Latest by
-
Subway breakdown in Seoul causes delays for commuters on first day back after Chuseok SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - A subway train in Seoul broke down Friday morning, disrupting service for nearly an hour and causing delays for commuters returning to work on the first day after the week-long Chuseok holiday. According to operator Seoul Metro, the incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. between Banghwa and Myeongil stations on subway line No. 5, causing delays of approximately 50 minutes. The exact cause of the breakdown is under investigation. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-10 09:18:20 -
Foreign reserves rise for fourth consecutive month SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - South Korea's foreign reserves rose by about $6 billion in September, extending their growth streak for the fourth consecutive month since June. According to data released by the Bank of Korea on Thursday, the reserves stood at $422.02 billion at the end of September, up $5.73 billion from the previous month. A Bank of Korea official attributed the increase to higher investment returns and a rise in foreign currency deposits at financial institutions. Breaking down the reserves, securities such as government and corporate bonds increased by $12.25 billion to $378.42 billion. Deposits fell by $6.47 billion to $18.54 billion. Special drawing rights (SDRs), an international reserve asset held with the International Monetary Fund, remained unchanged at $15.78 billion, while gold holdings also stayed steady at $4.79 billion. As of the end of August, South Korea ranked 10th in the world in terms of foreign reserves, with China leading at $3.32 trillion, followed by Japan, Switzerland, India, Russia, Taiwan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-10 08:55:49 -
Pyongyang readies party anniversary with show of arms and socialist unity SEOUL, October 09 (AJP) -Buoyed by high-profile summits with Chinese and Russian leaders, North Korea is set to mark the 80th anniversary of its ruling Communist party on Friday with a grand display of its latest weaponry and the presence of dignitaries from fellow socialist nations. Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Pyongyang on Thursday, making the highest-level visit from Beijing since 2019 to attend the anniversary celebrations of the Workers’ Party of Korea. Li is leading a Chinese delegation at the invitation of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea and the North Korean government, according to Xinhua News Agency. He was received by North Korean Premier Kim Tok Hun and other senior officials at an official welcoming ceremony that included an inspection of a guard of honor. “China and North Korea are socialist neighbors with deep traditional ties. Under the strategic guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong Un, our relations have gained new vitality,” Li said. Russia, which has strengthened military ties with Pyongyang after North Korea sent combat troops and ammunition to support its war against Ukraine, dispatched Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council. The Russian delegation also includes Vladimir Vasilyev, leader of the United Russia party in the State Duma, and Vladimir Yakushev, the party’s secretary general. Other members are Alexander Kozlov, Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources, and Oleg Kozhemyako, Governor of Primorsky Krai — reflecting expanding economic cooperation with North Korea. North Korea is preparing a large-scale military parade on the eve of the anniversary, though plans may be adjusted due to rain in the forecast. Other foreign dignitaries include Vietnam’s Communist Party General Secretary To Lam and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-09 16:05:49 -
North Korean leader calls for internal purge ahead of ruling party anniversary SEOUL, October 09 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to root out acts that damage the authority of the Workers' Party of Korea, warning that such behavior must be "identified and eliminated." His remarks came on Wednesday, a day before the 80th anniversary of the party’s founding, during a visit to the Party Founding Museum in Pyongyang. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim said the party's longevity — the longest in the history of socialist movements — stems from its commitment to ideological and leadership unity. "The fundamental secret to our Party's long rule lies in directing everything toward ensuring the unity of its thought and leadership," he said. Kim said the WPK had strengthened itself through a series of internal "self-purification" campaigns, including "the struggle against factions" that began after the Korean War. He said those movements allowed the party to become "a more combative and leading political organization." He also called for tighter discipline among officials. "We must identify and eliminate all elements and acts that damage the Party's leadership authority," Kim said, stressing the need to establish "strict discipline and a healthy climate of order" within the organization. He urged senior cadres to wipe out "ignorance, incompetence, irresponsibility, self-protection, formalism, expediency, and abuses of power" that harm socialism and the people's trust. Kim added that officials carry "a very heavy and important responsibility" in what he described as a new stage of national development. "When we look at our ideals and goals, we must change at a much faster speed than now," he said. "We must boldly and devotedly transform every field, every sector, and every region within the next ten years." KCNA called Kim’s remarks a "significant and immortal revolutionary program" that sets the direction for the next decade of party and state policy. 2025-10-09 15:26:56 -
