UN urges Ukraine to protect North Korean POWs, opposes forced repatriation

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - The United Nations urged Ukraine on Thursday not to repatriate North Korean prisoners of war (POWs). North Korea allegedly deployed over 10,000 soldiers to Russia to assist Moscow's war in Ukraine, and two soldiers were captured by Ukrainian forces on the battlefield in Russia's Kursk region last month. "International humanitarian law (IHL) requires POWs to be treated humanely at all times and with respect for their honour in all circumstan

February 21, 2025

Late actress Kim Sae-ron's posthumous film slated for release this fall

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - Actress Kim Sae-ron' s posthumous film will be released this fall. The 24-year-old, best known for her role in the 2010 hit action thriller "The Man from Nowhere," shocked the nation when she was found dead of apparent suicide at her home in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul last Sunday. Adapted from Kakao Page's hit webtoon series, "Everyday We Are" explores the moments of first love and friendship among high-schoolers. Kim portrays

February 21, 2025

South Korea's growth could sink to 1 percent, British firm warns

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - A London-based research firm has issued a dire warning about South Korea’s economic outlook, forecasting that the country’s growth rate could fall to just 1 percent this year — a sharp decline that underscores mounting political and financial pressures. In a report, Capital Economics revised its projection for South Korea’s real gross domestic product growth, lowering it from 1.1 percent to 1 percent. The firm cited a deepening po

February 21, 2025

Girl group IVE to headline music festivals in Berlin and Paris this summer

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - K-pop girl group IVE will meet global fans through performances at Lollapalooza in Berlin and Paris this summer. According to their agency Starship Entertainment, IVE will take the stage as a headliner at Lollapalooza Berlin held at the Olympiastadion in the German capital on July 12-13. Lollapalooza, a large-scale music festival that started in the U.S. in 1991, is now held in various locations around the world including France and Germany. This yea

February 21, 2025

BLACKPINK to embark on world tour in July, including performance at iconic Wembley Stadium

SEOUL, February 21 (AJP) - K-pop girl group BLACKPINK will kick off their world tour with a concert in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province in July, according to their management agency YG Entertainment. The quartet will perform at major stadiums in around a dozen cities across the world, with stops including Barcelona, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Milan, New York, Tokyo, and Toronto. A leg of their tour includes a performance at London's Wembley Stadium, the largest in the U.K. and th

February 21, 2025

Constitutional Court to hold final hearing in Yoon's impeachment trial next week

SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - The Constitutional Court of Korea will have the final hearing of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial next week over his botched martial law debacle last December. After wrapping up the 10th hearing on Thursday, the court said it will hear final statements from both sides including Yoon at 2 p.m. on Feb. 25. Once next week's hearing concludes, the court will begin its deliberation to decide whether to impeach or reinstate him, which norma

February 20, 2025

Korean firms eye potential end to China's cultural ban with cautious optimism

SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - South Korea’s business community is warily hopeful amid growing speculation that China may lift its long-standing, unofficial ban on Korean cultural content as early as May. The restrictions, imposed in retaliation for Seoul’s deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in 2017, dealt a severe blow to industries reliant on Chinese consumers. Among the hardest hit was AmorePacific, a major cosmetics firm, which

February 20, 2025

South Korea condemns North Korea's troop deployment to Ukraine

SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - The Ministry of Defense here condemned North Korea's alleged deployment of troops to Russia to assist its war in Ukraine, describing it as "deceptive and inhumane" during a press briefing on Thursday. "We strongly denounce the actions of the regime and urge the immediate stop of any additional troop deployments," said the ministry's spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyu, when asked about a recent interview with two North Korea

February 20, 2025

Former PM calls for more flexible approach to 52-hour workweek to support semiconductor industry

SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - A more flexible approach to the mandatory 52-hour workweek may be necessary, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said earlier this week. In a Facebook post, he wrote, "I fully understand concerns that making an exception could set a bad precedent or be widely misused. But if that happens, the law can intervene to amend any flawed regulations." Seeking support from the main opposition Democratic Party, which holds the majority in the 300-membe

February 20, 2025

PHOTOS: Celadon festival to take place in southwestern Korea

SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - The Gangjin Celadon Festival will take place for ten days starting on Saturday at the Goryeo Celadon Museum in Gangjin County, South Jeolla Province. Staff members are currently preparing for the event.

February 20, 2025