Disruptions loom as subway workers threaten full-scale strike

SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - Unionized subway workers in Seoul said they will go on a full-scale strike on Dec. 6. Seoul Metro, which operates subway lines 1 through 8, threatened to strike unless their demands for higher wages as well a s better working conditions including the hiring of more staff to ensure safety are met, during a press conference in front of Seoul City Hall on Tuesday. Concerns are mounting over possible severe disruptions to railway services, as the Ko

November 19, 2024

Subway workers to go on strike

SEOUL, November 18 (AJP) - Commuters are expected to experience delays and disruptions as unionized subway workers plan to go on strike if their demands are not met. Seoul Metro, which operates subway lines 1 through 8, said Monday that over 70 percent of its 9,450 union members voted in favor of a strike. They are set to announce their detailed strike plans in front of the City Hall in the capital on Tuesday. The union members held several rounds of negotiations with manageme

November 18, 2024

Exhibition in Seoul takes visitors into Italy's mosaic art

SEOUL, November 18 (AJP) - An exhibition showcasing Italy's mosaic art kicked off in central Seoul last Friday, allowing visitors to explore a diverse range of mosaics for both decorative and functional pieces. Hosted by the Italian Embassy to Seoul along with the Korea Foundation and the Italian Cultural Institute in Seoul, the exhibition features the Mediterranean country's artistic heritage and timeless beauty through mosaics displayed on multimedia screens, as the origin

November 18, 2024

Yoon to hold summit with China's Xi on sidelines of APEC summit in Peru

SEOUL, November 15 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol will have a summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru, the presidential office said on Friday. "The two leaders will discuss various measures to boost economic cooperation and bilateral exchanges, as well as share in-depth views on regional issues including security concerns on the Korean Peninsula," Principal Deputy National Security Advi

November 15, 2024

Opposition leader gets suspended sentence for violating election law

SEOUL, November 15 (AJP) - Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was sentenced on Friday to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the election law. The Seoul Central District Court found him guilty of making false statements related to a major scandal involving a land development project in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province during his tenure as the city's mayor from 2010 to 2018. The sentence puts the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party at risk of being di

November 15, 2024

Another Korean descendant elected to US Congress

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - Democratic politician Dave Min won a U.S. House seat representing California on Wednesday. The American-born Korean descendant narrowly defeated his Republican rival Scott Baugh in the race for California's 47th congressional district in coastal Orange County, home to many South Korean immigrants. "I know many of us are anxious about the future of our country, but we cannot give up on America. In Congress, I will fight to protect our democracy,

November 14, 2024

Yoon embarks on South American trip for APEC and G20 summits

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol is embarking on his trip to South America on Thursday to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru and the G20 summit in Brazil. Yoon is set to deliver a speech at the first session of the summit among Pacific Lim countries in Lima on Friday as the incoming chair of next year's APEC summit. The historic city of Gyeongju in the southeastern province was selected to host the summit in 2025.

November 14, 2024

Forum discusses North Korean human rights and reunification strategies

SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Experts and academics shared their valuable insights on North Korean human rights as well as other relevant topics such as tasks and challenges for reunification between the two Koreas at a forum held at Ajou University in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province on Monday. Co-hosted by the National Institute for Unification Education and the Ajou Institute for Unification, the forum drew over 100 participants. The forum's key speakers raised awareness of North Kor

November 12, 2024

Joint military exercise with British soldiers underway near demilitarized zone

SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - A military exercise involving British soldiers kicked off in South Korea on Monday. The 10-day joint exercise near the demilitarized zone dubbed "Exercise Imjin Warrior" - named after the "Battle of the Imjin River" in 1951 during the Korean War (1950~1953) - includes around 100 soldiers from the Royal Gurkha Rifles, a rifle regiment of the British Army and runs until next week. The military drill, the third of its kind, aims to stre

November 12, 2024

Chinese man released after questioning over alleged filming of NIS headquarters

SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - A Chinese national was released after being questioned on suspicion of using a drone to film the National Intelligence Service (NIS) headquarters over the weekend, police said on Monday. The Chinese man, whose name has not been disclosed, reportedly attempted to film a royal tomb in southern Seoul last Saturday, driven by his interest in UNESCO World Heritage sites and other Buddhist temples. Police believe he accidentally filmed the NIS headquarters in

November 11, 2024