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  PHOTOS: A journey through Korea's past at National Folk Museum SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Nestled on the eastern grounds of Gyeongbok Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea offers a glimpse into the daily life and traditions of Korea's ancestors, from architecture to social customs. Upon entering the museum’s outdoor exhibition, visitors encounter a tableau of traditional Korean symbols: stone towers, cone-shaped structures believed to ward off misfortune; jangseung, totem poles carved with human faces, serving as village guardians; and sotd February 27, 2025
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  PHOTOS: 10 elderly female divers, or haenyeo, retire in Jeju SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Aboard a yacht off Jeju Island, 10 haenyeo, the island's renowned female divers, marked their retirement on Feb. 26 in a ceremony punctuated by the warm appreciation of their successors. February 27, 2025
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  North Korea deploys more troops to Russia, spy agency says SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - North Korea is believed to have deployed additional troops to assist Russia's war in Ukraine, South Korea's spy agency said on Thursday. "North Korea has apparently sent its troops to Russia's frontline region of Kursk, a territory currently occupied by Ukraine, starting from the first week of February," the National Intelligence Service (NIS) here said in a press release. "We're assessing the exact number of the latest de February 27, 2025
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  Major Korean card firms likely to adopt Apple Pay next month SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Shinhan Card and KB Kookmin Card are set to introduce Apple Pay as early as next month, following Hyundai Card’s initial rollout. The expansion is expected to significantly widen the mobile payment service’s reach from its current 12.65 million users to potentially all iPhone users in South Korea. The broader adoption of Apple Pay, however, may place financial pressure on small business owners. Only 10 percent of South Korea’s 3.2 February 27, 2025
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  INTERVIEW: Ambassador highlights Luxembourg as entry point to Europe for S. Korean businessmen SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Luxembourg and South Korea are strengthening their ties through shared democratic values, strategic economic cooperation, and growing cultural exchanges. At the Luxembourg Embassy in central Seoul on February 20, Ambassador Jacques Flies spoke about the evolving relationship between the two nations and his hopes for the future. "We are countries that believe in the same values—democracy, human rights, and the rule of law," Ambassador Flie February 27, 2025
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  South Korea, US and Japan condemn North Korea's nuclear program at disarmament conference in Geneva SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - South Korea, the U.S., and Japan have condemned North Korea's nuclear weapons program at the annual UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva which wrapped up this week. The three countries warned in a joint statement on Wednesday that Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs are "in clear violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions." "It is deeply regrettable that persists in distorting real February 27, 2025
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  Lotte Construction may sell headquarters building in Seoul to address liquidity problem SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Lotte Construction, a subsidiary of Lotte Group, is taking steps to liquidate assets worth approximately 1 trillion won (US$696 million), including the sale of its building in Seoul’s Seocho-gu, amid ongoing concerns about a liquidity crisis at the group. The construction firm said Thursday that it has commissioned property consulting firms to analyze the profitability of various options for its building, including an outright sale, self-development, February 27, 2025
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  Toxic levels of lead found in pens sold on Chinese e-commerce platforms SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - Ballpoint pens sold on Chinese e-commerce platforms contained lead at levels 231 times higher than South Korea’s legal safety limits, according to tests conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The city government examined 16 stationery products available on platforms including Temu, Shein, and AliExpress ahead of the new school season. The results, released Thursday, revealed that seven of the items contained hazardous substances exceedi February 27, 2025
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  J-Hope of BTS to drop new single next week SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - J-Hope, a member of K-pop boy band BTS will release a new single next week, his agency Big Hit Music said on Thursday. "Sweet Dreams" is a romantic ballad about a heartfelt desire to love and be loved, featuring Grammy-winning R&B artist Miguel. To promote his upcoming solo track, J-Hope is set to hold a showcase on Friday, a week ahead of the single's release on March 7. He will also host an up-close-and-personal event with fans in February 27, 2025
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  US defense secretary plans South Korea trip for shipbuilding talks SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is expected to visit South Korea next month, with discussions likely to focus on shipbuilding collaboration and defense cost-sharing, according to officials and industry sources, Thursday. The trip is set to follow U.S.-Japan defense ministerial talks in late March, positioning Hegseth as the first cabinet-level official from the second Trump administration to visit South Korea. “Secretary Hegseth's team February 27, 2025