N. Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects special military drill SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a special military drill on Tuesday that included a joint firepower demonstration featuring armored vehicles, anti-tank weapons, and drones, according to state media. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Wednesday that Kim visited a training camp under the capital city defense force, where he observed a demonstration involving various military systems and training officers. During the visit, Kim reportedly expressed strong interest in ensuring that the North Korean military stays in step with modern warfare trends. The inspection underscored Pyongyang’s focus on next-generation weapon development, including localized missiles, drones, and upgraded armored vehicles. Kim described contemporary warfare as “a showdown between military talents and war of commanding officers’ brains,” emphasizing the need for drills to encourage the independence and creativity of military leaders. KCNA also released dozens of photographs showing a range of military hardware -- drones, tanks, anti-tank weapons, and infantry equipped with modern arms. In several images, Kim was seen accompanied by bodyguards carrying a briefcase that resembled a so-called “nuclear suitcase.” 2025-05-14 10:41:05

INTERVIEW: SNU professor explains why Pansori resonates beyond words SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - When Anna Yates-Lu first sat down for a live Pansori performance, she barely understood a word. At the time, she had studied Korean for just six months and couldn’t keep up with the subtitles and the stage at the same time. But that didn’t matter. “The sound alone completely captivated me,” she said in an interview with Aju Press on May 9. “I didn’t need to understand the words. The voice, the gestures, the rhythm. All of it made sense on its own. I was stunned.” Pansori is one of the most expressive forms of traditional Korean Gugak music. A single singer narrates dramatic tales through powerful vocals, stylized gestures, and rhythmic storytelling, accompanied by a drummer who adds both beats and verbal cues. The stories are long, the delivery emotional, and the connection with the audience is part of the magic. In fact, one of the defining features of Pansori is its interactive nature. Audiences are expected to react with Chuimsae, spontaneous verbal exclamations like “Eolsigu!” (“All right!”) or “Jotta!” (“Great!”). These aren’t interruptions, they’re welcomed responses, part of the tradition that helps carry the performance forward. Today, Yates-Lu is an Assistant Professor at Seoul National University’s Department of Korean Music. But her path to Korean traditional music wasn’t a straight one. Originally trained in anthropology and political science in Britain, she encountered Pansori during a master’s program in London. A professor had urged her to attend a performance at the local Korean Cultural Center. “It was a dual concert, with Western classical music in the first half and Pansori in the second,” she recalled. “Song Soon-seop performed the ‘Bird Song,’ and Lee Ja-ram did a battle scene from Jeokbyeokga. I didn’t understand the lyrics, but the sound, the expressiveness, the raw energy, it all made sense.” That performance marked a turning point. “From that moment on, I wrote every paper about Pansori. I had so many questions,” she said. “Eventually, I switched fields entirely.” Still, she acknowledges that many Koreans and non-Koreans alike find Pansori intimidating. “It’s not that Pansori is hard,” she said. “People just don’t know how to listen to it. If you’ve never experienced it live, it’s like trying to appreciate wine without ever tasting it.” She cautions against labeling Gukak as “difficult,” especially in public discourse. “Once people hear that often enough, they start to believe it. Even children,” she said. “But my son listens to Pansori at home. Kids don’t think it is hard unless someone tells them it is.” She believes that engaging young audiences is key to sustaining traditional music. “Start early. Make it fun. Give them the space to explore it without pressure,” she said. “There are amazing educational programs out there. We just need to support them more.” Yates-Lu also emphasized that building an international audience is not only about exposure but about cultivating depth. “We need to take care of the enthusiasts, the manias,” she said. “They’re the ones who go out of their way to study, to travel for performances. Give them something rich, something meaningful.” But she also believes that beginners need a little help. “Keep performances intimate,” she said. “Small theaters, close audiences. Those are places where Pansori really shines. And just five minutes of explanation before the show can make all the difference.” As for how someone with no background should begin? “Start with the voice,” she said. “Don’t worry about the story. Just listen to the timbre, the texture. Let it wash over you.” Then, smiling, she added, “And if nothing else—just say ‘Eolsigu!’ It’s always the right response.” 2025-05-13 17:30:38

