PHOTOS: Everyday life inside royal palaces

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - A unique performance unfolded at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul on April 28, offering a glimpse into the daily routines of the Joseon Dynasty's royal court as part of the "Spring Royal Culture Festival." This festival, a prominent showcase of South Korea's cultural heritage, continues until May 4, presenting a diverse array of traditional cultural programs across the five Joseon-era palaces — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksug

April 29, 2025

Subway fares in Seoul to rise in late June

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - Subway fares in Seoul are set to rise in June. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Tuesday that the base subway fare for a single ride will increase by 150 won to 1,550 won (US$1.08). The impending hike, set to take effect on June 28, comes less than two years after the fare was raised from 1,250 won to the current 1,400 won in October 2023. Fares for teens and children under 13 will rise by 100 won to 900 won and by 50 won to 550 won, respectively.

April 29, 2025

INTERVIEW: Pastor calls for dialogue and compassion toward LGBTQ community

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - Even when minds do not change, Pastor Lee Dong-hwan believes dialogue can move hearts. “If we can at least open a conversation and listen to each other, even without changing our opinions, that itself is meaningful,” he said during an interview with AJP at his office in central Seoul. Lee recalled a three-hour phone call he had with a conservative media figure. “We didn’t end up changing each other’s minds, but we respected

April 29, 2025

HD Korea Shipbuilding secures $1.86 billion in container ship orders

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering said Tuesday it has secured contracts for 22 container ships, valued at more than 2.53 trillion won, or about $1.86 billion, over a four-day span. The orders come amid a notable shift away from Chinese shipyards following new U.S. port fee announcements targeting Chinese-built vessels. The Korean shipbuilder signed contracts with a shipping company based in Oceania for four 8,400 TEU (twenty-foot equivalen

April 29, 2025

Korea, US to form working groups on trade, tariffs this week

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - South Korea and the United States will establish a series of working groups this week to refine their trade agenda, setting the stage for substantive negotiations expected to begin next week, officials here said Tuesday. At a government briefing in Sejong City, Park Sung-taek, South Korea’s first vice industry minister, said the country’s trade policy director would travel to Washington in the coming days to conduct final working-level consultatio

April 29, 2025

[UPDATE] Daegu wildfire extinguished after 23 hours, scorches 260 hectares of forest

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - A massive wildfire that broke out in Buk-gu District in Daegu, the fourth largest city in South Korea, was brought under control on Tuesday, nearly 23 hours after it started. The fire, which had threatened nearby residential areas including dense apartment complexes, left 260 hectares (642 acres) of forest scorched, equivalent to about 364 football fields. According to forestry and firefighting authorities, the main blaze on Hamji Mountain in Daegu some 240 k

April 29, 2025

Soo-young of Girls' Generation to make Hollywood debut in action thriller

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - Singer-turned actress Soo-young is set to make her Hollywood debut in the American action thriller "Ballerina," which is slated for release in June. "Ballerina," a spinoff of the John Wick series, revolves around a young assassin who seeks revenge for the murder of her father. The member of K-pop girl group Girls' Generation has been cast in a supporting role, helping the assassin, played by Ana de Armas, known for her roles in &quo

April 28, 2025

Acting President expected to declare presidential bid later this week

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) -Acting President Han Duck-soo is expected to announce his presidential bid later this week, with the upcoming snap presidential election just a month away. Under relevant laws, a presidential candidate must resign from any official post at least 30 days before the election, meaning that Han must step down by May 4 to be eligible for the June 3 election. In political circles, there is speculation that Han could announce his candidacy as early as Wednesday, a

April 28, 2025

IMF pushes back Korea's $40,000 per capita GDP forecast to 2029

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - The International Monetary Fund has delayed its forecast for when South Korea will reach $40,000 in per capita gross domestic product, pushing the milestone back two years from 2027 to 2029. In its latest World Economic Outlook report, released this month, the IMF projected that South Korea’s per capita GDP would fall to $34,642 this year — a 4.1 percent decline from last year’s $36,129 — slipping below 2022 levels. The downgrade re

April 28, 2025

Korea sets up fund in Singapore to support SMEs

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - The Korea Venture Investment Corporation under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has established a subsidiary in Singapore as part of an ambitious effort to create a $200 million fund, the ministry said on Monday. The new entity marks a significant step in Korea’s drive to globalize its venture capital ecosystem. The fund, which is expected to launch by the second quarter of 2026, will use the Singapore subsidiary as its operational base. Previousl

April 28, 2025