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  • President Tokayev urges Kazakhs to vote in first Kurultai election
    President Tokayev urges Kazakhs to vote in first Kurultai election SEOUL, August 22 (AJP) - With one day to go before Kazakhstan chooses a new single-chamber parliament, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called on citizens to turn out, casting Sunday's vote as the start of a fresh cycle of reform under a constitution that took effect seven weeks ago. Tokayev issued the appeal in an address to the nation published Aug. 21 (local time), the final day on which campaigning was permitted. He called the election a truly historic event. Voters choose all 145 seats of the Kurultai, the chamber that replaced the Mazhilis and the Senate when the new constitution came into force on July 1. Seven parties are fielding 545 candidates in a single nationwide district. Seats go only to parties that clear five percent of valid votes. Self-nomination is not allowed. The Central Election Commission has registered 12,605,788 voters. The constitution was approved in a referendum on March 15, with the Central Election Commission (CEC) reporting support at 87.15 percent on turnout of 73.12 percent. Tokayev calls it the People's Constitution, and in the address he tied Sunday's vote directly to it. "With the entry into force of the People's Constitution, these elections will become the starting point of new reforms," he said, adding that they would open a new chapter in the country's modern history. He said he had announced the election well in advance so that every party could prepare. The campaign that followed was substantive, open, competitive and civilized, he said, and called that the general view among citizens. Parties set out their programs at voter meetings, in the media, in nationwide televised debates and in arguments on social media, he said, giving people a chance to weigh competing visions of the country's future. Adilet, which holds first place on the ballot, is running 186 candidates, more than double any rival list. The party was registered June 1 and absorbed Amanat, which took 53.9 percent in 2023 and held the largest bloc in the Mazhilis, after congresses of both parties approved the merger that month. Tokayev named no party and endorsed no candidate. He instead pointed to what he called a shift in the public conversation, with new faces and new arguments emerging. He said he was particularly pleased that young people, professional associations and entrepreneurs had joined the debate, describing it as a sign of political renewal and crediting his own program of raising political culture and widening public participation in government. "The new legislative body must become a common platform for constructive views and aspirations," he said, adding that the Kurultai would set a high tempo for the country's modernization. He placed that task against what he called unprecedented geopolitical tension and mounting global challenges. Kazakhstan had to hold to its strategy of becoming a genuinely developed state, he said, and faced difficult work to join the front rank of nations. Domestic and international observers followed the campaign and will be present at polling stations on Sunday, he said. The CEC had accredited 781 foreign and international observers as of Aug. 17. They include 39 long-term and 208 short-term monitors sent by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe through its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. The address ran on the last day campaigning was allowed. Aug. 22 is set aside as a day of electoral silence, and publication of opinion polls and forecasts has been barred since Aug. 18. Tokayev closed by calling participation the highest expression of the popular will, and noted that millions of people around the world are still fighting for the right to vote. He ended on a Kazakh proverb, "Kelisip pishken ton kelte bolmas," which he glossed as meaning that a decision taken together is the wisest. 2026-08-22 19:45:06
  • Kang Kyung-sook Elected Chair of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Party
    Kang Kyung-sook Elected Chair of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Party Kang Kyung-sook, a proportional representative member of the Justice Innovation Party, has been elected as the chair of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Party.According to Yonhap News on the 22nd, the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Party held a party member meeting at its office that day, where Kang was elected as the chair after running unopposed.Voting by Jeonbuk party members and national delegates took place over three days starting on the 20th. Kang received 93.1% of the votes in favor, with 6.9% opposed. Her term begins immediately and will last for two years.In her acceptance speech, Kang expressed gratitude to former chair Jeong Do-sang for his leadership and emphasized her commitment to revitalizing the party.Kang stated, "The essence of politics