Police to deploy 20,000 officers, enforce no-fly zone on impeachment ruling day

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - Police will implement its highest emergency alert level on the day of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment, deploying 337 riot police units and about 20,000 officers nationwide. The court’s decision follows Yoon’s declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, a move that escalated political tensions across the country. While the exact date of the ruling has not yet been announced, legal experts pre

March 14, 2025

PHOTOS: Authorities ramp up wildfire prevention efforts

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - Springtime often sees a surge in wildfires, as dry conditions and parched vegetation create ideal circumstances. Authorities are responding with heightened preparedness, including public education campaigns, increased monitoring, and rigorous firefighting exercises.

March 14, 2025

Racy teaser clip stirs controversy ahead of reality show featuring kids

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - Cable channel MBN's upcoming reality show featuring young K-pop wannabes is set for release later this month. Some 59 contestants under the age of 15 from over 70 countries have been selected as finalists for "Under 15," slated to air on March 31, where they will compete for a chance to become K-pop's next big stars. But a teaser clip released on Thursday stirred unexpected controversy, raising concerns over whether it is appropriate for

March 14, 2025

Air Busan fire likely caused by power bank short circuit, forensic report finds

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - A fire that broke out aboard Air Busan flight BX391 at Gimhae International Airport on Jan 28 was likely triggered by a short circuit inside a portable battery pack, also known as a power bank, according to an investigation by the National Forensic Service (NFS). The Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB) under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport said Friday that forensic analysis revealed multiple traces of melted materia

March 14, 2025

US imports eggs from S. Korea for first time to help relieve severe domestic shortage

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - South Korea has begun exporting eggs to the United States for the first time, as a severe shortage drives American consumers to pay record prices, sometimes exceeding $10 a dozen. Gyerim Farm, an agricultural company based in Ansan, shipped 20 tons of eggs, or 335,160 individual eggs, to Georgia on March 7, marking a historic first in trade relations between the two countries, local officials said. The United States, grappling with an egg shortage that h

March 14, 2025

Gold prices soar to record high on trade war concerns

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - International gold prices breached the threshold of $3,000 per troy ounce on Friday, propelled by escalating trade tensions and investor anxiety stemming from the policies of the Trump administration. April gold futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange reached $3,000.5 per troy ounce as of 10:30 a.m. on Friday, a 0.31 percent increase from the previous session. Spot gold, meanwhile, had climbed 2.73 percent in the preceding five trading days, closing at $2

March 14, 2025

Trump signals willingness to reengage with North Korea

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed his intention to reengage with North Korea, referring to its leader as a "nuclear power" once again. Speaking at the White House during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said, "I have a great relationship with Kim Jong-un and we'll see what happens, but certainly, he's a nuclear power." Kim "has a lot of nuclear weapons, by the way, a lot, and others do

March 14, 2025

Acting President vetoes opposition-led bill for probe into election irregularities

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Friday vetoed a contentious opposition-backed bill that seeks to launch an independent investigation into alleged election-related irregularities and other illicit activities. The bill, passed by the Democratic Party-controlled parliament in late February, calls for a probe into allegations that Myung Tae-kyun, a self-proclaimed political broker, received a bribe from former ruling party lawmaker Kim Young-sun in exchange for

March 14, 2025

Korean banks report record profits

SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - South Korean banks posted a record net profit of 22.4 trillion won ($16.5 billion) in 2024, a 5.5 percent increase from the previous year, according to data released on Friday by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS). The regulator attributed the profit surge to a 3.1 trillion won reduction in loan-loss provisions, which offset expanded operating losses, including 1.4 trillion won in compensation costs tied to equity-linked securities. Interest income ros

March 14, 2025

Korean automakers face high stakes as US tariffs reshape industry

Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of stories examining how the Trump administration’s economic policies affect South Korea's key industries. From trade restrictions to shifting global supply chains, we explore the challenges businesses faced, how they adapted, and the lasting effects on the country’s economy. SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) - South Korean automakers are navigating a precarious juncture as President Donald Trump’s aggressive "friend-s

March 14, 2025