Education Minister Lee Ju-ho steps in as acting president amid leadership shake-up SEOUL, May 02 (AJP) - South Korea entered unfamiliar political territory on Friday as Education Minister Lee Ju-ho assumed the role of acting president, following the sudden resignations of both Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok. Han, who had been serving as acting president, stepped down to run in the upcoming presidential election. Choi, the expected successor, also resigned after the Democratic Party (DP)-led National Assembly introduced an impeachment motion against him. This unprecedented succession crisis stems from the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol in early April, after he abruptly declared emergency martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. The controversial move, which included the deployment of military forces to the National Assembly, triggered public outrage and swift backlash from the opposition. Yoon’s impeachment was followed by a cascade of political instability, leading to a series of acting leadership appointments. With both Han and Choi out of the picture, Lee Ju-ho, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs, took on the role of acting head of state as of midnight Friday. The rare situation, where the acting president, his presumptive successor, and the eventual successor were all temporary officeholders, has sparked constitutional debate. Critics have questioned the legality of cabinet meetings given the reduced number of ministers, but government officials say current conditions still meet constitutional requirements. Lee’s first move as acting president was to convene an emergency National Security Council meeting, signaling continuity in leadership amid the transition. He pledged to uphold political stability and ensure that the presidential election, set for June 3, proceeds in a fair and orderly manner. A veteran in education policy, Lee previously served as education minister under the Lee Myung-bak administration and returned to the post in 2022 under President Yoon Suk Yeol. Known for his reform-minded approach and background in economics, he has long been a fixture in government education circles. With just weeks to go until voters head to the polls, the fast-moving leadership shuffle underscores the uncertainty and fluidity of South Korea’s political landscape at a pivotal moment. 2025-05-02 10:04:17

INTERVIEW: Pastor calls for dialogue and compassion toward LGBTQ community SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - Even when minds do not change, Pastor Lee Dong-hwan believes dialogue can move hearts. “If we can at least open a conversation and listen to each other, even without changing our opinions, that itself is meaningful,” he said during an interview with AJP at his office in central Seoul. Lee recalled a three-hour phone call he had with a conservative media figure. “We didn’t end up changing each other’s minds, but we respected each other. That conversation alone was meaningful,” he said. Lee is no stranger to controversy. Once a minister under the Korean Methodist Church (KMC), he faced suspension and eventual expulsion after offering a blessing to LGBTQ individuals at the 2019 Incheon Queer Culture Festival. His journey had started earlier, when a member of his congregation came out to him, forcing him to confront contradictions within the faith he had long practiced. In the aftermath, he founded “Queer and A,” an organization dedicated to advancing LGBTQ rights within Protestant Christianity. In 2022, Amnesty International Korea awarded him a merit prize for his activism. Within South Korea’s Christian community, attitudes toward LGBTQ people remain deeply divided. “They say, ‘Look, the Bible clearly says it’s a sin,’” Lee said. “But the Bible must be read within its historical context. If we took every word literally, we would also have to uphold slavery and treat women as property.” For Lee, Christianity’s core teachings are not about clinging to ancient prohibitions. “Love, justice, and peace — those are the truths we are called to live by,” he said. He believes Christians have a responsibility to stand with marginalized groups, not turn away from them. “If we truly believe that every person is created by God and that God's love has no mistakes, then we must recognize and respect LGBTQ people exactly as they are,” Lee said. Lee also spoke about the broader battle for the Anti-Discrimination Act, a law designed to protect marginalized groups but long stalled in the National Assembly. “We need it,” he said plainly. Yet some Christian groups remain fiercely opposed, warning it could infringe upon religious freedom and punish dissent. “But we are a nation with church and state separated,” Lee said. “It’s troubling that religious pressure is blocking basic human rights.” He shared that politicians often tread carefully, fearing backlash from mega-churches. “In local elections, even a swing of 50 to 100 votes matters,” he said. “When a pastor with 5,000 or 10,000 followers says they’ll organize against you, it’s a big threat.” Lee sees today’s Protestant churches standing at a crossroads. “Membership is shrinking, trust is collapsing, but instead of reflecting, they cling even harder to outdated narratives,” he said. “They use LGBTQ issues like a weapon to keep their followers united.” Yet, he holds onto a cautious optimism. “Younger Christians are different,” he said. “Change will come faster in society than in churches. Inside the churches, it will take decades, not just ten years.” For Lee, engagement remains non-negotiable. “Even if someone believes homosexuality is a sin, that’s no reason for hatred,” he said. “Respect, compassion, and openness should be Christian virtues.” He often reflects on what Jesus would do today. “If Jesus were among us now, he would be eating, drinking, and walking alongside the marginalized,” Lee said. “If we ask ourselves who Jesus would be with today, it would be the social minorities. The fired workers, the disabled, and the LGBTQ community. Christians must be on their side.” Looking back on his first participation in the Queer Culture Festival, Lee smiled. “At first, I just went to fill in. I didn’t think much of it,” he admitted. “But when I scattered the flowers during blessings and saw everyone’s faces light up, I realized — this is what a pastor should do.” Since then, he has never missed the festival, seeing it as a rare moment where walls fall away and simple human joy takes over. “There’s no reason to withhold blessings from anyone,” he said. “They are all God’s children.” As Pride month approaches, Lee admitted he sometimes worries that his battles bring an unwanted seriousness to a day meant for celebration. But he remains determined. “Fighting for change inside the church is fighting for change in the world,” he said. “It may take ten, twenty years or more. But I believe a better day will come. I hope it will be a truly happy Pride.” 2025-04-29 13:37:10

