Korea spotlights heritage impact assessments versus developments SEOUL, July 24 (AJP) - Korea will bring together international heritage experts to discuss how Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA) can help safeguard UNESCO World Heritage sites from mounting pressure caused by development projects, tourism and climate change, the Korea National University of Heritage, which operates under the Korea Heritage Service, said Friday. The forum, titled Making Impact Assessment Work for World Heritage: From Capacity Building to Practice, will be held from July 24, 2026

Crocodile discovery renews scrutiny of Korea's exotic pet trade SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - A crocodile pulled from a stream in Yeoju has been identified as a critically endangered Siamese crocodile, adding to a series of crocodile discoveries in South Korea over the past two years and renewing scrutiny of the country's exotic pet trade. Firefighters captured the 50-centimeter reptile from Soyang Stream on July 18 after a passerby reported what appeared to be a pet crocodile swimming in the water. Rescue crews netted the animal within about 30 July 23, 2026

Foreign arrivals to Korea near 2 million in June SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - Nearly nine in 10 foreign visitors to South Korea in June traveled for tourism, driving monthly arrivals to nearly 2 million while business, official and study-related travel remained comparatively subdued, the Korea Tourism Organization said Thursday. Korea received 1,993,128 foreign visitors during the month, up 23.1 percent from 1,619,220 a year earlier. The total reached 135 percent of its June 2019 level, before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted internati July 23, 2026

AI to cut 256,000 jobs annually in S. Korea: Report SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - Artificial intelligence is expected to eliminate roughly 256,000 jobs a year in South Korea within a decade, a report released by the Korea Development Institute showed Wednesday. AI will concentrate pressure on professionals, office workers and sales staff rather than on the manual work that earlier waves of automation displaced. The scale is easier to read against what the institute expects the labor market to do otherwise. In its outlook published earlier July 22, 2026

Seoul's last shantytown takes first step towards redevelopment SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - The planned transformation of Guryong Village, widely known as Seoul’s last remaining shantytown, moved a step closer after the city conditionally approved plans to build 2,120 public housing units in two core sections of the settlement. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that its Public Housing Integrated Review Committee, conditionally approved construction plans for the M and B2 blocks within Guryong Village in Gangnam District. The July 22, 2026

Foreign tourists boost visits to Seoul's historic royal palaces SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - A surge in foreign visitors helped offset a slight decline in domestic visitors to South Korea's royal heritage sites in the first half of the year, pushing overall admissions up 6.6 percent from a year earlier, according to data released by the Korea Heritage Service on Thursday. A combined 7.41 million people visited the capital's royal palaces including Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeongbokgung, as well as the Jongmyo Shrine betwe July 16, 2026

Korean Folk Village wins Red Dot award for improving visitor access to heritage SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - Korean Folk Village, an open-air museum and cultural theme park on the outskirts of Seoul, has won this year's Red Dot Design Award for its mobile platform, it said on Thursday. Its platform was recognized for its digital services, which make exploring the heritage site more convenient and engaging for visitors. It received a Winner award in the Brands & Communication Design category for integrating various services into a single app including QR-co July 16, 2026

Foreign shoppers fuel record first-half sales at South Korea's department stores SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - Foreign tourists spent a record 1.72 trillion won ($1.24 billion) at South Korea's three largest department store chains in the first half of 2026, as inbound travelers broadened their spending from luxury goods to Korean fashion, beauty and dining. Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae Department Store and Hyundai Department Store each posted record first-half foreign sales, according to industry data released on Tuesday. Lotte led with 640 billion July 15, 2026

The world is scorching and Korea's climate envoy sees opportunity in crisis SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - South Korea issued its first top-tier heat warning Sunday as temperatures neared 39 degrees Celsius in the southeastern cities of Pohang and Gyeongsan, joining countries across Europe and North America confronting summers that are becoming longer, hotter and increasingly dangerous. The Korea Meteorological Administration activated the newly created Heat Wave Emergency Warning after apparent temperatures were forecast to exceed 38 degrees following days above July 14, 2026

K-delivery joins the must-do list for foreign visitors SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) - Foreign visitors are no longer coming to South Korea simply to shop, sightsee and dine out. Increasingly, they are trying to live like locals, embracing everyday Korean culture by ordering fried chicken, coffee and late-night snacks through delivery apps in what has become the latest K-culture experience. The shift reflects a broader evolution of Korean tourism, where travelers seek not only famous attractions but also the rhythms of daily life. Just as conv July 12, 2026