is attitude, and I believe that if I sincerely dedicate myself to the residents, the party, and the members, everyone will come together." She added, "I will lead the party to become a policy-oriented party that connects central and local issues, a small but strong party."She also highlighted the importance of communication with party members and strengthening organizational capacity. "The Jeonbuk party will come to you first to share concerns and work together," she said. "When facing difficult paths, I will be at the forefront, and when it's time to soar high, I will support you from below."Initially, this election was expected to be a contest between Kang and former chair Jeong Do-sang. However, Jeong withdrew from the race on the 17th, leaving Kang as the sole candidate, leading to the voting process.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-22 19:44:00
  • Police Officer Arrested for Falsely Closing Missing Person Case in Jeju
    Police Officer Arrested for Falsely Closing Missing Person Case in Jeju A police officer in Jeju has been urgently arrested for allegedly falsifying the closure of a missing person report involving 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran, who has been missing for over three months. The Jeju Police Agency announced that at 3:29 p.m. on August 22, they arrested Officer A from the Jeju Western Police Station on charges of dereliction of duty, forgery of public documents, and obstruction of official duties. The arrest followed a comprehensive investigation into cases handled by Officer A, which revealed additional instances of false closures. According to reports from Yonhap News, police confirmed on August 21 that a separate missing person case, which Officer A had closed on July 2, was also falsely concluded, similar to the Jang case. Further evidence emerged indicating that Officer A had closed other missing person cases without verifying the facts. Previously, Officer A had reported on May 15 that he had made contact with Jang while processing her missing person report, leading to the case's closure. However, both Jang's phone records and an internal police investigation found no evidence of any communication between Officer A and Jang. Notably, Officer A closed the case approximately two and a half hours after the initial report was filed. Jang was last seen leaving her home in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, at 10:15 p.m. on May 12, carrying only her mobile phone, and her whereabouts remain unknown. Evidence has also surfaced indicating that Officer A deleted internal management records during the handling of the missing person case. The Jeju Police Agency has identified that Officer A entered information related to Jang's disappearance into the police's 'Missing Profiling System' but deleted it from the management list upon closing the case. According to Yonhap, police have been conducting focused searches around Hallim Port in Jeju City, where Jang's phone location was last confirmed, since August 20. Authorities, including the police and coast guard, are utilizing helicopters, drones, scent-tracking dogs, divers, and patrol boats in their efforts to locate Jang. The Jeju Police Agency's Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit plans to investigate the overall handling of cases, including the additional false closures attributed to Officer A, to determine if there are any further offenses.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-22 19:36:10
  • Magnitude 2.7 Earthquake Strikes Off the East Coast of Jeju
    Magnitude 2.7 Earthquake Strikes Off the East Coast of Jeju On the 22nd, the Meteorological Agency reported that a magnitude 2.7 earthquake occurred at 7:09 PM, 79 kilometers off the east coast of Seogwipo, Jeju.The epicenter was located at a latitude of 33.18 degrees north and a longitude of 127.41 degrees east, with a depth of 19 kilometers.The Meteorological Agency stated, "No damage is expected from the earthquake."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-22 19:28:00
  • Brazilian artists donate works to Seoul embassy before Biennale
    Brazilian artists donate works to Seoul embassy before Biennale SEOUL, August 22 (AJP) - Thirteen Brazilian artists have donated works to the permanent collection of the Brazilian Embassy in Seoul, the embassy announced at a closing reception Friday evening, just over two weeks before their country opens its first national pavilion at the Gwangju Biennale. The pavilion, "Devorações do Amanhã – Brasil em rebento," or "Devouring Tomorrow," opens Sept. 5 at the Gwangju History and Folk Museum and runs through Nov. 15. It brings together 35 Brazilian artists across several generations and regions, under curators Aldones Nino and Bruna Levi. The Gwangju Biennale has hosted national pavilions alongside its main exhibition since 2018. Brazil has never had one until now. The announcement came at Brazil Hall, the embassy's cultural space in Samcheong-dong in central Seoul, where roughly 60 guests gathered on the