Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo to meet for talks on single candidacy

SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo and independent contender Han Duck-soo are set to meet Wednesday evening to discuss the possibility of unifying their campaigns ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Both camps have confirmed that the meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on May 7, though the location will be disclosed later. With both men seen as key conservative figures, the discussion is drawing attention as a potential step towar

May 7, 2025

Former PM seeks broad coalition as PPP in disarray over fielding unified candidate

SEOUL, May 6 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who declared his presidential bid last week, met with ex-Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon in central Seoul on Tuesday in a flurry of moves to gain support and consolidate forces, with the presidential election now less than a month away. After a meeting, the two said they agreed to cooperate in forming a coalition to push for constitutional reform to change the current five-year, single-term presidency, as the country faces a "

May 6, 2025

Senior US official to visit Jeju for preparatory talks ahead of APEC summit

SEOUL, May 6 (AJP) - A senior U.S. official is scheduled to visit South Korea later this week to coordinate preparations for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit slated to be held here this fall. According to the U.S. Department of State on Monday, Matthew Murray, the U.S. ambassador for APEC, will travel to Jeju from May 11 to 17 to attend preparatory meetings, after making stops in several cities in Japan. The U.S. will "continue to leverage APEC to

May 6, 2025

Golfer Ryu Hae-ran jumps to No. 5 in latest world rankings

SEOUL, May 6 (AJP) - Golfer Ryu Hae-ran climbed seven notches to fifth in the women's world golf rankings released Monday, after earning her first LPGA win of the season last week. Ryu, who secured her third career LPGA title with a wire-to-wire victory at the Black Desert Championship in Ivins, Utah last Sunday, rose to the highest ranking of her career at No. 5 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings. Nelly Korda of the U.S. remains at No. 1, followed by Atthaya Thitik

May 6, 2025

Kim Moon-soo calls for broad candidate unification in conservative bloc

SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo on Sunday expressed support for a broad-based conservative candidate unification, saying it would be desirable to include as many contenders as possible. “It would be best if everyone could participate together as broadly as possible,” Kim told reporters during a visit to Jangja Village in Pocheon, north of Seoul. His comments came in response to a question about whether a potential unif

May 4, 2025

Measles cases rise in S. Korea amid global surge

SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - South Korea is seeing its highest number of measles cases in six years, as diseases once considered nearly eliminated begin to reappear, fueled by global outbreaks and increased travel, South Korea’s disease control body reported on Sunday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), 52 measles cases were reported between Jan. 1 and Apr. 1, already surpassing the total of 49 reported throughout 2024. This marks the highest annua

May 4, 2025

Two dead from suspected gas poisoning at paper factory manhole in Jeonju

SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - Two workers died and three others were hospitalized after inhaling toxic gas at a paper factory in Jeonju City on Sunday. According to the North Jeolla Fire Department and Jeonju Deokjin Police Station, an emergency call was made at 9:44 a.m. reporting that a worker had fallen into a manhole and lost consciousness from suspected gas exposure at the factory in Jeonju some 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of Seoul. One of the victims, a man in his 40s, was p

May 4, 2025

Seoul bus union faces strike as talks stall over wages

SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - The standoff between Seoul’s city bus union and management showed no sign of easing on Sunday, raising the likelihood of a second consecutive year of strike action. Despite a warning protest on Apr. 30, where drivers followed traffic laws to the letter to deliberately delay schedules, no breakthrough has been made in wage and collective bargaining talks. The union and Seoul Bus Transport Business Association have not resumed negotiations since the secon

May 4, 2025

N. Korean leader Kim Jong-un praises progress in tank modernization during inspection

SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a key tank production facility to praise the development of North Korean-style armored weapons and outline plans to modernize the country’s armored forces. Pyongyang’s state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the visit on Sunday but did not disclose the exact date of the inspection. According to KCNA, Kim was briefed on ongoing research, modernization, and production efforts during a tou

May 4, 2025

Kiwi wine festival returns to Seoul with top New Zealand labels

SEOUL, May 3 (AJP) - A festival showcasing premium wines from New Zealand was held in Seoul on Saturday, offering guests a sophisticated tasting experience. The annual wine festival organized by the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea, also called the Kiwi Chamber, introduced Korean customers to a wide selection of wines from 25 top New Zealand wineries this year. Attendees included diplomats, wine professionals, and local wine enthusiasts. In addition to wine tastings,

May 4, 2025