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  S. Korea starts dismantling of Kori-1 nuclear reactor after final green light SEOUL, June 27 (AJP) - South Korea has begun dismantling its first commercial nuclear reactor, Kori-1, following final approval from the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission on Thursday. The project, led by Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), is expected to span 12 years, ending with full site restoration by 2037. Kori-1, located in Gijang County, Busan some 320 kilometers (198 miles) southeast of Seoul, was a 595-megawatt pressurized water reactor built by Westinghouse. It June 27, 2025
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  Top security adviser attends NATO summit on behalf of Lee SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac met with a slew of heads of state and government officials on the sidelines of the NATO summit which kicked off in the Hague, the Netherlands early this week. Wi, who is attending the two-day summit on behalf of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, held a series of talks with key figures and participants including NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio. According to the presidential of June 26, 2025
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  Small business owners overwhelmed by rising costs and wage pressure SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - South Korea's small business owners are feeling the weight of growing economic pressure, with rising food prices and labor costs making it harder than ever to stay afloat. Many are now calling on the government to freeze or even lower the minimum wage. According to a survey released Thursday by the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI), 63.4 percent of self-employed respondents said their business conditions have worsened compared to last year. Only 6 June 26, 2025
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  North Korean defectors recount plight at UN human rights event in Seoul SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - North Korean defectors recounted their harrowing journeys of escape and the plights they endured at an event in Seoul this week, informing international experts on human rights violations in the isolated country. Hosted by the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul, the two-day event which kicked off on Thursday was part of the drafting process for a ten-year assessment of the human rights situation in North Korea. The event brought together human rights exp June 26, 2025
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  President Lee calls for 'fair growth' and capital market reform in first parliamentary address SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung called Wednesday on lawmakers to back his push to revive the economy and support struggling households, calling the effort "the most urgent task we must address today." Delivering his first policy speech at the National Assembly since taking office, Lee urged cooperation on a supplementary budget designed to stimulate growth and stabilize livelihoods. "On June 4, right here in the National Assembly, I took the president June 26, 2025
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  President Lee opens online platform to enhance communication with public SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung has opened an online platform on Tuesday to gather and reflect public opinion on state affairs. According to the Presidential Office, the platform is to collect public opinion and questions on a wide range of national issues, including the economy, welfare, society, politics, diplomacy, and security via Google Forms. All submitted questions will be reported to the president. The presidential office stated that Lee plans to respond June 25, 2025
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  Yoon's legal team denounces arrest warrant as special counsel ramps up investigation SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) - Former President Yoon Suk Yeol's legal team filed a formal objection with the Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday, pushing back against an arrest warrant request from the special counsel investigating his December 3 martial law declaration. They argued that the warrant lacks legal basis and violates Yoon's right to a fair defense. Before the special counsel took over, Yoon had been summoned three times by the police -- on June 5, 12, and 19 -- June 25, 2025
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  Acting US envoy discusses prospects for relations between two allies in Seoul SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - A group of journalists from leading news outlets gathered in Seoul for a seminar to discuss the evolving diplomatic landscape between South Korea and the U.S. since the inauguration of new administrations in both countries. Hosted by the Korea Press Foundation in central Seoul on Tuesday, the seminar offered an opportunity to hear from Joseph Yun, the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, through in-depth discussions about recen June 24, 2025
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  Lee calls for emergency readiness amid escalating Middle East tensions SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Monday called on all ministries to maintain emergency readiness amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East after U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites over the weekend. During his first meeting with senior aides at the presidential office in Yongsan since taking office earlier this month, Lee Jae-myung urged them to do their "utmost to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals" in the region. His remarks cam June 23, 2025
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  Lee taps dozen nominees for ministerial posts SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Monday named a dozen new ministers to fill posts in his Cabinet. At a press briefing, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said the nominees were selected "based on their expertise and experience" in line with Lee's pragmatic approach that emphasizes skills and performance. Among the picks included Ahn Gyu-baek, a five-term lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party (DP), who was nominated as defense minister. On June 23, 2025