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  Court rejects extension of Yoon's detention SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - A court on Friday rejected prosecutors' request to extend the detention of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Earlier in the day, they filed for an extension with the Seoul Central District Court, as his detention period is set to expire early next week, amid his constant refusal to cooperate with questioning over his botched martial law debacle last month. But the court refused the request, citing a lack of proper grounds for prosecutors to proceed with the i January 24, 2025
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  INTERVIEW: Vietnamese envoy highlights dialogue as key to enhancing partnership with S. Korea SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - Vietnamese Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Vu Ho emphasized the importance of sustained dialogue and communication between Viet Nam and South Korea to further strengthen their relationship and adapt to the challenges of a rapidly changing global market. In an exclusive interview with AJP on Wednesday, Vu underscored the significance of deepening bilateral cooperation to solidify the comprehensive strategic partnership forged in 2024. Vu, who assume January 24, 2025
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  Main opposition party takes lead over ruling party again in latest poll SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has slightly overtaken the ruling People Power Party (PPP) in support ratings, according to a poll released on Friday. Pollster Gallup Korea surveyed over 1,000 adults earlier this week and found that about 40 percent of respondents supported the DP, while some 38 percent preferred the PPP. The slightest reversal came amid a tight race between the two parties within the margin of error for several weeks, with the January 24, 2025
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  Trump to 'reach out' to North Korean leader SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would "reach out" to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. His comments come just a few days into his non-consecutive second term earlier this week, suggesting that he intends to re-engage in talks with Pyongyang. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said, "I'll reach out to him again," but gave no specific details. "I got along with him. He is not a religious zealot. He happens January 24, 2025
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  Kia defies 'EV chasm' to report record annual revenue, operating profit SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - Kia Corp. achieved its highest-ever annual revenue and operating profit in 2024, surpassing 100 trillion won ($69.8 billion) in sales for the first time in its history, the company announced Friday. The automaker posted an operating profit of 12.67 trillion won, a 9.1 percent increase from the previous year, while revenue climbed 7.7 percent to 107.45 trillion won. Net profit surged 11.5 percent to 9.79 trillion won, driven by robust demand in North America January 24, 2025
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  Ukraine may repatriate North Korean POWs once war with Russia ends SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - Ukraine has hinted at plans to repatriate North Korean war prisoners, once its ongoing war with Russia ends. Petro Yatsenko, spokesperson for Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, said his country must repatriate them in adherence to international law during his exclusive interview with Radio Free Asia (RFA) last week. He explained that captured soldiers must be released and repatriated without delay after the January 24, 2025
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  SK hynix poised for another record-breaking year on AI chip boom SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - SK hynix is forecast to extend its record-breaking performance into 2025, buoyed by surging demand for artificial intelligence-related semiconductors, analysts said Friday. The South Korean chip giant reported a 12 percent year-on-year increase in fourth-quarter revenue to 19.77 trillion won ($13.8 billion), with operating profit rising 15 percent to 8.08 trillion won, surpassing market expectations. For the full year, the firm's revenue doubled to 6 January 24, 2025
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  PHOTOS: Migration for Lunar New Year holiday begins SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - As the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, Koreans are on the move. Around 1.3 million people are expected to travel abroad through domestic airports over the ten days from Jan. 24 to Feb. 2. On average, 134,000 passengers are expected to depart each day, marking a 13.8 percent increase compared to last year's average of 117,000 passengers per day during the holiday season. January 24, 2025
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  Kim Jong-un remains silent on Trump as North Korean parliament meets North Korea's rubber-stamp Supreme People's Assembly is being held in Pyongyang on Jan. 23, 2025, in this photo released by the official Korean Central News Agency the following day. SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - North Korea's rubber-stamp Supreme People's Assembly held a two-day parliamentary session this week without its leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday. The gathering was apparentl January 24, 2025
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  Trump's fossil fuel push draws mixed reactions from Korean refiners SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - South Korea’s oil refiners are cautiously exploring potential benefits from U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive fossil fuel agenda. Trump unveiled his push for fossil fuels after his inauguration on Jan. 20, declaring a national energy emergency and withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate accord. “We sit on the most oil and natural gas of any nation on earth, and we’re going to use it,” Trump said, signalin January 24, 2025