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  South Korean-American singer Yoo Seung-jun wins again over visa denial SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - A Seoul court has once again ruled in favor of South Korean-American singer Yoo Seung-jun, ordering the cancellation of the government's decision to deny him a visa to enter the country. The Seoul Administrative Court on Thursday sided with the 48-year-old singer, also known by his U.S. name Steve Seung-jun Yoo, in his third lawsuit against the South Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles, which had repeatedly rejected his visa applications. Yoo, o August 29, 2025
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  Southern port city hosts cruise dating event for 84 young professionals SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - A total of 84 unmarried working people from the southern port city of Ulsan are set to join a "cruise dating" event on Friday. The Ulsan City organized the event, titled "Chilseok, Ulsan Romantic Day," to help young professionals, born between 1986 and 2000, living in the city find new connections and to encourage them to settle down in the city. Held on Chilseok, the seventh day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar, the festiv August 29, 2025
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  TRAVEL: Tracing a thousand years of history at Jikjisa Temple GIMCHEON, August 29 (AJP) - Jikjisa Temple in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, is a thousand-year-old monastery that embodies both spiritual and historical significance. Founded in 418 by the monk Ado, who came from Goguryeo before Buddhism was even recognized as a state religion in Silla, the temple has long stood as a symbol of resilience. During the Japanese invasions of the late 16th century, it was here that Buddhist monk soldiers rallied under the leadership of Venerable S August 29, 2025
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  South Korea unveils record 728 trillion won budget with big bets on AI, R&D SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - South Korea’s government on Friday signed off on a record 728 trillion won ($524.3 billion) budget for 2026, an 8.1 percent increase over this year and the first major fiscal blueprint of President Lee Jae Myung’s administration. The spending plan marks a sharp break from the austerity policies of Lee’s predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who kept budget growth near 2 to 3 percent. Instead, the new administration is seeking to jolt Asia’s fou August 29, 2025
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  South Korea's SNT Group to establish US production base in Louisiana SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - South Korea's SNT Group said Friday that it had purchased an 82-acre site in Louisiana for a new manufacturing complex. The facility, covering roughly 330,000 square meters, will be developed in phases and is intended to serve as SNT’s integrated North American production base. The project will be led by SNT Motiv, the group’s automotive components arm, and will also involve SNT Energy, its energy equipment unit. Louisiana was chosen for August 29, 2025
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  Seoul aide says Kim Jong-un may briefly greet Speaker Woo at Beijing parade SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is expected to acknowledge South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik when the two attend a military parade in Beijing next week, a senior South Korean presidential aide said Thursday. Woo Sang-ho, senior secretary to President Lee Jae-myung, told reporters that Kim would not "snub" Speaker Woo if they come across each other during China's "Victory Day" celebrations on September 3, marki August 29, 2025
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  [K-pop] New boy band AxMxP set for September debut SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - AxMxP, a four-member boy band, will make their debut in September. The group's agency FNC Entertainment said they will release their first album, "AxMxP," on Sept. 10 and hold a debut showcase in Seoul the same day. The band's name reflects their aim of "amplifying music power" and spreading their voices to the world, inspired by the sound equipment amp. On Thursday, an introductory video was unveiled showing electr August 29, 2025
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  US Senator emphasizes balance between nuclear deterrence and USFK flexibility SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) -A United States senator said Thursday that Washington can uphold its nuclear deterrence commitment to South Korea while keeping U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) flexible enough to respond to wider challenges in the Indo-Pacific. Senator Andy Kim, a Democrat representing New Jersey, made the comments at a Capitol press conference as the U.S. considers expanding the operational scope of the 28,500 USFK troops under the concept of "strategic flexibility." Th August 29, 2025
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  Rights advocates criticize South Korea's decision to withhold North Korea report SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - When South Korea's Ministry of Unification said it would go ahead and compile, but not publicly release its annual report on human rights in North Korea, reversing the previous administration's policy, the move drew criticism from rights advocates and policy experts. "Refusing to make information public is generally not a desirable decision in a democracy," said Robert King, former U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights. "A August 29, 2025
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  Samsung gains ground in Japan's iPhone-dominated market SEOUL, August 29 (AJP) - Samsung, after years of lagging behind, is starting to carve out a bigger foothold in Japan, where Apple has long towered over the smartphone market. Samsung's Galaxy S25 series — introduced earlier this year with a slate of artificial intelligence features — has helped lift its fortunes in Japan. Samsung’s shipments surged 60 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, according to new data from Counterpoint Research releas August 29, 2025