final night of a three-week artist residency called Tropismo. Diplomats, artists and invited guests moved through a room still holding the work made there over the past three weeks. Aldones Nino, a Brazilian curator based in Spain, told the room that works by Ayla Tavares, Heloisa Hariadne, Isabella Ogêda, Lucas Lugarinho, Manauara Clandestina, Marcos Chaves, Maruan Sipert, Nathan Braga, Patrícia Abbott, Shinji Nagabe, Vicente de Mello, Uýra Capelobo and Vinicius Gerheim would enter the embassy collection. He said the residency was never meant to be a warm-up for the exhibition in Gwangju. "When I first envisioned this program, I wanted to create something that would go beyond serving as a preparatory stage for an exhibition," Nino said. Ambassador Fernando Meirelles de Azevedo Pimentel, who presented his credentials to President Lee Jae Myung on July 22, said the donations matter to how the mission presents Brazil in South Korea. "It is for us critical that the embassy becomes also the face of Brazil," the ambassador said. "We show our people, we show our art, and we cannot do it in a more beautiful way than through the contributions we will be receiving from the artists." He reached for a Korean idea to describe what the residency had done. Tropism, in biology, is the way a plant grows toward light or water. The ambassador said it echoed Cheon-ji-in, an old Korean and East Asian framework that treats heaven, earth and human beings as one connected whole. The three elements are familiar to most Koreans from the alphabet itself, since the vowels of hangeul are built from a dot for heaven, a horizontal line for earth and a vertical line for a standing person. "Tropism and Cheon-Ji-In emerge from different traditions, but they share a simple and profound insight: we do not grow in isolation," he said. The residency ran on almost nothing. According to the organizers' own transparency statement, the embassy lent Brazil Hall free of charge, and there was no budget for airfare, accommodation, production or operating costs. The artists covered those themselves. Vicente de Mello, a photographer who is also among the donors, directed the program day to day. The ambassador said the artists pushed to stay past closing. "The artists kept bugging us to give them more time, leave the studio later. 'We need to work until midnight,'" he said. "We did as much as we could. I'm sure they liked the overtime." Some of the work went well outside a studio. Isabella Ogêda, who works at the meeting point of art and science, spent part of her stay at a nuclear fusion laboratory. "My time in Korea has included research with the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy (KFE) and a visit to KSTAR in Daejeon, which has been particularly important for the new work I am developing," she said. KSTAR is South Korea's superconducting fusion research reactor, a machine that holds plasma at temperatures far hotter than the core of the sun in an attempt to reproduce the reaction that powers stars. Speaking after the reception, Nino said the value of a residency shows up later, in how artists work once they are home. "There are artists who made their artwork in a specific form, but after this experience, a lot of artists changed the mode to create their artworks," he said. "I believe this is the strongest point in an artistic residency: the moment the artist goes back to their country and changes the mode to see the world." He said Asia remains largely unexplored territory for Brazilian artists. "In Brazil, it's very common to have connections with Europe and North America, but with the Asian world, the artists don't have the opportunity to investigate," Nino said. He said his hope for the pavilion is that it runs in both directions, with more Brazilian artists showing in South Korea and Korean artists invited to Brazil. The 16th Gwangju Biennale, directed by Ho Tzu Nyen under the title "You Must Change Your Life," opens Sept. 5 and runs to Nov. 15. 2026-08-22 19:21:24
  • KPGA Dong-A Membership Open Round 3 Postponed Due to Severe Weather
    KPGA Dong-A Membership Open Round 3 Postponed Due to Severe Weather The third round of the KPGA Dong-A Membership Group Open was postponed due to severe weather, including heavy rain and lightning. According to Yonhap News on the 22nd, the third round at the Sol Course (par 72) of the Solago Country Club in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, was halted at 2:50 p.m. due to intense rain and lightning. The KPGA delayed the resumption time twice but ultimately decided it was impossible to continue, pushing the remaining matches to the following day. The tournament had already faced challenges due to adverse weather during the second round the previous day, which was interrupted by a lightning warning and only resumed at 4:20 p.m. As a result, 72 players were unable to complete their rounds that day, necessitating the continuation of the second round early on the 22nd. Players who made the cut began the third round at 11:50 a.m. on the 22nd. However, inclement weather struck again, preventing all 72 players in 24 groups from finishing their rounds. Consequently, the players are scheduled to complete the third round starting at 6:50 a.m. on the 23rd, followed by the final round at approximately 11:40 a.m. on the same day. Jeong Jae-hoon, who completed three holes of the third round, is currently leading with a total score of 15-under par, while Kim Seung-min trails by one stroke.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-22 19:20:00
