PHOTOS: Endangered cranes return

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - A flock of the white-naped crane, an internationally recognized endangered species, was observed in a rice paddy in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province, on October 12. The white-naped crane is one of the world's rarest crane species, with a global population estimated to be only around 7,000 to 8,000 individuals. The cranes observed in Cheorwon are part of the eastern flyway population, which breeds in Russia and Mongolia before migrating south. Sout

October 17, 2025

Abduction scare clouds Korea's top winter travel destinations in Southeast Asia

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) -Growing reports of kidnappings and detentions involving South Koreans in Cambodia are fueling widespread anxiety among travelers, casting a shadow over Southeast Asia’s peak winter tourism season. According to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the number of South Korean citizens abducted or detained in Cambodia has surged from 36 cases between 2021 and 2023 to 221 in 2024, and 330 cases in just the first eight months of this year — many

October 17, 2025

New military chiefs of South Korea, US hold first phone talks

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - South Korean and U.S. military chiefs spoke by phone on Friday to discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) here said. JCS chief Jin Young-seung talked with his U.S. counterpart Dan Caine for the first time since assuming his post late last month. The two agreed on the importance of maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula and deterring North Korean threats through a strong alliance

October 17, 2025

GM's plan to close service centers reignites rumors of exit from South Korea

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - GM Korea’s plan to sell its directly operated service centers has ignited a labor dispute and stirred speculation about the automaker’s long-term commitment to South Korea. The company, a subsidiary of U.S.-based General Motors, said the decision stems from weak domestic sales and chronic financial losses. In May, GM Korea announced plans to sell nine service centers and idle land at its Bupyeong plant in Incheon — a move it has not re

October 17, 2025

Samsung Biologics shareholders approve spin-off with overwhelming support

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Samsung Biologics Co. said on Friday its shareholders voted overwhelmingly to approve a plan to spin off its investment division, with 99.9 percent backing the proposal at an extraordinary general meeting in Incheon. The approval paves the way for the creation of Samsung Epis Holdings, a pure holding company that will take over the parent's entire stake in biosimilar developer Samsung Bioepis, while Samsung Biologics will remain as the surviving entity

October 17, 2025

OPINION: Stricter regulations push young people's dreams of owning home further out of reach

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - "I waited for the government to bring housing prices under control, but now it's almost impossible to buy a home even with dual incomes," lamented one salaried worker. Two years ago, he put off purchasing a home, but his dream has now collapsed, following a new set of even stricter real estate and loan regulations announced earlier this week by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Under the measures aimed at curbing soaring ho

October 17, 2025

Samsung invests in US biotech firm specialized in early cancer detection

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics and Samsung C&T will jointly invest $110 million in Grail, a U.S. biotechnology company specializing in early cancer detection, as the South Korean conglomerate expands its footprint in digital health care, the firms said Friday. Grail, a subsidiary of Illumina, has developed technology that detects cancer-related DNA fragments in blood samples and uses artificial intelligence to predict both the presence and likely location of c

October 17, 2025

Swedish royals tour SM Entertainment to explore K-pop's global reach

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel visited SM Entertainment on Thursday, highlighting the growing cultural ties between Sweden and South Korea and the global influence of the K-pop industry, the company said Friday. The royal couple’s visit to the Seoul-based entertainment powerhouse was part of their official trip to South Korea, which focuses on fostering exchange in the cultural and creative sectors. At SM Entertainme

October 17, 2025

OPINION: Rising tide of hate, from Washington to Seoul

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - The legacy of Donald Trump’s presidency continues to cast a long shadow across the world. His overt flirtation with white nationalism and xenophobia helped normalize racial prejudice in American discourse — and its ripple effects have not stopped at the U.S. border. Across Europe and Asia, far-right movements have found renewed confidence, reshaping politics and stoking divisions once thought to have faded into history. In Europe, anti-immi

October 17, 2025

Seoul confident of Washington's "understanding" on Korea's FX situation

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (AJP) – Seoul held firm against U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand that Korea’s pledged $350 billion investment be made in upfront cash, expressing confidence that Washington’s financial and trade officials understand Korea’s vulnerability to large foreign capital outflows. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said U.S. officials have shown understanding of Korea’s position. “I met Secretary S

October 17, 2025