Nonagenarian ex-North Korean soldier attempts to return home after decades in South Korea SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - A handful of surviving former North Korean soldiers have recently expressed their willingness to return to the North, with one of them attempting to cross the border in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday. The Unification Ministry here said earlier this week that six former North Korean soldiers have recently requested repatriation. Now in their 80s and 90s, they spent decades in prisons here after refusing to abandon communist ideologies and pledge their allegiance to the South. The ministry said these are believed to be the last remaining prisoners of war (POWs) here, though others may still remain. Among them was 95-year-old Ahn Hak-sop, who tried to cross a bridge in Paju, north of Seoul, on his way to Panmunjom to enter North Korea. The bridge is inside a restricted military zone that requires approval from both the South Korean military and the United Nations Command. He was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint. Ahn said he had endured "humiliation and torture" for refusing to sign such a statement, claiming that it would be "unfair to remain buried here even after death." His supporters also argued that former POWs should be allowed to return to their homeland. The ministry said it is reviewing the matter on humanitarian grounds but stressed that immediate repatriation is impossible due to various factors and circumstances. "Various options are under review," a ministry official said. Ahn, who hailed from Ganghwa Island , was captured in 1953 during the Korean War and spent 42 years in prison before being released in 1995. In 2000, shortly after the first inter-Korean summit, South Korea repatriated some 63 long-term prisoners through Panmunjom. At that time, Ahn declined to join, vowing to continue his struggle here until U.S. troops leave the Korean Peninsula. No further repatriations have taken place since then. 2025-08-20 17:37:03

PHOTOS: Civil defense drill SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - A 20-minute civil defense drill, simulating an enemy air raid, was conducted nationwide on Wednesday, with sirens blaring and text alerts sent to millions, as citizens were directed to seek shelter in designated spaces. The drill, which began at 2 p.m., included a nationwide air raid warning that prompted a wailing siren and emergency broadcasts. In response, people across the country were instructed to move to nearby shelters and other underground areas. 2025-08-20 16:36:19

K-pop anime tops Netflix chart again SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - Netflix's South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" has once again topped the global streaming giant's latest chart released on Wednesday. According to Netflix's ranking website Tudum, the animation garnered 26 million in cumulative views during the week ending last Sunday, reclaiming the top spot in its ninth week of release. The second-most-watched movie for the week was American crime thriller "Night Always Comes," followed by rom-com "My Oxford Year." Since its release on June 20, "KPop Demon Hunters," which deals with the story of K-pop superstars who are not just "selling out stadiums" but also "using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats," briefly held the top spot earlier before staying at No. 2 for several weeks. Along with the global popularity of the 100-minute-long animation, its K-pop-infused soundtrack has also been a hit, with eight of its songs entering Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. Meanwhile, President Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to appear on a special program aired on broadcaster Arirang TV later in the day to discuss the future of K-pop, with a focus on the recent huge sucess of "KPop Demon Hunters." 2025-08-20 16:33:19

South Korea turns to drone technology to guard against fires, bird strikes SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - South Korea has selected two consortiums to develop specialized drones for firefighting and airport bird control, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Wednesday. This came as the country moves to strengthen disaster-response capabilities following a series of deadly incidents. The ministry said it reviewed 22 proposals from 119 companies before awarding the projects. One consortium will focus on building heavy-duty drones to fight wildfires, while another will develop artificial intelligence–driven systems to detect and disperse birds near airports. The initiative comes after two stark reminders of the nation’s vulnerability: a plane crash last December that investigators suspect was caused by a bird strike, and massive wildfires in March that burned across wide swaths of the country. Angelux, which will lead the firefighting drone consortium, is set to receive 11.5 billion won, or about $8.2 million, over the next three years to develop aircraft capable of carrying 200 kilograms of fire suppressant. The drones, with a maximum takeoff weight of 450 kilograms, are designed to fly for up to three hours to battle blazes in areas deemed too dangerous for human firefighters. Angelux also plans to import larger foreign-made firefighting drones capable of handling 260-kilogram payloads. The second consortium, led by NH Networks, will receive 5 billion won through 2026 to develop bird deterrence technology. Its drones will patrol within four kilometers of airports, using AI to analyze flight patterns and deploying swarm units to scatter flocks that pose a threat to aircraft safety. Industry experts have long called for more advanced bird strike prevention measures, noting that major airports abroad already employ avian radars and laser systems. “This project will provide new firefighting response capabilities,” Joo Jong-wan, deputy minister of civil aviation, said in a statement. “The successful commercialization of heavy-duty fire drones will help meet growing domestic demand for specialized aircraft.” 2025-08-20 15:49:12

