Impeached president faces first verdict on martial law-related charges SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - Impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol will be sentenced on Friday for one of several charges related to his botched martial law debacle. In a nationwide televised trial scheduled for 2 p.m., the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul is set to deliver its ruling on whether Yoon obstructed law enforcement by blocking investigators and other officials who attempted to detain him following his abrupt late-night declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. It will be Yoon's first sentencing among his eight cases related to the debacle including the main charges of insurrection and abuse of power, whose verdict is likely to be handed down next month. At the case's final hearing in December last year, prosecutors sought 10 years in prison for Yoon - five years for obstruction of official duties, three years for abuse of power, and two years for fabricating official documents, calling it "a serious crime in which the defendant privatized state institutions to conceal and justify his wrongdoing." They said a heavy sentence is necessary "to restore constitutional order and the rule of law, and to prevent a recurrence." 2026-01-16 09:18:28

Minor earthquake detected in Goheung SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - A 2.0-maginitue earthquake struck Goheung in southwestern South Korea on Wednesday. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the quake occurred at around 3:30 p.m., about 14 kilometers northeast of Goheung, South Jeolla Province. The epicenter was located at 34.70 degrees north latitude and 127.37 degrees east longitude, at a depth of 14 kilometers. The KMA stated that some residents in the affected area felt weak tremors, but there have been no reports of damage or injuries. 2025-12-31 16:23:27

Celimax serum tops Amazon Australia beauty bestseller rankings SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - South Korean dermacosmetic brand Celimax's flagship product, the Retinal Shot Tightening Booster, ranked first overall on Amazon Australia’s beauty bestseller list, the company said on Monday. The product initially climbed to the top spot in the facial serums category during Amazon Australia’s International Brand Pavilion promotion before rising to No. 1 across the broader beauty category, which includes products from major global brands, according to the company. Celimax said the serum has continued to post strong results on global e-commerce platforms based on actual purchase data. The product previously ranked No. 1 for the search keyword “retinal” on Amazon in North America and also topped the overall beauty products category on global shopping platform YesStyle. Kim Min-seok, CEO of Celimax, said the performance on Amazon Australia underscores growing overseas acceptance of the company’s “steady-seller strategy,” which emphasizes core products over short-term trends. “We will continue to focus on developing products that deliver clear skin benefits and build long-term consumer trust,” Kim said. 2025-12-22 09:33:21

Multi-award-winning Korean pianist hospitalized after distressing message SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) -Multi-award-winning South Korean pianist Lim Dong-hyek is recuperating after being taken to a hospital Monday after police responded to concerns over a handwritten message he posted on social media that appeared to signal emotional distress. Seoul’s Seocho Police received a report at around 8:30 a.m. and located Lim in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul. He was transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment and is reported to be in stable condition, with no immediate threat to his life. Earlier that morning, at 7:34 a.m., Lim shared a handwritten letter detailing his long-term struggle with severe depression, saying he has taken antidepressants daily since 2015. “Antidepressants are not inherently bad,” he wrote, “but my illness itself has caused me prolonged pain.” In the post, Lim also addressed allegations raised by his former wife, identified only by her surname Cha, who accused him of sending obscene messages during divorce proceedings. Lim denied the claims, stating that he was neither involved in such actions nor engaged in divorce litigation. He concluded the message by taking responsibility for his conduct, expressing gratitude to supporters, and wishing them happiness and good fortune. Lim, one of South Korea’s most internationally recognized pianists, rose to prominence at a young age through a series of major competition successes. In 1996, he gained global attention after winning second prize at the Chopin Competition for Young Pianists in Moscow, where he was the youngest participant and finished just behind his older brother, Lim Dong-min, who tied for first. He went on to place fifth at the Busoni International Piano Competition in Italy in 2000, and won second prize at the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition in Japan the same year. In 2001, Lim became the youngest winner of the Premier Grand Prix at the Marguerite Long–Jacques Thibaud International Piano Competition in Paris, also receiving five special awards. Lim later shared third prize with his brother at the 2005 International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, where no second prize was awarded, and placed fourth at the 2007 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, another edition in which no first prize was given. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-16 13:24:46

Fire at Paju elementary school leaves three injured, hundreds evacuated SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - A fire broke out at an elementary school in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on Monday. According to fire authorities, the blaze started around noon in the school's second-floor science lab. Firefighters were immediately dispatched to the scene to extinguish the blaze, but three staff members inhaled smoke, with two being transported to the hospital. A total of 307 students and staff were evacuated. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-15 13:56:59

