10 percent of patients wait average of 17.5 days to be hospitalized: Survey

SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) - A government survey showed Monday that one in ten patients in South Korea waited an average of 17.5 days to be admitted to a hospital last year, marking a nearly four-day increase compared to the year before. The spike in wait times comes amid a shortage of doctors at major university hospitals, where medical residents and interns have collectively resigned in protest of the government’s plan to increase the medical school admission quota significantl

April 2, 2025

Voters go to polls in local by-elections

SEOUL, April 2 (AJP) - Voters cast their ballots in by-elections on Wednesday to fill vacant posts in several cities and local provinces on Wednesday at some 1,500 polling stations across the country. The low-key elections come just two days before the Constitutional Court of Korea's decision on the fate of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial later this week over his botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, drawing attention as they could serve as a gauge of public

April 2, 2025

Justice Ministry considers long-term residency for Indonesian fisherman who rescued elderly from wildfire

SEOUL, April 02 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of Justice announced Monday that it is reviewing the possibility of granting long-term residency to Sugianto, a 31-year-old Indonesian national who helped rescue elderly residents during a deadly wildfire in North Gyeongsang Province in late March. The ministry said it is considering offering Sugianto an F-2 visa, a long-term residency status that can be granted to individuals who have made special contributions to South Korea.

April 2, 2025

Trump suggests US is in 'communication' with North Korea

SEOUL, April 1 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that there is "communication" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, hinting at his willingness to engage with the reclusive country. "We have a great relationship, and..... there is communication," he told reporters at the White House, without providing further details. But when asked whether he plans to reach out to Kim, he said, "I will probably do something at some point." Recal

April 1, 2025

Constitutional Court of Korea to decide on Yoon's impeachment this Friday

SEOUL, April 1 (AJP) - The Constitutional Court of Korea on Tuesday said it will deliver its ruling on the fate of President Yoon Suk Yeol later this week, about four months after the National Assembly voted to impeach him in mid-December last year. The highest court's eight judges, who finally set the ruling date after more than a month of deliberation following Yoon's final hearing over his botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, told reporters that the ruling will be b

April 1, 2025

Japanese Encephalitis alert issued

SEOUL, April 1 (AJP) - With a forecasted long summer amid unseasonably hot spring weather in some southern regions, a nationwide alert for Japanese encephalitis has been issued as mosquito activity is expected to rise. The alert came after the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) found that samples of the specific species of mosquitos transmitting the disease were detected for the first time this year in Jeju and South Jeolla Province last week. Japanese encephaliti

April 1, 2025

Former lawmaker Jang Je-won found dead amid sexual assault probe

SEOUL, April 01 (AJP) - Former People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won, who was under police investigation for sexual assault allegations, was found dead at about 11:40 p.m. on Monday, police reported Tuesday. According to the police, Jang was found dead at around 11:40 p.m. at a studio apartment in Seoul’s eastern district of Gangdong. A note believed to have been written by Jang was found at the scene. Police suspect Jang took his own life and are investigating the exact c

April 1, 2025

Police to grant one-month amnesty for surrendering illegal weapons

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - Police will offer a one-month amnesty for individuals to surrender illegal weapons without facing penalties, the National Police Agency said on Monday. The initiative, set to run through April, will allow people to turn in unlicensed firearms, explosives, and other restricted weapons without criminal or administrative consequences. Weapons eligible for surrender include unlicensed or revoked firearms, explosives, swords, stun guns, sprayers, and crossbows.

March 31, 2025

King Charles offers condolences over deadly wildfires in South Korea

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - King Charles III on Sunday expressed deep condolences over the massive wildfires devastating southeastern South Korea, calling the disaster “catastrophic” and extending sympathy to those affected. “My wife and I were utterly appalled to hear of the catastrophic wildfires currently burning in the southeast of South Korea, a region that I know extended such a warm welcome to my late mother during her State Visit in 1999,” The British m

March 31, 2025

Police launch special unit to combat online drug trafficking

SEOUL, March 31 (AJP) - Police launched a new specialized unit on Monday dedicated to tackling the surge in drug trafficking through digital platforms, consolidating resources previously spread across 17 provincial departments. The "Online Drug Investigation Team" will target illegal transactions conducted through dark web marketplaces, encrypted messaging services like Telegram, and unregulated virtual asset exchanges that have become primary channels for drug distributio

March 31, 2025