South Korea braces for Trump's 2nd term amid tariff threats, political chaos, weakening won

SEOUL, January 20 (AJP) - As Donald Trump begins his second term as U.S. president on Monday, South Korea braces for a wave of economic uncertainty, compounded by an ongoing domestic leadership vacuum. Trump has vowed sweeping protectionist measures, including the establishment of an "External Revenue Service" to impose universal tariffs of 10 to 20 percent on imports and punitive tariffs of up to 60 percent on Chinese goods. These actions threaten to disrupt South Korea&r

January 20, 2025

HD Hyundai Construction Equipment wins excavator order from Philippines

SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - South Korea's HD Hyundai Construction Equipment announced Sunday that it has won a bid to supply medium-sized excavators for flood prevention work in the Philippines. The equipment will be used in flood control efforts on the Labangan River on Mindoro, an island in the central Philippines. The island frequently faces flooding and river overflow issues due to heavy rainfall. It is scheduled to be delivered to the Philippines Department of Public Works a

January 19, 2025

South Korean political, business leaders arrive in US ahead of Trump's inauguration

SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - Key political and business figures from South Korea have left for the U.S. as President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration approaches. Amid the aftermath of martial law and the lack of a government-level channel in South Korea to engage the second Trump administration, lawmakers and business leaders are expected to lead diplomatic efforts through the inauguration ceremony in Washington, D.C., scheduled for Monday. A delegation from the National Assemb

January 19, 2025

Yoon's supporters storm Seoul court following court approval of arrest

SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) - Supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol stormed a Seoul court in the early hours of Sunday after his arrest over a martial law declaration last month. Protesters remained outside the Seoul Western District Court even after Yoon’s pretrial detention hearing concluded. When news of his arrest warrant was announced at 3 a.m., they breached police barricades at the rear gate and climbed over court walls. Some seized police shields and plastic chairs, using

January 19, 2025

Court approves formal arrest of Yoon over martial law declaration

SEOUL, January 19 (AJP) — Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol was formally arrested early Sunday over his martial law declaration last month. Judge Cha Eun-kyung of the Seoul Western District Court approved an arrest warrant on the charges of insurrection and abuse of power. She cited concerns that he could destroy evidence. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) apprehended Yoon on Wednesday. It requested a formal arrest warrant on Friday before

January 19, 2025

Court concludes 5-hour detention hearing for Yoon

SEOUL, January 18 (AJP) - A Seoul court on Saturday concluded a five-hour hearing to determine whether to extend the detention of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over last month's martial law declaration. Yoon, apprehended Wednesday on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, appeared at the Seoul Western District Court wearing a dark business suit, accompanied by eight lawyers. The hearing before Judge Cha Eun-kyung began at 2 p.m. and lasted until 6:50 p.m. Yoon spo

January 18, 2025

Ediya Coffee expands into Southeast Asia

SEOUL, January 18 (AJP) -- South Korea's Ediya Coffee has partnered with Laos' largest private company, Kolao Group, to expand into Southeast Asian markets. The coffee chain signed a master franchise agreement Thursday with Grandview Property, a Kolao affiliate, to enter Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. Ediya Chairman Moon Chang-ki and Kolao Chairman Oh Se-young attended the signing at Kolao's headquarters in Vientiane. The company plans to open its first Laos store by

January 18, 2025

Memorial service honors 179 air crash victims

SEOUL, January 18 (AJP) -- Hundreds of bereaved families gathered Saturday at a joint memorial service for the victims of last month's airplane crash, which claimed the lives of 179 people on board. On Dec. 29, a Jeju Air passenger jet crashed while landing at Muan International Airport in the southwestern city of Muan. Of the 181 people aboard, only two crewmembers survived one of the country’s worst aviation disasters. Organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastruct

January 18, 2025

Yoon attends court hearing on arrest warrant over martial law

SEOUL, January 18 (AJP) -- Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court Saturday for a hearing that will decide whether to extend his detention over last month's martial law declaration. Yoon was apprehended Wednesday as part of an investigation into alleged insurrection and abuse of power. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) filed for a court warrant for Yoon’s formal arrest Friday before his 48-hour detention expired. If gran

January 18, 2025

Yoon to attend court hearing on arrest warrant

SEOUL, January 18 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol will attend a court hearing Saturday, where a judge will review an arrest warrant against the impeached leader over last month’s martial law debacle, his lawyers said. Yoon was apprehended on Wednesday as part of an investigation into alleged insurrection and abuse of power related to his brief declaration of martial law on Dec. 3. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) sought a court warrant on

January 18, 2025