KAIST-incubated startup exports epilepsy drug technology worth $528 million SEOUL, October 09 (AJP) - A startup founded by KAIST professor Lee Jung-ho has licensed out an experimental RNA-based drug for hard-to-treat epilepsy in a deal valued at about 750 billion won ($529 million), the university said Thursday. Sovargen, co-founded by Lee and biotech entrepreneur Park Chul-won, signed an exclusive option agreement with Italy's Angelini Pharma for global development and commercialization of a first-in-class antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy aimed at intractable epilepsy. The deal includes upfront, milestone, and potential royalty payments worth about 550 million dollars in total. Angelini Pharma will handle development and commercialization, while Sovargen retains certain rights in parts of Asia, excluding South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. The licensed compound, code-named SVG105, targets mutations in the mTOR gene, known to play a key role in severe epilepsy that does not respond to existing drugs. Lee's research team at KAIST earlier identified that acquired mutations in brain stem cells—called brain somatic mutations—can trigger intractable epilepsy and malignant brain tumors. The discovery was published in Nature in 2015 and Nature Medicine in 2018. After that, Lee teamed up with Sovargen CEO Park Chul-won to develop RNA-based therapies that could suppress those mutations. The agreement marks one of the few cases in South Korea where basic academic research has led to a global technology transfer for a new drug. "This achievement was made possible entirely by the strength of South Korean science, from identifying the cause of disease to developing a new therapy and exporting the technology globally," said Sovargen senior researcher Park Sang-min, a KAIST graduate. Lee said KAIST's research environment made such progress possible. "While most medical schools focus on patient care, KAIST promotes innovation and industrialization. That allowed us to achieve both fundamental discoveries and successful technology transfer," he said. KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung said the outcome reflects the school's goal of bridging basic science and industry. "This is a representative example of how our philosophy of moving 'from basic to industry' has taken shape in medical science. KAIST will continue to drive innovation that contributes to human health and the future bioindustry," he said. Experts say the deal gives new hope to patients who have run out of treatment options and shows that South Korea's biomedical research and startups are gaining ground on the global stage. 2025-10-09 14:13:46 -
President Lee hails Hangul as symbol of Korean people's power and key to global cultural rise SEOUL, October 09 (AJP) - South Korea marked Hangul Day on Thursday, celebrating the 579th anniversary of the creation of the Korean alphabet that gave ordinary people the power to read, write, and express their thoughts freely. President Lee Jae Myung said Hangul embodies the spirit of popular sovereignty and equality, calling it a living symbol of democracy rooted in the wisdom of the people. "Hangul is a cultural heritage that holds the spirit and history of our people," President Lee wrote on Facebook on Thursday. "It was created so that ordinary citizens could learn it easily and use it every day. In Hangul lives the idea of democracy, equality, and the sovereignty of the people." He said 252 King Sejong Institutes in 87 countries are now spreading the Korean language and culture, and that the growing global interest in K-pop, K-drama, and Korean literature "stems from Hangul’s power to express emotions and ideas clearly, without distortion." Lee added, "The dream of South Korea becoming a true cultural powerhouse is turning into reality through Hangul, the root of our culture." Hangul was invented by King Sejong the Great in 1443 and proclaimed nationwide in 1446. The king and his scholars at the Hall of Worthies created the writing system to help commoners overcome their reliance on classical Chinese, which only the educated elite could master. The preface of the original text, known as the "Hunminjeongeum," explains that the letters were designed so the people could learn and use them easily in their daily lives. The simple and scientific structure of Hangul laid the foundation for South Korea's high literacy rate and strong intellectual tradition today. An official ceremony to mark the 579th Hangul Day was held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. About 1,200 people attended, including government officials, politicians, diplomats, and members of Hangul-related organizations. The event opened with media art and a ballet performance, followed by a reading of the original Hunminjeongeum text by Korean Language Society president Kim Ju-won and an interpretation by contemporary artist Lee Dae-in. Awards were presented to eight individuals and institutions for their contribution to promoting Hangul, including American scholar Mark Allen Peterson and the Korean School of Montreal. Prime Minister Kim Min Seok said during his speech that "the Korean language and Hangul are at the heart of K-culture." He noted that the world connects through K-pop lyrics and feels emotion through Korean dramas and films because of the language's precision and depth of expression. "Hangul is no longer a script used only by us," he said, adding that young people around the world are learning Korean to understand its music, stories, and humor. Demand for learning Hangul has surged along with the global popularity of South Korean pop culture. Kim Ju-won, president of the Korean Language Society and professor emeritus at Seoul National University, said in an interview with AJP, "Now is the best time to promote Hangul, which is gaining