Hybe chairman Bang summoned to testify in Kakao founder's stock manipulation trial SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - A South Korean court has summoned Bang Si-hyuk, the chairman of Hybe and the creator behind K-pop wonder BTS, to testify as a witness in the ongoing trial of Kakao founder Kim Beom-su over alleged stock manipulation tied to Kakao’s 2023 acquisition of SM Entertainment. According to legal sources on Tuesday, the Seoul Southern District Court issued a subpoena to Bang on May 8. Unless he provides a valid reason for absence, Bang is required to appear in court on June 20. The case centers on charges that Kim conspired with private equity firm One Asia Partners to inflate SM Entertainment’s stock price in February 2023, in order to block Hybe’s public tender offer for control of the iconic K-pop powerhouse. Hybe had acquired a 14.8 percent stake in SM from its founder Lee Soo-man and launched a public tender offer at 120,000 won ($84.8) per share to gain majority control. However, SM’s stock price surged above that level, leading Hybe to abandon its takeover attempt. Prosecutors argue that Kim, who was then leading Kakao’s efforts to acquire SM Entertainment, manipulated the market to keep SM shares above the offer price, thereby disrupting Hybe’s acquisition attempt. Kim is also accused of failing to properly disclose his stake in SM, violating financial market regulations. The prosecution believes Bang and Kim met on February 14, 2023, to discuss the SM acquisition. Bang reportedly asked Kim not to pursue control of the company, but Kim allegedly refused, signaling Kakao’s intent to push ahead with its takeover. Kakao eventually took control of SM by acquiring a 39.87 percent stake through Kakao and Kakao Entertainment, cementing its influence over the agency. Kim was arrested in July 2024 on charges of stock manipulation and violating disclosure requirements. His arrest was based on concerns that he might destroy evidence or flee the country. 2025-05-13 14:17:31

Renowned conductor Chung Myung-whun named music director of Italy's La Scala SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Renowned South Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun has been appointed as the next music director of Italy’s prestigious Teatro alla Scala in Milan, marking the first time an Asian musician will hold the position in the opera house’s 247-year history. La Scala announced the appointment on its official website on May 12 (local time), stating that Chung will succeed current music director Riccardo Chailly and begin his term in 2027, serving until February 2030. The 72-year-old maestro has previously held key conducting positions with major orchestras including the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Korean Broadcasting System Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. Chung’s relationship with La Scala dates back decades. In 2016, he conducted Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra as part of the theater’s international opera tour at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. In March 2023, he was named the first honorary conductor of La Scala’s resident orchestra, the Filarmonica della Scala. La Scala is expected to announce its full 2025–2026 season later this month, which will include 13 operas and 7 ballets, though details regarding new productions and repertory works have yet to be disclosed. A new tour of Asia featuring Chung and the Filarmonica della Scala is also reportedly in the works. Founded in 1778, La Scala is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world. With its rich history of premiering works by composers like Verdi and Puccini, and its legacy of performances by opera legends such as Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti, the theater is considered a global symbol of excellence in opera and classical music. 2025-05-13 10:51:13

PPP fails to replace presidential candidate as party vote blocks leadership's last-minute move SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - In a dramatic turn just one day before official presidential campaigning begins, South Korea’s conservative People Power Party (PPP) failed in its attempt to replace its presidential nominee, Kim Moon-soo, after a party-wide vote rejected the leadership’s emergency push to install former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as the new candidate. The internal vote, conducted via an automated response survey (ARS) from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, asked all PPP members whether they supported canceling Kim’s nomination and replacing him with Han. The party announced after midnight that the proposal had been narrowly voted down. "While we cannot disclose the exact figures, the result was a rejection of the candidate replacement motion by a narrow margin," said Shin Dong-wook, the party’s chief spokesperson. The outcome nullifies the party leadership’s drastic actions taken the night before. Citing emergency powers under Article 74 of the party charter, the PPP’s emergency leadership committee convened in the early hours of May 10 and moved swiftly to revoke Kim’s candidacy, accept Han’s formal party membership, and open a one-hour candidate registration window between 3 and 4 a.m.. The unorthodox process triggered immediate controversy. Critics both within and outside the party accused the leadership of bypassing proper procedure and undermining internal democracy. The sequence of events, initiated after failed