South Korea makes baby step in same-sex recognition through census inclusion

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - South Korea has taken a small but symbolic step toward recognizing diverse family structures by including cohabiting couples for the first time in its national census — a quiet shift in a country still wrestling with traditional views on marriage and gender. The 2025 Population and Housing Census, conducted from Wednesday through mid-November, now includes a new category for "unmarried cohabiting partners," the Ministry of Data and St

October 24, 2025

Pohang earthquake victims call for justice and stronger prevention measures

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - The National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, was filled with citizens on Thursday morning as a forum titled "Pohang, Asking Again: Accountability and Prevention of Recurrence" took place on October 23. Residents of Pohang, victims’ groups, and experts in law and geology gathered to discuss the long-running damages lawsuit stemming from the 2017 Pohang earthquake, which is now under review by the Supreme Court. Many

October 24, 2025

Son Heung-min vies for 'Newcomer of the Year' after stellar MLS debut season

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC (LAFC) has been named for Major League Soccer (MLS)'s "Newcomer of the Year." According to the finalists for the American league's year-end awards announced on Friday, Son was named among them. The awards recognize the "top performers during the regular season" across 16 MLS clubs. With the winners set to be announced in early December, other contenders for the award include Danish footballers

October 24, 2025

SK hynix, Samsung cash in on supercycle with stocks in record-setting rally

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Korea’s memory titans Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are reaping record windfalls from a red-hot chip market driven by the transition to higher-performance memory that underpins the digital and automation era — yet both remain cautious about expanding production for fear of another abrupt downturn. Investors show little concern for now, pushing both stocks to fresh highs. The combined market capitalization of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix

October 24, 2025

South Korean government signals tighter oversight of nuclear exports

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - South Korea’s trade minister expressed concern on Friday over an escalating dispute between two state-run energy companies, saying the conflict underscored the need for clearer governance in the country’s nuclear export program. The conflict centers on a roughly $1 billion cost adjustment related to the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates — South Korea’s first nuclear export project, which began operations in

October 24, 2025

No-fly zones, strict aerial restrictions set for next week's APEC summit in Gyeongju

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Flights and other aerial activities will be restricted near the vicinity of next week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Friday. To ensure safety during the summit scheduled for Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, the no-fly zone will be in effect from next Monday until Nov. 2 at Gimhae International Airport, applying to all aircraft including drones and ult

October 24, 2025

North Korea breaks ground on memorial for troops killed in Russia

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - North Korea has begun building a war memorial in Pyongyang to honor soldiers who were dispatched to assist Russia's war in Ukraine and died there, state media reported Friday. According to the KCNA, a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the memorial took place the previous day with its leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, along with Russian Ambassador to North Korea Aleksandr Matsegora and other embassy officials. In his speech, Kim said,

October 24, 2025

South Korea's Rainbow Robotics to make shipbuilding robots for Samsung Heavy

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries said on Friday that it has partnered with Rainbow Robotics to develop artificial intelligence–powered welding robots, part of the shipbuilder’s broader push to automate production and build a “smart shipyard” for the future. Under the agreement, Samsung Heavy will provide operational data and testing environments for the robots, while Rainbow Robotics will handle hardware development and technical support

October 24, 2025

Surge in Cambodian remittances via NH NongHyup Bank spurs crime concerns

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Remittances to Cambodia through South Korea’s NH NongHyup Bank have soared in recent years, prompting concerns among lawmakers and regulators about potential links to voice phishing and organized crime. According to data released by Rep. Eo Gi-gu of the Democratic Party, the amount sent to Cambodia has nearly tripled since 2021. Annual remittances rose from 36.8 billion won ($25.7 million) in 2021 to 45.9 billion won in 2022, 94.2 billion won i

October 24, 2025

South Korea's LS Buildwin wins high-voltage power project in Singapore

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - South Korea's LS Marine Solutions said on Friday that its subsidiary, LS Buildwin, has been awarded a contract worth about $60 million to build a high-voltage underground power network in Singapore. The project, undertaken in partnership with LS Cable, will involve the construction of a 230-kilovolt underground power network designed to strengthen Singapore’s national grid amid surging electricity demand from artificial intelligence and data c

October 24, 2025