Biden nominates new USFK chief

Lieutenant General Xavier T. Brunson/ Courtesy of the U.S. Army SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - Lieutenant General Xavier T. Brunson has been named as a nominee to lead the U.S. Forces Korea, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. U.S. President Joe Biden nominated him to replace General Paul LaCamera who has led the position since July 2021. Brunson's nomination, which comes as LaCamera's tour in Seoul ends, requires approval from the Senate. Brunson currently serves as the Commandin

September 12, 2024

Heatwave refuses to give way to autumn

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - A heatwave advisory was extended for a second day on Wednesday, as the unprecedented heatwave across the country including Seoul persists into September. Such an advisory is issued when the highest temperature is expected to reach 35 degrees Celsius or higher for two or more consecutive days. Although "Baekro," which heralds the season when chilly morning dew starts to form and is often considered the beginning of autumn according to

September 11, 2024

Korea defeats Oman 3-1 in World Cup qualifier

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Korea defeated Oman in a World Cup qualifier in the Arabian country's capital on Tuesday. The match at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex was part of the third and final round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Korea took an early lead with an opening goal just 10 minutes into the match by Wolverhampton Wanderers' striker Hwang Hee-chan, but it was short-lived as defender Jeong Seung-hyun da

September 11, 2024

Two Korean climbers found dead on Mont Blanc

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Two Korean climbers were found dead in the Alps on Tuesday, three days after they went missing, according to the Korean Embassy in France. French rescuers discovered their bodies near the summit of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe. They were identified as a man in his 50s and a woman in her 40s, who had been reported missing last Saturday by a Korean mountaineering club. The two were part of a seven-member group who had trave

September 11, 2024

Korea's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 4.4% in 2023 amid economic downturn

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) — Amid an economic downturn, Korea's greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 4.4 percent last year compared to 2022, marking a decline for the second consecutive year. The national greenhouse gas emissions for 2023 were provisionally estimated at 624.2 million tons in CO2 equivalent, a 4.4 percent decrease compared to the previous year, according to the Greenhouse Gas Inventory & Research Center of Korea under the Environment Ministry. The em

September 10, 2024

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in reportedly dating postgraduate student

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in is dating a postgraduate student, Dispatch, a Korean entertainment media, reported Monday. Dispatch released photographs of Lee and Park Sang-hyo, a 25-year-old family member of the 17th largest conglomerate in Korea, dating in Paris. The images showed the couple wearing thick winter coats. According to Dispatch's report, the couple had dinner at Siena Paris, a restaurant where celebrities often visit

September 10, 2024

'Haenyo' female divers to gather on Jeju island for heritage celebration

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - About 100 "Haenyeo," or "sea ladies," will gather on Jeju Island for the 17th annual Haenyeo Day, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced Monday. The female divers will represent some 10,000 Haenyo in Korea to launch an association. Haenyeo are female divers who harvest sea life like mollusks and seaweed from the ocean floor using only basic equipment: wetsuits, diving masks, fins, gloves, chest weights, weeding hoes, an

September 10, 2024

KAIST, NYU to launch joint degree program in AI

SEOUL, September 9 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and New York University (NYU) agreed Monday to establish a joint degree program in artificial intelligence. KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung and NYU President Linda G. Mills signed a memorandum of understanding in Seoul to initiate the groundbreaking program. The agreement follows years of cooperation between the two institutions in AI research and student exchange programs. Both instituti

September 9, 2024

Drug smuggling into Korea increases by 23% in 2023

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - The Korea Customs Service reported a 23.4 percent increase in the amount of smuggled drugs seized in 2023, according to data released Monday by the main opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Jeon Yong-gi. A total of 769 kilograms (1,695 pounds) of illegal drugs, valued at 61.3 billion won ($45.7 million), were confiscated by customs authorities in 2023. This marks a significant rise from the previous year and a dramatic 419 percent increase compared to t

September 9, 2024