North Korea confirms deployment of troops to Russia's Kursk Region, hails soldiers as heroes SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - North Korea has publicly confirmed for the first time that its troops are operating in Russia’s Kursk Region, a front-line area in the ongoing war against Ukraine. In a statement issued Monday, Pyongyang hailed its deployed forces as “heroes,” ending more than a year of silence amid international speculation over its involvement. Intelligence agencies in the United States and South Korea reported last year that thousands of North Korean soldiers had moved into the Kursk Region following the signing of the Russo-North Korea Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in June 2024. Those reports were followed by accounts of North Korean casualties and prisoners of war. Moscow dismissed the claims as “fake news,” while Pyongyang remained silent, until now. In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s Central Military Commission praised its forces for “performing heroic feats in the operations to repulse and annihilate the grave sovereignty infringement by the Ukrainian authorities” and for helping to “completely liberate the occupied area of Kursk Region.” The announcement came one day after the Russian military claimed it had regained full control of the western Kursk area, declaring that the last Ukrainian-held village had been retaken. Kyiv rejected Moscow’s account, insisting that Ukrainian forces remain active along parts of the Russian border. According to the KCNA report, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered a monument to be erected in Pyongyang to commemorate the battle in Kursk, with "flowers of immortality" to be placed before the graves of fallen North Korean soldiers. The North’s Central Military Commission described the deployment as a demonstration of the "highest strategic level of the firm militant friendship" between Pyongyang and Moscow. It asserted that all activities were conducted in accordance with the mutual defense treaty signed with Russia and were consistent with the United Nations Charter and international law. 2025-04-28 11:26:57

Lee Jae-myung wins Democratic Party nomination with record vote share SEOUL, April 27 (AJP) - Lee Jae-myung has officially been named the Democratic Party (DP)’s presidential candidate after winning an overwhelming majority in the party’s primary, setting a new record for the highest vote share in its history. In the final primary vote held at Kintex Center in Goyang on Apr, 27, Lee secured 89.77 percent of the total ballots, decisively defeating his rivals Kim Dong-yeon and Kim Kyung-soo, who garnered 7 percent and 3 percent, respectively. Lee’s victory solidifies his position as the leading figure of the DP and reflects strong internal support as the party seeks to regain the presidency in the June 3 election. It also marks the highest percentage ever achieved by a Democratic Party nominee in a presidential primary. The nomination comes at a critical time for South Korea, with the political landscape still reeling from the impeachment and removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier this month. Lee, who previously ran for president in 2017 and 2022, now faces the challenge of consolidating broader public support amid heightened political tensions. The Democratic Party plans to officially register Lee as its candidate with the National Election Commission in the coming days. 2025-04-27 18:02:13

