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

Young Poong, MBK secure additional 5% stake in Korea Zinc via tender offer

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Young Poong Corp. and MBK Partners have acquired an additional 5.34 percent stake in Korea Zinc through a month-long public tender offer, potentially securing the upper hand in the battle for control of the world's largest zinc smelter, financial sources said Monday. While the consortium concluded the tender offer that day, they fell short of their target of acquiring between 6.98 percent and 14.61 percent. However, they moved closer to a majority votin

October 14, 2024

PHOTOS: Nongshim opens K-Ramyun Supermarket in Seoul

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Nongshim Co. has partnered with Korea Mart in Seoul's Myeong-dong district to operate K-Ramyun Supermarket. The store, which opened on Oct. 7, combines a supermarket and snack bar, allowing visitors to shop for ramyeon and dine at the same time. Customers can purchase their preferred ramyeon and cook it on-site. They can enjoy their meals at tables shaped like large cup noodles, explore brand stories, and use character photo zones.

October 14, 2024

Han Kang's books sell like hotcakes after Nobel Prize win

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Koreans are snapping up Han Kang's books following her Nobel Prize win last week. A throng of people lined up in front of Kyobo Book Centre, the country's largest bookstore chain in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, even before it opened early Monday morning, rushing to get their hands on her books. Best known for her surreal novel "The Vegetarian," which won the International Booker Prize in 2016, Han won this year's Nobel Prize in Liter

October 14, 2024

Korea's largest robot expo to showcase latest innovations

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - About 300 robotics companies will showcase their latest products at RobotWorld 2024, South Korea's largest robot exhibition, to be held from Oct. 23 to 26, organizers said. Hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the 19th annual event will take place at KINTEX exhibition center in Goyang, northwest of Seoul. About 250 Korean companies and 50 international firms, specializing in areas such as smart factory automation, autonomous logistic

October 14, 2024

Yoon names former chief of staff as new ambassador to China

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol named his former chief of staff Kim Dae-ki as the new ambassador to China, the presidential office said Monday. Kim's "deep understanding of Chinese society, history, and culture, along with his fluency in Chinese," makes him well-suited for the role, the office explained in a statement. Kim's extensive experience is expected to "not only enhance diplomatic relations between the two countries but also bring

October 14, 2024