Defending President Yoon's martial law may lead to criminal charges

SEOUL, January 05 (AJP) - A heated debate has erupted online over whether defending South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law could lead to criminal charges. Some argue that endorsing Yoon’s conduct could itself be punishable, while others assert that such claims infringe upon the freedom of political expression guaranteed by the Constitution. At the heart of the discussion is the potential application of sedition charges for those wh

January 5, 2025

Mystery shrouds children spotted with North Korean leader's sister

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - The National Intelligence Service (NIS) is currently investigating whether two children recently spotted with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Yo-jong could be her kids, the spy agency here said on Friday. Speculation arose shortly after North Korea's state television aired footage of Yo-jong walking alongside a boy and a girl after attending an event for the New Year's celebrations in Pyongyang earlier this week. The NIS said it is lo

January 3, 2025

South Korea to make largest-ever presence at CES

SEOUL, January 03 (AJP) - South Korean companies are set to make their largest-ever appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) next week, unveiling their latest advancements in artificial intelligence, smart home technology and other innovations. With 1,031 companies participating, South Korea will have the third-largest national presence at the event, following the United States (1,509) and China (1,339). The world's largest electronics trade show will be held in Las

January 3, 2025

Investigators fail to arrest Yoon after hours-long standoff

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - Investigators left President Yoon Suk Yeol's official residence in Yongsan, Seoul empty-handed on Friday after failing to arrest him. Their attempt to arrest the embattled president came several days after the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) obtained an arrest warrant for Yoon earlier this week, following his repeated refusal to respond to summons. A team of 30 investigators left their office in Gwacheon, Gy

January 3, 2025

South Korea sees first birth rate increase in 9 years

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - South Korea recorded its first increase in registered births in nine years in 2024, signaling a potential turning point for a country grappling with one of the world's lowest fertility rates. The Ministry of Interior and Safety reported Friday that the number of registered births totaled 242,334 in 2024, a 3.1 percent increase from the previous year. Male births outnumbered female births, with 123,923 boys and 118,411 girls registered. Despite the

January 3, 2025

Korea reports worst flu outbreak in 8 years

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) -- South Korea is experiencing its most severe influenza outbreak in eight years, with cases more than doubling during the final week of 2024, health authorities said Friday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said the number of suspected flu patients reached 73.9 per 1,000 outpatients between Dec. 22 and 28, a 136 percent increase from 31.3 the previous week. It marks the highest level since 2016, when the rate peaked at 86.2 per 1,00

January 3, 2025

Korean folk games go viral after 'Squid Game 2' release on Netflix

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - Some traditional Korean folk games are garnering global attention following their appearance in the latest season of Netflix's Squid Game released last week. "Gonggi," a traditional marble game showcased in the show's second season, has become a viral sensation across social media platforms, with the term trending in global search rankings. Content creators are putting modern spins on the age-old pastime, with some using dice instead of

January 3, 2025

North Korean state media details South's martial law crisis

SEOUL, January 03 (AJP) - North Korean state media has extensively covered South Korea's "political turmoil" in the wake of last month's short-lived martial law debacle here. The official state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday that the "unprecedented" impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is now facing arrest, has paralyzed state affairs, leading to "social and political chaos" in the South. The cove

January 3, 2025

Korean cumulative overseas construction orders top $1 trillion

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - South Korea's cumulative overseas construction orders surpassed $1 trillion in December 2024, marking a significant milestone since the country's first international project in 1965, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Friday. The achievement is much contributed to construction companies securing last-minute contracts in December, pushing the total past $996.5 billion recorded through November 2024, despite challenging external

January 3, 2025

Investigators attempt to arrest Yoon amid tense standoff

SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - Investigators arrived at President Yoon Suk Yeol's official residence in Yongsan on Friday to arrest him over his aborted martial law debacle last month. An arrest warrant requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was issued earlier this week and will expire next Monday, prompting the agency to take swift action. A team of 30 investigators left their office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, earlier in the day and

January 3, 2025