SeoulTech strengthens academic ties with Kazakhstan through high-level visit SEOUL, April 27 (AJP) - To promote broader South Korea–Kazakhstan collaboration in education and research, a delegation from Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech), led by President Professor Kim Dong-Hwan, visited Kazakhstan’s Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University (KKU) from Apr. 16 to 18. One of the key highlights of the trip was a meeting between Professor Kim and Nurlybek Nalibayev, Governor of the Kyzylorda Region. Both sides discussed opportunities to expand cooperation not only in higher education but also in fields such as agricultural processing, food industries, tourism, renewable energy, waste management, and lithium research in the Aral region. Kim emphasized SeoulTech’s intention to establish a startup incubator in the region, implement academic mobility programs, train IT specialists, and strengthen joint research initiatives in line with regional needs. During the visit, Kim also met with officials from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education, including Rauza Mendaliyeva, Director of the Department of Internationalization, and Beibitkul Karimova, Chair of the Board and Rector of Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University. Discussions focused on the expansion of dual-degree programs and reviewing the progress of collaborative initiatives in AI architecture and data management, where 100 students are currently enrolled under government scholarships. As part of the academic exchange, Professor Kim delivered a public lecture titled "IT and AI Trends in Korea" at the School of Artificial Intelligence, offering students insights into South Korea’s digital transformation and the global AI landscape. Vice Provost for International Affairs Professor Kim Tae-hee also delivered a keynote presentation at the Republican Seminar, a national educational forum attended by senior officials from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education, quality control departments, school principals, and technical college directors, highlighting prospects for AI research and workforce development between Kazakhstan and Korea. The SeoulTech delegation also engaged with promising students from several elite secondary schools, including 200 students from Nazarbayev Intellectual School, 100 students from Bilim-Innovation Lyceum, and 25 students each from Murager School and School No. 125, underscoring the growing interest in fostering future digital leaders. A major milestone in SeoulTech’s cooperation with Kazakhstan is the establishment of the School of Artificial Intelligence at Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University, launched in November 2023. The project was made possible with the support of South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, former Chair of the Kazakhstan–Korea Friendship Association. Speaker Woo’s visit to Kyzylorda and the AI School in October 2024 underscored the high level of inter-parliamentary and institutional commitment between the two countries. 2025-04-27 16:24:29

Inje wildfire contained after 20 hours, 73 hectares of forest scorched SEOUL, April 27 (AJP) - A wildfire that broke out in Inje, Gangwon Province, was brought under control after nearly 20 hours, authorities said Sunday. The Korea Forest Service and firefighting officials confirmed that the main flames were extinguished by around 9 a.m. Sunday. Crews remained on-site with six helicopters, 105 personnel, and 11 firefighting vehicles to tackle any remaining embers and monitor the area for flare-ups. The fire damaged an estimated 73 hectares (180 acres) of forest. With the situation stabilized, 254 evacuees from Inje County who had taken shelter in local gymnasiums were able to return home. Thirty residents from 19 villages in nearby Yangyang County also returned safely. Traffic restrictions that had been imposed on sections of the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway were lifted. According to the Gangwon Regional Headquarters of Korea Expressway Corporation, traffic resumed around 8:25 a.m. Sunday, along both the 35-kilometer (22-mile) stretch between Yangyang Junction and Inje Interchange and the 73-kilometer section between Donghongcheon Interchange and Yangyang Junction. Officials noted that the fire had triggered a "Level 2" wildfire alert, which is issued when the anticipated damage covers 50 to 100 hectares (123 to 247 acres), the average wind speed is between 7 and 11 meters per second (16 to 25 miles per hour), and full containment is expected to take between 10 and 48 hours. The blaze started around 1:18 p.m. Saturday in a wooded area near the Sangnam 7 Tunnel on the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway. Fortunately, no casualties or damage to buildings were reported. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. Early findings suggest human negligence may be to blame, as the blaze began near a residential and pension complex and quickly spread after igniting close to a pile of rocks. 2025-04-27 15:40:03

