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  Wife of DP presidential candidate slapped with fine again in appeals court SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - The wife of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP)'s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung was slapped with a 1.5 million won fine for election law violations by an appeals court on Monday. The Suwon District Court upheld the sentence from the first trial, which had been handed down in November last year. Kim Hye-kyung was indicted in February last year for allegedly using her husband's corporate expense card in August 2021, when Lee was serving as May 12, 2025
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  PHOTOS: Presidential campaign starts for June 3 election SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - The official campaign for the June 3 snap presidential election, triggered by the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, began on May 12. Although seven candidates registered, the election is expected to be a three-way race among Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party. The presidential candidates will engage in official campaigning until June 2, the day before the election. May 12, 2025
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  Ex-president declines to comment at first public court appearance SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday appeared for a trial over charges of insurrection and abuse of power over his botched martial law debacle late last year. During his previous two court appearances last month, Yoon managed to avoid public attention by being whisked into the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul through a secluded passageway from the underground parking lot. Amid controversy over alleged preferential treatment of the May 12, 2025
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  PHOTOS: Exploring treasures of Gyeongbokgung Palace SEOUL, May 09 (AJP) - Once the resplendent heart of the Joseon Dynasty's royal lineage, Gyeongbokgung Palace stands as a testament to both the kingdom's foundational aspirations and its resilience through periods of upheaval. Erected in tandem with the dynasty's establishment, the palace met a devastating fate during the Japanese invasion in 1592, succumbing entirely to flames. The Gyeongbokgung that graces Seoul today bears the imprint of a later era, with sections re May 12, 2025
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  OECD warns of slowing growth in South Korea SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - South Korea’s potential economic growth is projected to dip below 2 percent next year, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, raising fresh concerns about the long-term health of Asia’s fourth-largest economy. The OECD forecast South Korea’s potential GDP growth rate at 1.98 percent for 2026 — a slight but symbolic decline from this year’s estimate of 2.02 percent. The revision reflects a broader May 12, 2025
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  K-pop festival in Japan becomes business platform for Korean firms SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - South Korean companies secured export agreements valued at $9.76 million during business matchmaking sessions held alongside a major K-pop festival in Japan, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said Monday. The business-to-business consultations, organized by KOTRA, took place on May 8 at the Tokyo International Forum, coinciding with KCON Japan, an annual K-pop showcase hosted by entertainment conglomerate CJ ENM. The three-day event featu May 12, 2025
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  Official campaign for presidential election kicks off SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - The official campaign for the upcoming presidential election began on Monday and will last for about three weeks until June 3, the election day. The 22-day campaign period began at the stroke of midnight, with presidential candidates and their supporters spreading out across the country to win the hearts of voters. The snap election comes after the Constitutional Court of Korea's ruling early last month to impeach disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol May 12, 2025
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  Lee Jae-myung wraps up rural tour ahead of campaign kickoff SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the main opposition Democratic Party, spent Sunday campaigning across South Jeolla Province, making a final appeal to voters in rural strongholds ahead of the official start of the election period. Lee toured the southwestern counties of Hwasun, Gangjin, Haenam and Yeongam, engaging with local residents as part of his last regional push before the campaign formally begins on Tuesday. The visits were part of a br May 11, 2025
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  Han Duck-soo concedes in party vote, backs Kim Moon-soo for presidency SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Sunday accepted the results of a party-wide vote that rejected a proposal to replace the People Power Party’s presidential nominee with himself, pledging to support the party’s official candidate, Kim Moon-soo. Speaking at a press conference at his campaign office in Yeouido, Han said he would “humbly accept” the outcome and return to private life. “I take seriously both the encouragement May 11, 2025
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  Kim Moon-soo secures candidacy after failed ouster attempt SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - A last-ditch effort by the ruling conservative People Power Party (PPP) to replace its presidential nominee has ended in turmoil, exposing deep fractures within the party just ahead of the registration deadline. The party leadership’s attempt to replace Kim Moon-soo, the candidate who won the party’s primary, with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo unraveled within 24 hours following fierce internal opposition and a narrow defeat in a party-wide v May 11, 2025