INTERVIEW: Pastor calls for dialogue and compassion toward LGBTQ community

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - Even when minds do not change, Pastor Lee Dong-hwan believes dialogue can move hearts. “If we can at least open a conversation and listen to each other, even without changing our opinions, that itself is meaningful,” he said during an interview with AJP at his office in central Seoul. Lee recalled a three-hour phone call he had with a conservative media figure. “We didn’t end up changing each other’s minds, but we respected

April 29, 2025

HD Korea Shipbuilding secures $1.86 billion in container ship orders

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering said Tuesday it has secured contracts for 22 container ships, valued at more than 2.53 trillion won, or about $1.86 billion, over a four-day span. The orders come amid a notable shift away from Chinese shipyards following new U.S. port fee announcements targeting Chinese-built vessels. The Korean shipbuilder signed contracts with a shipping company based in Oceania for four 8,400 TEU (twenty-foot equivalen

April 29, 2025

Korea, US to form working groups on trade, tariffs this week

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - South Korea and the United States will establish a series of working groups this week to refine their trade agenda, setting the stage for substantive negotiations expected to begin next week, officials here said Tuesday. At a government briefing in Sejong City, Park Sung-taek, South Korea’s first vice industry minister, said the country’s trade policy director would travel to Washington in the coming days to conduct final working-level consultatio

April 29, 2025

[UPDATE] Daegu wildfire extinguished after 23 hours, scorches 260 hectares of forest

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - A massive wildfire that broke out in Buk-gu District in Daegu, the fourth largest city in South Korea, was brought under control on Tuesday, nearly 23 hours after it started. The fire, which had threatened nearby residential areas including dense apartment complexes, left 260 hectares (642 acres) of forest scorched, equivalent to about 364 football fields. According to forestry and firefighting authorities, the main blaze on Hamji Mountain in Daegu some 240 k

April 29, 2025

Soo-young of Girls' Generation to make Hollywood debut in action thriller

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - Singer-turned actress Soo-young is set to make her Hollywood debut in the American action thriller "Ballerina," which is slated for release in June. "Ballerina," a spinoff of the John Wick series, revolves around a young assassin who seeks revenge for the murder of her father. The member of K-pop girl group Girls' Generation has been cast in a supporting role, helping the assassin, played by Ana de Armas, known for her roles in &quo

April 28, 2025

Acting President expected to declare presidential bid later this week

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) -Acting President Han Duck-soo is expected to announce his presidential bid later this week, with the upcoming snap presidential election just a month away. Under relevant laws, a presidential candidate must resign from any official post at least 30 days before the election, meaning that Han must step down by May 4 to be eligible for the June 3 election. In political circles, there is speculation that Han could announce his candidacy as early as Wednesday, a

April 28, 2025

IMF pushes back Korea's $40,000 per capita GDP forecast to 2029

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - The International Monetary Fund has delayed its forecast for when South Korea will reach $40,000 in per capita gross domestic product, pushing the milestone back two years from 2027 to 2029. In its latest World Economic Outlook report, released this month, the IMF projected that South Korea’s per capita GDP would fall to $34,642 this year — a 4.1 percent decline from last year’s $36,129 — slipping below 2022 levels. The downgrade re

April 28, 2025

Korea sets up fund in Singapore to support SMEs

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - The Korea Venture Investment Corporation under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has established a subsidiary in Singapore as part of an ambitious effort to create a $200 million fund, the ministry said on Monday. The new entity marks a significant step in Korea’s drive to globalize its venture capital ecosystem. The fund, which is expected to launch by the second quarter of 2026, will use the Singapore subsidiary as its operational base. Previousl

April 28, 2025

PHOTOS: Nationwide Buddhist celebrations are underway

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - In anticipation of Buddha's Birthday on May 5, South Korea's Buddhist community is immersed in a series of festive observances. Temples throughout the nation are adorned with a profusion of lanterns, casting a luminous glow on the upcoming holiday. Adding to the spectacle, a vibrant lantern parade unfolded in central Seoul on April 26, drawing throngs of participants and onlookers. A glimpse at the nationwide lantern festivities reveals the rich cultural and

April 28, 2025

Korea's KHNP poised to sign final contract for Czech nuclear project

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Czech utility EDU II are expected to finalize a contract next month for the construction of new reactors at the Dukovany nuclear power plant, after clearing the last major regulatory hurdle, industry sources said on Monday. The Czech Republic’s Office for the Protection of Competition ruled last week that there were no legal grounds to challenge KHNP’s selection as the preferred bidder, dismissing an ap

April 28, 2025