SURVEY: 78% of S. Korean workers fear AI will worsen inequality SEOUL, January 18 (AJP) - An overwhelming majority of South Korean office workers are worried that the spread of artificial intelligence will deepen inequality and widen the wealth gap. Gapjil 119, a civic group campaigning against workplace abuse, released the results Sunday of a survey conducted on 1,000 office workers nationwide. The poll, carried out by Global Research last October, highlights a stark level of anxiety regarding the impact of AI on the labor market. Accordin January 18, 2026

KAIST proposes global 'bridge' alliance to break US-China grip on AI SEOUL, January 18 (AJP) - A consortium of international researchers has called for a new alliance of mid-sized nations to challenge the overwhelming dominance of the United States and China in artificial intelligence. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) released a policy report Sunday titled "A Blueprint for Multinational Advanced AI Development." The document, co-authored with scholars from the University of Oxford, Canada's Mila institu January 18, 2026

Luxury hotels and retailers target 'rite rush' as S, Koreans outsource ancestral duties SEOUL, January 18 (AJP) - As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches next month, luxury hotels and major retailers in South Korea are aggressively targeting a niche but rapidly growing market: the "to-go" ancestral rite table. The hospitality industry is capitalizing on a significant cultural shift where families are increasingly willing to pay a premium to outsource the labor-intensive cooking required for the holiday, turning a domestic duty into an affordable service. T January 18, 2026

Filipino domestic workers in Korea struggle with low pay, study finds SEOUL, January 17 (AJP) - Many Filipino domestic workers in South Korea who came under a government pilot program have faced low wages and undervalued care work, according to a new academic study. In a paper published Saturday in the journal of the Korean Association for Immigration Policy and Administration, Lee Mi-ae, a professor at Jeju National University’s Research Institute for the Tamla Culture, examined the experiences of Filipino domestic and care workers employed und January 17, 2026

BTS to release fifth full-length album 'Arirang' in March SEOUL, January 17 (AJP) - K-pop supergroup BTS will release its fifth full-length album titled "Arirang," drawing its name from Korea's most iconic folk song. According to BigHit Music on Friday, BTS revealed the album title during a live broadcast on fan platform Weverse at midnight, announcing that the album will be released on March 20. Leader RM said during the live stream that the group wanted to incorporate something symbolic of Korea into the album's conc January 17, 2026

Kim Jong-un hails North Korean troops deployed to Russia at Pyongyang youth event SEOUL, January 17 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised North Korean troops deployed to Russia, calling their participation something "only young Korean people could do," state media reported Saturday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim made the remarks on Friday while attending a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League at Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang. "Present here are also January 17, 2026

South Korea urges 50 citizens in Iran to leave as unrest continues SEOUL, January 17 (AJP) - The South Korean government said Friday that around 50 citizens are currently staying in Iran, urging them to leave the country as soon as possible amid continuing unrest. According to a joint meeting held Thursday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and overseas missions to assess safety measures in Iran—where violent crackdowns have followed recent anti-government protests—no casualties involving South Koreans had been reported. The meeting was January 17, 2026

U.S. makes clear Taiwan chip tariff deal will not apply to South Korea SEOUL, January 17 (AJP) - Washington has made clear that semiconductor tariffs and related exemptions will be set through country‑by‑country negotiations, meaning the criteria agreed with Taiwan will not be copied and applied automatically to South Korea. An administration official said on Friday that the U.S. would pursue "separate agreements for separate countries" when asked whether the semiconductor tariff waiver terms offered to Taiwan would also be granted to South K January 17, 2026

OPINION: When lies go global, humanity must return to its oldest truths SEOUL, January 17 (AJP) - Humanity is living through a paradox of its own making. Never have we been more technologically advanced, more interconnected, or more capable of instant communication across borders. And yet never has truth felt so fragile, so easily displaced by falsehood, manipulation, and manufactured belief. Fake news, pseudo-religions, counterfeit journalism, and demagogic politics have fused into a single ecosystem of deception—one that now threatens not only demo January 17, 2026

Giant rice cake prepared by locals ahead of Lunar New Year SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - Merchants and other participants gathered to make giant rice cakes at an event held at an open-air market in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province on Friday, about a month ahead of the Lunar New Year's Day. The charity event was arranged to distribute the chewy rice cakes to those in need. South Koreans traditionally start the New Year by eating a soup made with these rice cakes, known as "tteokguk," to wish for health and longevity. January 16, 2026