Korean won plummets to 15-year low amid political turmoil

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - The South Korean won fell to its weakest level against the U.S. dollar in nearly 16 years on Thursday, closing at 1,464.8 won per dollar. This marks an 8.4-won decline from the previous close of 1,456.4 won, reaching levels last seen during the 2009 global financial crisis. The won’s sharp drop reflects a confluence of domestic political uncertainty and global financial pressures. President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law on Dec. 3

December 26, 2024

Chinese-made cars surge in South Korea, surpassing US imports

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Chinese-manufactured vehicles have become South Korea’s second-largest category of imported cars, with 56,448 units sold through November, surpassing U.S. imports (43,623 units) for the first time and trailing only German imports (109,240 units). The surge is largely attributed to Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3, produced at its Shanghai factory, which sold a combined 28,498 units. Volvo’s Chinese-made S90 and XC60 models added another 13,6

December 26, 2024

Historical spectacle 'Harbin' dominates Christmas box office

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - "Harbin" has attracted over 1 million moviegoers, just two days after its release on Christmas Eve. According to the Korean Film Council on Thursday, the historical espionage film drew about 847,819 viewers on Wednesday alone to reach the milestone, after attracting around 381,000 on the first day of its release. Set in Harbin, China, the film portrays the patriotic journey of independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun, who assassinated Hirobumi Ito,

December 26, 2024

Excitement builds as Netflix's megahit series 'Squid Game' returns for second season

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Netflix's megahit South Korean series "Squid Game" is returning with its second season on Thursday. The much-anticipated dystopian show centers on the last survivor of a deadly game from the first season, who returns to seek vengeance and faces off against the enigmatic "Front Man." The seven-episode series explores their intense rivalry and the restart of the game. Even before its release, the second season has already earned a Gol

December 26, 2024

NewJeans defend support for impeachment protesters

SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Members of K-pop group NewJeans on on Tuesday revealed the reasoning behind their recent support for fans attending protests against President Yoon Suk Yeol during a radio talk show. The group had previously paid in advance for food and beverages for 560 people at the protests demanding the impeachment of Yoon for his Dec. 3. declaration of martial law. "We wanted people to have warm food in the cold weather and share meaningful conversations with

December 26, 2024

Cost drives South Korean travelers' choices, survey finds

SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - Nearly half of South Korean travelers prioritize price when selecting travel booking platforms, with 47.9 percent citing cost as their top consideration, according to a survey conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency. The survey, which analyzed responses from 1,600 users across four major booking platforms, highlights the growing importance of affordability in travel decisions. The findings also revealed significant consumer dissatisfaction. Fourteen pe

December 24, 2024

Yoon's troop deployment under martial law raises questions about alliance: US Congress report

SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol’s decision to deploy troops under martial law without notifying U.S. military commanders in South Korea has raised concerns about the state of alliance coordination, according to a new report released by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) on Dec. 23. The report, accessible on the CRS website, highlights potential ramifications for U.S.-South Korea relations and broader foreign policy. It warns that Seoul could face cha

December 24, 2024

Stray Kids' latest album claims top spot on Billboard chart

SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - K-pop boy band Stray Kids' latest album "Hop" made history for a South Korean act by reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart for the sixth time. Billboard said last Sunday that the album ranked first after earning 187,000 equivalent album units for the week ending Dec. 19 in the U.S. It praised the eight-member band achieved a historic milestone by securing the top spot on the chart with six consecutive albums, a feat unprecedente

December 24, 2024

Opposition party to push for Acting President's impeachment this week

SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) vowed on Tuesday to take immediate steps to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo. "Han made it clear at a Cabinet meeting that he will not promulgate the bills," the DP's floor leader Park Chan-dae said. "The only interpretation of this is that he intends to buy time." The development comes after Han refused the DP's demand to promulgate two bills for investigations by independent pr

December 24, 2024

Demand for Santa Claus jobs surges despite subdued holiday mood

SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - Demand for part-time Santa Claus jobs has more than doubled this year, according to data from Danggeun Market, a popular local community platform. Between Nov. 23 and Dec. 17, searches for keywords like “Santa role” and “one-day Santa” surged over 100 percent compared to the same period last year, with job postings experiencing similar growth. The listings offer a variety of seasonal opportunities, from posing as Santa at kinde

December 24, 2024