traction worldwide, largely thanks to the resurgence of the Korean Wave." He said many foreign fans want to understand the lyrics of BTS songs and watch Korean dramas like Netflix’s "Squid Game" without subtitles. According to data from language app Duolingo, 17 million users were learning Korean as of June 2024, a 95 percent increase over two years earlier. The King Sejong Institute reported that its number of students jumped from 740 in 2007 to more than 216,000 in 2023. The number of people taking the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) rose from 149,000 in 2010 to 275,000 in 2023. Kim emphasized that Hangul's scientific design makes it accessible to learners around the world. "Unlike the Roman alphabet, where a single letter can have multiple pronunciations, each letter in Hangeul corresponds to a specific sound," he said. "That makes it easier for learners to spell and pronounce words accurately." He also mentioned the case of the Cia-Cia tribe in Indonesia, which adopted Hangul as its official writing system in 2008 for its previously unwritten native language. Kim said he hopes to extend Hangul's use to other minority groups with unwritten languages. His team at Seoul National University is analyzing more than 30 languages, including Yoruba from Nigeria and Aymaran from South America, to explore how Hangul could be adapted for their use. 2025-10-09 12:47:30 -
Seoul making "upmost" diplomatic efforts for release of a Korean from Israeli detention SEOUL, October 09 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered the utmost diplomatic efforts to ensure the safe release and return of a South Korean national aboard a Gaza-bound aid vessel detained by Israeli forces, the presidential office said Thursday. The president directed the government to carry out all possible diplomatic endeavors for the swift and safe return of the Korean citizen, identified as Kim Ah-hyun, after being briefed on the matter, according to a written statement from presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung. Kim was aboard one of 11 humanitarian ships bound for Gaza that were intercepted by Israeli forces on Wednesday. Israel’s foreign ministry said in a post on X that all passengers were in “good health,” had been safely transferred to an Israeli port, and were expected to be deported “promptly.” The latest flotilla, carrying food and medical supplies to the war-torn Gaza Strip, reportedly included hundreds of passengers from various countries. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), backed by the United Nations, recently confirmed that famine conditions have been observed in Gaza City — the main target of Israel’s military campaign — as a result of prolonged malnutrition during the two-year Hamas-Israeli conflict. The Korean foreign ministry said it is working closely with the Korean Embassy in Israel to ensure the “safe and fair” return of its citizen. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-09 12:02:22 -
Korean ramyun craze goes global as instant noodle sales hit record high SEOUL, October 09 (AJP) - South Korea has been named the world's No. 2 instant noodle-consuming country, trailing only Vietnam, as global demand for the quick and spicy comfort food continues to surge and bring travelers to its shores. Once an affordable meal for busy workers, Korean ramyun has grown into a cultural export that attracts noodle lovers who are eager to experience the food they’ve seen in K-dramas and online challenges. According to the World Instant Noodles Association, the global consumption of instant noodles reached a record 123.1 billion servings in 2024, up 2.4 percent from a year earlier. Koreans ate an average of 79 servings each, totaling 4.1 billion nationwide. That puts the country eighth in total volume but second per capita, underscoring how deeply ramyun is tied to everyday life. Vietnam topped the list with 81 servings per person, followed by Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia, and Japan. The world's largest market remains China, including Hong Kong, which consumed 43.8 billion servings, or nearly 10.7 times Korea's total. Indonesia ranked second with 14.4 billion servings, followed by India, Vietnam, Japan, and the United States. Korean brands are driving much of the global boom. Samyang Foods' fiery "Buldak Ramen," also just known as "Buldak," triggered the viral "Fire Noodle Challenge," turning its spice into a global phenomenon. The company estimates that more than five billion packs have been sold worldwide and now earns about 80 percent of its revenue overseas. Nongshim, maker of Shin Ramyun, and Ottogi, known for Jin Ramyun, are expanding their reach with new production lines in Busan and the United States, and by entering more than 70 countries. According to the Korea International Trade Association, Korea's instant noodle exports reached 1.11 billion dollars (about 1.6 trillion won) between January and September this year, a 24.7 percent increase from the previous year. Annual exports are expected to exceed 1.3 billion dollars for the first time. The growing appetite for K-ramyun is now shaping travel trends. A survey by the Seoul Tourism Organization found that foreign visitors ranked Korean food as the main reason for revisiting the capital, ahead of shopping and the country’s distinct seasons. Among 500 travelers surveyed, "K-food" scored 79.5 out of 100, followed by "shopping" (73.2) and "weather and seasons" (72.9). Convenience store chains have been quick to respond. In Seoul's Hongdae area, CU's "Ramyun Library" has become a must-stop attraction, offering more than 100 types of instant noodles from Korea and abroad. Visitors can cook and eat on-site while listening to K-pop hits. Since opening in December 2024, it has sold over 150,000 packs and attracts tourists from China and Japan who often arrive by tour bus. In the busy Myeong-dong district, Nongshim's pop-up "Neoguri" shop served 400 to 500 customers a day in February this year, many stopping to take photos with the brand’s raccoon mascot outside. Similar themed stores have started appearing across Seoul’s tourist hubs, turning simple bowls of noodles into one of the country’s most recognizable cultural experiences. 2025-10-09 10:46:34 -
