Korea's exports slip in May, undermined by US tariffs SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - South Korea’s exports declined in May, snapping a three-month streak of gains, as shipments to key markets including the United States and China weakened, government data showed Sunday. Exports fell 1.3 percent from a year earlier to $57.3 billion, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The downturn was attributed largely to a sharp drop in shipments to the United States, where the Trump administration’s tariff policies have weighed on South Korean automotive exports. Imports also contracted, falling 5.3 percent year-on-year to $50.3 billion. The resulting trade surplus stood at $6.94 billion. Shipments to the United States slid 8.1 percent to $10 billion, with the automotive sector particularly affected by the administration’s 25 percent tariffs on imported vehicles. Exports to China, South Korea’s largest trading partner, also dropped 8.4 percent to $10.4 billion, amid waning demand for semiconductors and petrochemical products. Deliveries to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations declined 1.3 percent to $10 billion. In contrast, exports to the European Union rose for the third consecutive month, gaining 4 percent year-on-year to reach $6 billion, buoyed by strong demand for automobiles and chips. 2025-06-01 10:02:59

Arsonist sparks fire on Seoul subway, forcing 400 passengers to flee through tunnel SEOUL, May 31 (AJP) - A man ignited a fire on a Seoul subway train during Saturday morning rush hour, forcing about 400 passengers to evacuate through underground tunnels as smoke filled the carriages. The blaze erupted at 8:43 a.m. on Line 5 between Yeouinaru and Mapo stations when a man in his 60s used a torch-style lighter to set clothing ablaze after boarding with a container of oil, witnesses said. Twenty-one passengers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation and ankle injuries sustained during the chaotic evacuation. No fatalities were reported. Train operators and passengers wielded fire extinguishers to contain the flames before firefighters fully extinguished the blaze at 10:24 a.m. Emergency responders deployed 230 personnel, including 166 firefighters and 60 police officers, along with 68 pieces of firefighting equipment. Police arrested the suspected arsonist near Yeouinaru station at 9:45 a.m. Service between Yeouido and Aeogae stations was suspended until 10:06 a.m., with trains bypassing Mapo and Yeouinaru stations during the emergency response. Investigators are examining the scene and questioning the suspect to determine the motive behind the arson attack. 2025-05-31 16:10:14

South Korean professor loses lawsuit over research fund embezzlement disciplinary action SEOUL, May 31 (AJP) - A South Korean national university professor who embezzled about 80 million won (US$57,952) in research funds by falsely claiming equipment purchases has lost his administrative lawsuit challenging his disciplinary punishment. The Chuncheon District Court ruled against the professor in his lawsuit seeking to overturn a three-month suspension imposed by the national university he resides, the court announced on Saturday. According to the indictment, the professor fraudulently claimed research material expenses 31 times between June 2018 and January 2021, pocketing about 80 million won intended for consumable research supplies. He also embezzled 1 million won over 36 instances by billing for meals for researchers who never attended actual research meetings. The university initially imposed dismissal and demanded 240 million won in additional disciplinary fines - triple the embezzled amount. After the professor appealed to the Appeal Commission for Educators, his punishment was reduced to a three-month suspension with standard disciplinary fines, considering his suspended sentence in criminal court. However, the professor argued he merely followed established practices of acquiring expensive equipment through credit arrangements and later paying through government project material costs. He claimed the funds questioned were used for actual equipment purchases that benefited his research. "The misconduct's content, duration, frequency and amount show the violations were not minor, warranting demotion or higher punishment," the court said. "However, considering the plaintiff's diligent work performance and research achievements, and that the embezzlement wasn't solely for personal gain, a suspension was deemed appropriate." The court emphasized that professors must maintain strong moral standards and integrity, stating the public interest in ensuring fair research fund management outweighed the defendant's personal disadvantages. 2025-05-31 14:20:46

China expands surveillance network in Korean waters with three new buoys SEOUL, May 31 (AJP) - China has quietly installed three additional observation buoys in disputed West Sea waters near South Korea, raising fresh concerns about Beijing's growing maritime surveillance capabilities in the region. The South Korean Navy reported on Saturday its discovery of large buoys near the 123-degree east longitude line, west of Ieodo reef. The installations sit in international waters within China's exclusive economic zone, directly adjacent to South Korea's maritime boundaries. Since 2018, China has deployed 10 observation buoys measuring about 3 meters wide and 6 meters tall throughout the Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ) under the stated purpose of marine observation. The latest additions bring the total count to 13 buoys, with one positioned inside the disputed fishing zone shared by both nations. While Beijing claims the buoys serve meteorological and oceanographic purposes, South Korean defense analysts fear the equipment could monitor South Korean naval vessels and submarines, potentially compromising Seoul's maritime security operations in its own backyard waters. China has systematically expanded its presence in the contested zone, installing large-scale aquaculture facilities described as deep-sea fishing operations. This month, Beijing declared parts of the area off-limits to navigation while announcing planned military exercises. "We are closely monitoring China's unauthorized installation of structures within the PMZ and will work closely with relevant ministries and agencies to protect our maritime sovereignty," a Ministry of National Defense official said. 2025-05-31 10:34:31

