Hybrid vehicle registrations top 2 million in South Korea

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - With rising demand for eco-friendly cars, the cumulative number of hybrid vehicles registered in South Korea has surpassed 2 million for the first time last year. According to the statistics consolidated and released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport on Tuesday, the total number of hybrid vehicles stood at 2.02 million by the end of last year with a whopping 482,349 units newly registered in 2024 alone. First introduced to the domes

February 25, 2025

PHOTOS: Rare Eurasian Oystercatcher spotted in South Korea

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - A Eurasian Oystercatcher, a Class II endangered species and a designated natural monument, was spotted on the waters off Yeongjong Island in South Korea's Incheon on Monday. The bird is exceptionally rare, with small breeding populations believed to inhabit islands along Korea’s west coast, as well as the Kamchatka Peninsula’s eastern shores and the northern reaches of the Sea of Okhotsk.

February 25, 2025

UK imposes over 100 new sanctions on Russia and North Korea

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - The U.K. on Monday imposed over 100 new sanctions on individuals and entities linked to Russia and North Korea, targeting their roles in Moscow's war in Ukraine. It said that the sanctions focus on "funds going into Putin's war chest and propping up Russia's kleptocratic system," adding that they "will also target Russia's military machine, entities in third countries who support it and the fragile supply networks that it rel

February 25, 2025

K-pop thrives in Asia and Europe, while Korean cuisine gains traction in North America: Report

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - K-pop remains the most widely covered Korean cultural export across the world, with Korean cuisine also garnering increasing attention, a recent analysis reveals. According to a report released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its affiliated Korea Foundation for International Culture Exchange last week, K-pop attracted the highest media coverage, with 35.4 percent in Asia, 25.1 percent in Europe, and 34.9 percent in Central and South Amer

February 25, 2025

BOK lowers key rate by quarter point

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea (BOK)'s monetary policy board lowered its benchmark interest rate by a quarter percentage point to 2.75 percent on Tuesday. The first rate cut of the year comes as part of efforts to stimulate the struggling domestic economy and follows BOK Governor Rhee Chang-yong's remarks last month, when he decided to keep the rate unchanged, that lowering the interest rate "would be an obvious choice." Since October last year, th

February 25, 2025

Cuban jazz pianist Alfredo Rodríguez to perform in Seoul next month

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - Cuban jazz pianist Alfredo Rodríguez will visit Seoul next month for a concert celebrating the first anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba. According to the concert's organizers, he will take the stage on March 21 at Seongsu Art Hall in Seoul's trendy district frequented by young people and fashion-savvy individuals. Rodríguez is renowned for his innovative approach to blending traditional Cuban sounds wi

February 25, 2025

Gov't extends support measures until March as veg prices continue to skyrocket

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - As vegetable prices have surged due to supply shortages from extreme weather this winter, discount programs for agricultural produce will be extended to ease the burden on consumers, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said on Tuesday. The ministry has offered discount programs of up to 40 percent off the prices of cabbage, radish, carrots, and other vegetables, set to expire on Wednesday. But these measures have now been extended until Mar

February 25, 2025

4 dead, 6 injured as bridge collapses at construction site in Anseong

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - A bridge at a construction site in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, collapsed on Tuesday, leaving four workers dead and six others injured, according to government authorities. The incident occurred at around 9:50 a.m. when a steel reinforcement structure fell from a bridge under construction on a highway between Anseong and Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, connecting Seoul to the administrative city of Sejong. Ten workers who were working at the time fe

February 25, 2025

Gov't to conduct survey to scrap red tape in service industry

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - A thorough survey will identify regulations and other red tape hindering the service industry's growth and competitiveness, the Ministry of Economy and Finance said on Tuesday. The survey, to be conducted through the state-run Public Procurement Service, aims to figure out excessive regulations or restrictions that exist only in South Korea, compared to other major economies. According to the ministry, productivity in the service sector remains sign

February 25, 2025

Shinsegae Tomboy's goose down products found to contain duck feathers

SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - South Korean fashion company Shinsegae Tomboy has announced a voluntary recall and refund for 13 down-filled garments after discovering that products marketed as containing goose down were instead filled with duck feathers. The affected items, nine from the VOV brand and four from G-Cut, were part of the company’s 2024 winter collection. The discrepancy was identified during an internal quality inspection of down-filled products supplied by partner

February 24, 2025