unification talks between Kim and Han, was seen by some as a political coup. Kim, a former labor minister and conservative stalwart, responded defiantly, vowing to register with the National Election Commission (NEC) as PPP’s official candidate on Sunday. "Everything is back to where it should be," he said in a statement. "I will immediately launch my campaign and build a big-tent alliance to challenge Lee Jae-myung." The failed switch also brought swift fallout. Kwon Young-se, chair of the PPP emergency committee and the architect of the replacement strategy, resigned to take responsibility for the failed maneuver. “The failure to achieve unification is my fault alone,” he said in a press conference, offering a formal apology to party members and the public. Kwon emphasized that the leadership had acted with the intent of fielding the strongest candidate against Democratic Party frontrunner Lee Jae-myung, but ultimately failed to secure the consensus required to see the plan through. Saturday’s vote reflected widespread concern within the party about the process. While many members agreed on the need to unite the conservative bloc, the abrupt revocation of Kim’s candidacy, done without convening the full national committee or holding open consultations, sparked backlash over procedural legitimacy. The now-defunct plan had been the PPP’s last-minute attempt to salvage a conservative victory through consolidation. Han’s appointment had been framed as a pathway toward unity, especially after unification talks with Kim collapsed earlier in the week over the timing and method of coordination. The situation has left lingering uncertainty and tension within the party, with many predicting a continued fallout over both the leadership’s overreach and the growing ideological rift within the conservative camp. 2025-05-11 02:35:18

Han Duck-soo calls for unity in first press conference after nomination turmoil SEOUL, May 10 (AJP) - Han Duck-soo, the newly designated presidential candidate of the People Power Party (PPP), called for party unity and national reconciliation during a press conference held at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday as the party pressed forward with its decision to replace former labor minister Kim Moon-soo amid deep internal division and legal wrangling. “I never once dreamed of running for president,” Han said in his opening remarks. “But I came to believe over the past three years that unless we change politics, there is no future for this country.” His speech came just hours after the PPP officially began the process of switching its presidential candidate from Kim to Han through an emergency decision by the party’s leadership and election commission. The party cited Article 74-2 of its constitution to justify the move and launched a full-member vote, with final ratification by the national committee set for May 11. Han was formally registered as the new candidate during a tightly controlled one-hour registration window held between 3 and 4 a.m., while Kim Moon-soo, stripped of his nomination, denounced the process as a “political coup” and vowed legal action. Kim filed an injunction Saturday morning seeking to suspend the decision. At the press conference, Han expressed regret over the conflict and pledged to move forward without hostility. “I sincerely apologize to the people and to party members for the confusion,” he said. “I will embrace everyone, including candidate Kim Moon-soo and his supporters. We all share the same desire for victory.” Han emphasized that he had no ambition to hold power for himself and pledged to focus his campaign on constitutional reform and economic recovery. “I have no belief that I must hold every authority,” he said. “I am here only because I believe we must win.” The veteran former prime minister sharply criticized the opposition, saying South Korea could not afford to be ruled by “those who reverse themselves in the afternoon after promising reforms in the morning,” or who “threaten impeachment whenever rulings do not go their way.” He warned that unchecked power concentrated across all branches of government would ultimately destroy the economy. Han also downplayed his own political role, saying, “I am just a stepping stone. I want others to step over me and carry us into the next era.” He said his only ideology was preserving the nation’s economic foundation, adding, “I will do my duty to this country until the day I die.” As the PPP continues its internal vote and braces for legal fallout from Kim’s camp, Han’s remarks signal an attempt to cool tensions and rally support ahead of the June 3 presidential election. --- The following is the full transcript of Han Duck-soo’s statement as delivered during the May 10 press conference: "Dear citizens and fellow party members, I am Han Duck-soo. Never in my life have I dreamed of running for president. But I decided to run because over the past three years, I’ve come to feel deeply that our politics must change. Without change, no matter who takes power, our country has no future. The conflicts and confusion we are facing now will only repeat. We must win. Everyone knows that. But winning is not easy. To win, we must unite and let go of ourselves. I let go of everything when I entered this race. I never believed that only I could do this—not in the