South Korea adds more medals in speed skating at Harbin Asian Winter Games

SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - Speed skater Kim Jun-ho won bronze in the men's 500-m race at this year's Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China which kicked off last Friday. He clocked in at 35.03 seconds, securing third place behind China's Gao Tingyu (34.95 seconds) and Japan's Wataru Morishige (34.97 seconds). This was his second bronze medal, having also won in the 100-m race last Saturday. Later in the day, Kim along with Cha Min-kyu and Cho Sang-hyeok won si

February 10, 2025

Acting President seeks phone call with Trump

SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - Acting President Choi Sang-mok is seeking to have a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, the Ministry of Economy and Finance said Monday. Choi has been handling state affairs after President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law debacle late last year. Seoul has made a request through diplomatic channels, according to the ministry. "It is expected to hear from the U.S. side, once arrangements are made," a ministry spokesperson told reporte

February 10, 2025

US tariffs threaten jobs in Korea's manufacturing sector

SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s automotive and steel industries are confronting the prospect of a major production overhaul as concerns grow over U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed universal tariffs, a move that could upend the nation’s manufacturing sector. The specter of tariffs ranging from 10 to 20 percent on Korean vehicles, coupled with potential reciprocal measures, threatens to erode the economic gains secured under the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Ag

February 10, 2025

Hollywood stars to visit Seoul for promotional events of Bong Joon-ho's upcoming film

SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - A couple of Hollywood stars starring in director Bong Joon-ho's latest film will visit Seoul next week, according to its distributor Warner Bros. British actress Naomi Ackie, American actor Mark Ruffalo, and Korean-American actor Steven Yeun will meet fans, while participating in a slew of events to promote Bong's "Mickey 17," which is set for release here on the last day of this month. The sci-film is Bong's first movie in several

February 10, 2025

Chinese cruise passengers to Jeju surge more than sixfold

SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - Cruise travelers to South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju surged more than sixfold last year. According to a report released by the Jeju Tourism Organization on Monday, the number of cruise passengers to the island in 2024 reached 640,183, a 6.4-fold increase from 100,109 in 2023. The agency attributed the dramatic increase to the resumption of Chinese group tours on cruise ships in March 2023, following the end of COVID-19 restrictions. The

February 10, 2025

Second season of 'Squid Game' wins gong at Critics' Choice Awards in US

SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - Netflix's megahit South Korean series "Squid Game" has won Best Foreign Language Series for its second season at this year's U.S. Critics' Choice Awards held last week. After being delayed twice due to massive wildfires in Los Angeles along the coast of Southern California, the awards ceremony was held in Santa Monica last Friday. Considered one of the major awards shows in North America, alongside the Golden Globes and the Screen

February 10, 2025

Korea's economy under greater downward pressure, state think tank warns

SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s state-run Korea Development Institute (KDI) warned of mounting risks to the nation’s economy, citing sluggish production growth and worsening domestic and external conditions. In its February economic trends report, released Monday, the KDI noted that while industrial production showed some growth, broader economic challenges persisted. "Domestic demand remains weak due to sluggish consumption and a downturn in constructio

February 10, 2025

Nuclear power becomes South Korea's top electricity source for first time in 18 years

SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - Nuclear power surpassed coal to become South Korea's largest source of electricity generation in 2024, accounting for 32.5 percent of total power trades, marking its highest share in 15 years, according to data from Korea Power Exchange on Monday. Nuclear power plants generated 178,749 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity last year, followed by liquefied natural gas at 29.8 percent and coal at 29.4 percent of the total 549,387 GWh traded. Renewable en

February 10, 2025

Oil storage tank explosion in Ulsan leaves one dead, another injured

SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - An oil storage tank at a plant in Ulsan exploded on Monday, leaving one dead and another injured, authorities said. Firefighters rushed to the scene shortly after the blast occurred at approximately 11:15 a.m. in the southeastern city. Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage, while the cause of the blast is currently under investigation. Acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered an all-out effort to contain the fire and ensure safety measures

February 10, 2025

Trump's tariff plan for steel, aluminum imports rekindles trade tensions

SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports, a move that could disrupt trade relations with key allies, including South Korea. The decision builds upon tariffs first introduced during Trump’s initial term - 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum - which had previously allowed exemptions for select trading partners through duty-free quotas. South Korea, the fourth-largest suppl

February 10, 2025