Two dead from suspected gas poisoning at paper factory manhole in Jeonju

SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - Two workers died and three others were hospitalized after inhaling toxic gas at a paper factory in Jeonju City on Sunday. According to the North Jeolla Fire Department and Jeonju Deokjin Police Station, an emergency call was made at 9:44 a.m. reporting that a worker had fallen into a manhole and lost consciousness from suspected gas exposure at the factory in Jeonju some 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of Seoul. One of the victims, a man in his 40s, was p

May 4, 2025

Seoul bus union faces strike as talks stall over wages

SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - The standoff between Seoul’s city bus union and management showed no sign of easing on Sunday, raising the likelihood of a second consecutive year of strike action. Despite a warning protest on Apr. 30, where drivers followed traffic laws to the letter to deliberately delay schedules, no breakthrough has been made in wage and collective bargaining talks. The union and Seoul Bus Transport Business Association have not resumed negotiations since the secon

May 4, 2025

N. Korean leader Kim Jong-un praises progress in tank modernization during inspection

SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected a key tank production facility to praise the development of North Korean-style armored weapons and outline plans to modernize the country’s armored forces. Pyongyang’s state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported the visit on Sunday but did not disclose the exact date of the inspection. According to KCNA, Kim was briefed on ongoing research, modernization, and production efforts during a tou

May 4, 2025

Kiwi wine festival returns to Seoul with top New Zealand labels

SEOUL, May 3 (AJP) - A festival showcasing premium wines from New Zealand was held in Seoul on Saturday, offering guests a sophisticated tasting experience. The annual wine festival organized by the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea, also called the Kiwi Chamber, introduced Korean customers to a wide selection of wines from 25 top New Zealand wineries this year. Attendees included diplomats, wine professionals, and local wine enthusiasts. In addition to wine tastings,

May 4, 2025

Kim Moon-soo wins People Power Party presidential nomination with 56.53 percent of vote

SEOUL, May 03 (AJP) - Kim Moon-soo has been selected as the People Power Party's candidate for the upcoming presidential election, securing 56.53 percent of the final vote. The conservative party confirmed its nominee for the 21st presidential election during a national convention held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Saturday. Han Dong-hoon, who advanced to the final round of the primary, received 43.47 percent of the votes. Kim defeated Han in both party member votin

May 3, 2025

SK Telecom employees volunteer for frontline support amid SIM card hacking crisis

SEOUL, May 03 (AJP) - Hundreds of SK Telecom employees have voluntarily joined frontline customer service operations to help manage the fallout from the company's recent SIM card information hack, industry sources said on Saturday. Staff from various departments, including those unrelated to mobile communications, developers, and new employees, have been deployed to airports, SK Telecom retail stores, and authorized dealers as more than 3 million overseas travelers are expected dur

May 3, 2025

Trump-Kim relations could reset, but U.S. leverage diminished by Russia factor, expert says

SEOUL, May 03 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump could reestablish relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at any time, but his negotiating leverage would likely be limited, according to a North Korea expert from a U.S. think tank. Sydney Seiler, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), suggested in a CSIS podcast on Saturday that Trump has confidence in his ability to restart North Korea negotiations through his personal diplomacy at the

May 3, 2025

Hair transplant costs vary up to 15-fold across South Korea

SEOUL, May 02 (AJP) - The cost of hair transplants in South Korea differs dramatically depending on the region, with prices for a single hair follicle transplant varying as much as 15-fold, according to government data released Friday. Figures obtained by Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the ruling People Power Party from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service show that in 2024, Gwangju Metropolitan City recorded the highest average cost per follicle at 21,000 won, or roughly $15.70.

May 2, 2025

French-Korean Career Forum to link talent with international employers in Seoul

SEOUL, May 2 (AJP) - The French-Korean Career Forum will take place in Seoul, offering South Korean and French job seekers living in South Korea a platform to explore career opportunities shaped by the French language and culture. Jointly organized by the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), the Cultural Service of the French Embassy in South Korea, and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), in collaboration with CCIP, CLE International, and France Alu

May 2, 2025

Conservatives weigh unification strategy as Han Duck-soo enters race

SEOUL, May 02 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s presidential bid is prompting a strategic rethink across South Korea’s conservative bloc, as leaders weigh the risks and rewards of unifying behind a single candidate before official registration begins next week. The 75-year-old former Prime Minister formally declared his candidacy on Friday, offering a transitional vision centered on constitutional reform. “I will form a presidential task force on const

May 2, 2025