Supreme Court reverses acquittal of top presidential contender Lee Jae-myung

SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a lower court’s acquittal of Lee Jae-myung, the opposition leader and a top contender in the upcoming presidential race, sending the case back for retrial with instructions that Lee be found guilty of spreading false information. The case stems from comments Lee made during the 2021 presidential campaign. He had denied playing golf overseas with the late Kim Moon-ki, a former executive at the S

May 1, 2025

Prosecutors bring additional charges against Yoon Suk Yeol

SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - Prosecutors on Thursday filed additional charges of abuse of power and obstruction of rights against former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is already standing trial on charges of leading a rebellion related to the Dec. 3 martial law declaration. The prosecution's special investigation team, led by Park Se-hyun, chief prosecutor at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, said the new charges were added following a supplementary investigation. Yoon, who

May 1, 2025

S. Korean government secures $9.6 billion extra budget

SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties agreed on Thursday to pass a 13.8 trillion-won ($9.6 billion) supplementary budget aimed at revitalizing the economy. Officials from the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party said they had reached a deal to approve the budget at a parliamentary plenary session scheduled for later on Thursday. As part of the agreement, the parties allocated 400 billion won for the issuance of loc

May 1, 2025

Han Dong-hoon decries move to consolidate candidacy with acting president

SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - Han Dong-hoon, one of two finalists in the ruling People Power Party’s presidential primary, on Thursday criticized growing calls among party lawmakers to consolidate the party’s candidacy with Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, accusing them of prioritizing their political survival over winning the election. “For some individuals, the goal is not victory in the presidential election but the preservation of their vested intere

May 1, 2025

DP presidential nominee forms broader election camp ahead of crucial court ruling

SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Lee Jae-myung, former leader and presidential nominee of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), launched his election committee with a group of prominent figures to gear up for his campaign, with the snap presidential election just about a month away. The committee's high-profile lineup includes seasoned political veterans and former government officials, spanning a broad ideological spectrum from progressive to conservative, in an apparent move to pr

April 30, 2025

Trump Jr. holds series of one-on-one meetings with Korean CEOs

SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, held a series of private meetings with prominent South Korean business executives on Wednesday at Josun Palace Hotel in southern Seoul. The meetings, held in a secured area of the luxury property, began early in the morning in the same building that houses the office of Jung Yong-jin, the chairman of Shinsegae Group, who played a key role in organizing the junior Trump's visit. Among th

April 30, 2025

North Korea test-fires weapons from new destroyer

SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - North Korea has conducted a test of its new 5,000-ton destroyer, state media reported on Wednesday. According to the official state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected the tests of weapons from the destroyer, accompanied by senior military officials and his daughter Ju-ae on Monday and Tuesday. The multipurpose destroyer, named after Choe Hyon, a comrade of nation founder Kim Il-sung during his day as

April 30, 2025

Samsung Electronics posts record revenue in first quarter

SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics posted its highest-ever quarterly revenue in the first quarter of 2025, bolstered by strong smartphone and premium appliance sales. The company reported consolidated revenue of 79.14 trillion won, or about $59.1 billion, a 4 percent increase from the previous quarter. Operating profit rose to 6.7 trillion won, or $5 billion. Samsung also invested a record 9 trillion won ($6.7 billion) in research and development during the period, und

April 30, 2025

S. Korean government refutes US treasury secretary's claim about trade deal timeline

SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - The South Korean government denied U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's assertion that Seoul is seeking to conclude bilateral trade negotiations before its upcoming presidential election. In a joint ministerial statement, the Ministry of Economy and Finance said, “We have never conveyed or discussed any intention to finalize the framework of negotiations with the United States before the presidential election.” The ministry emphasized

April 30, 2025

Prosecutors raid ex-president's home in southern Seoul

SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Prosecutors raided disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's home in southern Seoul on Wednesday. They are attempting to secure any evidence and other materials related to a series of allegations involving Jeon Seong-bae, a shamanic figure known as Geonjin Beopsa, who allegedly bribed Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, with luxury jewelry and high-end handbags in exchange for political arrangements and other favors. Despite his ouster from office atter

April 30, 2025