PM orders preemptive measures to secure crude oil supplies SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Prime Minister Han Seong-sook on Thursday ordered officials to secure crude oil supplies in advance amid renewed tensions in the Middle East, citing concerns over possible supply disruptions. Speaking at an emergency meeting at the government complex in central Seoul, Han said South Korea has secured enough crude oil to cover more than 90 percent of last year's volume through October, leaving no immediate concerns about domestic supply. But she ca September 10, 2026

Dozens of foreign envoys evade punishment through diplomatic immunity SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Some 49 foreign diplomats assigned to South Korea have effectively avoided punishment for their involvement in criminal or other offenses over the past five years due to diplomatic immunity. According to data submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a parliamentary committee on Thursday, 10 cases were reported in 2022, followed by 13 in 2023, 10 in 2024, 13 in 2025 and three in the first seven months of this year. These cases ranged from traffic September 10, 2026

One crew member found dead in Pohang, with five still missing SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - A crew member who went missing after a tugboat capsized off Busan last week has been found dead on a beach in Pohang, coastguards said on Thursday. His body was discovered around 8:50 a.m. the previous day by a sanitation worker on a beach in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, after apparently being swept ashore. It took more than 12 hours to confirm his identity through digital forensic analysis of a cellphone and smartwatch found with the body, alo September 10, 2026

Actress Lee Na-young attends photo call Lee Na-young (actress) poses at a photo call held at Casa Damiani Cheongdam in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, September 9, 2026. September 9, 2026

Actress Lee Na-young attends photo call Lee Na-young (actress) poses at a photo call held at Casa Damiani Cheongdam in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, September 9, 2026. September 9, 2026

Silvia Grassi Damiani, vice chair of Damiani, attends photo call Silvia Grassi Damiani (vice chair of Damiani) poses at a photo call held at Casa Damiani Cheongdam in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, September 9, 2026. September 9, 2026

Silvia Grassi Damiani, vice chair of Damiani, attends photo call Silvia Grassi Damiani (vice chair of Damiani) poses at a photo call held at Casa Damiani Cheongdam in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, September 9, 2026. September 9, 2026

Netflix 'Scandal' revealed From left, actress Nana, director Jung Ji-woo, actor Ji Chang-wook and actress Son Ye-jin pose for photos during a press conference for the Netflix series "Scandal" at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul in Jongno District, Seoul, on Sept. 9, 2026. "Scandal" follows Lady Cho, a talented woman constrained by the rigid expectations placed on women in the Joseon Dynasty, and Cho Won, Joseon's most notorious playboy, as they engage in a daring and dangerous w September 9, 2026

Autumn arrives in Seoul Leaves begin to turn red, signaling the arrival of autumn, as seen from N Seoul Tower in central Seoul on Sept. 9, 2026. September 9, 2026

Korea-U.S. defense ties shift from one-sided to industrial partnership SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - Defense industrial cooperation between South Korea and the United States largely ran one way for decades, with Seoul buying American weapons and relying heavily on U.S. military technology. The once-skewed relationship is becoming more reciprocal as Washington increasingly looks to Korean artillery, shipbuilding expertise and manufacturing capacity to fill gaps of its own. Hanwha Defense USA's entry into a U.S. Army artillery program has provided September 9, 2026