Spanish film starring South Korean footballer set for release next month SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - Midfielder Yang Jae-woo, who currently plays for Spanish football team Móstoles CF, has taken a leading role in the Iberian country's upcoming film, slated for release next month. Based on Venezuelan author Ariana Godoy's popular web-based novel, "Sigue Mi Voz" (Follow My Voice) tells the story of a young woman who leads a reclusive life but gradually opens up to the world after being moved by the voice of a late-night radio host, portrayed by Yang. Yang, fluent in both Korean and Spanish, reportedly earned the role through an audition, becoming the first South Korean to star in a Spanish film, though a few others have previously appeared in supporting roles. He moved to Spain when he was 11 years old after being recruited by Villarreal CF's youth team in 2012 and has lived there since. The romantic film is set to hit local theaters there on Sept. 12. 2025-08-20 15:37:23

S. Korea sets AI transformation as centerpiece of new economic plan SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - South Korea's government and ruling Democratic Party on Wednesday announced plans to push for an "AI transformation" across industry, government, and daily life, while easing heavy penalties on companies and opening public data to the private sector. The announcement followed a policy meeting at the National Assembly attended by the ruling Democratic Party (DP), the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Officials said the strategy rests on four pillars: "technology-led growth," "inclusive growth," "fair growth," and "sustainable growth." To support advanced industries, the government will designate key projects and provide assistance packages that include financing, tax incentives, manpower, and regulatory support. The DP also said it will prepare legislation to expand access to public data and help implement government initiatives. Han Jeong-ae, the party’s policy chief, said after the meeting that the government and the ruling party will move to revise corporate governance laws and adjust regulations that do not meet global standards. "There were opinions within the party, including from the special committee on the KOSPI 5000 initiative, that revisions are needed regarding excessive penalties such as breach of trust charges," she said. The DP plans to launch a task force to pursue these reforms together with the government. Officials also said the scope of the stewardship code will be expanded to strengthen corporate governance by requiring institutional investors to act more responsibly when managing assets. The AI-centered growth plan traces back to a campaign pledge by President Lee Jae-myung ahead of the June 3 snap election. During his campaign, Lee promised to create a 100 trillion won fund, with contributions from both the public and private sectors, to make South Korea one of the world’s top three AI powers. He also vowed to ramp up investment in advanced industries ranging from biotechnology and healthcare to aerospace and defense. 2025-08-20 15:27:17

South Korea launches petrochemical restructuring plan amid global glut SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - South Korea’s finance chief pledged government support for sweeping cuts in the country’s petrochemical industry, Wednesday, as officials seek to shore up competitiveness in a sector battered by global oversupply. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yoon-cheol said that 10 major petrochemical companies have agreed to reduce as much as 3.7 million tons of production capacity by the end of the year. The pledge came after the Lee Jae Myung administration convened its first inter-ministerial meeting on industrial competitiveness, held at the government complex in Seoul. Koo criticized domestic producers for ignoring repeated warnings of oversupply and instead expanding facilities during past boom years without moving quickly enough into higher-value products. “Resolving this crisis requires drastic capacity reduction and fundamental competitiveness enhancement, pursued with a do-or-die determination,” he said. Under the plan, participating firms must submit detailed reorganization strategies by the end of 2025, with a focus on scaling back their naphtha cracking operations, the backbone of petrochemical production. Koo pressed companies and their shareholders to put forward binding restructuring plans grounded in “painful self-rescue efforts,” and urged them to begin implementing changes as early as next month. The government said it would provide regulatory easing, tax incentives and financial assistance to companies that commit to restructuring. But Koo warned that firms attempting to delay or avoid the process would be excluded from support programs and could face punitive measures. He cited the shipbuilding industry’s recovery through painful restructuring as a precedent the petrochemical sector should follow. Officials plan to hold regular reviews of the industry’s progress and promised further intervention if needed, with the aim of what Koo described as a “revival” of South Korea’s petrochemical industry. 2025-08-20 15:08:39

