Arsonist sparks fire on Seoul subway, forcing 400 passengers to flee through tunnel

SEOUL, May 31 (AJP) - A man ignited a fire on a Seoul subway train during Saturday morning rush hour, forcing about 400 passengers to evacuate through underground tunnels as smoke filled the carriages. The blaze erupted at 8:43 a.m. on Line 5 between Yeouinaru and Mapo stations when a man in his 60s used a torch-style lighter to set clothing ablaze after boarding with a container of oil, witnesses said. Twenty-one passengers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation and ankle injuri

May 31, 2025

South Korean professor loses lawsuit over research fund embezzlement disciplinary action

SEOUL, May 31 (AJP) - A South Korean national university professor who embezzled about 80 million won (US$57,952) in research funds by falsely claiming equipment purchases has lost his administrative lawsuit challenging his disciplinary punishment. The Chuncheon District Court ruled against the professor in his lawsuit seeking to overturn a three-month suspension imposed by the national university he resides, the court announced on Saturday. According to the indictment, the profe

May 31, 2025

China expands surveillance network in Korean waters with three new buoys

SEOUL, May 31 (AJP) - China has quietly installed three additional observation buoys in disputed West Sea waters near South Korea, raising fresh concerns about Beijing's growing maritime surveillance capabilities in the region. The South Korean Navy reported on Saturday its discovery of large buoys near the 123-degree east longitude line, west of Ieodo reef. The installations sit in international waters within China's exclusive economic zone, directly adjacent to South Korea

May 31, 2025

High turnout in early voting for presidential election

SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) - Early voting for next week's presidential election wrapped up with a high voter turnout of 34.74 percent on Friday, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). The election watchdog said the high turnout came as about 15.42 million out of 44.39 million eligible voters cast their ballots in advance at around 3,500 polling stations nationwide on Thursday and Friday. Some 8.69 million voters cast their ballots on the first day of early voting, reac

May 30, 2025

Tour for reunification wraps up in Seoul ahead of major campaign on Liberation Day in August

SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) - A nationwide tour promoting reunification between the two Koreas, organized by a civil coalition, wrapped up with a final rally in Seoul on Friday after spanning 13 cities and provinces. The Korean Dream Hangang Grand Festival Organizing Committee held an event at the Kim Koo Museum & Library in Yongsan, bringing together civil representatives from across South Korea. The event served as the finale to a series of rallies that began on May 12 in Daegu and

May 30, 2025

Former UN chief calls for global solidarity at forum in Astana

SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) - Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged international cooperation and regional unity at the Astana International Forum (AIF), which is underway in Kazakhstan. Ban, who now serves as chair of the Green Growth Global Institute and chair of the Boao Forum for Asia, highlighted the importance of global dialogue at the two-day forum in the Kazakh capital. "As the former UN Secretary-General who helped realize the Par

May 30, 2025

Concert offers chance to explore Latin American music traditions

SEOUL, May 30 (AJP) - A concert in southern Seoul earlier this week offered an opportunity to explore the transatlantic evolution of Baroque music, while also engaging with early Latin American music. Last Wednesday's concert at Banpo Simsan Art Hall, part of a music festival hosted by the Seocho Cultural Foundation, along with Musica Ex Machina, a creative ensemble dedicated to rare early classical music, examined how Baroque music evolved into a distinct hybrid form through ex

May 30, 2025

Int'l forum to tackle global challenges kicks off in Astana

SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - A two-day international forum putting the spotlight on multilateral cooperation to tackle various global challenges and other issues is being held in Kazakhstan this week. The Astana International Forum (AIF) kicked off on Thursday in the Kazakh capital, bringing together over 1,000 participants including heads of state, business executives, renowned academics, and representatives from more than 70 countries. During the forum, over 100 ministerial o

May 29, 2025

Four dead after Navy patrol plane crashes in Pohang shortly after takeoff

SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - A patrol aircraft with four people aboard crashed on a mountain in the southeastern city of Pohang on Thursday, according to military authorities. "A P-3 maritime patrol aircraft crashed several minutes after taking off from an air base in Pohang for training at around 1:40 p.m. due to unidentified reasons," the Navy said in a statement. The Navy is investigating further details including the exact cause of the crash. Firefighters were immediately

May 29, 2025

US Embassy in Seoul halts new interviews ahead of impending stricter student visa policy

SEOUL, May 29 (AJP) - The U.S. Embassy in Seoul has reportedly halted the scheduling of new interviews for student visa applicants. This appears to be related to reports that the U.S. government has instructed its embassies and consular offices overseas to temporarily suspend such procedures as it prepares to mandate social media screening for students planning to study in the U.S. The embassy's website no longer shows available dates for those seeking to schedule interviews

May 29, 2025