Police in another attempt to search for evidence in martial law debacle

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - Police on Monday raided President Yoon Suk Yeol's personal quarters in Samcheong-dong as well as an office for his security officials at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul. In another attempt to search for evidence related to his botched martial law debacle last month including CCTV footage, investigators from the National Office of Investigation arrived each site around 1:30 p.m. Monday's raid came just a few weeks after their previous at

January 20, 2025

Dozens of Yoon's young die-hard supporters to face arrest after violent court intrusion

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - Over half of the protesters who were arrested for storming a court in Seoul on Sunday were mostly young die-hard supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to police authorities. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) said on Monday that 46 of the 90 protesters, who caused a violent disturbance to prevent Yoon's arrest over his martial law debacle last month, were those in their 20s and 30s, making up about 51 percent. Police detained them

January 20, 2025

PHOTOS: Kyungdong Market in eastern Seoul offers authentic slice of local life

Editor's Note: This is the first of a special photo series exploring Kyungdong Market, one of Seoul's biggest traditional marketplaces. SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - While Hongdae is known for its trendy appeal to young people and tourists, Kyungdong Market in eastern Seoul has earned the affectionate nickname "Hongdae for seniors," serving as a lively social and shopping hub for the city's elderly residents since the 1960s. As Seoul's largest traditional market, Kyun

January 20, 2025

Korean companies see opportunities, risks under Trump

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - Korean conglomerates are bracing for a reshaped global business environment as Donald Trump takes office as the 47th president of the United States on Monday. The ripple effects of his return to the White House are expected to touch industries ranging from semiconductors to automotive manufacturing, batteries, shipbuilding, and oil refining. Korean companies are adopting a cautious yet proactive approach as they navigate the shifting U.S.-South Korea b

January 20, 2025

Korean petrochemical firms seek $1.37 billion by issuing bonds

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - South Korea’s leading petrochemical companies are turning to corporate bonds in a bid to raise approximately 2 trillion won ($1.37 billion) in early 2025, as the industry struggles against intensifying competition from China and the Middle East. The combined operating profit of South Korea’s top four petrochemical firms — LG Chem, Lotte Chemical, Hanwha Solutions, and Kumho Petrochemical — plunged to 237.7 billion won in 2024, a stag

January 20, 2025

Yoon in isolated cell barred from seeing visitors as he remains uncooperative with questioning

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is now confined to a tiny solitary cell in a dramatic turn after his detention on Sunday over the botched martial law debacle last month, has been restricted from seeing any visitors except his legal representatives, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) said on Monday. The independent agency established to root out corruption in the government said the measure, which bars him from meeting with his

January 20, 2025

PHOTOS: Markets bustle with festive food ahead of Lunar New Year holidays

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - Ahead of the Lunar New Year, Korea's major holiday known as "Seollal," traditional markets bustle with citizens preparing festive food.

January 20, 2025

Rising costs push food, beverage companies to raise prices

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - Food and beverage companies are responding to soaring raw material costs with a wave of price increases across popular products, creating fresh challenges for consumers already grappling with rising inflation. Paul Bassett, a premium coffee chain, announced a 3.4 percent price hike on 28 menu items, effective Jan. 23. Dong-A Pharmaceutical plans to raise the price of its Bacchus energy drinks by as much as 11.1 percent in March. Similarly, Dongah Otsuk

January 20, 2025

Opinion: Era of high-performance computing – how are data centers evolving?

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - The data center sector remains in strong growth mode with robust cloud demand and the rise of AI. Cloud growth characterized the spike of data center growth in recent years, however moving later into the decade, it is forecast AI revenue to grow exponentially alongside cloud to drive the sector forward. The rise of generative AI has had a major impact on the sector, resulting in several data center players reevaluating their data center developm

January 20, 2025

Viet Nam in talks with South Korea to purchase of K9 self-propelled howitzers

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - Viet Nam is in government-level discussions with South Korea regarding the potential acquisition of K9 self-propelled howitzers, one of South Korea's best-selling weapons. If finalized, this deal would mark South Korea's first defense export to Southeast Asia. "While nothing has been decided yet, we are aware that discussions are underway at the government level," a Hanwha Aerospace official told AJP on Monday. The proposed deal includ

January 20, 2025