past, not now, not ever. I’ve never believed that I must hold all authority. We must all come together. The party should be led by those who have long dedicated themselves to its cause. I intend to focus on constitutional reform and economic revival. I am running solely because I believe we must win. Changing politics to save the economy and the country—that is my only goal, from beginning to end. To achieve that, everyone must unite, and I must add my strength. Unification is the will of the people. Regardless of what has happened, I deeply apologize to the people and to our party members. I will work to ensure that the public never has to witness news like this again. I will embrace everyone. I will focus only on winning, and forget all that came before. I’ve spent decades at negotiation tables. In every successful negotiation, the key is to leave behind the past. I am the person who has done that longest in our country. To candidate Kim Moon-soo, to his supporters, and to all other candidates—I know this has been a painful experience. I believe we all share the same desire for victory. I will embrace you all. I will support and respect you all. Let us move forward. Not for me, but for the people. Let me be clear—our supreme task right now is winning the presidential election. I have officially joined the People Power Party. I will give everything I have—my strength and my wisdom—for this cause. Those who promise reform in the morning and reverse themselves by afternoon... Those who celebrate favorable rulings but respond to unfavorable ones with impeachment threats... Those who propose massive supplementary budgets after cutting core expenditures… Those who push for impeachment regardless of how the country is doing—even talk of impeaching the Chief Justice without shame... Such people must not be allowed to take power. We cannot let them control the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary without checks. The economy will not survive it. The country will not survive it. South Korea did not rise easily. It was built through sweat and hardship. But it can fall easily. Several countries in Latin America were once prosperous. Some say I am a conservative, some say I am a centrist or a progressive. I have only one ideology: this economy we built so painstakingly must not be stopped. To save the economy, we must change politics. If that means winning, I will become Kim Duck-soo, Hong Duck-soo, Ahn Duck-soo, or even Na Duck-soo. All of them are needed and will play big roles. I am just a short-lived stepping stone. I came to serve that role. I sincerely hope they step on my back to carry this country into a better future. Let us unite—not for any one of us, but for our economy and our people. Let us carry them forward on the grandest palanquin. Until my last day, I want to fulfill my duty to the country and people I have served for 50 years. I will carry everyone with me. I firmly believe that in their hearts, we all think the same. Thank you." 2025-05-10 16:48:32

PPP defends candidate switch as last resort, Kim calls move illegal political purge SEOUL, May 10 (AJP) - The People Power Party (PPP) on Saturday defended its decision to revoke Kim Moon-soo’s presidential nomination and initiate the selection of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as its new candidate, describing the move as an emergency measure in response to failed unification talks and mounting internal division. The party’s leadership maintains that the action was legal. Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly, PPP emergency committee chair Kwon Young-se told the leadership made a “painful but necessary decision” under Article 74-2 of the party constitution, comparing the action to the historical Confucian concept of "Eupchammasok"—a righteous but difficult sacrifice of one’s own ally for the greater good. “More than 80 percent of our members wanted unification before the candidate registration deadline,” Kwon said. “They demanded that we field a single, competitive nominee under the PPP banner to defeat Lee Jae-myung and prevent authoritarian rule.” The candidate switch comes after the collapse of unification talks between Kim and the former prime minister. While the PPP leadership insisted that consolidation be completed by the May 11 registration deadline, Kim argued for a public poll scheduled on May 15–16 to determine a unified nominee. As tensions escalated, the party opened a one-hour overnight registration window on May 10, removing Kim and registering Han instead. According to Kwon, the decision was driven by the party’s responsibility to act when unification negotiations failed. “This was not about serving any one faction. It was the last and only hope to win this election,” he said. He also criticized Kim for prolonging the process and undermining internal trust. “For Kim Moon-soo, unification became a tactic to secure the nomination, not a sincere effort to align behind a stronger candidate,” Kwon said, accusing Kim of “spreading falsehoods, attacking the party, and turning supporters against its leadership.” Despite the move, the party emphasized that the switch is not final. The PPP is holding a full-member vote through 9 p.m. on May 10 to determine whether Han should officially become the nominee. A national committee vote on May 11 will