S. Korean military notifies N. Korea about unintentional gun discharge at front-line guard post SEOUL, April 27 (AJP) - South Korea’s military has notified its North Korean counterpart about an unintentional gun discharge at a front-line guard post last week. The military said it immediately used loudspeakers to notify North Korean soldiers that the discharge was accidental. The accidental machine gun discharge occurred at a front-line guard post (GP) along the central section of the border, military authorities confirmed on Sunday. According to the South Korean military, the incident took place around 6 a.m. on Apr. 23 at a GP operated by a unit stationed in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province. A soldier on guard duty accidentally fired a single live round from a K6 machine gun while conducting a weapons check. The bullet penetrated the post’s protective shield and was fired in the direction of the North. However, the military believes that the projectile’s velocity decreased after breaking through the barrier and that the round ultimately landed within South Korean territory. Immediately after the incident, South Korean forces issued a broadcast message to North Korea to explain that the gunfire was accidental. A military official stated, "There have been no unusual movements detected from the North Korean military following the accidental discharge." 2025-04-27 14:53:46

Voice phishing scams cause over 300bln won damage in 1Q 2025 SEOUL, April 27 (AJP) - Voice phishing crimes in South Korea have surged in the first three months of this year, with damages more than doubling compared to the same period last year. The National Police Agency urged the public Sunday to be extra cautious. Between January and March this year, police recorded 5,878 cases of voice phishing, up 17 percent from the same period in 2024. Losses totaled 311.6 billion won ($216.5 million), about 2.2 times higher than a year earlier. The average amount stolen per case also jumped sharply, reaching 53 million won. Crimes involving scammers posing as government agencies made up 51 percent of all cases. Victims in their 50s and older accounted for 53 percent of the total, a reflection of how digital scams are increasingly targeting older age groups. That share has been growing steadily, from 32 percent in 2023, to 47 percent last year. The police said that while scammers use various tricks, many of the scams begin the same way -- by getting victims to install a malicious app on their smartphones. Once installed, these apps steal personal information, which criminals then use to impersonate public institutions and pressure victims into compliance. In one common tactic, scammers convince victims they have been implicated in an identity theft case. Victims are then instructed to buy a new phone and install a so-called “security app,” which is actually malware allowing remote access. Other scams involve sending unsolicited credit cards and urging recipients to contact fake consumer protection centers. Again, a ploy to install malicious apps. Scammers also use bait text messages with fake notices about funeral announcements, traffic fines, health check-up results, or overseas card payments. These messages often contain links designed to trick users into downloading malware. The police investigators said the fake websites and apps were extremely sophisticated. They were able to steal basic personal information such as name, phone number, device model, and telecom carrier, while also recording calls, remotely controlling devices, and tracking victims’ real-time locations. Also, criminals hijacked about 80 phone numbers legitimately used by the Financial Supervisory Service, prosecutors, and police. This allowed scam calls to appear on victims' phones as if they were coming from trusted institutions. This was made possible by what authorities describe as “forced receive” and “forced dial” apps—malicious tools that intercept incoming and outgoing calls without the user’s knowledge. 2025-04-27 10:25:36

Seoul Central Masjid reopens after months-long restoration SEOUL, April 25 (AJP) - The Seoul Central Masjid reopened its doors on Friday, following a major six-month restoration that brought new life to South Korea’s largest Islamic place of worship. The ceremony took place at the masjid in Itaewon and drew community members, diplomats, and representatives from both South Korea and Türkiye. The renovation, backed by the Turkish government, was carried out with the help of master artisans from Türkiye. Traditional tiles, calligraphy, and marblework were installed to reflect the distinctive design and atmosphere of Turkish mosques. Much of the interior, including the prayer halls and dome, was transformed with Turkish decorative techniques like Çini tilework and Nakkaş painting. Turkish Ambassador to South Korea Salih Murat Tamer called the masjid "a symbol not only of faith, but of shared values. Solidarity, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence.” He said the mosque would continue to serve as “a space of knowledge and community for anyone seeking to understand Islam.” Mahmut Özdemir, General Manager of Foreign Relations at the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye, stressed the longstanding ties between Türkiye and the Korean Muslim Federation (KMF). “This project is a reflection of our shared commitment to supporting Islamic life and preserving cultural heritage,” he said. He noted that the renovation had been completed in four phases between July 2024 and February 2025, with contributions from Turkish Airlines and the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation. Originally built in 1976, the Seoul Central Masjid has long served as a gathering place for Muslims in Korea and visitors from abroad. The total cost reached 487,000 dollars, of which Türkiye covered $207,000 and the KMF contributed $280,000. 2025-04-25 14:02:16

