Presidential chief of staff leaves for UAE to discuss AI and defense cooperation SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday to discuss cooperation in economic and defense sectors, artificial intelligence (AI) and other areas with the Middle Eastern country. In a Facebook post, Kang said he was embarking on a three-day trip for working-level consultations to discuss follow-up measures after President Lee Jae Myung's state visit to the UAE in November last year. Kang also said February 24, 2026

Kookmin University researchers develop real-time capture and analysis technique for aquatic microplastics SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - A research team led by Professor Kim Hyung-min at Kookmin University has developed an innovative technology capable of capturing and analyzing micro- and nano-sized plastics in water in real time. The breakthrough addresses a major technical challenge in environmental science by allowing for the continuous monitoring of tiny plastic particles that are otherwise difficult to isolate from their surroundings. Microplastics, defined as particles smaller than February 24, 2026

S. Korean researchers develop protective layer to enable fast charging for lithium batteries SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - A joint research team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Korea University has developed a technology to overcome stability issues that have hindered the commercialization of lithium metal batteries. The team created an intelligent protective layer that allows for rapid charging within 12 minutes while preventing the internal damage that typically shortens battery life. Lithium metal batteries are considered the next generatio February 24, 2026

Impeached ex-president appeals life sentence over martial law debacle SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday filed an appeal of his life sentence on charges of insurrection and abuse of power related to his martial law debacle in December 2024. It comes about a week after the Seoul Central District Court found him guilty of the botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, which it ruled was an act of insurrection in violation of the Constitution, condemning his actions as having "fundamentally undermined th February 24, 2026

Seoul opts for antidumping duties on Chinese, Japanese steel for industry relief SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - South Korea's shipbuilders enjoy heyday on robust orders and backlog, but they had limited trickle-down effect on steelmakers at home as they struggled with the flood of cheaper Chinese and Japanese imports. The government stepped in for relief as the industry undergoes stringent cost-saving streamlining to survive a global glut, a protectionist environment and the U.S. 50-percent tariff on steel imports. On Monday, it warned of antidumping duties o February 24, 2026

More South Koreans flock to national parks, with Mt. Bukhansan most visited SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Some 43.31 million people visited national parks last year, with Mt. Bukhansan seeing the most visitors, according to data released by the Korea National Park Service on Monday. It was a 6.5 percent increase from the previous year and a full recovery from the sharp drop seen during the coronavirus pandemic, when the number of annual visitors fell into the 30 million range from a pre-pandemic high of around 43 to 44 million. The number climbed back above February 24, 2026

OPINION: Another year of Russian aggression against Ukraine SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Today, the world marks the fourth year since the start of Russia's large-sca February 24, 2026

KOSPI extends rally despite global headwinds and profit-taking SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - Korean stocks extended their upward momentum Tuesday despite a choppy start, shrugging off overnight losses on Wall Street driven by tariff uncertainty and rising Middle East tensions. Seoul’s benchmark KOSPI advanced 1.42 percent to a fresh all-time high of 5,929.14 as of 11:15 a.m., while the KOSPI 200 gained 1.66 percent to 880.21. Overnight in the United States, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.7 percent, the Nasdaq dropped 1.1 perc February 24, 2026

Korea's consumer confidence strongest in 3 mo Feb on buoyant stocks and exports SEOUL, Feb. 24 (AJP) — South Korea’s consumer confidence rose to its strongest level in three months in February, buoyed by a robust stock market and resilient exports, central bank data showed Tuesday. According to the Bank of Korea, the composite consumer sentiment index (CCSI) stood at 112.1 in February, up from 110.8 in January and 109.8 in December. A reading above 100 indicates that optimism outweighs pessimism compared with the long-term average. The inde February 24, 2026

Moviegoers review-bomb 15th-century royal tomb following blockbuster historical film hit SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - A digital revolt has targeted the royal tomb of King Sejo after the release of the film King's Warden, directed by Jang Hang-jun, sparked public anger over the 15th-century monarch's rise to power. Since the movie opened on February 4, the UNESCO World Heritage site, known as Gwangneung, has been review-bombed with one-star ratings on major South Korean map applications. King's Warden reached the 6 million mark on Monday, just 20 days after i February 24, 2026