follow. If less than half of respondents support the change, the party will reinstate Kim as its candidate. Kim Moon-soo, however, has rejected the leadership’s actions as illegitimate. In a morning press conference held at 9:50 a.m., Kim called the overnight registration process a “political coup” and vowed to pursue legal and political action. “Democracy in our party died last night,” he said. “This was an unconstitutional and illegal purge of a rightfully elected candidate.” Kim also filed an injunction with the Seoul Southern District Court to suspend the party’s decision, just hours after an earlier court rejected a similar request to block the party’s emergency proceedings. As the PPP awaits the outcome of its internal vote and prepares for possible legal fallout, the party now faces the prospect of a deepening internal rift just weeks before the June 3 presidential election. 2025-05-10 13:42:38

Kim Moon-soo calls PPP candidate switch a 'political coup,' vows legal fight SEOUL, May 10 (AJP) - In a press conference held at 9:50 a.m. on Saturday, Kim Moon-soo condemned the People Power Party’s (PPP) early-morning decision to strip him of his presidential candidacy and replace him with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. Calling the move a “political coup,” Kim declared his intent to pursue legal and political action against party leaders and urged the public to stand with him in what he described as a fight to defend South Korea’s democracy. “Democracy within our party died last night,” Kim said, standing before reporters just hours after the PPP formally canceled his nomination and registered Han as its new candidate under Article 74-2 of the party’s constitution. The party leadership opened a one-hour candidate registration window between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. following the breakdown of unification talks between Kim and Han. The PPP has argued that its decision was backed by overwhelming party sentiment and justified under internal rules allowing candidate replacement in exceptional circumstances. The move is set to be finalized through a party-wide vote on May 10 and ratified by the national committee on May 11. However, Kim refused to accept the result. “What happened last night is not just an internal issue—this is unprecedented in our constitutional history,” he said. He accused party leaders of plotting his removal even before he was nominated, alleging that Han had been their pre-selected candidate all along. Kim also criticized the registration process itself, which he said involved submitting over 30 documents with virtually no notice. “They pushed it through at 3 a.m., in just one hour. That alone shows how illegitimate this process was,” he said. He vowed to take immediate legal steps to challenge the decision and warned of consequences for those responsible. “I will continue to fight to protect the Republic of Korea’s liberal democracy,” Kim declared. “We must defend the values we’ve upheld through blood and sacrifice.” Despite the party’s withdrawal of support, Kim has maintained that he remains the legitimate PPP candidate and said he will attempt to register independently with the National Election Commission. --- The following is the full transcript of Kim’s statement, as delivered at the press conference: “Dear citizens and fellow members of the People Power Party, I am Kim Moon-soo, your presidential candidate. I hope you were well through the night. Last night, the emergency leadership committee of the People Power Party unlawfully stripped me of my candidacy—a position I was rightfully elected to by the people and our party members. Democracy within our party died last night. I sincerely apologize to the members and citizens who supported me despite my shortcomings. A political coup unfolded in the dead of night. What took place is unprecedented not only in Korean constitutional history but in global democratic history. Our party, which should have been standing up against the political monster Lee Jae-myung, turned into a monster itself. According to our party constitution, the presidential candidate must be elected at a party convention or by its delegate body, the National Committee. But before any such committee even convened, the emergency leadership, which had no such authority, pushed through a candidate replacement. This is a blatant violation of the party’s rules. The leadership had decided on Han Duck-soo as the candidate long before I was selected and made repeated efforts to push me out. Around 1 a.m. today, they ultimately revoked my nomination. Then at 3 a.m., they rushed through a one-hour registration process requiring 32 documents, effectively forcing a new candidacy in the dark. I will immediately take legal and political action against this illegal and unjust attempt to replace the party’s rightful candidate. I will hold those responsible for this crisis accountable, both legally and politically. I will continue to fight to protect the Republic of Korea’s liberal democracy. We must defend the values that we’ve upheld through blood and sacrifice. To the citizens of this country. I ask you to stand with me, Kim Moon-soo. Thank you.” 2025-05-10 10:11:27

