Remains of over 40 Chinese soldiers died in Korean War return home

SEOUL, November 29 (AJP) - The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who died during the Korean War (1950–1953) were returned to China on Thursday from South Korea. A Chinese People's Liberation Army aircraft, carrying the remains and 495 personal items belonging to the soldiers, landed at Shenyang's Taoxian International Airport at 12:07 p.m. The landing was marked by a water cannon salute. Soldiers carried the caskets from the plane, followe

November 29, 2024

OPINION: Ceasefires are not panacea. Here are 4 reasons to be concerned about Israel-Hezbollah deal

SEOUL, November 29 (AJP) - The announcement of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah is welcome news for a region torn apart by more than a year of warfare. Hopefully when implemented, the ceasefire will offer some respite for both Lebanese and Israeli civilians. The deal came into effect at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday. However, the previous 24–48 hours had seen a dramatic increase in violence on both sides. This is part of a well-established pattern in warfare in w

November 29, 2024

Malaysia's shop sign rule sparks ethnic tension, tourism concerns

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Kuala Lumpur city authorities launched a crackdown on Nov. 21 enforcing regulations that require all advertising signs to display Malay language text larger than other languages, following former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's criticism of Chinese-language dominated signage on Nov. 18. Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing warned on Sunday that "Kuala Lumpur's decision raises questions about Malaysia's openness and inclusivity among touris

November 28, 2024

PHOTOS: Students learn seasonal kimchi-making ritual at event in Seoul

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Students had a valuable opportunity to learn how to make kimchi at an event in Seoul on Thursday. Hosted by the National Folk Museum of Korea, the event, which coincided with Ipdong, the start of winter by the lunar calendar, was arranged to teach children about South Korea's seasonal ritual of kimjang, the process of making and preserving kimchi in preparation for the long, cold winter season. Kimjang, the country's traditional culture of collective kimc

November 28, 2024

South Korea gears up for AI digital textbooks

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of Education is set to introduce AI digital textbooks in March 2025 for grades 3 to 4 in elementary schools and first year students in middle and high schools, focusing on English, mathematics and information technology. The AI education technology sector has shown significant growth, with startups like FastCampus CIC expanding their AI-based lectures from 36 to approximately 150 courses over the past year. Riiid, another ed

November 28, 2024

PHOTOS: COEX Magok convention center opens

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) -COEX Magok Convention Center, a new exhibition complex, opened on Thursday. The seven floored facility features a main hall capable of accommodating up to 2,200 people and multiple conference rooms designed for combined exhibitions and convention events. The center positioned near medical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology research clusters. "The new convention center's proximity to major R&D facilities and IT, bio, and environmental companies is expe

November 28, 2024

Lotte Chemical shares jump as group offers landmark tower as collateral

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Shares in South Korean petrochemical maker Lotte Chemical rose 4.37 percent to 69,200 won (US$49.6) on Thursday, after its parent Lotte Group pledged its landmark skyscraper as collateral amid growing concerns over the company's financial stability. The move comes as Lotte Chemical, which held about 4 trillion won in liquidity as of October, failed to meet some of its bond covenant requirements last week, triggering fears of possible default. Korea&

November 28, 2024

Japan to revamp tax system for international visitors

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Japan is likely to overhaul its tax-free shopping program for international visitors, implementing a new tax refund system in late 2026 that requires tourists to claim consumption tax reimbursements upon departure. The reform reported on Wednesday, set to be included in Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's December tax policy package, aims to combat the illegal resale of duty-free goods by tourists who reportedly sell tax-exempt purchases for profit before

November 28, 2024

Japanese PM mulls visit to Seoul in January

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to visit Seoul in January next year for talks with President Yoon Suk Yeol, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Thursday. "The most likely time for the meeting is early January, before the ordinary Diet session convenes," the daily said, citing government sources. "As next year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of relations between Japan and South Korea, Ishiba aims to strengthen coop

November 28, 2024

North Korea's UN envoy evades question over troop deployment to Russia

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - North Korea remains evasive about its troop development to Russia to assist its war in Ukraine. During a Security Council meeting in New York on Wednesday, North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song accused the international community of being deceived by the U.S. and its allies who he claimed are attempting to "cover up the root cause of the outbreak" of the war in Ukraine. "The Ukrainian crisis was started by the United Stat

November 28, 2024