Independent prosecutors reschedule questioning as ex-President Yoon fails to appear

SEOUL, July 1 (AJP) - Former disgraced President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday failed to appear for questioning by independent prosecutors, prompting them to set a new date later this week. Yoon had been asked to appear at 9 a.m. for another round of questioning over his botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law last year, after his first questioning last Saturday was cut short due to procedural issues and other disagreements. Prosecutors now want him to appear for questioning on Satu

July 1, 2025

Lee to hold press conference to mark 30 days in office

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung will hold his first press conference later this week to mark his first full month in office, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said on Monday. The conference, slated to take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, will allow Lee to outline his key policies while discussing a wide range of issues in a town-hall setting which includes an interactive Q&A session with journalists. Meanwhile, according to a recent survey of over 2,500 vote

June 30, 2025

Lee holds phone talks with Singapore PM

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung talked with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong over the phone, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said on Monday. In their first phone conversation since Lee took office early this month, the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues to strengthen bilateral cooperation across various fields. According to Kang, Wong congratulated Lee on his election and expressed hope for closer ties, as this year marks the 50th anniversa

June 30, 2025

Emart24 to launch first Korean convenience store in India this August

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - Convenience store chain Emart24 will open its first store in India this August, marking the brand’s debut in one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets. The company has signed a brand licensing agreement with Jung Brothers Hospitality and the Indian real estate developer Solitaire Group. The flagship store will be located in Pune, Maharashtra, a major urban center and educational hub. The agreement was formalized at Emart24’s he

June 30, 2025

INTERVIEW: Quebec sees South Korea as key trade partner in shifting global landscape

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - With global trade facing growing uncertainty, Quebec is strengthening ties with long-standing partners. For International Relations and La Francophonie Minister Martine Biron, South Korea stands out as a priority. During a visit to Seoul on June 27, Biron said Quebec’s recent decision to expand its office in South Korea signals more than a simple administrative upgrade. It reflects a deeper commitment to building lasting ties across trade, technology, an

June 30, 2025

Naver Cloud signs MOU with New Murabba to support Saudi Arabia's smart city ambitions

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s Naver Cloud has entered into a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia’s New Murabba Development Company to help build a new smart city in the heart of Riyadh. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on Jun. 30 by Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yu-won and New Murabba CEO Michael Dyke during the New Murabba Investment and Partnership Forum, held at the Floating Island Convention center in Seoul. Under the agreement, both sides will w

June 30, 2025

Season's first heat wave advisory issued in Seoul

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - This summer's first heat wave advisory was issued for Seoul as daytime highs soared to over 30 degrees Celsius on Monday. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued the advisory for the capital at noon, about 11 days later than last year. Such an advisory is issued when daytime highs soared over 33 degrees Celsius and are expected to persist for two days or longer. According to the KMA, the advisory came after the capital sweltered through

June 30, 2025

New finance minister expected to drive AI-led fiscal reform

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday nominated Koo Youn-chul, a former government policy coordination chief and vice finance minister, to lead the Ministry of Economy and Finance, filling a key economic post that has stood vacant for more than two months. The appointment of Koo, a 60-year-old career bureaucrat and current visiting economics professor at Seoul National University, is seen as a strategic move to inject momentum into the Lee administrat

June 30, 2025

Salaried workers to get fewer public holidays next year

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - Salaried workers or those with a five-day workweek will have 118 days off next year including weekends, one day fewer than this year, the Korea Aerospace Administration said Monday. There will be 52 Sundays and 20 national holidays including Lunar New Year's Day and other make-up holidays. Three national holidays - Memorial Day, Liberation Day, and National Foundation Day - fall on a Saturday while some others such as March 1 Independence Movement Day a

June 30, 2025

'Squid Game' Season 3 spurs retail frenzy in South Korea

SEOUL, June 30 (AJP) - As Squid Game returns to screens for its third season, South Korea’s retail sector is turning the Netflix juggernaut into a merchandising powerhouse, deploying immersive pop-ups, collectible goods, and brand collaborations to capture the momentum of the global hit. From convenience store chains to luxury department stores, businesses are rushing to stake their claim in what has become one of the year’s most aggressively commercialized entertainme

June 30, 2025