Police raid state authorities in Jeju Air crash probe SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - South Korean police investigating the 2024 Jeju Air disaster raided the transport ministry and other aviation authorities Tuesday as part of a widening probe into possible negligence linked to the crash that killed 179 people. A special investigation team began executing search warrants at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Airports Corp. and the Busan Regional Office of Aviation at around 9 a.m., according to police. Investigator August 11, 2026

Google overtakes Naver in South Korea on AI feature SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - Google has overtaken Naver, South Korea's dominant internet portal, in monthly mobile users for the first time, as artificial intelligence (AI) begins to change how Koreans search for information online. The Google app had 47.02 million monthly active users (MAUs) in July, slightly ahead of Naver's 46.85 million, according to Mobile Index data released Tuesday by South Korean data analytics firm IGAWorks. The gap was about 178,000 users, marking t August 11, 2026

No special pardon expected for Liberation Day next week SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - There appears to be no special amnesty for this year's Liberation Day, which falls on Aug. 15 next week. According to legal sources on Tuesday, the Justice Ministry held a meeting for parole assessments the previous day to screen eligible candidates based on their conduct in prison, remaining sentences and risk of reoffending. However, a special pardon which often involves high-profile figures and politicians, is unlikely to be possible this year, g August 11, 2026

Webtoon Entertainment takes majority stake in RI Games SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - Webtoon Entertainment is buying its way into the business of turning its own comics into games and films, ending years in which the company handed its biggest hits to outside studios and collected a fee while somebody else kept the franchise. The Nasdaq-listed operator of Naver Webtoon disclosed two deals on Monday alongside second quarter results. It agreed to buy a 60 percent stake in RI Games Holdings for about $100 million in cash, paid across two clos August 11, 2026

Seoulites get respite from tropical nights as heatwave eases with arrival of autumn SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - The scorching heat that has gripped South Korea in recent weeks is showing signs of easing, although daytime temperatures are expected to remain high. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, morning lows fell below 20 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country on Tuesday as the sweltering heatwave has abated a little since last Friday, a day known as Ipchu or the beginning of autumn in the lunar calendar. Temperatures in Seoul, which soa August 11, 2026

Massive blaze hits hazardous chemical warehouse in Pyeongtaek, no casualities SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - No casualties were reported after a massive fire tore through a hazardous-chemical warehouse in Pyeongtaek early Tuesday, with firefighters bringing the main blaze under control in about five hours while the extent of property and chemical damage remained unclear. The fire broke out at 12:03 a.m. at PJK's Pyeongtaek No. 1 Center in Cheongbuk-eup, Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters. August 11, 2026

OTT killed the cinema. Korea's hottest summer revives it SEOUL, August 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s longest summer heat wave has breathed new life into a pastime and industry nearly killed by streaming — moviegoing and theaters. For couples like Kim Soo-hyun, 29, the once-standard weekend date outdoors has become almost impossible. “It’s been really hard to go on dates on weekends because it’s so hot,” said Kim, an office worker living in southern Seoul’s Seocho district. “The car is cool August 10, 2026

Hanwha raises KAI stake above 15%, weighs greater role SEOUL, August 10 (AJP) - Hanwha Group has raised its combined stake in Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to more than 15 percent, strengthening its position as the defense aircraft maker's second-largest shareholder and signaling deeper involvement in its strategic decision-making. Hanwha Systems said Monday it purchased an additional 3.45 percent stake in KAI on the open market over the past month. The purchases lifted Hanwha Group's combined ownership of KAI to 15.89 per August 10, 2026

Extreme heat adds to Korea's inflationary pressure SEOUL, August 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s prolonged heat wave is pushing up food prices, as extreme temperatures disrupt fresh food output and add volatile press pressure on top of energy costs. While the worst of last week’s near-40 C heat has eased, heat wave alerts remained in effect across most of the country Monday, with daytime highs forecast at 27 to 34 C and tropical nights continuing in many areas. Temperatures topped 40 C in some parts of the country as recen August 10, 2026

Super Junior's Yesung adds Seoul show as tour sells out SEOUL, August 10 (AJP) - Yesung of K-pop boy band Super Junior has added a third Seoul concert to his 10th anniversary solo tour after the first two shows sold out, his agency SM Entertainment said on Monday. The additional show as part of the Seoul leg of his tour is scheduled for Oct. 16, just ahead of the two already sold-out gigs scheduled for the following days. Tickets for the show will be sold through Ticketlink. Domestic presales through Super Junior's official fan cl August 10, 2026