US push for equity in Intel raises alarm for Samsung Electronics, SK hynix SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - The Trump administration is seeking an equity stake in Intel as part of its semiconductor subsidy package, a move that could reverberate across the global chip industry and unsettle South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, both of which are planning major U.S. investments with government support. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed Tuesday (local time) that the administration is negotiating for roughly a 10 percent stake in Intel in exchange for a $10.9 billion grant to expand the company’s domestic manufacturing. “The president wants to put America’s needs first, both from a national security and economic perspective,” Leavitt said at a press briefing. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick described the plan as a straightforward swap: government funding for company shares. “We should get an equity stake for our money,” he said in an interview with CNBC. “We will deliver the money, which was already committed under the Biden administration. We will get equity in return for it.” The subsidies stem from the CHIPS Act, a 2022 bipartisan law that set aside $52.7 billion to bolster U.S. semiconductor production. But since taking office, Trump has pushed to toughen the program’s requirements, framing subsidies not only as industrial policy but also as leverage for extracting concessions from chipmakers. The policy shift could complicate the expansion strategies of Samsung and SK hynix, which have announced tens of billions of dollars in U.S. projects. Samsung is investing $37 billion through 2030 to build factories and research centers, while SK hynix plans a $3.87 billion artificial intelligence memory packaging facility in Indiana. Under the Biden administration, Samsung and SK hynix had been awarded subsidies of $4.75 billion and $458 million, respectively. But in June, Lutnick said several semiconductor awards were being renegotiated, casting doubt on those commitments. Washington has signaled similar intentions in other sectors. Earlier this year, the U.S. approved Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel only after securing a so-called golden share, giving the government veto power over decisions tied to national security. Analysts say equity stakes in foreign-owned projects could force Korean companies to align more closely with U.S. supply chains, potentially limiting their flexibility in global operations. Lutnick sought to play down those concerns. “It’s not governance,” he said. “We’re just converting what was a grant under Biden into equity for the American people. We have no intention of interfering in day-to-day operations.” 2025-08-20 14:48:04

Kim Jong-un's sister throws another tantrum against South Korea SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, Yo-jong, has again criticized South Korea, saying it is not even a "partner" in diplomatic relations. South Korea "cannot be a diplomatic partner of the for decades..... and now we are sick and tired of it." She also mocked Lee, saying he is "not the sort of man who will change the course of history," and dismissed his recent overtures to take gradual steps toward restoring inter-Korean relations as merely a fanciful "pipe dream." Her latest outburst came just days after the North Korean leader denounced South Korea's ongoing joint military exercise with the U.S., calling it a "clear expression" of hostility toward Pyongyang. 2025-08-20 14:36:42

[[K-Pop]] BTS' brother band CORTIS releases music video for debut track "What You Want" SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - CORTIS, the new boy band under BigHit Music, has released the music video for its debut title track "What You Want." The video was posted at midnight on August 20 on the HYBE Labels YouTube channel. It serves as the title track of the group’s debut album "Color Outside the Lines," which is scheduled for official release on September 8. CORTIS, consisting of members Martin, James, Juhun, Sunghyun, and Gunho, took part in directing the video themselves, further highlighting their involvement in the creative process. The group officially debuted on August 18 with the digital release of "What You Want." By the morning of August 20, the track had entered the iTunes Top Songs chart in 15 countries and regions, including Thailand, Indonesia, and the Netherlands. 2025-08-20 14:34:19