S. Korea to join UK-led virtual meeting on Hormuz as US shift burden on allies SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) -South Korea will join a U.K.-hosted virtual foreign ministerial meeting Thursday aimed at coordinating international efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington signals that responsibility for safeguarding the core oil route should fall on its primary dependents. Chung Eui-hae, deputy foreign minister for political affairs, will participate via video link in the meeting involving 35 countries that have backed a joint statement condemning attempts April 2, 2026

Spring in full bloom across Seoul SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) -Spring has burst into full bloom in Seoul, with magnolia, fosythia, and cherry blossoms painting the city in soft shades of white, yellow, and pink. Citizens enjoyed the mild weather at the former officers’ housing complex in Yongsan Park in Seoul’s Yongsan District on Wednesday, strolling along tree-lined paths and pausing beneath clusters of blossoms that have reached their peak. The site, once part of a U.S. military residential area, was April 2, 2026

Seoul leads Asian selloff as Trump speech lacks Hormuz roadmap SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) -Asian stocks sank Thursday, with Seoul bearing the brunt after U.S. President Donald Trump’s primetime address on the Iran war failed to offer clarity on the endgame or a strategy to restore traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil trade. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 2.38 percent to 52,463.27, reversing earlier gains as selling accelerated in the afternoon. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dropped 0.83 percent to 25,085. April 2, 2026

Seoul forced to swallow Trump's call, increase US share in energy SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) - South Korea is scrambling to shore up dwindling energy supplies and diversify away from the Middle East after U.S. President Donald Trump ruled out an immediate end to the Iran war, vowing instead to hit Iran "extremely hard over the next two to three weeks." In a primetime address from the White House on Thursday, Trump made clear the operation would last through April, destabilizing not just Iran's military infrastructure but also the core Mi April 2, 2026

NCT WISH to release first studio album 'Ode to Love' on April 20 SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) -K-pop boy band "NCT WISH" will release its first studio album "Ode to Love" on April 20, marking a key milestone for the rookie act as it continues to build its presence in the global market, its agency SM Entertainment said Thursday. NCT WISH, a six-member boy group consisting of Sion, Riku, Yushi, Jaehee, Ryo and Sakuya, debuted in 2023 under SM Entertainment. The group has been recognized for its refreshing, youth-driven concept and pe April 2, 2026

Peru honors Samuel Chung for contributions to Korea–Peru ties SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) - The Peruvian government has awarded Samuel Chung, president of the Korea Culture Association, the Order of Merit at the Comendador level in recognition of his contributions to strengthening ties between South Korea and Peru. The decoration was presented Wednesday by Peruvian Ambassador to Korea H.E. Paul Duclos at his residence in Seoul, on behalf of the president of Peru. The award coincided with the inaugural “Korea–Peru Friendship Day,&rdqu April 2, 2026

ANALYSIS: Korea inflation enters war-driven upcycle SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) - South Korea’s inflation is beginning to turn upward, but March’s data likely understates the scale of price pressure building beneath the surface as the Middle East war feeds through oil, exchange rates and expectations. Consumer prices rose 2.2 percent in March from a year earlier, accelerating from 2.0 percent in the previous two months, according to data released Thursday. On the surface, the increase appears modest — still within the B April 2, 2026

South Korea seeks emergency funds as war in Middle East threatens economy SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) - South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung called for the immediate passage of a massive supplementary budget on Thursday, characterizing the current economic climate as a wartime state. Addressing the National Assembly, the president argued that the 34-day conflict in the Middle East necessitated a total mobilization of government resources. During his speech at the National Assembly, Lee called for a 26.2 trillion-won ($17.2 billion) supplementary budget, April 2, 2026

President Lee Jae Myung readies transit relief as Iranian conflict squeezes oil lanes SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) - In a bid to draft immediate measures to ease public transport crowding, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has directed the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Thursday. The order follows an elevation of the national resource security alert to its second-highest level. Officials have already implemented a mandatory two-day vehicle rotation for public offices, which is expected to push a surge of commuters onto the transit grid. The war in Ir April 2, 2026

Korean Air accelerates AI-powered drone development with 2028 deployment target SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) - Korean Air is stepping up its push into unmanned aerial systems, advancing development of an artificial intelligence-powered high-speed target drone while investing $130 million in a new manufacturing facility in Busan to expand production capacity. The company said it recently completed a System Requirements Review (SRR) for its domestically developed high-speed target drone project at the Daejeon Convention Center, attended by officials from the Defense Acq April 2, 2026