  • Fire Breaks Out at Yeosu Power Plant, No Injuries Reported
    Fire Breaks Out at Yeosu Power Plant, No Injuries Reported A fire broke out at a power plant in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, prompting firefighting efforts from local authorities.According to Yonhap News, the fire started around 4:08 p.m. on August 22 at a power plant in the Jungheung-dong area of Yeosu.No workers were present at the site during the incident, and there have been no reports of injuries so far.The fire department has deployed 27 fire trucks and 78 personnel to combat the blaze.The fire originated from a coal dust filter system located approximately 100 meters above ground. It is estimated that there are 1 to 2 tons of coal dust inside the system.Fire officials anticipate that completely extinguishing the embers within the dust will take considerable time and are continuing external cooling operations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-22 19:00:10
  • Fire Breaks Out at Yeosu Power Plant, No Injuries Reported
    Fire Breaks Out at Yeosu Power Plant, No Injuries Reported Fire broke out at a power plant in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, prompting firefighting efforts from local authorities.According to Yonhap News, the fire started around 4:08 p.m. at a power plant in the Jungheung-dong area of Yeosu.No workers were present at the site during the incident, and there have been no reports of injuries so far.The fire department has deployed 27 vehicles and 78 personnel to combat the blaze.The fire originated from a coal dust filter system located approximately 100 meters above ground. It is estimated that there are 1 to 2 tons of coal dust inside the system.Fire officials anticipate that completely extinguishing the embers within the dust will take considerable time and are continuing external cooling operations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-22 19:00:00
  • YMTC Plans to Raise 33 Billion Yuan Through IPO
    YMTC Plans to Raise 33 Billion Yuan Through IPO Chinese NAND flash manufacturer Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. (YMTC) plans to raise 33 billion yuan (approximately $4.6 billion) through an initial public offering (IPO). Following the listing procedures of CXMT in the DRAM sector, YMTC's move intensifies competition in the memory market traditionally dominated by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.According to Yonhap News on August 22, YMTC's parent company, Changjiang Storage Technology Co. (CCSH Corporation), submitted its listing application to the stock exchange the previous day.The company stated that it plans to allocate 20.8 billion yuan for upgrading production line technology and 12.2 billion yuan for research and development (R&D).Reuters noted that this IPO would rank as the third largest in the history of the STAR Market, following CXMT and foundry firm SMIC. YMTC is expected to issue between 1.98 billion and 2.43 billion new shares, with a post-listing valuation estimated between 275 billion and 330 billion yuan (approximately $39.1 billion to $47.1 billion). Taiwan's Economic Daily reported that the listing could occur as early as the fourth quarter of this year.YMTC's growth is reflected in its market share metrics. According to market research firm TrendForce, it ranked third in both revenue and shipment volume in the first quarter of this year. Counterpoint Research reported that in the second quarter, YMTC achieved a 14% market share in shipment volume, surpassing Kioxia. However, it ranked fifth in revenue, indicating a significant gap in profitability compared to its competitors.The company's financial performance has improved sharply. According to YMTC's investment prospectus, its revenue for the first quarter of this year reached 47.04 billion yuan (approximately $6.7 billion), already exceeding its total revenue for 2024, which was 45.2 billion yuan. During the same period, its net profit attributable to shareholders was 33.38 billion yuan (approximately $4.8 billion), nearly five times the projected annual net profit for 2024.After reporting a loss of 19.18 billion yuan in 2023, the company has quickly turned profitable. However, its R&D spending as a percentage of revenue remains below the industry average, and the gap in revenue and net profit compared to Samsung and SK Hynix is still substantial.In its investment prospectus, the company expressed optimism, stating, "Essential infrastructure memory is expected to benefit in the long term," and