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

South Korea gears up for AI digital textbooks

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of Education is set to introduce AI digital textbooks in March 2025 for grades 3 to 4 in elementary schools and first year students in middle and high schools, focusing on English, mathematics and information technology. The AI education technology sector has shown significant growth, with startups like FastCampus CIC expanding their AI-based lectures from 36 to approximately 150 courses over the past year. Riiid, another ed

November 28, 2024

PHOTOS: COEX Magok convention center opens

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) -COEX Magok Convention Center, a new exhibition complex, opened on Thursday. The seven floored facility features a main hall capable of accommodating up to 2,200 people and multiple conference rooms designed for combined exhibitions and convention events. The center positioned near medical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology research clusters. "The new convention center's proximity to major R&D facilities and IT, bio, and environmental companies is expe

November 28, 2024

Lotte Chemical shares jump as group offers landmark tower as collateral

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Shares in South Korean petrochemical maker Lotte Chemical rose 4.37 percent to 69,200 won (US$49.6) on Thursday, after its parent Lotte Group pledged its landmark skyscraper as collateral amid growing concerns over the company's financial stability. The move comes as Lotte Chemical, which held about 4 trillion won in liquidity as of October, failed to meet some of its bond covenant requirements last week, triggering fears of possible default. Korea&

November 28, 2024

Japanese PM mulls visit to Seoul in January

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to visit Seoul in January next year for talks with President Yoon Suk Yeol, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported on Thursday. "The most likely time for the meeting is early January, before the ordinary Diet session convenes," the daily said, citing government sources. "As next year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of relations between Japan and South Korea, Ishiba aims to strengthen coop

November 28, 2024

North Korea's UN envoy evades question over troop deployment to Russia

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - North Korea remains evasive about its troop development to Russia to assist its war in Ukraine. During a Security Council meeting in New York on Wednesday, North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song accused the international community of being deceived by the U.S. and its allies who he claimed are attempting to "cover up the root cause of the outbreak" of the war in Ukraine. "The Ukrainian crisis was started by the United Stat

November 28, 2024

AJP launches Dec. 3, aims to be Asia's premier news hub

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - AJP, a new English-language news agency focused on Asia, will officially launch in Seoul on Dec. 3. AJP seeks to serve as a powerful platform that amplifies Asia's voice on the global stage while delivering the region's authentic values to audiences worldwide. Through partnerships with key news organizations across the region, AJP will provide innovative news content spanning diverse fields, including politics, economics, society and culture.

November 28, 2024

Bank of Korea unexpectedly cuts interest rate to spur economic recovery

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea (BOK) took a step unexpectedly to stimulate economic growth by slashing its benchmark interest rate for the second time in a row on Thursday. This move, aimed at countering slowing exports and uncertainties arising from the new Trump administration, underscores the central bank's commitment to reviving economic momentum. In a surprising decision, the BOK's monetary policy committee reduced the key rate by 25 basis points to

November 28, 2024