Former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo (left) and Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), pose for a photo at the PPP's headquarters in Yeouido, western Seoul on April 29, 2025. Yonhap SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - Presidential candidates for the ruling People Power Party (PPP) were narrowed down to two on Tuesday ahead of the snap presidential election scheduled for early June. Among four candidates -- IT tycoon-turned-politician Ahn Cheol-soo, former party lead

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - Subway fares in Seoul are set to rise in June. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Tuesday that the base subway fare for a single ride will increase by 150 won to 1,550 won (US$1.08). The impending hike, set to take effect on June 28, comes less than two years after the fare was raised from 1,250 won to the current 1,400 won in October 2023. Fares for teens and children under 13 will rise by 100 won to 900 won and by 50 won to 550 won, respectively.

SEOUL, April 29 (AJP) - A massive wildfire that broke out in Buk-gu District in Daegu, the fourth largest city in South Korea, was brought under control on Tuesday, nearly 23 hours after it started. The fire, which had threatened nearby residential areas including dense apartment complexes, left 260 hectares (642 acres) of forest scorched, equivalent to about 364 football fields. According to forestry and firefighting authorities, the main blaze on Hamji Mountain in Daegu some 240 k

SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) -Acting President Han Duck-soo is expected to announce his presidential bid later this week, with the upcoming snap presidential election just a month away. Under relevant laws, a presidential candidate must resign from any official post at least 30 days before the election, meaning that Han must step down by May 4 to be eligible for the June 3 election. In political circles, there is speculation that Han could announce his candidacy as early as Wednesday, a

SEOUL, April 27 (AJP) - Lee Jae-myung has officially been named the Democratic Party (DP)’s presidential candidate after winning an overwhelming majority in the party’s primary, setting a new record for the highest vote share in its history. In the final primary vote held at Kintex Center in Goyang on Apr, 27, Lee secured 89.77 percent of the total ballots, decisively defeating his rivals Kim Dong-yeon and Kim Kyung-soo, who garnered 7 percent and 3 percent, respective

SEOUL, April 27 (AJP) - A wildfire that broke out in Inje, Gangwon Province, was brought under control after nearly 20 hours, authorities said Sunday. The Korea Forest Service and firefighting officials confirmed that the main flames were extinguished by around 9 a.m. Sunday. Crews remained on-site with six helicopters, 105 personnel, and 11 firefighting vehicles to tackle any remaining embers and monitor the area for flare-ups. The fire damaged an estimated 73 hectares (180 ac

SEOUL, April 27 (AJP) - Voice phishing crimes in South Korea have surged in the first three months of this year, with damages more than doubling compared to the same period last year. The National Police Agency urged the public Sunday to be extra cautious. Between January and March this year, police recorded 5,878 cases of voice phishing, up 17 percent from the same period in 2024. Losses totaled 311.6 billion won ($216.5 million), about 2.2 times higher than a year earlier. The a

SEOUL, April 26 (AJP) - Pope Francis, the 266th and first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88. Following Saturday's funeral, the Catholic Church now faces the solemn task of selecting a new leader through its unique electoral system: the conclave. The word "conclave" stems from Latin, combining "com" (together) and "clavis" (key) - an apt description for a process where card

SEOUL, April 26 (AJP) - North Chungcheong Province has launched a bid to establish a manufacturing AI center in collaboration with four local municipalities, officials announced on Saturday. The province is participating in a regional specialized revitalization project for manufacturing data competition organized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, alongside Cheongju City, Chungju City, Jincheon County, and Eumseong County. The initiative, which comes with about 6 billion won (