Indian Embassy and Seoul City plant trees to deepen India–S. Korea friendship

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - The Embassy of India in the Republic of Korea, in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, held a tree-planting event under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” (“One Tree in the Name of Mother”) campaign at Boramae Park in western Seoul on March 28, 2025. The event also commemorated Arbor Day in South Korea, a day aimed at preserving forests and expanding urban green space. The ceremony was held at

March 31, 2025

South Korea faces dilemma over Alaska LNG project

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has stepped up efforts to persuade South Korea to participate in his state’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, using a recent visit to Seoul to underscore the economic and strategic stakes involved. Speaking to local and international media, Dunleavy framed South Korea’s potential purchase of Alaskan LNG as a pivotal factor in reducing the U.S.-Korea trade deficit, while also presenting the project as an opportun

March 31, 2025

Police to grant one-month amnesty for surrendering illegal weapons

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - Police will offer a one-month amnesty for individuals to surrender illegal weapons without facing penalties, the National Police Agency said on Monday. The initiative, set to run through April, will allow people to turn in unlicensed firearms, explosives, and other restricted weapons without criminal or administrative consequences. Weapons eligible for surrender include unlicensed or revoked firearms, explosives, swords, stun guns, sprayers, and crossbows.

March 31, 2025

PHOTOS: Royal guard appointment ceremony

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - A reenactment of a historic royal guard appointment ceremony took place at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on March 30. The "National Royal Guard Appointment Ceremony," an annual spring event, is based on records dating back to 1469, during the reign of King Yejong of the Joseon Dynasty. Historically, the king would select the most trusted official to serve as head of the royal guards through a process known as "nakjeom," marking the name of the chose

March 31, 2025

Short selling resumes in South Korea after 17-month ban

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - South Korea has fully reinstated short selling across all listed stocks, ending a 17-month ban imposed in an effort to curb illegal naked short selling and restore investor confidence. The move, which took effect Monday, marks the first time since March 2020 that investors will be permitted to short sell any security on the country’s exchanges. During the suspension, regulators introduced a series of structural reforms, including a centralized monito

March 31, 2025

Samsung's profit expected to drop again in first quarter, but recovery may be on horizon

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is poised to report another weak earnings result for the first quarter of 2025, marking its third consecutive quarterly decline in operating profit, according to industry analysts, Monday. Consensus estimates compiled by securities firms project that the South Korean technology giant will post an operating profit of 4.77 trillion won ($3.26 billion) for the January–March period. That figure represents a 27.8 percent drop from the sam

March 31, 2025

King Charles offers condolences over deadly wildfires in South Korea

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - King Charles III on Sunday expressed deep condolences over the massive wildfires devastating southeastern South Korea, calling the disaster “catastrophic” and extending sympathy to those affected. “My wife and I were utterly appalled to hear of the catastrophic wildfires currently burning in the southeast of South Korea, a region that I know extended such a warm welcome to my late mother during her State Visit in 1999,” The British m

March 31, 2025

Online commenter acquitted in defamation case filed by Han Ye-seul

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - A South Korean internet user fined for posting malicious comments about actress Han Ye-seul was acquitted on appeal. The Seoul Central District Court on Sunday overturned the original ruling against the defendant who had been charged with defamation after commenting on an article about Han’s husband in July 2021. The article involved allegations that he had worked at an adult entertainment venue as a high-end escort before tying the knot with the act

March 31, 2025

INTERVIEW: ISTARI bets on S. Korea in global cyber push

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - As cybersecurity threats grow more complex and tightly interwoven with economic, political, and technological forces, experts are calling on organizations to rethink their strategies. Among them is Rashmy Chatterjee, CEO of ISTARI — a global cybersecurity firm founded by Singapore's state-owned investment company Temasek in 2020. With operations in the United States, Europe, and Singapore, ISTARI is dedicated to helping enterprises build long-te

March 31, 2025

Police launch special unit to combat online drug trafficking

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - Police launched a new specialized unit on Monday dedicated to tackling the surge in drug trafficking through digital platforms, consolidating resources previously spread across 17 provincial departments. The "Online Drug Investigation Team" will target illegal transactions conducted through dark web marketplaces, encrypted messaging services like Telegram, and unregulated virtual asset exchanges that have become primary channels for drug distributio

March 31, 2025