UNESCO adds China's Spring Festival to intangible cultural heritage list

SEOUL, December 5 (AJP) - UNESCO inscribed China's traditional new year celebration festival to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on Wednesday. The Spring Festival, which marks the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year, was recognized for its rich cultural traditions and practices that unite communities. These include prayers for good fortune, family gatherings, and public festivities organized by elders and local groups. UNESCO highlighted the festival&#

December 5, 2024

Thailand's iconic Tom Yum Kung named UNESCO cultural heritage

SEOUL, December 05 (AJP) - Thailand's signature spicy and sour shrimp soup, Tom Yum Kung, has been added to UNESCO's Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity during a committee meeting in Asuncion, Paraguay. "Tom Yum Kung from the central plains reflects the Thai way of life," said Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsupakitkosol, describing it as "healthy food made by farmers along the central plains' riverbanks using local ingredients.&

December 5, 2024

Bill Gates faces backlash in India over podcast remarks

SEOUL, December 05 (AJP) - Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft (MS), has come under fire in India following comments he made during a podcast appearance. During a podcast with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Gates described India as "a kind of laboratory to try things," a comment that sparked controversy. Gates explained that India is seeing improved health, nutrition, and education. He expressed optimism that the country could experience significant advancements i

December 5, 2024

Yoon faces decisive week as impeachment vote looms after martial law debacle

SEOUL, December 5 (AJP) - An impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol, after his abrupt late-night declaration of martial law earlier this week, was referred to the National Assembly's plenary session on Thursday. This procedural step paves the way for a vote on the motion later this week, posing a significant challenge to the embattled president's political future. The motion, proposed by 191 lawmakers from six opposition parties, including the main opposition

December 5, 2024

South Korea's economic growth slows in 3rd quarter amid weak exports

SEOUL, December 5 (AJP) - South Korea's economy grew by 0.1 percent in the third quarter of 2024, marking the second consecutive quarter of sub 1 percent growth as exports declined and construction investment remained weak, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said on Thursday. The tepid growth was primarily driven by a 0.2 percent contraction in exports, the first decline in seven quarters, led by decreased shipments of automobiles and chemical products. While private consumption rose

December 5, 2024

US Space Force establishes new unit in Japan, reinforcing regional presence

SEOUL, December 5 (AJP) - The United States Space Force has inaugurated its newest operational unit at Yokota Air Base near Tokyo. The establishment on Wednesday comes amid growing concerns over space-related activities from North Korea, Russia, and China, with the unit set to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Japanese space operations. "U.S. Space Forces Japan will serve as the focal point for deepening collaboration and synchronization between the United States and Jap

December 5, 2024

OPINION: South Korea had martial law for 6 hours. Why did this happen and what can we expect now?

SEOUL, December 5 (AJP) - On Tuesday night, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol sent shockwaves through the world by declaring martial law in the country. Yoon's opponents in the National Assembly immediately sought to mass at the legislature to block the decree. This led to a dramatic confrontation with soldiers over control of the building. However, in the early hours of Wednesday, sufficient numbers of South Korean legislators gained entry to the chamber. Of the 300 membe

December 5, 2024

PHOTOS: Protesters call for impeachment of Yoon

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) -- Candlelight protests erupted in many cities in South Korea on Wednesday evening, calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol following his declaration of martial law late Tuesday, which was lifted six hours later.

December 4, 2024

​​​​​​​K-pop training goes global: World K-pop Center plans 32-nation girl group project

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) -- "K-pop stands at the heart of Korean culture today. We aim to create a true cultural exchange by bringing together girl groups from 32 different nations," says Park Sung-jin, CEO of World K-pop Center. Speaking at the launch of news platform AJP at Seoul's FKI Tower on Tuesday, Park detailed his organization's vision for globalizing K-pop education through a U.N.-inspired strategy. Park emphasized that while famous K-pop artists have p

December 4, 2024

Studio Meta-K CEO: AI to shape future of 'K-content'

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - Kim Kwang-jip, CEO of Studio Meta-K, predicts artificial intelligence will play an increasingly vital role in K-content production, ushering in an era where virtual humans star in songs, advertisements, dramas, and films. Speaking at the launch event of news platform AJP at the FKI Tower in Seoul's Yeouido on Tuesday, Kim showcased various AI-powered content initiatives. His company, Studio Meta-K, specializes in developing and producing IP-based conten

December 4, 2024