Ex-first lady's detention period extended to late this month

SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors investigating multiple allegations involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee can now hold her longer, as her detention period has been extended until the end of this month. In a press statement on Wednesday, prosecutors said the Seoul Central District Court had extended her detention for another 10 days until Aug. 31, as her detention period was set to expire this week. Kim has been detained at a remand prison in southern Seoul sinc

August 20, 2025

[K-Culture] Action-hero TV series 'Twelve' to premiere this Saturday

SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - The cast and crew of “Twelve,” a new action-hero series produced in part by the actor Ma Dong-seok, gathered for a news conference Wednesday in Seoul. The event, held at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel, was attended by Ma, along with co-stars Park Hyung-sik, Seo In-guk, Lee Joo-been, Kang Mi-na, Sung Yu-been, Ahn Ji-hye, and Regina Lei. The show's directors, Kang Dae-kyu and Han Yun-seon, were also present. Inspired by the Eastern zod

August 20, 2025

Nonagenarian ex-North Korean soldier attempts to return home after decades in South Korea

SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - A handful of surviving former North Korean soldiers have recently expressed their willingness to return to the North, with one of them attempting to cross the border in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday. The Unification Ministry here said earlier this week that six former North Korean soldiers have recently requested repatriation. Now in their 80s and 90s, they spent decades in prisons here after refusing to abandon communist ideologies and pledge their a

August 20, 2025

PHOTOS: Civil defense drill

SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - A 20-minute civil defense drill, simulating an enemy air raid, was conducted nationwide on Wednesday, with sirens blaring and text alerts sent to millions, as citizens were directed to seek shelter in designated spaces. The drill, which began at 2 p.m., included a nationwide air raid warning that prompted a wailing siren and emergency broadcasts. In response, people across the country were instructed to move to nearby shelters and other underground areas.

August 20, 2025

K-pop anime tops Netflix chart again

SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - Netflix's South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters" has once again topped the global streaming giant's latest chart released on Wednesday. According to Netflix's ranking website Tudum, the animation garnered 26 million in cumulative views during the week ending last Sunday, reclaiming the top spot in its ninth week of release. The second-most-watched movie for the week was American crime thriller "Night Always Comes," followe

August 20, 2025

South Korea turns to drone technology to guard against fires, bird strikes

SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - South Korea has selected two consortiums to develop specialized drones for firefighting and airport bird control, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Wednesday. This came as the country moves to strengthen disaster-response capabilities following a series of deadly incidents. The ministry said it reviewed 22 proposals from 119 companies before awarding the projects. One consortium will focus on building heavy-duty drones to fight wildf

August 20, 2025

Spanish film starring South Korean footballer set for release next month

SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - Midfielder Yang Jae-woo, who currently plays for Spanish football team Móstoles CF, has taken a leading role in the Iberian country's upcoming film, slated for release next month. Based on Venezuelan author Ariana Godoy's popular web-based novel, "Sigue Mi Voz" (Follow My Voice) tells the story of a young woman who leads a reclusive life but gradually opens up to the world after being moved by the voice of a late-night radio host, po

August 20, 2025

S. Korea sets AI transformation as centerpiece of new economic plan

SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - South Korea's government and ruling Democratic Party on Wednesday announced plans to push for an "AI transformation" across industry, government, and daily life, while easing heavy penalties on companies and opening public data to the private sector. The announcement followed a policy meeting at the National Assembly attended by the ruling Democratic Party (DP), the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Min

August 20, 2025

South Korea launches petrochemical restructuring plan amid global glut

SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - South Korea’s finance chief pledged government support for sweeping cuts in the country’s petrochemical industry, Wednesday, as officials seek to shore up competitiveness in a sector battered by global oversupply. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yoon-cheol said that 10 major petrochemical companies have agreed to reduce as much as 3.7 million tons of production capacity by the end of the year. The pledge came after the Lee Jae

August 20, 2025

US push for equity in Intel raises alarm for Samsung Electronics, SK hynix

SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - The Trump administration is seeking an equity stake in Intel as part of its semiconductor subsidy package, a move that could reverberate across the global chip industry and unsettle South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, both of which are planning major U.S. investments with government support. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed Tuesday (local time) that the administration is negotiating for roughly a 10 percent stake in Intel

August 20, 2025