Trump doubles steel tariffs to 50 percent, dealing blow to South Korea and other exporters SEOUL, May 31 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday he would double tariffs on foreign steel imports to 50 percent from the current 25 percent, delivering a blow to overseas producers including South Korea as he unveiled a major investment partnership. Trump made the announcement during a speech at a U.S. Steel plant outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, saying the measure would "further secure the steel industry." The move comes as part of a broader agreement involving Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel's investment in the American company. "We don’t want America’s future to be built with shoddy steel from Shanghai. We want it built with the strength and the pride of Pittsburgh," said Trump, explaining the tariff increase. The tariff hike represents a doubling of duties first imposed in March under the Trade Expansion Act, which allows restrictions on imports deemed threats to national security. "At 25 percent, they can sort of get over that fence," Trump said. "At 50 percent, they can no longer get over the fence." The announcement coincided with Trump's reversal on Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel, which he had previously opposed on national security grounds alongside former President Joe Biden. The Japanese company plans to invest $14 billion in American steel operations over the next 14 months. Trump described the investment as "the largest investment in the history of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania" and "the biggest investment in American steel history." He said the partnership would create and maintain over 100,000 jobs nationwide, including 100,000 in Pennsylvania specifically. The president assured that the deal would prevent layoffs or outsourcing, adding that U.S. Steel workers would receive $5,000 bonuses. He called the arrangement a "blockbuster agreement" that ensures the historic American company remains domestically owned. South Korea's top steelmakers, POSCO and Hyundai Steel, already posted disappointing first-quarter results following previous U.S. tariff measures of 25 percent, industry experts saying the doubling of the levies to hit the nation strong, as South Korea exports around 13 percent of its total steel produce to the U.S. 2025-05-31 09:47:51

High turnout in early voting for presidential election SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) - Early voting for next week's presidential election wrapped up with a high voter turnout of 34.74 percent on Friday, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). The election watchdog said the high turnout came as about 15.42 million out of 44.39 million eligible voters cast their ballots in advance at around 3,500 polling stations nationwide on Thursday and Friday. Some 8.69 million voters cast their ballots on the first day of early voting, reaching a record turnout of 19.58 percent, the highest since it was first introduced on a nationwide basis in 2014. The combined figure for the two days of early voting was the second-highest, about 2.19 percentage points lower than the 36.93 percent recorded in the 2022 presidential election. Turnout was highest in South Jeolla Province at 56.50 percent, followed by North Jeolla Province (53.01 percent), Gwangju (52.12 percent), and the administrative city of Sejong (41.16 percent). The lowest turnout was seen in Daegu at 25.63 percent. In Seoul, turnout stood at 34.28 percent, slightly below the nationwide average of 34.74 percent. In the past, high turnout in early voting was often considered advantageous to the progressives because younger voters tend to cast their ballots early. But that formula no longer seems to apply as most voters may now be motivated by convenience regardless of their political affiliation. But the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) interprets the high turnout as suggesting that many voters saw the ballot as a referendum on the former disgraced president's botched martial law debacle late last year. Some DP lawmakers also insist that the lowest turnout in Daegu, the conservatives' main stronghold, would be another indicator that early voting is advantageous to them. The ruling People Power Party (PPP), however, rejects this claim, arguing that its main supporters, mostly older voters, prefer to vote on the main election day, June 3, as they have doubts about early voting and possible fraud. 2025-05-30 17:54:06

Tour for reunification wraps up in Seoul ahead of major campaign on Liberation Day in August SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) - A nationwide tour promoting reunification between the two Koreas, organized by a civil coalition, wrapped up with a final rally in Seoul on Friday after spanning 13 cities and provinces. The Korean Dream Hangang Grand Festival Organizing Committee held an event at the Kim Koo Museum & Library in Yongsan, bringing together civil representatives from across South Korea. The event served as the finale to a series of rallies that began on May 12 in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, building momentum for the organization's broader "Korean Dream Ten Million Campaign," scheduled for mid-August to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day on Aug. 15. Led by former Prime Minister Chung Un-chan as chairman, along with co-chairs former National Assembly Vice Speaker Chung Woo-taek and former Democratic Party floor leader Lee Jong-geol, the committee has been mobilizing public support for reunification between South and North Korea since 2022. The campaign promotes a vision called "Korean Dream," which envisions a unified Korea contributing to world peace by achieving reunification as a path to national advancement rather than merely a political objective. "Over the past 80 years since the end of Japanese colonial rule, through your dedication and sacrifice, we have overcome the ruins of war and achieved both industrialization and democratization," said the chairman. "Now is the time to transcend barriers of ideology, generation, region, and class to achieve genuine national unity and sustainable co-prosperity," he added. 2025-05-30 17:42:36

