Massive wildfires continue to ravage southeastern areas

SEOUL, March 25 (AJP) - A spate of wildfires gripping the southeastern part of the country since last week has burned about 15,000 hectares of land and forest, displacing more than 3,300 people, with four dead and several injured as of Tuesday. Firefighters and other rescue officials are still battling wildfires in parts of Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, which have been raging since last Friday. Fanned by strong gusts and dry weather, wi

March 25, 2025

OPINION: Making AI inclusive engine for global development

BEIJING, March 25 (AJP) - Over the past months, China's AI model DeepSeek has gained global attention, reigniting discussions on inclusive AI development and improving access to AI services. As the wave of AI accelerates, bridging the global AI divide demands governance solutions, collaborative responses to challenges, and inclusive progress. Every technological revolution brings both guiding stars and hidden reefs. "In our days, everything seems pregnant with its contrar

March 25, 2025

North Korea to hold large-scale festival for regime founder's birthday next month

SEOUL, March 25 (AJP) - North Korea plans to hold a large-scale festival next month to celebrate the birthday of its regime founder Kim Il-sung, state media reported on Tuesday. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the festival will take place at several venues in Pyongyang from April 10 to 17, featuring troupe performances and other events. KCNA explained that the festival aims to honor "Kim's legacy and his achievements" as well as express loyalty t

March 25, 2025

Samsung's Lee Jae-yong visits BYD, signaling renewed China outreach

SEOUL, March 25 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong visited the headquarters of Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD in Shenzhen on Monday, stepping up his recent outreach in China just days after meeting with Xiaomi founder Lei Jun. BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu personally welcomed Lee at the company’s offices, a BYD spokesperson confirmed, though declined to elaborate on their discussions. The visit highlights the growing strategic interest between the world&rsq

March 25, 2025

PHOTOS: Man found dead after being swallowed by massive sinkhole in Seoul

SEOUL, March 25 (AJP) - A motorcyclist was found dead on Tuesday after being swallowed by a large sinkhole that abruptly opened in a busy intersection in eastern Seoul, Monday night. The incident occurred at 6:29 p.m. on Monday near an elementary school in the Gangdong-gu. Another driver narrowly avoided injury as the road collapsed beneath him. The sudden collapse prompted the closure of four schools in the vicinity. The cause of the sinkhole is under investigation, raising qu

March 25, 2025

Samsung Electronics vice chairman dies of cardiac arrest

SEOUL, March 25 (AJP) - Han Jong-hee, vice chairman and co-CEO of Samsung Electronics, has died of sudden cardiac arrest, the company announced Tuesday. He was 63. "Vice Chairman and CEO Han Jong-hee passed away today," Samsung Electronics said in a statement. "We pray for the deceased who dedicated 37 years to the company." Han joined Samsung's visual display development team in 1988, rising through the ranks to lead the television business in 2017. He wa

March 25, 2025

PHOTOS: Korea battles multiple wildfires amidst high winds

SEOUL, March 25 (AJP) - Wildfires are raging across South Korea, with authorities struggling to contain the blazes due to strong winds and dry conditions. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters reported that as of 7 a.m., March 25, fires are active in Sancheong and Hadong in South Gyeongsang Province, Uiseong in North Gyeongsang Province, Ulju in Ulsan, and Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province.

March 25, 2025

INTERVIEW: German envoy reflects on 140 years of ties, calls for deeper green and human connections

SEOUL, March 25 (AJP) - German Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Georg Wilfried Schmidt underscored the depth and resilience of the bilateral relationship as the two countries marked the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2024. Speaking to AJP in Seoul on Mar. 20, Ambassador Schmidt reflected on shared history, mutual values, economic and cultural partnerships, and the future potential for green cooperation. "When I came here as ambassador in 2023, I was already famili

March 25, 2025

Hyundai Motor Group to invest $21 billion in US, aligning with Trump trade push

SEOUL, March 25 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group announced on Tuesday that it will invest $21 billion in the United States over the next four years, significantly expanding its American footprint as it seeks to align with the Trump administration’s industrial and trade policies. The pledge, made by Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun during a joint appearance with President Donald Trump at the White House, brings the South Korean conglomerate’s total U.S. investment

March 25, 2025

Controversy continues to brew over Actor Kim Soo-hyun's relationship with late actress

SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - A sordid saga involving the late actress Kim Sae-ron deepens as fresh evidence surfaces one after another, met with repeated denials and conflicting accounts. The story began to unfold shortly after the 24-year-old actress, who had been in a relationship with actor Kim Soo-hyun, was found dead in an apparent suicide at her home in eastern Seoul last month, reportedly struggling with financial difficulties. With the rumor mill grinding even more over what l

March 24, 2025