PHOTOS: Annual expo showcases thousands of coffee and beverage brands

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) -The Seoul International Café Show kicked off its four-day run at COEX in southern Seoul on Wednesday. Held every November, the annual event provides a key business platform for coffee and beverage makers, as well as related companies in the booming industry. The show features a wide range of products beyond coffee including tea, bakeries, desserts, alcoholic beverages, and café equipment.

November 21, 2025

PHOTOS: Tattoos step into the light with inaugural expo

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - An inaugural expo covering everything about tattoos kicked off its three-day run in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province earlier this week. Long gone are the days when tattoos were synonymous with heavyset gangsters, as relevant regulations legalizing the practice were passed at the National Assembly last September. Under the new regulations, tattoos and cosmetic procedures like ombré shading and microblading are now permitted, and not only tattooists but a

November 21, 2025

Rising avian flu threat prompts expanded controls at Korean poultry farms

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - South Korea is tightening biosecurity controls at poultry farms across the country as cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza continue to rise, fueled by a seasonal influx of migratory birds and the spread of multiple virus serotypes. The Central Accident Management Headquarters said Friday that six cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been confirmed at domestic poultry farms this year, along with 10 cases detected in wild birds. The f

November 21, 2025

POSCO apologizes after toxic gas accident leaves workers critically ill

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - South Korean steelmaker POSCO issued a formal apology on Friday after three workers were hospitalized for inhaling toxic gas during a sludge-cleaning operation at its steel mill in the southeastern city of Pohang. The company vowed to strengthen safety protocols to prevent similar incidents. In a statement, POSCO President Lee Hee-geun expressed “deep regret” over the accident, which occurred on Thursday and involved both POSCO employees

November 21, 2025

Support bills for steel, petrochemical sectors set for parliamentary vote in South Korea

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - Special legislation designed to bolster South Korea’s steel and petrochemical industries cleared a key parliamentary committee on Friday, paving the way for final approval next week. The National Assembly's Industry, Trade and Energy Committee passed the so-called K-Steel Act and the Petrochemical Support Act with bipartisan backing. The measures, which advanced through a subcommittee on Nov. 19, are expected to win passage in a full National

November 21, 2025

Defense Ministry forms task force to investigate those involved in martial law debacle

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - A task force has been formed to investigate any illegal activities by military personnel and officials during disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle late last year, the Ministry of Defense said on Friday. Minister Ahn Kyu-back will lead the task force consisting of some 50 members from various military branches and civilian advisers, in coordination with a separate task force headed by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok to conduct

November 21, 2025

Trump Burger and Silla gold crown in Gyeongju APEC-themed travel package

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - A “Trump” hamburger named after the U.S. president who enjoyed it during his visit to South Korea for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) event — along with a chance to view authentic Silla dynasty crowns instead of the replica that pleased the VIPs — are among the highlights of a new tourism package launched to capitalize on APEC summit week in late October. Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture & Tourism Corporation (GCTO) wil

November 21, 2025

Man arrested after knife attack on woman in southern Seoul

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - A man was arrested after attacking a woman in her 20s with a knife at a crammer in Seoul's affluent district of Gangnam on Friday. According to police, the man fled the scene shortly after the incident, which occurred around 11:50 a.m. in Sinsa-dong, but was later apprehended in Mapo, western Seoul, after authorities tracked him using CCTV footage. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, and police are investigating the deta

November 21, 2025

National Museum of Korea set to open new gallery showcasing Islamic art

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - The National Museum of Korea is set to open a new gallery featuring Islamic-themed art on its third floor starting Saturday. The exhibition is divided into three themes: religious art, cultural expansion, and court culture and manuscripts, covering Islamic art from the 7th to the 19th century. The first section showcases the essence of Islamic calligraphy, from early Quran manuscripts on parchment to large manuscripts from the Timurid Empire. Architec

November 21, 2025

South Korea's biggest lenders move to curb home purchase loans

SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - KB Kookmin Bank and Hana Bank, two of South Korea’s largest lenders, said they will suspend new home purchase loans through the end of the year, a move that is expected to be followed by other major banks and could create a year-end “loan cliff” for prospective buyers. According to industry officials, KB Kookmin Bank will stop accepting new mortgage applications for home purchases beginning Nov. 22 on its online platforms and No

November 21, 2025