PPP moves to replace Kim Moon-soo with Han Duck-soo as presidential nominee SEOUL, May 10 (AJP) - The People Power Party (PPP) launched an unprecedented candidate replacement process early Saturday morning, canceling Kim Moon-soo’s nomination and registering former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo as its new presidential candidate, following the collapse of unification talks between the two conservative contenders. At around 3 a.m. on May 10, PPP election committee chair Lee Yang-soo announced via the party's website that Han had been officially registered as the party’s presidential nominee, citing Article 74-2 of the party constitution and related regulations. This came shortly after Lee issued a prior notice declaring the cancellation of Kim’s nomination and the opening of a one-hour candidate registration window from 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. The move follows the breakdown of negotiations between Kim and Han over how and when to consolidate their candidacies. While the party leadership pushed for unification before the May 11 deadline for official registration with the National Election Commission, Kim had insisted on conducting public polling on May 15–16 to determine a single candidate. In response, the party invoked a rule allowing the emergency leadership committee to determine candidate nomination procedures under “extraordinary circumstances.” Party officials cited the results of a May 7 internal survey in which 86.7 percent of members supported unification before the NEC deadline as justification for the switch. An additional internal preference poll was conducted among party members and the public on May 8 and 9 to gauge support between Kim and Han. While the results were not publicly disclosed, sources said Han held the lead. The party plans to complete the nomination process through a full-member vote on May 10, followed by a final confirmation by the national committee on May 11. Despite a series of legal challenges by Kim’s camp, including a request to prevent the national committee from convening, the Seoul Southern District Court dismissed all injunctions, effectively clearing the way for the party to proceed. Kim, however, has refused to back down. He announced plans to independently register with the National Election Commission as the PPP’s official candidate and requested access to the party’s nomination seal and the required deposit account for registration. His chief of staff, Kim Jae-won, declared the leadership’s actions “clearly illegal” and confirmed Kim’s intention to proceed with registration on the morning of May 10. With the party leadership unlikely to cooperate with the registration process, a legal and political standoff now appears inevitable. The fallout from the early-morning decision has exposed deep rifts within the PPP. One sitting lawmaker called the leadership’s action “unavoidable,” while others expressed concern that the party could now face a prolonged legal and internal crisis. 2025-05-10 09:42:51

Kim and Han clash over timing, legitimacy in second unification talks SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - Presidential candidates Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo met for a second round of unification talks on Thursday, but the discussion once again revealed sharp differences over the timing and terms of a potential single candidacy. The meeting, held at the National Assembly’s Sarangjae at 4:30 p.m., was fully open to the press by prior agreement between both camps. Han, an independent candidate and former prime minister, pushed for immediate resolution, stressing the need to finalize unification before the official registration period closes on May 11. “Unification is the will of the people,” he said, adding, “Whatever method the party decides on, I will accept it.” He pointed to Kim’s repeated past statements during the People Power Party (PPP) primary in favor of unification. “I feel like your request to postpone it by a week really means you don’t want this,” Han said. He urged Kim to reach a decision within “today or tomorrow,” warning that failure to do so would risk political irrelevance for both sides. Kim, representing the PPP, responded that he had always supported the idea of unification but expressed discomfort with Han’s approach. “The first person I would naturally consider for unification is Prime Minister Han,” he said, but questioned why Han had remained outside the party. “It only makes sense that if you were serious about running, you should have joined the PPP,” Kim said. He criticized Han for not participating in the party’s formal primary process, suggesting it was unfair for someone “who appeared late” to demand concessions from a candidate who had gone through all the required procedures. Han replied that he would join the PPP immediately if unification were realized. He explained his absence from the primary was due to state responsibilities, including managing trade and economic issues in his role as acting president. As tensions rose, Kim pushed back against the idea that he bore sole responsibility for achieving unification. “You’re handing me the bill,” he said. “You came in late and skipped the party primary, and now you’re asking me why I’m not keeping my promise.” Han responded, “It’s not a bill. I’m not in a position to demand anything,” and urged Kim to act according to “the will of the people and party members.” 2025-05-08 19:18:07