Presidential candidates to face off in first televised debate this weekend

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - With just a few weeks remaining until next month's presidential election, four presidential hopefuls are set to face off in a televised debate scheduled for this weekend. In their first debate hosted by election watchdog National Election Commission slated for Sunday, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) will present their vi

May 16, 2025

Lotte Mart enters Singapore market through FairPrice partnership

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - Lotte Mart has entered the Singapore market through a strategic partnership with FairPrice, the city state’s largest retailer. The company opened its first store in the country this week, adopting a shop-in-shop format within the FairPrice Extra outlet at VivoCity, one of Singapore’s largest shopping malls. The launch marks Lotte Mart’s first expansion into a new Southeast Asian market in 17 years, following its entry into Vietnam and Ind

May 16, 2025

PHOTOS: Remembering King Sejong the Great

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - King Sejong the Great, the fourth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty, whose reign saw the creation of Hangeul, the nation’s indigenous alphabet, and significant advancements across economic, social, cultural, and military spheres, was honored on Thursday in the first national commemoration of his birthday. May 15 was designated a national commemorative day last November. King Sejong is widely revered by South Koreans today, often mentioned alongside the famed Admiral

May 16, 2025

Korea's top companies see 17% increase in first quarter operating profits

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest corporations reported a sharp rise in operating profits in the first quarter of 2025, buoyed by a resurgence in the IT electronics sector, according to data released Friday by corporate tracker CEO Score. Among the nation’s top 500 companies, operating profits rose 17.1 percent year-over-year, climbing to 60.96 trillion won (approximately $44.6 billion) from 52.07 trillion won during the same period in 2024. The findings a

May 16, 2025

Trade ministers from South Korea, US hold tariff-related talks in Jeju

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - Trade ministers from South Korea and the United States are continuing talks to narrow differences during a series of meetings on the sidelines of the preparatory gathering for this fall's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which wraps up in Jeju on Friday. Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun is holding talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer over Washington's proposed 25-percent reciprocal tariffs on South Korea

May 16, 2025

INTERVIEW: Outgoing chief reflects on how Tokyo's Korean Cultural Center builds bridges between neighboring countries

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - At the heart of Tokyo, Japan, there's a dedicated space where locals can explore and immerse themselves in South Korea's history and culture. Located at the corner of Shinjuku, a bustling district in the capital known for its characteristic alleys lined with shops, clubs and restaurants, the Korean Cultural Center was founded in 1979 as the first of its kind overseas. Since then, it has served as a major hub for raising awareness of South Korea

May 16, 2025

Presidential candidates vow to expand high-speed underground rail nationwide

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - Two leading contenders in South Korea’s upcoming presidential election have pledged to extend the country’s high-speed underground commuter rail system far beyond the capital, positioning rapid transit as a central campaign promise. Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party and Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party both unveiled plans to expand the Great Train Express (GTX) system, a high-speed undergroun rail network in the Seou

May 16, 2025

US extends ban on travel to North Korea for another year

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - The U.S. has extended its travel ban on North Korea for another year. In a notice on the Federal Register on Wednesday, the U.S. Department of State said, "All U.S. passports shall remain invalid for travel to, in, or through unless specially validated for such travel under the authority of the Secretary of State." The department said it "has determined there continues to be serious risk to U.S. citizens and nationals of arrest a

May 16, 2025

Lee Jae-myung calls for pragmatic diplomacy and phased peace with North Korea

Editor’s Note: This article is the second in a series examining the leading presidential candidates and their positions on diplomacy, security, and North Korea. SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - As South Korea prepares for a pivotal snap election, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung is putting forward a foreign and security policy that contrasts sharply with his conservative rival Kim Moon-soo. At the center of Lee’s approach is a push for pragmatic diplomacy, a gradual shift

May 16, 2025

Lip products lead charge in K-beauty innovation

Editor's Note: This is the third article in our series exploring the evolving landscape of the Korean beauty industry and the products that captivate international visitors. SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - In the ever-evolving world of Korean beauty, or K-beauty, few items command as much attention as lip products. From the glossy aisles of Olive Young — the nation’s ubiquitous health and beauty chain — to social media feeds around the globe, Korean lipsti

May 16, 2025