Workers trapped after collapse at construction site in Gwangju SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - A steel structure collapsed at a construction site in the southwestern city of Gwangju on Thursday, leaving several workers trapped. According to emergency rescue officials, the incident occurred at around 1:58 p.m. at a construction site for a library, with four workers trapped under the debris. One person was rescued shortly after the collapse but is presumed dead. Search and rescue operations are underway for the remaining three workers. Police and government authorities plan to investigate the exact cause of the accident after completing the rescue operations. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-11 16:26:16

Hundreds evacuated after Korean War-era bomb found in Pocheon SEOUL, December 8 (AJP) - About 440 students and teachers were evacuated after a World War II-era bomb was found at an elementary school in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province on Monday. According to police, the bomb, believed to be from the Korean War (1950~1953), was discovered at a construction site at the school at around 10:13 a.m. Students were evacuated to a nearby gymnasium and later sent home after the bomb was safely removed. The heavily rusted bomb, about 1 meter long, was identified as an aerial bomb used by the South Korean Air Force during the war. The bomb was handed over to the military for further analysis and disposal. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-08 14:50:32

When it snows, it downpours in Seoul: first snow causes chaos SEOUL, December 05 (AJP) -Heavy snowfall across Seoul and southern Gyeonggi triggered a wave of accidents and commuter chaos from rush hour in Wednesday evening to late night as icy roads and inadequate snow removal efforts left drivers stranded and public transportation overwhelmed. In Seoul, the first snow has now become something of a pattern: when it snows, it downpours—the second year in a row in which the season’s first flakes arrived as a full-blown snowstorm. Southern Gyeonggi Police Agency said it received 1,902 snow-related calls between 5 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday, including 1,087 reports of traffic disruptions, 732 requests for snow removal, and 83 traffic accidents. At 4 a.m., a truck crash near Pangyo Junction on the Gyeongbu Expressway blocked several lanes. Earlier, at 10:43 p.m., six vehicles collided on an icy slope near the Gwacheon Tunnel exit on the Bongdam–Gwacheon Expressway. No major injuries were reported. While no highways in southern Gyeonggi were fully closed, congestion persisted as temperatures dropped and road surfaces refroze. In Seoul, what began as light flurries quickly intensified—with bursts of thunder—during the evening rush hour. Snow removal operations temporarily closed some streets, forcing passengers to abandon buses and walk. Subway ridership surged as commuters sought alternatives to gridlocked roads. A snow advisory issued at 6 p.m. was lifted two hours later, but disruptions stretched well into the night as snow continued to accumulate. Residents said the turmoil felt all too familiar, recalling last November’s first snowfall that dumped more than 20 centimeters on the capital. “Even though it’s the first snow, similar issues occurred last year,” said a commuter surnamed Cho, speaking to Yonhap News. With forecasters warning of icy morning roads, Seoul officials moved to bolster public transit, adding 20 extra subway trains during Thursday’s morning rush hour and extending concentrated bus deployment by 30 minutes. Additional snow removal was planned for icy stretches, sidewalks, and neighborhood roads. All previously restricted sections, including parts of the Inner Ring Road, were reopened overnight. Many commuters endured long, exhausting journeys home. A 25-year-old office worker, Ahn, said her usual one-hour trip from Sangam-dong to Gangnam stretched to two and a half hours. “I wore Ugg boots because it was slippery, but I still ended up falling,” she said. After two years of punishing first snowfalls, public frustration is rising. “Are the authorities just waiting for the snow to melt?” one resident said. Another commuter, Cho, 28, was more direct: “If the same thing keeps happening, whether it’s the government or the city, it means they weren’t prepared.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-05 08:42:43

Lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae accused of sexual assault SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae of the ruling Democratic Party has been embroiled in a sexual assault scandal after a complaint was filed with police. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Jang allegedly sexually harassed a woman at a gathering in Seoul late last year. Jang immediately denied the allegations, posting a message on Facebook saying, "I will firmly respond including legal action against these false accusations." In response to the allegations, the party's leader Jeong Cheong-rae has ordered an internal investigation. Meanwhile, rumors have been circulating that Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the minor centrist Reform Party, was also at the gathering. Lee has vowed to take legal action for defamation against those spreading what he called "false information." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-28 11:09:18

Man arrested after knife attack on woman in southern Seoul SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - A man was arrested after attacking a woman in her 20s with a knife at a crammer in Seoul's affluent district of Gangnam on Friday. According to police, the man fled the scene shortly after the incident, which occurred around 11:50 a.m. in Sinsa-dong, but was later apprehended in Mapo, western Seoul, after authorities tracked him using CCTV footage. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, and police are investigating the details of the incident. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-21 14:06:43