Tajikistan and S.Korea expand partnership in geoscience cooperation

SEOUL, May 17 (AJP) - An agreement to strengthen geological cooperation between Tajikistan and South Korea was signed in Seoul during the International Forum on Important Minerals (INFOCM 2025) last week. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by Tajikistan’s Main Department of Geology and the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources. The two countries agreed to collaborate on geological mapping, exploration of strategic minerals, and assessment of geolog

May 17, 2025

Massive blaze at tire factory in Gwangju might last one week

SEOUL, May 17 (AJP) - A fire broke out at a tire manufacturing factory in a southwestern city on Saturday morning and could take a week to fully extinguish. The blaze began at a facility mixing raw rubber and chemicals at the Kumho Tire plant in Gwangju. Early investigations suggest an unknown spark ignited nearby flammable materials, quickly spreading the fire to adjacent buildings. About 400 employees immediately evacuated, but a worker in his 20s sustained a leg fracture a

May 17, 2025

Former S. Korean President Yoon exits ruling party PPP

SEOUL, May 17 (AJP) - Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said his resignation from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) on Saturday, a decision that comes just weeks before the upcoming snap presidential election. Yoon joined the PPP in July 2021, becoming its presidential nominee and securing the presidency under the party's banner. Despite his impeachment over his botched martial law debacle last year, he remained with the party until Saturday’s decision.

May 17, 2025

Pyongyang criticizes US counterterrorism non-cooperation listing

SEOUL, May 17 (AJP) -North Korea criticized the United States on Saturday for a "political provocation" after being re-designated as an "uncooperative state in combating terrorism," warning this would escalate "irreconcilable hostility" between the two countries. North Korea's state-run news media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that North Korea's Foreign Ministry described the annual designation as a "unilateral and ma

May 17, 2025

Presidential candidates to face off in first televised debate this weekend

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - With just a few weeks remaining until next month's presidential election, four presidential hopefuls are set to face off in a televised debate scheduled for this weekend. In their first debate hosted by election watchdog National Election Commission slated for Sunday, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) will present their vi

May 16, 2025

Lotte Mart enters Singapore market through FairPrice partnership

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - Lotte Mart has entered the Singapore market through a strategic partnership with FairPrice, the city state’s largest retailer. The company opened its first store in the country this week, adopting a shop-in-shop format within the FairPrice Extra outlet at VivoCity, one of Singapore’s largest shopping malls. The launch marks Lotte Mart’s first expansion into a new Southeast Asian market in 17 years, following its entry into Vietnam and Ind

May 16, 2025

PHOTOS: Remembering King Sejong the Great

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - King Sejong the Great, the fourth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty, whose reign saw the creation of Hangeul, the nation’s indigenous alphabet, and significant advancements across economic, social, cultural, and military spheres, was honored on Thursday in the first national commemoration of his birthday. May 15 was designated a national commemorative day last November. King Sejong is widely revered by South Koreans today, often mentioned alongside the famed Admiral

May 16, 2025

Korea's top companies see 17% increase in first quarter operating profits

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest corporations reported a sharp rise in operating profits in the first quarter of 2025, buoyed by a resurgence in the IT electronics sector, according to data released Friday by corporate tracker CEO Score. Among the nation’s top 500 companies, operating profits rose 17.1 percent year-over-year, climbing to 60.96 trillion won (approximately $44.6 billion) from 52.07 trillion won during the same period in 2024. The findings a

May 16, 2025

Trade ministers from South Korea, US hold tariff-related talks in Jeju

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - Trade ministers from South Korea and the United States are continuing talks to narrow differences during a series of meetings on the sidelines of the preparatory gathering for this fall's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which wraps up in Jeju on Friday. Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun is holding talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer over Washington's proposed 25-percent reciprocal tariffs on South Korea

May 16, 2025

INTERVIEW: Outgoing chief reflects on how Tokyo's Korean Cultural Center builds bridges between neighboring countries

SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - At the heart of Tokyo, Japan, there's a dedicated space where locals can explore and immerse themselves in South Korea's history and culture. Located at the corner of Shinjuku, a bustling district in the capital known for its characteristic alleys lined with shops, clubs and restaurants, the Korean Cultural Center was founded in 1979 as the first of its kind overseas. Since then, it has served as a major hub for raising awareness of South Korea

May 16, 2025