Exports continue rising streak with record semiconductor shipments

SEOUL, December 1 (AJP) - South Korea's exports rose by 1.4 percent in November, extending a growth streak to 14 consecutive months. Exports totaled US$56.35 billion, up 1.4 percent from a year earlier, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy said on Sunday. Led by robust semiconductor shipments, the country's exports maintained the longest streak of growth since October last year, despite setbacks in the automotive sector caused by reduced production and weather-rela

December 1, 2024

PHOTOS: Thousands rally in Seoul against presidential vetoes

SEOUL, November 30 (AJP) - Thousands of citizens marched through central Seoul Saturday evening to protest President Yoon Suk Yeol's repeated use of veto power. The march, organized by civic groups under the banner "Reject the Veto Power," came after the president's third veto of a special counsel bill to investigate first lady Kim Keon Hee. Protesters braved rain and cold weather, carrying candles and signs demanding democratic accountability, as opposition party leader

November 30, 2024

INTERVIEW: Italian TV personality discusses AJP's role in upholding truth and bridging cultures while combating fake news

SEOUL, November 29 (AJP) - "Although news stories have become more accessible and faster through various media platforms, the rise of fake news remains a major challenge," said Alberto Mondi, a popular Italian TV personality here. Mondi, who gained fame after appearing on hit TV show "Non-Summit," first aired in 2014, where foreign panelists from various nationalities discuss diverse topics, now works for the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ITCCK), playing

November 29, 2024

Russian defense minister arrives in Pyongyang amid deepening military ties

SEOUL, November 29 (AJP) - Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in Pyongyang, Russian news media reported on Friday. Belousov "has arrived in North Korea for an official visit," Moscow's state-run news agency Sputnik said, quoting the country's defense ministry. It added that he is expected to hold "a number of bilateral meetings with representatives of the military" and other political heavyweights in Pyongyang. The visit comes after No

November 29, 2024

South Korea unveils new homegrown interceptor missile system

SEOUL, November 29 (AJP) - South Korea's latest homegrown long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM) system was unveiled at an event in Daejeon on Friday. Hosted by the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), the event celebrated the completion of the interceptor missile system, which is capable of shooting down incoming enemy ballistic missiles at higher altitudes. Starting development in 2015 with a cost of 1.2 trillion won (US$910 million), the L-SAM is a key component of Sou

November 29, 2024

Tariff cuts not main cause for Korea trade deficit: US Congress

SEOUL, November 29 (AJP) - A recent report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS) suggests that the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) has not been the primary driver of the growing U.S. trade deficit with South Korea. The report, titled "U.S.-South Korea FTA and Bilateral Trade Relations," states that while the U.S. trade deficit with Korea has fluctuated since the FTA's implementation in 2012, it has not been directly correlated with tariff reducti

November 29, 2024

Merger of Korean Air, Asiana Airlines expected next month

SEOUL, November 29 (AJP) - The long-awaited merger between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines is poised to finalize next month, following the European Union's final approval. The European Commission announced Thursday that all conditions for the merger have been met, concluding the review process. With this, 13 of the 14 countries involved in the review have given their green light. The United States is the sole remaining country to provide a decision. Unlike other competition

November 29, 2024

Cold snap grips nation after heavy snowfall

SEOUL, November 29 (AJP) - Temperatures plummeted nationwide on Friday morning, falling below zero in most areas. The mercury dropped sharply after the season's first snow hit the country earlier this week, bringing the heaviest November snowfall in about a century. According to the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA), the morning lows dipped more than five to ten degrees lower than the previous day, with -3.4 degrees Celsius in Seoul, -2.8 degrees in Incheon, -5.2 deg

November 29, 2024

OPINION: Ceasefires are not panacea. Here are 4 reasons to be concerned about Israel-Hezbollah deal

SEOUL, November 29 (AJP) - The announcement of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah is welcome news for a region torn apart by more than a year of warfare. Hopefully when implemented, the ceasefire will offer some respite for both Lebanese and Israeli civilians. The deal came into effect at 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday. However, the previous 24–48 hours had seen a dramatic increase in violence on both sides. This is part of a well-established pattern in warfare in w

November 29, 2024

PHOTOS: Students learn seasonal kimchi-making ritual at event in Seoul

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Students had a valuable opportunity to learn how to make kimchi at an event in Seoul on Thursday. Hosted by the National Folk Museum of Korea, the event, which coincided with Ipdong, the start of winter by the lunar calendar, was arranged to teach children about South Korea's seasonal ritual of kimjang, the process of making and preserving kimchi in preparation for the long, cold winter season. Kimjang, the country's traditional culture of collective kimc

November 28, 2024