push forward a constitutional amendment and step down once the reform is in place. “I will form a presidential task force on constitutional reform on day one,” the 75-year-old former Prime Minister said during a press conference at the National Assembly. “In my third year, I will hold a new presidential and general election under the revised constitution, and immediately resign from office.” His announcement comes amid one of the most turbulent transitions in South Korea’s modern political history. President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached earlier this year after declaring emergency martial law without warning in December last year. The move, which included deploying troops to the National Assembly, triggered a political firestorm and eventually led to his removal from office. Han, who had been serving as acting president, resigned Thursday to join the race. His expected successor, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, also stepped down after the National Assembly introduced an impeachment motion against him. That left Education Minister Lee Ju-ho, also Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs, as the nation’s acting president starting May 2. The sudden exits of both Han and Choi have created a visible leadership vacuum, prompting questions about cabinet authority and constitutional procedure. Han said he would work to finalize a reform bill within his first year and complete the amendment in the second. “I won’t dictate the details,” he said. “That’s up to the National Assembly and the people. But I will set the direction: checks and balances, and a shift toward decentralization.” He also criticized what he called the toxic state of domestic politics. “Politics focused on personal or factional gain, not the nation’s future, has reached a dangerous level,” he said. “We cannot allow reckless infighting to drag this country down.” 2025-05-02 10:28:21