Court orders Yoon's release from detention

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - A court on Friday ruled in favor of President Yoon Suk Yeol's request to cancel his arrest over his botched martial law debacle last December. The Seoul Central District Court found Yoon's indictment to be "invalid," as it was made after his detention period had expired. Given differing views over whether detention periods should be calculated in days or hours, the court further explained that there were additional grounds for canceling h

March 7, 2025

Poland hopes for swift weapons procurement from South Korea

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday expressed his hope for the swift shipment of weapons as part of its massive arms deal with South Korea. In a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in Warsaw, Duda "expressed his hope for swift progress" in finalizing the second-phrase purchase deal of K2 battle tanks to facilitate local production, the Foreign Ministry here said in a press release, quoting his as saying. Speaking later at

March 7, 2025

PHOTOS: A taste of Korean tradition

SEOUL, March 07 (AJP) - The traditional Korean practice of "jang" making, encompassing the fermentation of soybean paste and soy sauce, was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on Dec. 3, 2024. The process, deeply rooted in Korean culinary tradition, involves boiling soybeans to form "meju," or soybean blocks, which are then dried. Around the lunar new year, these blocks are submerged in salt water and fermented in earthenware vessels for severa

March 7, 2025

Korean shipbuilders face obstacles as US seeks icebreakers for Alaska LNG project

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - As the United States looks to expand its liquefied natural gas (LNG) capabilities in Alaska, South Korean shipbuilders are finding themselves at the center of a complex geopolitical and economic equation. The request for specialized icebreakers — essential for navigating Arctic waters — has emerged as a key point of leverage in ongoing trade negotiations between Washington and Seoul. The Alaska LNG project, a multibillion-dollar endeavor requiri

March 7, 2025

Kazakhstan's UN resolution unanimously approved

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - The United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution earlier this week to set up a center in Almaty, Kazakhstan, dedicated to promoting sustainable development. The establishment of the center for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan, proposed by Kazakhstan on behalf of the Central Asian countries, was supported by 152 UN member states, including Germany, South Korea, and the U.K., according to the Kazakh Embass

March 7, 2025

Forum highlights surging data center demand powered by AI boom

SEOUL, March 07 (AJP) - Industry leaders gathered in Seoul on Thursday to discuss the rapid evolution of data centers, as artificial intelligence infrastructure fuels unprecedented power demands across the country. "Despite land and power constraints, data center capacity in the Greater Seoul Area reached 520 megawatts in the second half of 2024, marking a 15 percent year-on-year increase," said John Pritchard, head of Cushman & Wakefield’s data center advisory

March 7, 2025

Military vows support for victims after live-fire drill mishap

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - Military authorities on Thursday vowed support for the victims of an accidental bombing in Pocheon, north of Seoul the previous day, pledging to come up with measures to prevent similar incidents. Fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs outside a training range during a live-fire drill in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, injuring 15 people including villagers and soldiers and also destroying five homes along with several other buildings and structures. Ini

March 7, 2025

PHOTOS: Heartwarming home-style meals of Jeonju Baekban in Kyungdong Market

Editor's Note: This photo story marks the first in a series exploring Korea’s must-visit traditional restaurants for international visitors. SEOUL, March 07 (AJP) - Beneath the clamor of Kyungdong Market, in the basement's labyrinthine corridors, Jeonju Baekban hums with a quiet, persistent energy. Here, amid the sacks of herbs and the cries of vendors, a singular culinary experience unfolds, one that transcends the simple act of eating. At lunchtime, the kitchen of Jeonju Ba

March 7, 2025

South Korea posts current account surplus for 21st straight month in January

SEOUL, March 07 (AJP) - South Korea posted a current account surplus for the 21st consecutive month in January, even as exports declined for the first time in 16 months, the central bank reported on Friday. The surplus reached $2.94 billion in January, closely aligning with the $3.05 billion recorded a year earlier but sharply lower than December’s $12.37 billion, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea. "In January, customs-based exports typically contr

March 7, 2025

Calls grow for legal action against MBK Partners over Homeplus crisis

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party has called for legal action against MBK Partners, a private equity firm, after its portfolio company, Homeplus, unexpectedly filed for court-supervised rehabilitation, alleging fraudulent intent. “It has been confirmed that Homeplus was selling corporate bonds to both institutional and individual investors right up until they entered the corporate rehabilitation process,” Cho Seung-rae, the party

March 7, 2025