No-fly zone around Cheong Wa Dae to expand as Lee prepares to move in SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - A no-fly zone around the former presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul is expected to be expanded, once President Lee Jae Myung returns to the palatial compound by the end of this year. Lee, who took office in early June following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, was unable to immediately use the compound due to the need to enhance security and overhaul facilities, and ha November 27, 2025

Naver plays down Nasdaq talk as it moves to absorb crypto exchange Dunamu SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - Naver has pushed back on speculation that its fintech arm could seek a Nasdaq listing after absorbing Dunamu, operator of South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange Upbit, as it must address regulatory hurdles before taking the big step. "We have no confirmed plans to pursue a Nasdaq listing for Naver Financial at this time," CEO Choi Soo-yeon said Thursday at a press briefing at Naver's headquarters in Seongnam. "Even if we c November 27, 2025

PHOTOS: Farewell to actor Lee Soon-jae SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - The funeral for beloved South Korean actor Lee Soon-jae was held Thursday morning at the Asan Medical Center in Seoul. Younger colleagues shed tears as they bade a final farewell to Lee, a veteran who maintained an undying passion for acting throughout a lifetime spanning theater, television, and film. In her eulogy, actress Ha Ji-won paid tribute to his legacy. "He was not only an iconic actor representing Korea, but a true artist who never lost November 27, 2025

Teaching remains top career choice among schoolchildren SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - Becoming an athlete was the most frequently cited future dream among elementary school students when asked what they want to be, while middle and high school students most often said they want to become teachers, a survey released on Thursday reveals. The annual survey of about 12,000 students conducted in May and June by the Ministry of Education by the Ministry of Education and the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, showed November 27, 2025

Funeral held for South Korean volunteer killed in Ukraine SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - A funeral was held in Kyiv earlier this week for a South Korean man who died fighting in Russia's war in Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here said on Thursday. Ukrainian authorities informed the South Korean government of his death, and his funeral service was held last Tuesday, with South Korean consular officials in attendance. Identified by his last name Kim, the man in his 50s is believed to have been killed earlier this year during c November 27, 2025

South Korean food firms tap K-beauty boom for new growth SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - South Korean food companies are accelerating their push into cosmetics and “inner beauty” products as slowing consumption and rising costs squeeze margins in their core businesses. The globally recognized K-beauty sector — supported by steady global demand and a strong manufacturing base — is emerging as an attractive diversification route. Industry sources say hy has expanded its probiotics research into skincare, developing November 27, 2025

South Korea's Upbit reports $31 million crypto theft SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - Upbit, South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, said Thursday that digital assets worth about $31 million were stolen in an early-morning security breach, marking the platform’s most serious incident since its major hack six years ago. Operator Dunamu said the breach was detected around 4:40 a.m., when assets on the Solana network were transferred to an unauthorized wallet. The stolen holdings include Solana (SOL) and 23 othe November 27, 2025

South Korea unveils new guidelines to boost foreign investor entry into stock market SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) on Thursday unveiled new guidelines for foreign omnibus accounts, aiming to streamline market access for overseas investors and attract additional capital inflows. Omnibus accounts allow foreign institutions to trade and settle Korean equities without opening individual accounts for each client — a structure similar to how South Korean investors trade U.S. stocks. The country’s first s November 27, 2025

BOK holds base rate at 2.50%, bond yields jump as markets price in end of easing SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea kept the base rate unchanged at 2.50 percent at its final monetary policy meeting of 2025 on Thursday and signaled that the latest easing cycle may be nearing an end as a persistently weak won fans inflation while simultaneously eroding household purchasing power. Governor Rhee Chang-yong said the decision was “almost unanimous,” with five of the six board members voting for a freeze due to heightened foreign-exchange volati November 27, 2025

TRAVEL: A walk over royal revenge — The dark secret of Seoul's Cheonggyecheon SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - Strolling along the Cheonggyecheon Stream in downtown Seoul, it is easy to be lulled by the gentle flow of water and the hum of the city fading into the background. Once buried beneath suffocating asphalt and elevated highways, this eco-friendly waterway was miraculously restored in the mid-2000s. Today, it serves as a serene urban sanctuary for office workers seeking a lunch-hour escape and tourists soaking in the city's vibe. But beneath the str November 27, 2025