Former UN chief calls for global solidarity at forum in Astana SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) - Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged international cooperation and regional unity at the Astana International Forum (AIF), which is underway in Kazakhstan. Ban, who now serves as chair of the Green Growth Global Institute and chair of the Boao Forum for Asia, highlighted the importance of global dialogue at the two-day forum in the Kazakh capital. "As the former UN Secretary-General who helped realize the Paris Climate Change Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, I would like to emphasize my strong support, particularly for its contributions to green growth, climate resilience, and sustainable development," Ban said. He praised the forum's theme, "Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future," describing it as a reflection of "the kind of leadership we need today - one that is collaborative, forward-looking, and rooted in shared responsibility." Ban particularly welcomed Kazakhstan and its Central Asian neighbors' adoption of such vision, stressing that severe challenges like climate change, environmental degradation, and economic transitions cannot be tackled by any single nation. "No matter how powerful, no matter how resourceful one may be, these threats transcend geographical boundaries, political ideologies, and any artificial lines humans may draw. These serious challenges require a unified regional response," Ban emphasized. Addressing global conflicts, Ban pointed out a troubling deterioration caused by insufficient leadership commitment to human rights. "I look around the world today and fear we're in a worse situation." Drawing from his experience at the UN, he emphasized the critical need for unity. "When we are united, we can overcome all challenges. Connecting minds is unity and solidarity. There is not a single country in this world, however powerful, that can do it alone." Ban called for a partnership involving government leaders, businesses, and civil society, stressing that global challenges require collective efforts. Later in the day, Ban attended a session focused on regional connectivity and development, co-hosted by the AIF and the Boao Forum for Asia. The session discussed infrastructure gaps, digital transformation, trade facilitation, and clean energy development as strategies for economic integration in Central Asia. Expressing concerns about current global economic tensions, he described the escalating trade war initiated by the U.S. as one "unprecedented in scale and severity since the Great Depression," affecting global trade and stability. "The majority of countries and leaders are still firmly behind multilateralism, free trade, globalization, and an open world economy. That's a good sign, but that's not enough," Ban said, emphasizing the need for Asian countries to strengthen their connectivity and consolidate regional supply chains. "This is exactly what Asia can bring," he added. Ban also underlined the AIF's role, concluding, "I'm very pleased to see so many brilliant people gathered here in Astana today to build consensus, trust, confidence, and our shared future. I look forward to benefiting from your vision and wisdom, and I wish this dialogue great success." 2025-05-30 16:25:39

New report reveals massive arms transfers between Pyongyang and Moscow SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) - North Korea has supplied Russia with large quantities of munitions and missile-related equipment, according to a report released Thursday by a multinational team that monitors UN Security Council sanctions on the renegade country. In its inaugural report, the Multinational Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) said, "Since and raise awareness of ongoing attempts to violate and evade UN sanctions." 2025-05-30 15:59:16

Calls grow for certified quality checks on exports amid global used car boom SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) - With the rapid expansion of secondhand vehicles in the global market, there are mounting calls for South Korea to implement quality-certification measures for its exports. In a report released by the Korea Automotive Technology Institute on Friday, the used car market is expected to continue growing, with South Korea having ample potential for exports. Trade volume for used cars in the global market increased by 88.9 percent over the last decade, rising from 5.4 million units in 2010 to 10.2 million units in 2022, driven by economic growth in emerging markets. The country's largest shipments went to Libya with 121,000 units, followed by Kyrgyzstan with 72,000 units, together accounting for 36.2 percent of total exports. By value, Kyrgyzstan ranked first with $1.49 billion, accounting for more than one third or 31.4 percent of the total revenues. The report cited Japan and China as benchmarking cases for quality control, with Japan's used car market valued at 1 trillion yen in 2023 and China seeing an average annual growth rate of 208 percent since 2019. The report stressed the need to secure certified quality assurance through authorized institutions, which also helps gauge demand in emerging markets. The report also proposed building integrated complexes that handle logistics alongside quality checks to improve efficiency and create synergy. 2025-05-30 14:56:42