INTERVIEW: Farmtastica CEO brings smart farming vision to Latin America's urban centers SEOUL, April 24 (AJP) - For Maricruz Larrea, CEO of Chilean smart farm Startup Farmtastica, farming does not involve long stretches of countryside. With the startup’s technology, crops can be grown inside closets, rooms, and small spaces. “We’re not just growing leafy greens, We’re building a more sustainable, localized food supply chain,” Larrea, the CEO and co-founder of Farmtastica, a Chilean startup focused on controlled environment agriculture, told AJP during an interview at the Global Startup Center in the southern Seoul district of Gangnam on Apr. 23. Farmtastica was launched in 2021 with the support of Start-Up Chile, the world’s first public accelerator for startups. Created by the Chilean government in 2010, the program has helped more than 3,000 startups from over 100 countries with equity-free funding, mentorship, and access to international networks. Larrea credits the program for helping get Farmtastica off the ground. “That first grant allowed us to build a small lab, in my co-founder’s closet, actually,” she recalled with a smile. “From there, we launched pilots with partners like Walmart and started delivering freshly harvested vegetables straight from the farm to stores.” At the core of Farmtastica’s model is a simple idea: bring food production to the places where people live and shop. The company builds modular farms that fit into urban spaces, inside supermarkets, restaurants, even shopping malls. These compact farms grow produce on-site, eliminating the need for long-haul transport and cold storage, two major causes of food waste. “Over 30 percent of vegetables produced globally never get eaten,” Larrea said. “Our system allows you to harvest where you buy,” she said. Farmtastica’s indoor farms use just 5 percent of the water required for conventional agriculture and reduce carbon emissions by up to 95 percent. They don’t use pesticides and generate almost no packaging waste. The company recently opened Latin America’s first in-mall smart farm in Santiago, where customers can watch the produce grow behind glass and pick it themselves. “We’re giving people a completely new experience,” she said. The model is now expanding beyond Chile. Farmtastica is building a new farm for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, which will be installed at its headquarters in Costa Rica. Larrea believes this marks the beginning of a regional expansion. “Our goal is to have a Farmtastica unit in every major city in Latin America,” she said. “Food insecurity is growing, especially in the Caribbean and Central America. Urban farming has to be part of the answer.” What sets Farmtastica apart, according to Larrea, is that all of its technology was developed in-house. “We didn’t buy a turnkey system,” she said. “It took longer and came with more risk, but now we’re able to scale on our terms.” She emphasized that automation only makes sense if it’s cost-effective. “There’s no point in growing the world’s most beautiful lettuce if no one can afford to buy it.” During her time in South Korea, Larrea visited several smart farming sites, including one inside a subway station, and attended the launch of a new indoor agriculture project. She said she sees strong potential for collaboration between South Korean and Latin American startups in this space. “There’s a lot of innovation happening in Korea,” she said. “I’d love to work with local smart farming companies and learn from what they’re doing.” Larrea believes Farmtastica’s approach could help draw younger generations back to agriculture, not to the fields, but to technology. “Our systems don’t require agronomy degrees. They’re simple to operate and tech-driven,” she said. “This could make farming more attractive to people who’ve never considered it before.” When asked about Farmtastica's main goal, her answer was immediate: “To be present in every major Latin American city. That’s the goal. And to keep growing. Literally and figuratively.” 2025-04-24 16:25:03