Moral stance, strategic risk: Lee's remarks test Korea's diplomatic balance SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - South Korea’s entry into the widening global debate over the Middle East conflict has exposed the delicate balance between values-based diplomacy and strategic restraint, after President Lee Jae Myung’s remarks on civilian casualties triggered an unusually sharp backlash from Israel. Over 1,700 civilians, including 254 children, were reported killed in Iran before the ceasefire, while more than 600 were killed in Israeli air raids in Lebanon, acco April 13, 2026

Soaring fuel costs squeeze fishermen amid prolong Middle East crisis INCHEON, April 13 (AJP) - South Korea's average diesel price soared to 1,986 won (about US$1.34) on Monday amid the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. Diesel for fishing trawlers now costs around 280,000 won per drum (or 200 liters), up about 60 percent from a month earlier, adding to the financial burden on fishermen. April 13, 2026

South Korea gears up for local elections SUWON, April 13 (AJP) - With just two months left until local elections, large banners have begun appearing across the country, urging voters to cast their ballots. This year's local elections to elect about 4,000 metropolitan mayors, provincial governors and other heads of local governments nationwide are slated for June 3. April 13, 2026

Finance chief to attend series of key financial meetings in US this week SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol is set to depart for the U.S. on Monday to attend a series of international meetings and other events, the Ministry of Finance and Economy said on Monday. Koo is scheduled to host an investor blitz in New York on Tuesday for major global investment banks, outlining South Korea's economic fundamentals and key policy priorities to attract investment in the country. He will also meet top executives of global asset managers April 13, 2026

WGBI impact muted as external shocks pressure Korean bonds, won SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - South Korean sovereigns joining the World Government Bond Index (WGBI) hardly proved to be a magic wand for both the currency and bonds in the first month. Extraordinary factors — including escalating Middle East conflicts and a shifting interest rate and inflation environment — have partly undermined the honeymoon period. Some experts say Korea’s structural challenges run too deep to rely simply on a WGBI boost. Since FTSE Russell be April 13, 2026

INTERVIEW: BTS wear them, but hanbok is still misunderstood SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) — Hanbok is everywhere — on global stages, red carpets and tourist hotspots. Recognition, however, remains elusive. From BTS’s Gwanghwamun comeback performance in armor-inspired hanbok to the Oscar-stage showcase of K-pop Demon Hunters, Korean traditional dress is increasingly projected onto the global screen. The imagery travels easily. It resonates visually. To many, it simply registers as something “cool.” But familiarity s April 13, 2026

Following the tracks, following the taste (Gangneung) -1 SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - The journey begins before the sea comes into view.Steel rails draw a quiet line from Seoul to the East Coast, and along that line, time seems to fold. Since the opening of the KTX Gangneung Line in 2017 ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the city has moved closer (two hours) —not just in distance, but in rhythm. What once required a night’s stay now fits within a single day. The train does not merely carry passengers April 13, 2026

Korean Air posts record Q1 revenue as Middle East risks loom SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Korean Air posted record first-quarter revenue despite rising geopolitical risks in the Middle East. The airline said Monday it recorded 4.52 trillion won ($3.03 billion) in revenue and 516.9 billion won in operating profit for the first quarter on a standalone basis. Revenue rose 14.1 percent from a year earlier, marking the highest first-quarter performance in the company’s history. Operating profit climbed 47.3 percent year-on-year, while net prof April 13, 2026

Korean stocks fall as Hormuz blockade threat triggers risk-off SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) — Korean stocks closed lower Monday as investors moved to the sidelines amid fresh uncertainty in the Middle East, following U.S. threats to launch a maritime blockage operation in the Strait of Hormuz starting later in the day. The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.9 percent to 5,808.6, after trading between a high of 5,827.73 and a low of 5,730.23. Regional markets moved in tandem. Japan’s Nikkei 225 declined 0.7 percent and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng April 13, 2026

S. Korean special envoy enters Tehran as failed US-Iran talks trap tankers in Hormuz SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Special envoy Chung Byung-ha arrived in Tehran on Monday to negotiate the release of 26 South Korean tankers and 173 crew members currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. The diplomatic surge follows a direct order from Foreign Minister Cho Hyun as Seoul attempts to bypass the paralysis of international mediation to protect the maritime corridor that provides 70 percent of the crude oil imports of the nation. The arrival of the envoy marks a strategic pi April 13, 2026