South Korea keeps eye on alleged North Korean troop deployment for Russia's war in Ukraine

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Seoul is "closely monitoring" reports of Russia forming a special battalion composed of North Koreans, the National Intelligence Service here said Wednesday. The NIS also added that it is collaborating with Ukraine to verify these reports. The comments came days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused North Korea of sending troops to Russia. In his daily video message last weekend, he said, "We see an increasing alliance between

October 17, 2024

Flitto offers AI interpretation service for Middle East's top tech expo

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Korean crowdsourcing translation platform Flitto said Thursday it is providing AI-based simultaneous translation services at GITEX Global, the Middle East's largest tech exhibition, in Dubai. Its Live Translation program is being used at 47 major sessions to convert languages, including English and French, into the audience's preferred language at the exhibition, which began Monday and runs for five days. The translation solution supports 38 languages,

October 17, 2024

BTS member J-Hope completes military service

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - J-Hope, a member of K-pop superstar BTS, was discharged from his mandatory military service on Thursday. J-Hope, who enlisted in April last year, completed his 18-month service in Wonju, Gangwon Province. He is the second BTS member to fulfill the duty, following Jin, who was discharged in June this year. The remaining members — Jimin, Jung Kook, RM, Suga, and V — are scheduled to complete their service in June 2025, so all BTS members ar

October 17, 2024

Scientists observe elusive 'Wigner crystallites' that may advance superconductor research

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - A team of South Korean scientists has made a groundbreaking discovery of the 'Wigner crystal' state in solid materials, where electrons exhibit properties of both liquids and solids. The finding, published in the global peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature on Wednesday, could potentially unlock mysteries surrounding high-temperature superconductors, materials that can conduct electricity without resistance and energy loss when reaching critical t

October 17, 2024

Progressive candidate wins by-election for Seoul superintendent

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Jung Keun-sik, a former sociology professor at Seoul National University and progressive candidate, has been elected as Seoul’s education chief. Jung won the by-election early Thursday, securing 50.17 percent of the vote (936,967 votes) with 97.28 percent of ballots counted, narrowly defeating conservative former lawmaker Cho Jun-hyuk. The election was held to fill the vacancy left by former superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, who stepped down in August afte

October 17, 2024

OPINION: This year's Nobel prize exposes economics' problem with colonialism

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James Robinson have been awarded the 2024 Nobel memorial prize in economics for their influential work on how institutions shape economic development. Some would say the decision to award these scholars the Nobel was long overdue. The paper that formed the basis of their work is one of the most cited in economics. Acemoglu and Robinson’s subsequent book, Why Nations Fail, has also been hugely influential. These wor

October 17, 2024

INTERVIEW: Folk song artist says tradition must evolve to survive

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - A never-before-seen performance at NPR's Tiny Desk Concert, a prestigious music series showcasing global musicians, captivated music enthusiasts in 2016. A trio, comprising of one female and two male singers, performed songs that echoed the sound of shamanic hymns, backed by Western instruments. The group, Ssing Ssing, fused traditional Korean folk songs with modern Western sounds, presenting a captivating blend of past and present. The male perfo

October 17, 2024

PHOTOS: Kimchi-making festival held in Seoul's Namsangol Hanok Village

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - A kimchi-making festival opened Wednesday in Seoul's Namsangol Hanok Village for a two-day run. Organized by the Kimchi Association of Korea, the event aims to promote the traditional Korean fermented vegetable dish and assist those who find it difficult to make kimchi themselves. The organizer plans to donate 5 tons of kimchi to underprivileged groups. Visitors can enjoy lectures and demonstrations by food masters, as well as various tasting events through

October 16, 2024

PHOTOS: Jongno Youth Startup Festival takes place in Seoul

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - The Jongno Youth Startup Festival was held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on Wednesday. The one-day event, part of the Seoul Campus Town project, involves five northeastern districts of Seoul and seven universities. Led by Sungkyunkwan University and Jongno district, the festival features 23 startup teams operating pop-up booths to promote and sell their products. Items on display include smart diaries, subscription boxes and fashion accessories.

October 16, 2024

Rumors swirl around Cambodian princess' K-pop idol debut

SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Rumor has it that a Cambodian princess is eager to make her debut as a K-pop idol in South Korea. According to the Taiwanese news outlet Sanli News Network, Jenna Norodom is considering moving to Seoul to pursue her career as a K-pop idol while undergoing rigorous training at a talent mill here. The versatile teenage girl, the great-granddaughter of former Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk, is already a popular star as an actress, singer, and dancer, havin

October 16, 2024