Cold wave advisory issued in Seoul with sub-zero temperatures expected

SEOUL, December 2 (AJP) - A cold wave advisory was issued for all 21 districts of Seoul and surrounding areas on Tuesday, just before a new cold snap hit the capital in the evening. Such an advisory is issued when morning temperatures are expected to drop by more than 10 degrees Celsius from the previous day, or at least 3 degrees below the seasonal average, or when the morning low is forecast to remain at or below -12 degrees for two or more consecutive days. Morning temperatu

December 2, 2025

Aju Media Group and Vision Culture sign partnership for WAIFF Seoul 2026

SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - Aju Media Group and Vision Culture signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Tuesday to form a strategic partnership for the successful hosting of the “World AI Film Festival (WAIFF) Seoul 2026.” The signing ceremony was held at Aju Media Group’s headquarters in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. The event was attended by Aju Media Group Chairman Kwak Young-gil, President Lim Kwu-jin, Vision Culture Chairman Byun Jun-yeon, and WAIFF Seoul C

December 2, 2025

Waning West-centric voice in media means opportunities for Asian narratives

SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - The waning influence of Western-centric narratives in global media presents a critical opening for Asian news platforms to assert their own voice, said Sohn Jie-ae, visiting professor at Ewha Womans University and former CNN Seoul bureau chief, at a forum in Seoul on Tuesday. Citing a recent New York Times column, Sohn said the United States' global narrative has grown "incoherent" and its brand "toxic," arguing that the shift mar

December 2, 2025

C-democracy, or political participation through wagering, sprouts in polarized Korea

SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - "C-democracy" — where wagering meets political motive — is emerging in South Korea, as bets on former president Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment odds illustrate how fandom-driven political participation is evolving into fortified camps amid deepening polarization, a media scholar said at a forum in Seoul. "The fandom-engaged, interest-based model of democracy is shifting into a fortress-centered one — a fragmented, hybr

December 2, 2025

More subway workers threaten strike

SEOUL, December 2 (AJP) - More subway workers are expected to go on strike next week if their demands for increased staffing are not met. The Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU), which operates Line 9, separately from Seoul Metro (which manages Lines 1 through 8), held a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday, threatening a potential partial strike on Dec. 11. The action would maintain train schedules but involve operational slowdowns such as delayed door c

December 2, 2025

PHOTOS: Korea's year-end tradition of sharing warmth through kimchi

SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - As the calendar year draws to a close, a heartwarming tradition is unfolding across South Korea: mass kimchi-making events, known locally as gimjang. The time-honored custom sees communities, volunteers, and local organizations gather to prepare large quantities of the fermented cabbage. While gimjang is traditionally a family affair, these widespread annual events focus on collecting and distributing the kimchi to those in need — particularly the

December 2, 2025

South Korea's daily inflation nears 3% in November on steep won weakening

SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - South Korea’s inflationary pressure strengthened in November, with daily living costs hovering near 3 percent as a sharply weaker won pushed up fuel and import prices while discouraging overseas travel and spending, government data showed Tuesday. According to the consumer price index (CPI) released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, headline inflation rose 2.4 percent from a year earlier, matching October’s on-year gain. Fuel prices

December 2, 2025

INTERVIEW: KEAD chief aims to expand job opportunities for disabled in emerging industries

SEOUL, December 2 (AJP) - Dec. 3 marks the UN's International Day of Persons with Disabilities, highlighting the importance of employment opportunities for the disabled amid rapid changes in the labor market. The Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities (KEAD) is at the forefront of this effort. Lee Jong-seong, KEAD's head, is focused on creating jobs for the disabled. "The expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital industries is reshaping th

December 2, 2025

KAI strengthens space portfolio with new satellite launch

SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said Tuesday the country's new multipurpose satellite was successfully launched at 2:21 a.m. local time from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana aboard a VEGA-C rocket. KAI played a key role in the mission, jointly developing and assembling the satellite with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). Officials said the launch significantly strengthens South Korea’s precision earth-observation capa

December 2, 2025

South Korea holds world's first contest to counter AI hacking

SEOUL, December 02 (AJP) - South Korea has wrapped up the world’s first AI Hacking Defense Contest (ACDC), an event designed to test emerging cybersecurity threats and defense techniques in the era of artificial intelligence. The competition was hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and organized by the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) in partnership with the Korea Information Security Industry Association (KISIA). The contest examined three major domains

December 2, 2025