Seoul expands draft evader data disclosure to mirror sex offender registries SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - South Korea's Military Manpower Administration expanded the public disclosure of personal information for military draft evaders, applying measures similar to the country's sex offender registries to enforce conscription compliance. According to South Korean conscription laws, all able-bodied men must serve in the armed forces. Because of this universal mandate, draft evasion remains a highly sensitive social issue where those who dodge the draft fac June 16, 2026

Kookmin University partners with FISU to launch sports master's program SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - Kookmin University has signed an agreement with the International University Sports Federation (FISU) to operate a new graduate-level master's degree program focused on global sports education. The partnership aims to cultivate professionals in the international sports sector, Kookmin University said Tuesday. The agreement was signed Monday, June 15, 2026, at the university campus in Seoul, South Korea. Officials from both organizations attended the cere June 16, 2026

Sejong Center to stage site-specific Schubert concert SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - Sejong Center for the Performing Arts said Tuesday it will present a site-specific classical concert based on Franz Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" next month, allowing audiences to move through the venue while listening to live chamber music. The concert, titled "Death and the Maiden Concert," will take place at 7:30 p.m. (1000 GMT) on July 27 at Sejong Center's Grand Theater in central Seoul. The performance will run for about June 16, 2026

Fresh debate heats up over insurance coverage for hair-loss treatment SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - Amid a growing number of younger people seeking treatment for hair loss, the government has recently hinted at expanding public health insurance coverage for hair-loss treatment from the second half of this year, quickly igniting a fresh debate over how limited healthcare resources should be allocated. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, a nationwide forum is scheduled for early next month to gather public opinion on expanding medical coverag June 16, 2026

Thailand bets on medical field and startups to deepen Korea ties SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - Thailand is placing the medical field, startups and cultural exchange at the center of its partnership with South Korea, unveiling a series of initiatives aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation into healthcare, innovation and other future growth industries. The plans were outlined Tuesday during a media briefing hosted by Tanee Sangrat, Thailand's ambassador to South Korea, at the Royal Thai Embassy in Seoul's Yongsan district. The embassy announce June 16, 2026

Occupation Jamsil moves to political forefront in Korea SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - What began as a citizen-led protest over ballot shortages has become one of South Korea's most contentious political flashpoints after the opposition leveraged the Jamsil demonstrations to advance a revote campaign. The 12-day demonstration outside the Handball Stadium at Seoul's Olympic Park escalated Tuesday when police and Korea Sport & Olympic Committee officials failed to enter the building after protesters blocked access. June 16, 2026

BOJ raises rate to 1% for first time in 31 yrs; markets calm SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - The Bank of Japan raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 1 percent on Tuesday, pushing Japanese interest rates into the 1 percent range for the first time since 1995 as the country continues its gradual exit from decades of ultra-loose monetary policy amid rising inflationary pressure fueled by Gulf-related energy shocks. Japan, which has maintained near-zero interest rates since the mid-1990s to combat chronic deflation, is now confronting many of the s June 16, 2026

Korea's M2 growth tops 10% under old gauge, fastest in over 4 years SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) -South Korea's money supply growth accelerated in April, with broad money under the previous M2 definition expanding at a double-digit pace for the first time in more than four years, partly explaining the stubbornly weak currency and frenzied asset investment. The Bank of Korea said Tuesday that broad money, or M2, averaged 4,153.9 trillion won ($2.79 trillion) in April on a seasonally adjusted basis, up 25.3 trillion won from the previous month. That tran June 16, 2026

SK AX kicks off 'agentic enterprise' era at Seoul conference SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - SK AX declared an "agentic enterprise" era in which corporate operations are wholly redesigned around artificial intelligence, as the company sought to position itself at the forefront of South Korea's enterprise AI race. At its "IMAGINE AX 2026" conference, held under the theme "Beyond AI: The Agentic Enterprise", the SK Group IT services arm showcased its in-house transformation experience and gathered executives from manufa June 16, 2026

Police withdraw after forced entry to Jamsil vote venue fail SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) -Police withdrew Tuenday after an unsuccessful attempt to help employees of sports organizations re-enter Seoul's Olympic Handball Gymnasium, where protesters have blocked access to workplaces for 12 straight days since demonstrations over ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections began. Employees affiliated with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee arrived at the venue in Seoul's Songpa district shortly after 9 a.m. and tried to n June 16, 2026