Russia urges South Korea to refrain from provocations over North Korea's drone allegations

SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - Russia urged South Korea to refrain from "further provocations" regarding North Korea's allegations of Seoul deploying drones across the border. South Korea "should take Pyongyang's warnings very seriously and cease further escalation on the peninsula through their reckless and provocative campaign, which exacerbates tension and could lead to actual armed confrontations," said Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson from Russia's For

October 15, 2024

PHOTOS: Seoul transit workers rally over death of union activist

SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - Members of the Seoul Transit Corporation Labor Union rallied near Seoul City Hall on Tuesday, demanding an apology from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metro for the death of union activist Park Ju-hyun. Park was one of 35 employees fired in March for alleged unauthorized absences during union activities that exceeded the permitted hours for union work. Park died recently after collapsing from a cerebral hemorrhage while returning home. He was schedule

October 15, 2024

PHOTOS: Museum explores roots of Korean culture

SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - The National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul offers a permanent exhibition titled "The Beginning of K-Culture.” The exhibition showcases objects and experiences that define Korean identity, aiming to illustrate how elements of traditional Korean life have transformed into the globally recognized K-culture phenomenon. Divided into three sections — "Useful," "Natural," and "Together" — the exhibition explores variou

October 15, 2024

NewJeans' Hanni speaks out about alleged workplace bullying at National Assembly

SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - Hanni, a member of K-pop girl band NewJeans made a baffling appearance at the National Assembly on Tuesday. In a parliamentary audit of the Ministry of Environment and Labor, Hanni was scrutinized regarding workplace bullying and other forms of harassment she had endured. "What I experienced, which was not a one-time issue, is something anyone could go through," said the 20-year-old Vietnamese-born girl. "I came forward because I felt it s

October 15, 2024

Weight-loss drug Wegovy launches in Korea

SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk launched its popular obesity treatment, Wegovy, in South Korea on Tuesday, industry sources said. Its local distributor, Zuellig Pharma Korea, has begun accepting orders for the blockbuster drug, which is delivered via a pre-filled pen injector. Wegovy was approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in April 2023 for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, or 27 to 30 with at least one weight-related comor

October 15, 2024

North Korea blows up parts of inter-Korean roads

SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - North Korea blew up parts of the inter-Korean road connections, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Tuesday. "North Korea blew up portions of the inter-Korean road connections north of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) on the Gyeongui and Donghae lines around noon today," the JCS said in a text message to reporters. The two roads are part of previous inter-Korean cooperation projects, linking the two Koreas by land.

October 15, 2024

PHOTOS: Foreign students participate in traditional Korean coming-of-age ceremony

SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - Eighteen foreign students participated in a traditional Korean coming-of-age ceremony at the National Folk Museum of Korea in Seoul on Monday. The ceremony, known as "gwanrye," involves rituals symbolizing the transition to adulthood in Korean culture. Students aged 15 to 21 took part in the event, wearing hanbok, traditional Korean attire. The event, part of the 2024 Korean Costume Culture Week, aimed to provide foreign students with a unique opportunit

October 15, 2024

VISUALS: Seoul exhibition showcases latest fashion tech trends

SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - A fashion technology exhibition titled Look Play Keep is underway at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul. Four fashion tech companies are participating in the event, which runs from Sept. 27 to Jan. 31, featuring interactive experiences such as motion capture games and 360-degree photo booths. The event is hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Business Agency.

October 15, 2024

PHOTOS: Same-sex couples file lawsuit for marriage rights

SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - Eleven same-sex couples announced their plans to file a lawsuit seeking the legalization of same-sex marriage during a news conference last Thursday. They argued that same-sex couples should have the same legal protections and benefits as heterosexual couples and called for the right to legally register their marriages.

October 15, 2024

Translators share fond memories of working with Nobel winner Han Kang

SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - Han Kang, the South Korean winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, made her breakthrough in the English-speaking world with her first translated novel (her third in Korean), "The Vegetarian." Published in English in 2015, it was an immediate success, making the Evening Standard bestseller list. It went on to win the Man Booker international prize the following year for Han and her young English translator, Deborah Smith. In the summe

October 15, 2024