Journalist
Park Sae-jin, Kim Hee-su
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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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