Icy rush-hour disruption inevitable as Seoul city bus strike begins SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) -Seoul commuters faced inevitable rush-hour disruption amid icy temperatures Tuesday as city bus drivers launched an indefinite strike after last-minute wage talks collapsed overnight. Members of the Seoul City Bus Workers Union began the walkout with the first buses of the day at 4 a.m., after negotiations with the Seoul City Bus Transport Business Association broke down around 1:30 a.m., according to both sides. The talks, mediated by the Seoul Regional January 13, 2026

Sweet, stretchy, but Dubai's chewy cookie craze leaves a sticky mark on prices SEOUL, January 12, 2026 (AJP) — South Korea has a new dessert obsession, and it doesn’t crumble quietly. The Dubai Chewy Cookie, locally nicknamed dujjonku, is selling quite literally like hot cake — except hotter, thicker and far more Instagrammable. What began as a café novelty has now spilled across menus nationwide, with sushi joints and sandwich shops alike slipping the chewy chocolate slab into delivery apps, as if dessert were now a compulsory add-o January 12, 2026

Won edges toward 1,470 on overseas stock craze and strong dollar SEOUL, Jan. 12 (AJP) -South Korea’s won has weakened for eight consecutive sessions to flirt with the 1,470 level, erasing year-end gains made from heavy central bank intervention and stoking concerns for entrenched fragility that can build up inflationary pressures across the economy. The won closed at 1,468.4 against the dollar in Seoul on Monday, down 10.8 won from the previous session. After a volatile day that saw the currency start at 1,461.3 and briefly strengthen t January 12, 2026

As ramyeon turns into a global comfort food, exports boil to record high SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) -Steam rose higher than ever from Korea’s export kitchens last year. Food shipments hit a record, powered by an unstoppable wave of instant noodles that now travel farther than most K-pop tours. Provisional data from the Ministry of Agriculture shows K-Food Plus exports climbing 5.1 percent to $13.62 billion, with instant noodle sales jumping nearly 22 percent to $1.52 billion — the first time they’ve crossed the $1.5 billion line. From supe January 12, 2026

Prosecutors seek 15-year prison term for ex-interior minister over martial law involvement SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Prosecutors on Monday sought a 15-year prison sentence for former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min over his alleged involvement in disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle in late 2024. During the final hearing of Lee's trial at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul, prosecutors led by Cho Eun-suk said Lee, who had a decade-long career as a judge and lawyer at a law firm, "took part" in Yoon's botched D January 12, 2026

Strong memory prices, weak won fuel electronics inflation in Korea SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Soaring memory chip prices, compounded by a weak won, are pushing up the cost of electronics in South Korea, from laptops and smartphones to AI-driven devices such as robots and autonomous systems. All computing devices rely on memory chips, and the rapid expansion of hyperscale data centers and artificial intelligence has tightened global supply. As chipmakers prioritize high-performance memory for AI servers, device manufacturers and retailers are scram January 12, 2026

Red flags rise as leveraged stock investment hits record highs in Korea SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - As an AI-driven frenzy continues to power record rallies in Seoul and on Wall Street, leveraged stock investment in South Korea has surged to historic highs, amplifying financial vulnerabilities in an economy where household debt already exceeds gross domestic product. The benchmark KOSPI continued to rewrite records this week, climbing 0.84% to 4,624.79 - less than a week after breaking through 4,500. The index has rallied almost uninterrupted since mid- January 12, 2026

From the 2025 lull to the 2026 pipeline: can Korean cinema bounce back? SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - After a year that many in the industry would rather forget, Korean cinema is lining up a high-stakes reset for 2026. The drought of 2025 was historic for all the wrong reasons. For the first time since 2012—excluding the pandemic years—not a single film crossed the 10-million-admissions mark. Even the symbolic 5 million barrier proved elusive. Big names stumbled, audience momentum stalled, and production volumes fell to nearly half their pre- January 12, 2026

Ex-DP lawmaker slapped with travel ban over alleged bribery SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - Former Democratic Party (DP) lawmaker Kang Sun-woo has been banned from traveling, along with two others, over alleged bribery, police said on Monday. Kang, who recently left the party amid allegations, is accused of accepting 100 million Korean won (US$68,500) from Seoul city official Kim Kyung in return for the DP's candidate nominations for the 2022 local elections. The money was reportedly delivered to Kang's ex-aide, identified only by his surn January 12, 2026

Korean Air–Asiana union nears; what does it mean for Asiana passengers? SEOUL, January 12 (AJP) - The long-awaited merger between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines is finally approaching completion. But for millions of Asiana passengers, one question matters more than regulatory approvals or aircraft numbers: What happens to my miles, status and benefits? As Asiana is absorbed into Korea's larger flag carrier, its brand, loyalty program and global alliance will all disappear. While the combined airline promises greater scale and efficiency, many freq January 12, 2026