Seoul's two landmark statues get spring wash SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Seoul's two landmark statues in Gwanghwamun are being bathed this week as part of regular maintenance and preservation efforts. As spring arrives, dust and other stains that have accumulated on the statues of King Sejong the Great and Admiral Yi Sun-shin over the long winter months will be washed off on Monday and Tuesday. Any damaged areas will also be touched up and recoated to prevent rust and preserve the statues' original condition. April 13, 2026

Tehran blames shifting US demands as marathon Islamabad talks fail SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington concluded in Islamabad after a 21-hour marathon session ended without a final agreement. According to a debriefing released on Monday by the Iranian Embassy in South Korea, the discussions represented the highest level of engagement between the two sides in the past year. While the talks were the longest held in twelve months, the Iranian mission detailed a collapse in momentum just as the parties were report April 13, 2026

Seoul city to bring books outdoors with libraries on lawns next week SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - With the return of balmy weather, several spaces in central Seoul will be transformed into outdoor libraries starting next week, where Seoulites can read books on the lawn in front of City Hall, at Gwanghwamun Square, or along Cheonggye Stream. These open-air libraries, part of the city government's annual summer events, are scheduled to open next Thursday and will feature bookshelves with more than 12,000 books, as well as bean bags, mats, and parasols, April 13, 2026

South Korea, Poland agree to further deepen ties beyond defense cooperation SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - South Korea and Poland on Monday agreed to upgrade their bilateral relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" and pledged to expand cooperation in the defense industry and other areas. "South Korea has global competitiveness across a range of industries, while Poland is strong in basic science and technology and has geographic advantages and a skilled workforce. If these strengths are combined in a mutually beneficial way, a ne April 13, 2026

BOK nominee Shin claims he shed foreign assets ahead of hearing SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) — Shin Hyun-song, nominee for governor of the Bank of Korea, defended the central bank’s interventionist stance to curb excessive dollar strength against the won, describing the country’s foreign exchange buffers as “robust” against external shocks. In a written response released Monday ahead of his parliamentary confirmation hearing, Shin warned that a sharp rise in the dollar-won rate fuels inflationary pressure while increasin April 13, 2026

Yuhan wins FDA orphan drug tag for Gaucher disease candidate SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - South Korean drugmaker Yuhan said its experimental Gaucher disease therapy YH35995 has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), unlocking a suite of regulatory and commercial incentives as the company pushes into rare disease treatment. The FDA's orphan drug program is designed to spur development of therapies targeting conditions affecting small patient populations with limited treatment options. Designated drugs April 13, 2026

Korean LCCs streamline routes and payroll on Gulf war impact SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - The Gulf war is not yet two months old, but South Korean low-cost carriers are already scaling back long-haul routes and trimming payroll as surging fuel costs and a weakening won curb overseas travel. T’way Air has begun accepting applications for unpaid leave from cabin crew, marking its first such program since August 2024, according to industry sources Monday. The airline said the move is intended to manage crew fatigue and adjust workloads follo April 13, 2026

Kumho Tire to supply tires for Škoda's electric SUVs SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Kumho Tire will supply original equipment (OE) tires to Czech automobile manufacturer Škoda Auto, the tiremaker said on Monday. Kumho's flagship Ecsta PS71 tires, designed to optimize handling and braking on both dry and wet roads, will be fitted on Škoda Auto's electric SUVs, the Enyaq and Elroq, both built on Volkswagen's MEB electric vehicle platform. Škoda Auto has been a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group sin April 13, 2026

Exo starts world tour as 32,000 global fans fill Seoul arena SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - K-pop boy band Exo members -- Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun -- opened their sixth concert tour in Seoul last Friday. The group performed for 32,000 fans over three days at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul, marking the band's first concert series in six years and four months. The three-day concert in Seoul proved that the group remains a major force in the K-pop scene despite a long break from the stage. Their last major tour was held in 2019, and April 13, 2026

Korean stock turnover more than triples in Q1 amid heavy volatility SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) -South Korea’s stock market activity more than tripled in the first quarter, as heightened volatility following war-driven shocks disrupted the KOSPI’s red-hot rally and amplified trading momentum. According to the Korea Securities Depository Monday, the daily average value of stocks, bonds and other securities processed reached 35.8 trillion won ($26.5 billion) in the January–March period. The figure rose 31.6 percent from a year earlier and April 13, 2026