Latest news
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K-pop band aespa kicks off world tour in Seattle
SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - K-pop sensation aespa kicked off their world tour in North America and Europe with their concert in Seattle. The four-member band began their tour "2024-25 aespa LIVE TOUR - SYNK: PARALLEL LINE" on Tuesday at the Accesso ShoWare Center in Seattle. Despite opening additional restricted-view seats, all tickets were sold out. The girl band showcased hit songs from the past year, including "Supernova," "Armageddon," and "Wh
January 30, 2025 -
South Korea surpasses Japan in number of Starbucks stores
SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - Despite a population less than half the size of Japan's, South Korea now has more Starbucks locations than its neighbor for the first time. According to Starbucks' global website on Thursday, South Korea had 2,009 Starbucks stores as of the end of last year, surpassing Japan by 18 locations. Although South Korea has a population of 52 million compared to Japan’s 125 million, it now ranks third globally in Starbucks store count, behind only t
January 30, 2025 -
'Air Busan crew, passengers saw flames from baggage compartment'
SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - A fire likely caused by an external battery or electronic device broke out in the baggage compartment of an Air Busan aircraft at Gimhae International Airport, leaving seven people with minor injuries, authorities said Wednesday. The blaze erupted Tuesday night at the tail of the plane as it was preparing for departure to Hong Kong, prompting an emergency evacuation of all 176 passengers and crew members. Passengers aboard the aircraft reported seeing
January 29, 2025 -
China's AI chatbot DeepSeek faces scrutiny over censorship allegations
SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence chatbot that has garnered global attention for its low-cost yet high-performance model, is facing mounting allegations of real-time censorship on politically sensitive topics related to China. Reports suggest that the chatbot initially generates responses containing information that the Chinese Communist Party might consider politically sensitive, only to swiftly erase and replace them with a sanitized version m
January 29, 2025 -
PHOTOS: Kyungdong Market, a haven for fresh fruits, vegetables, traditional commerce
SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - Since the 1960s, Kyungdong Market has been a cornerstone of Seoul’s traditional market culture, offering a glimpse into a bygone era of commerce. Located away from the city’s bustling downtown, the market remains a hub for locals rather than a hotspot for international tourists, making it an ideal destination for those seeking an authentic Korean marketplace experience. The sprawling market is divided into sections dedicated to vegetables and fruits, s
January 29, 2025 -
N. Korean leader dismisses US outreach signals in visit to nuclear facility
SEOUL, January 29 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected a nuclear-material production facility and a nuclear weapons institute, underscoring the necessity of bolstering the nation’s nuclear capabilities, according to the North's state media Wednesday. Kim’s visit, which was not dated in the report by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled an interest in reengaging with the North Korean leade
January 29, 2025 -
Fire forces emergency evacuation from Air Busan plane
SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) - A fire broke out in the tail section of a passenger aircraft at Gimhae International Airport in Busan late Tuesday, forcing 176 people to evacuate and leaving two with minor injuries, officials said. The blaze was reported at 10:26 p.m. on an Air Busan Airbus A321 preparing for a flight to Hong Kong. Fire officials said all 169 passengers and seven crew members escaped via emergency slides while flames spread toward the fuselage. Firefighters extingu
January 28, 2025 -
Samsung, SK hynix face new pressures as DeepSeek disrupts AI chip market
SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) - South Korean semiconductor giants SK hynix and Samsung Electronics are facing new market pressures after Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek demonstrated its ability to build advanced AI systems using fewer, low-cost chips, potentially disrupting the lucrative high-end memory market. Industry analysts predict both companies will encounter short-term challenges in their AI-focused memory chip businesses, particularly in the high-bandwidth memo
January 28, 2025 -
Foreign tourists to Seoul near pre-pandemic levels
SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) -- Foreign tourist arrivals in Seoul topped 12 million in 2024, approaching pre-pandemic levels, city officials said Tuesday. The South Korean capital welcomed 12.12 million international visitors from January through November, reaching 95 percent of the record 12.74 million visitors in the same period in 2019, the Seoul Metropolitan Government reported. The rebound follows steady growth from pandemic lows, with annual visitor numbers rising from 2.19 mi
January 28, 2025 -
Holiday blizzard causes chaos across Korea
SEOUL, January 28 (AJP) - A powerful snowstorm disrupted transportation across South Korea on Tuesday, the fourth day of the six-day Lunar New Year holiday, causing multiple traffic accidents and grounding flights and ferries. Mount Halla on Jeju Island recorded 61.1 centimeters of snow accumulation since Monday, while the central county of Jincheon received 42.3 centimeters, and Seoul's Gwanak District measured 15.7 centimeters. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA
January 28, 2025
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PHOTOS: All-Chinese K-pop girl group debuts with 'Bubble Gum'
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Schoolchild died from multiple stab wounds, autopsy reveals
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Hanwha Hotels & Resorts to acquire Ourhome for 8.7 trillion won
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CES Insight & Innovation Awards honor top Korean innovators
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CES Insight & Innovation Awards highlights Korea's global tech competitiveness
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PHOTO: Korean Stone Art Museum
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Meta in talks to acquire Korean AI chip startup Furiosa AI
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PHOTOS: A graduation in hanbok
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Man sentenced to 7.5 years for fatal car crash in central Seoul
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Seoul unveils ambitious makeover plan for Dongdaemun areas