Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo enter final stage of campaign as snap election nears

SEOUL, June 02 (AJP) - With just one day remaining before South Korea’s Jun. 3 snap presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung and People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo launched their final push to win over voters on Monday morning. Lee is spending his last campaign day in the Seoul metropolitan area, a key battleground in previous elections. His campaign is highlighting policies focused on economic revitalization, balanced regional development, and

June 2, 2025

Astana International Forum wraps up with call for stronger global cooperation

SEOUL, June 1 (AJP) - A two-day international forum aimed at strengthening multilateral cooperation and tackling global challenges wrapped up in Kazakhstan’s capital on Friday. The Astana International Forum (AIF), held from Thursday to Friday, brought together more than 1,000 participants from over 70 countries, including heads of state, business executives, renowned academics, and representatives. Throughout the event, over 40 panel discussions, side events, and specia

June 1, 2025

Candidates blitz key battlegrounds as presidential race enters final stretch

SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - South Korea’s leading presidential contenders crisscrossed the country on Sunday in a final bid to rally voters ahead of Tuesday’s election, with both major candidates making strategic forays into regions outside their political comfort zones. Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party spent the day traversing the conservative stronghold of Yeongnam, seeking to peel away support from traditional bastions of right-wing dominance.

June 1, 2025

Public opinion manipulation allegations roil final days of election

SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - With just two days remaining before South Korea's presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung on Sunday accused a far-right group of orchestrating an online campaign to manipulate public opinion in favor of his conservative rival, calling the alleged operation an “insurrection.” Lee urged law enforcement authorities to launch an immediate and thorough investigation into what he described as a "systematic attempt to distort the el

June 1, 2025

Korea's exports slip in May, undermined by US tariffs

SEOUL, June 01 (AJP) - South Korea’s exports declined in May, snapping a three-month streak of gains, as shipments to key markets including the United States and China weakened, government data showed Sunday. Exports fell 1.3 percent from a year earlier to $57.3 billion, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The downturn was attributed largely to a sharp drop in shipments to the United States, where the Trump administration’s tariff policies have

June 1, 2025

Arsonist sparks fire on Seoul subway, forcing 400 passengers to flee through tunnel

SEOUL, May 31 (AJP) - A man ignited a fire on a Seoul subway train during Saturday morning rush hour, forcing about 400 passengers to evacuate through underground tunnels as smoke filled the carriages. The blaze erupted at 8:43 a.m. on Line 5 between Yeouinaru and Mapo stations when a man in his 60s used a torch-style lighter to set clothing ablaze after boarding with a container of oil, witnesses said. Twenty-one passengers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation and ankle injuri

May 31, 2025

South Korean professor loses lawsuit over research fund embezzlement disciplinary action

SEOUL, May 31 (AJP) - A South Korean national university professor who embezzled about 80 million won (US$57,952) in research funds by falsely claiming equipment purchases has lost his administrative lawsuit challenging his disciplinary punishment. The Chuncheon District Court ruled against the professor in his lawsuit seeking to overturn a three-month suspension imposed by the national university he resides, the court announced on Saturday. According to the indictment, the profe

May 31, 2025

China expands surveillance network in Korean waters with three new buoys

SEOUL, May 31 (AJP) - China has quietly installed three additional observation buoys in disputed West Sea waters near South Korea, raising fresh concerns about Beijing's growing maritime surveillance capabilities in the region. The South Korean Navy reported on Saturday its discovery of large buoys near the 123-degree east longitude line, west of Ieodo reef. The installations sit in international waters within China's exclusive economic zone, directly adjacent to South Korea

May 31, 2025

Trump doubles steel tariffs to 50 percent, dealing blow to South Korea and other exporters

SEOUL, May 31 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday he would double tariffs on foreign steel imports to 50 percent from the current 25 percent, delivering a blow to overseas producers including South Korea as he unveiled a major investment partnership. Trump made the announcement during a speech at a U.S. Steel plant outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, saying the measure would "further secure the steel industry." The move comes as part of a broader agreem

May 31, 2025

High turnout in early voting for presidential election

SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) - Early voting for next week's presidential election wrapped up with a high voter turnout of 34.74 percent on Friday, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). The election watchdog said the high turnout came as about 15.42 million out of 44.39 million eligible voters cast their ballots in advance at around 3,500 polling stations nationwide on Thursday and Friday. Some 8.69 million voters cast their ballots on the first day of early voting, reac

May 30, 2025