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  North Korean state media details South's martial law crisis SEOUL, January 03 (AJP) - North Korean state media has extensively covered South Korea's "political turmoil" in the wake of last month's short-lived martial law debacle here. The official state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday that the "unprecedented" impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is now facing arrest, has paralyzed state affairs, leading to "social and political chaos" in the South. The cove January 3, 2025
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  Korean cumulative overseas construction orders top $1 trillion SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - South Korea's cumulative overseas construction orders surpassed $1 trillion in December 2024, marking a significant milestone since the country's first international project in 1965, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Friday. The achievement is much contributed to construction companies securing last-minute contracts in December, pushing the total past $996.5 billion recorded through November 2024, despite challenging external January 3, 2025
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  Investigators attempt to arrest Yoon amid tense standoff SEOUL, January 3 (AJP) - Investigators arrived at President Yoon Suk Yeol's official residence in Yongsan on Friday to arrest him over his aborted martial law debacle last month. An arrest warrant requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) was issued earlier this week and will expire next Monday, prompting the agency to take swift action. A team of 30 investigators left their office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, earlier in the day and January 3, 2025
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  New justices on board expected to help expedite Yoon's impeachment trial SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Acting President Choi Sang-mok's appointment of two new justices to the Constitutional Court of Korea earlier this week is expected to speed up the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law attempt last month. Choi appointed Cho Han-chang and Jeong Gye-seon from three nominees to fill vacancies at the court on New Year's Eve. With eight of the nine justices now seated, the previous requirement for a unanimous decision January 2, 2025
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  PHOTOS: Yoon supporters rally to block president's arrest SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol rallied near the presidential residence in Seoul's Yongsan district on Wednesday, protesting his impeachment and the detention warrant issued against him. A Seoul court issued the warrant on Tuesday over his attempted martial law declaration on Dec. 3. The warrant remains valid until Jan. 6. January 2, 2025
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  Funerals underway for plane crash victims SEOUL, January 02 (AJP) - Funerals for the victims of a plane crash in southwestern South Korea are underway, as all the victims' bodies were identified on Wednesday. The first funeral for a victim was held in Gwangju on Thursday, nearly a week after the fatal crash of a Jeju Air flight at Muan International Airport which claimed 179 lives last Sunday. So far, the bodies and other remains of about 20 victims have been handed over to their bereaved families, with fune January 2, 2025
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  Wave of price hikes hits food, drinks, beauty products SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - From snacks and chicken to cosmetics, South Korean consumers are facing a wave of price hikes at the start of 2025, as companies cite surging raw material costs and rising labor expenses. Puradak Chicken, a major franchise, raised prices on 10 menu items by up to 1,000 won ($0.68) on Dec. 30, attributing the increase to higher costs of raw materials, rent, and delivery app commissions. Coffee Bean Korea increased the prices of chocolate-based beverages by January 2, 2025
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  Police launch investigation into fatal airplane crash SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Police have launched a criminal investigation into Sunday’s airplane crash, executing search warrants at multiple locations as bereaved families began holding the first funeral services for victims. All but two of the 181 people aboard the Jeju Air passenger jet died after the plane crashed while landing at Muan International Airport. Investigators on Thursday raided offices at the airport, the Busan Regional Aviation Administration’s Muan bra January 2, 2025
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  South Korea lowers 2025 growth forecast to 1.8% SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - South Korea's government on Thursday lowered its 2025 growth forecast to 1.8 percent from 2.2 percent, citing persistent external uncertainties and slowing export growth despite easing inflation and interest rates globally. The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced the downward revision in its annual economic policy direction, signaling the possibility of supplementary budget if needed to bolster the economy. "We will review various measures, January 2, 2025
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  North Korean leader foregoes annual visit to family mausoleum for another year SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un apparently skipped his annual visit to the mausoleum of his grandfather Kim Il-sung and father Kim Jong-il on New Year's Day, according to state media. Senior party and military officials visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang to pay their respects to the regime founder and the former leader the previous day, the country's state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday, without mentioning January 2, 2025