Hardliner elected new PPP leader as party still grapples with Yoon's fallout SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - Hardline lawmaker Jang Dong-hyeok was elected as the new leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Tuesday. Jang garnered about 220,000 votes or 50.27 percent in a neck-and-neck runoff at the National Assembly in Seoul, narrowly defeating another staunch conservative and former presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, who earned about 217,000 votes. The two-term lawmaker's win comes as a surprise as he has been vehemently opposed to the im August 26, 2025

Lee vows to work with Trump to resume talks with North Korea in first bilateral summit in Washington SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to work together to resume dialogue with North Korea during their first summit in Washington on Monday. Lee, who reportedly read the U.S. leader's book "The Art of the Deal" as part of preps for the summit, opened talks with lavish praise for his past efforts to engage with Pyongyang "I hope you can bring peace to the Korean Peninsula, the only divided nation in the world, August 26, 2025

Hearing scheduled later this week to decide former PM's arrest SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is scheduled to face a hearing later this week that will determine his arrest over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched martial law debacle last year. The Seoul Central District Court said on Monday that the hearing is set for Wednesday, following independent prosecutors' request for Han's arrest as part of their investigation into the debacle, after several rounds of questioning August 25, 2025

Beijing urges Seoul to pursue 'strategic autonomy' to improve bilateral ties SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - South Korea needs "strategic autonomy" to achieve "steady, sustained progress" in its relations with Beijing, a state-run Chinese newspaper said Monday. In an op-ed by Global Times, a sister newspaper of the official People's Daily, the English-language daily said, "Only with strategical autonomy could South Korea earn the genuine respect of the international community, including China, and be able to navigate a complex, August 25, 2025

What awaits Lee at his first summit with Trump SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is set to hold his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday. The summit, which comes nearly three months after taking office in early June, would be his first major test in bilateral relations, at a time when both leaders are navigating the early stages of their terms and reassessing their foreign policy priorities for years to come. After wrapping up his visit to Tokyo last Sunday, where he met with Japan August 25, 2025

South Korea, Japan agree to launch joint response body for common challenges President Lee Jae Myung and Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru shake hands after a press release/ Yonhap SEOUL, August 23 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru agreed Saturday to establish a bilateral consultative body to address shared challenges including low birth rates, aging populations, and disaster management following their summit meeting in Tokyo. The leaders also committed to close coordination on North Korea policy and strengthening August 23, 2025

Lee pledges support for Korean diaspora during Tokyo visit SEOUL, August 23 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung held his first official meeting with Korean residents in Japan at a Tokyo hotel luncheon on Saturday, praising their contributions to Korea-Japan relations and promising expanded government support. The president described their historical struggles as foundational to both countries' development, citing their perseverance through colonial rule, national division, and life as overseas residents. Lee acknowledged the August 23, 2025

South Korea's Lee departs for Japan-US diplomatic tour SEOUL, August 23 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed Seoul Airport on Saturday morning for a six-day diplomatic visit to Japan and the United States, accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea Kyung. The tour includes summit meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump as part of Lee's "national interest-centered practical diplomacy" centered on the Korea-U.S.-Japan alliance. Lee arrived in Tokyo on Saturday morning a August 23, 2025

Elderly caregiver released after attempted murder of wife with dementia SEOUL, August 22 (AJP) - A 70-year-old South Korean man who admitted to trying to kill his wife, reportedly overwhelmed by the strain of caregiving, has been released from custody. The case underscores the growing toll that eldercare is taking in a country where the number of caregiving-related crimes has steadily risen. The Seoul Northern District Court on Thursday dismissed a request for the man’s arrest warrant, ruling he posed no risk of flight or evidence destruction. H August 22, 2025

Modern take on Joseon royal ritual staged in Seoul SEOUL, August 22 (AJP) - When the lights go down, more than 40 dancers move in unison across a massive stage. As they perform, audiences are immersed in "One Dance" ("Ilmu" in Korean), the ceremonial dance of the royal ancestral ritual at Jongmyo Shrine, accompanied by music dating back to the Joseon Dynasty. With minimal stage props, the stage is filled only by the flowing sleeves of dancers dressed in white, orange, green, and blue hanbok, traditional South K August 22, 2025