anticipates that the current semiconductor upcycle will differ from past cycles by being more prolonged. However, it also acknowledged uncertainty regarding the duration of the NAND flash boom, citing potential price declines due to slowing demand growth and significant production capacity expansions by memory manufacturers.The company noted that its revenue sources, international recognition, and practical experience in global market competition are somewhat limited. It also indicated that geopolitical factors have constrained its expansion into overseas markets.Founded in 2016 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, Changjiang Storage Technology Co. is listed on both the U.S. Department of Defense's '1260H List' of companies supporting the Chinese military and the U.S. Department of Commerce's export restriction blacklist.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-22 18:52:20
  • Bongunsas Former Abbot Myungjin Dies at 76 Following Diving Accident in Jeju
    Bongunsa's Former Abbot Myungjin Dies at 76 Following Diving Accident in Jeju Bongunsa's former abbot Myungjin passed away on August 22 after an accident in the waters off Jeju's Seogwipo. He was 76 years old and had 52 years of monastic experience.According to Yonhap News, Myungjin was rescued at 9:38 a.m. near Haye Port in Seogwipo while floating in the water.The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, along with police and fire authorities, reported that the monk was in cardiac arrest at the time of rescue. He was transported to a hospital but was pronounced dead at 10:28 a.m. His remains were moved to Seogwipo Medical Center.The Coast Guard suspects that Myungjin suffered an accident while practicing freediving, based on the equipment he was wearing at the time of the incident. Friends indicated that he had been freediving annually and was engaged in the activity on the morning of his death.Born in 1950 in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, Myungjin became a monk at Baengnyeonam in Haeinsa in 1969 and received his novice ordination from Master Tanseong in 1974.In 1994, Myungjin led reforms within the Jogye Order. He served as a member of the 11th Central Council and as vice-chairman from 1998 to 2002. He later worked as the head of the National Community Promotion Headquarters, advocating for inter-Korean Buddhist exchanges and unification efforts.From 2006 to 2010, he was the abbot of Bongunsa in Gangnam, Seoul. During his tenure, he emphasized transparency in temple operations by publicly disclosing financial information and involving laypeople in temple meetings.While serving as abbot, Myungjin clashed with the Jogye Order's headquarters over the transition of Bongunsa to a directly managed temple. He publicly criticized the then-head of the headquarters and the Lee Myung-bak administration, alleging political pressure during the transition process.He also voiced criticism of major national policies, including the Four Major Rivers Project, during the Lee Myung-bak administration. Following this, it was revealed that the National Intelligence Service monitored Myungjin's activities and attempted to shape public opinion against him, leading to controversy over civilian surveillance within the Buddhist community.After completing his term as abbot, Myungjin continued to criticize the leadership of the Jogye Order through interviews and ceremonies. In 2017, he was expelled from the order, which cited reasons including damaging the dignity of the monastic community and disparaging the executive branch. This expulsion was a severe penalty that stripped him of his monk status.Myungjin opposed the expulsion, claiming it was a politically motivated punishment aimed at silencing dissent. In February 2023, he filed a lawsuit against the Jogye Order to nullify the expulsion.Both the first and second courts ruled in favor of Myungjin, determining that the expulsion lacked procedural and substantive legitimacy. The Jogye Order and Myungjin agreed not to appeal the appellate court's ruling on February 3, 2023, concluding the lawsuit and restoring his monk status.Myungjin was not only vocal about issues within the order but also engaged in social matters. He visited the site of the Yongsan tragedy to pay tribute to the victims and comfort their families, and he showed solidarity with the families of the Sewol ferry disaster victims by visiting the National Assembly and Gwanghwamun Square.Having experienced the horrors of war during the Vietnam War, he dedicated himself to advocating for the socially vulnerable, peace on the Korean Peninsula, and the social responsibilities of religion.Recently, as the 38th Jogye Order General Secretary election approached, he pointed out issues with the current electoral system and called for a transition to a system of appointing the General Secretary.Currently, the Jogye Order and Beopju Temple, where Myungjin was affiliated, are discussing funeral arrangements.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-22 18:28:00