K-pop Demon Hunters take down U.S. Billboard charts and TV shows SEOUL, October 09 (AJP) - The fictional K-pop idol group remains unstoppable in its reign over global music charts as Netflix’s animated sensation K-pop Demon Hunters extends its historic run on the U.S. Billboard rankings — now bolstered by viral television performances. According to Billboard on Monday (local time), the film’s original soundtrack (OST) reclaimed the top spot on both the Hot 100 singles chart and the Billboard 200 albums chart, marking its second double-crown achievement within a month. Eight tracks from the album simultaneously appeared on this week’s Hot 100. The lead single “Golden” by the virtual girl group HUNTR/X held No. 1 for the seventh consecutive week, and eighth overall, on the Hot 100. Their onscreen rivals Saja Boys also landed in the Top 10 with “Your Idol” at No. 7 and “Soda Pop” at No. 10. Other standout tracks — “How It’s Done” (No. 17), “Takedown” (No. 30), and “Free” (No. 31) — continued to dominate streaming charts. The K-pop Demon Hunters soundtrack has now stayed within the Billboard 200’s Top 10 for 15 straight weeks since debuting at No. 8. Billboard said the ranking reflects a mix of traditional album sales, streaming-equivalent albums (SEA), and track-equivalent albums (TEA). Adding to its cultural momentum, the trio of real-life artists behind HUNTR/X — EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami — made their television debut on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last week, performing “Golden” in a dazzling blend of animated visuals and live choreography. The performance went viral within hours, topping YouTube’s trending music chart. Earlier this month, Saturday Night Live also featured a comedy sketch inspired by the film, in which segments of “Golden” and “Takedown” were performed live — signaling the franchise’s crossover from animation into real-world pop culture. Released earlier this year, K-pop Demon Hunters follows a K-pop girl group that battles evil spirits through music. With high-energy choreography, cinematic visuals, and distinctly Korean motifs — including a tiger mascot named Duffy and a gat-wearing magpie — the film became Netflix’s most-watched original animation, surpassing 300 million views worldwide. Cited as the most successful K-pop–inspired project to date, critics say the phenomenon redefines the boundaries between pop fandom, digital storytelling, and global music marketing — proving the enduring, universal appeal of Korea’s creative ecosystem. 2025-10-09 10:00:47 -
Crimes by South Koreans abroad rise 45 percent in four years: data SEOUL, October 08 (AJP) - Crimes committed by South Korean nationals overseas have risen sharply in recent years, climbing by about 45 percent between 2020 and 2024, according to government data. The figures are prompting renewed criticism that the Foreign Ministry has failed to respond to growing risks faced by citizens abroad. Data submitted by lawmaker Kim Gi-hyeon of the main opposition People Power Party showed that the number of South Korean nationals reported as criminal offenders to overseas South Korean embassies and consulates increased from 2,297 in 2020 to 3,321 in 2024. In the first half of this year alone, 1,876 offenders were reported, suggesting that the total for 2025 could exceed previous years. Immigration-related violations, including illegal entry, overstaying, and visa abuse, accounted for the largest share. In the first six months of this year, 796 people were charged with such offenses, representing 42.4 percent of all cases. Violent crimes also showed a steady rise. The number of South Koreans abroad accused of rape or sexual assault grew from 31 in 2020 to 74 in 2024, while murder cases more than doubled from 13 to 27 over the same period. Between 2020 and mid-2025, the highest number of offenders was recorded in China with 3,389 cases, followed by Japan with 1,743, the Philippines with 1,351, and the United States with 1,180. Nearly half of the cases in the U.S. (49 percent) involved immigration violations. The scale of the problem becomes clearer when measured against the total number of South Koreans living overseas. As of the most recent data available from the Foreign Ministry and the Overseas Koreans Agency, about 2.47 million South Korean nationals resided abroad at the end of 2022, within an estimated overseas Korean population of 7.08 million. This means around 4.8 percent of South Korea's total population of 51.75 million lives outside the country. Based on those figures, roughly 0.13 percent of South Koreans living abroad were implicated in crimes handled by diplomatic missions in 2024, up from around 0.09 percent in 2020. Although the rate may appear small, the consistent increase suggests that the rise is not due to population growth but rather to systemic issues in oversight and support for citizens overseas. Kim Gi-hyeon criticized the Foreign Ministry for what he described as an irresponsible stance, saying the ministry continues to argue that the matter is "outside its jurisdiction." He also said the government has not provided accurate data on the number of South Koreans currently residing in the United States or their visa status. Kim added that with trade and tariff negotiations between Seoul and Washington still unresolved, the government should take more practical and comprehensive steps to protect South Koreans abroad. 2025-10-08 15:08:55