South Korea gears up for APEC summit in Gyeongju this fall SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - South Korea is ramping up its preparations for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, scheduled for October in the southern historical city of Gyeongju. President Lee Jae-myung has sent invitation letters to the leaders of all 20 APEC member countries including Canada, China, Japan, Russia, Viet Nam and the U.S. for the first major multilateral summit since his inauguration early last month, his office said on Wednesday. Shortly after t July 16, 2025

Honduran diplomat's immunity revoked over alleged sexual harassment in Busan SEOUL, July 16 (AJP) - A Honduran diplomat, who has been booked for allegedly harassing and assaulting another man in South Korea, has been stripped of his diplomatic immunity by his home country. The Honduran Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that it revoked his diplomatic protections due to what it cited as "a serious incident," adding that he should face "legal consequences" if any wrongdoing is found. The ministry further stated that the diplomat's pa July 16, 2025

Seoul lodges protest against Tokyo's repeated claim over Dokdo SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - South Korea on Tuesday lodged a strongly-worded protest against Japan's latest defense white paper, which once again repeats Tokyo's dubious claim to the country's easternmost islets of Dokdo. The Japanese government officially released the white paper the same day after a Cabinet meeting approved it, explicitly laying claim to Dokdo by referring to it by the Japanese name Takeshima and describing it as a "disputed" territory that "s July 15, 2025

Busan poised to host UNESCO's annual gathering next year SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - South Korea is expected to host the upcoming session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in the southern port city of Busan in July next year. The decision is set to be made at the committee's latest session, currently underway in Paris this week, with South Korea as the sole candidate. With no other countries in the bid, the country appears almost certain to host the event. Once Busan is selected as the venue for the international gathering, which July 15, 2025

US commits to maintaining troop levels in South Korea SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - The presence of U.S. troops in South Korea will likely remain at current levels under an annual defense bill drafted last week by the Senate Committee on Armed Services. The committee's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for next year passed last Friday contains a clause that "prohibits a reduction in U.S. military posture on the Korean Peninsula or a change in wartime operational control over the Combined Forces Command until the Secretary of July 14, 2025

Naver Webtoon halts popular 'Wind Breaker' series over tracing allegations SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) - Naver Webtoon has suspended its long-running sports webtoon "Wind Breaker" after the creator admitted to tracing scenes from Japanese manga, ending a 12-year serialization that had become one of the platform's flagship titles. Creator Jo Yong-seok acknowledged the plagiarism allegations in the final episode revealed on Friday, confessing that some scenes in his work bore striking similarities to other comic book images. The webtoon, which foll July 12, 2025

Lee names picks for remaining two ministerial posts SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Friday tapped candidates to fill the remaining two ministerial posts, completing the nominations for his 19-strong first cabinet. Kim Yun-duk, a three-term lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party (DP), was named to head the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, while Chae Hwi-young, CEO of travel platform Nol Universe, was nominated to lead the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon July 11, 2025

South Korea, Japan and US conduct aerial drill as defense chiefs meet SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - South Korea conducted a large-scale joint aerial drill with Japan and the United States, the Defense Ministry said on Friday. In a show of readiness against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the exercise was held over waters off the southern resort island of Jeju, involving a U.S. B-52 strategic bomber as well as South Korea's KF-16 and Japan's F-2 fighter jets, according to the ministry. "Through close cooperation, the three count July 11, 2025

Daboseong Gallery unveils additional imperial and aristocratic treasures from China SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - During the expert appraisal event held on July 8 (Tuesday) and 9 at Daboseong Gallery in Gyeonun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, a new selection of previously unpublished Chinese relics believed to have been used by members of the imperial family or aristocracy was unveiled. ◆ Ru ware celadon-glazed vase with gilt-rimmed mouth from the Northern Song Dynasty (北宋汝窑天青釉金口纸槌瓶) This Ru ware celadon-glazed vase from the Northern Song period (960 to 1127) i July 11, 2025

Record early heat wave leads to surge in heat-related illnesses SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - As a record-breaking early heat wave continues to grip the country, more than 1,300 cases of heat-related illnesses including nine deaths have been reported so far this summer, prompting health authorities to urge vulnerable people to take extra care on Friday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), some 1,357 people have been taken to emergency rooms nationwide with heatstroke, dehydration, or exhaustion since mid-May, a sharp in July 11, 2025