G-Dragon to promote upcoming APEC Summit in Gyeongju SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - G-Dragon, a member of the K-pop boy band Big Bang, will promote the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which is scheduled to be held in the historic southern city of Gyeongju this fall. In a message on Facebook on Wednesday, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who has been heading preparations for the two-day summit to be held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, revealed that the flamboyant rapper has been named promotional ambassador, adding that his huge July 23, 2025

Korean named guest language for next year's arts festival in France SEOUL, July 23 (AJP) - Organizers of one of France's largest arts festivals, held every summer in Avignon, have chosen Korean as the official guest language for next year's event. Held every July in the southern French city since 1947, the Avignon Festival presents a broad spectrum of arts including music, dance, and literature, along with various performances, discussions, and other programs, highlighting a particular language as a bridge connecting different cultures. K July 23, 2025

Sejong mayor presses for capital relocation, says structural reform is urgent SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - On Tuesday, Sejong City Mayor Choi Min-ho called for the full relocation of South Korea's presidential office and National Assembly to Sejong, saying that completing the city’s role as an administrative capital is essential to resolving regional imbalance and improving government efficiency. "Sejong and the completion of the administrative capital are not merely political issues but matters of Korea's future strategy," Choi said durin July 22, 2025

Court postpones another of Lee's trials indefinitely, bringing all his cases to halt SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - A district court on Tuesday decided to postpone President Lee Jae-myung's trial over alleged illegal money transfers to North Korea. The Suwon District Court in Gyeonggi Province said it made the decision in consideration of his status as president. "In order to ensure that the defendant (Lee) can fulfill his official duties guaranteed by the Constitution, we decided to postpone the trial to a later date for the sake of continuity in state affairs, July 22, 2025

Independent prosecutors summon ex-first lady to appear for questioning SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors on Monday asked former first lady Kim Keon Hee to appear for questioning early next month. Prosecutors led by Min Jung-ki, who are investigating a slew of allegations involving Kim, including the acceptance of a luxury handbag, involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, election-related meddling in candidate nominations, and several other accusations, summoned her, about three weeks after forming a team for the probe. According July 21, 2025

S. Korea's security chief visits Washington for urgent talks as tariff deadline approaches SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - South Korea's National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac has arrived in Washington, D.C. on Sunday (local time), returning just 11 days after his previous trip, to prevent a looming trade conflict with the United States and finalize plans for a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump. South Korean officials predict that Wi will meet U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio, who also serves as National Security Advisor. Wi July 21, 2025

Scorching heat returns with vengeance as monsoon season ends SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Scorching heat has returned, with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius across the country, as the monsoon season ended with a last bout of torrential rains that battered southern regions over the weekend. With recovery efforts from flooding and landslides still underway, temperatures climbed to as high as 34 degrees, prompting the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) to issue heat advisories for most parts of the country on Monday. Daytime hig July 21, 2025

Gov't begins handing out cash vouchers to all South Koreans SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Starting Monday, all South Koreans are entitled to receive a handout ranging from 150,000 won to 550,000 won (US$108–$395), depending on their income brackets. Each eligible person can apply by Sept. 12 to receive 150,000 won in the form of cash vouchers, credit card points, or other gift options valid at local stores for three months, followed by an additional 100,000 won this fall, though the top 10 percent of earners will be excluded from the second r July 21, 2025

Police find homemade bomb at suspect's home after fatal gun attack SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Police on Monday raided the home of a man in his 60s who had fatally shot his son the night before, retrieving a homemade explosive device. The suspect is now being questioned in connection with the rare firearm-related homicide, an unusual occurrence in South Korea, where private gun ownership is strictly regulated. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, on July 21, a special operations team was dispatched to the suspect's apartment in north July 21, 2025

Prosecutors seek arrest warrant for drone operations chief in martial law probe SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors are seeking an arrest warrant for the head of a key military unit responsible for drone operations, surveillance, and reconnaissance. They said the warrant was filed on Sunday to secure the custody of Kim Yong-dae, commander of the Drone Operations Command, as part of their investigation into disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle late last year. They suspect Yoon allegedly ordered Kim, in collusio July 20, 2025