Unprecedented heatwave to persist through early September

SEOUL, August 23 (AJU PRESS) - Korea has been experiencing an unprecedented heatwave this summer, with unbearable tropical nights now continuing for over a month. A tropical night is when the lowest temperature does not drop below 25 degrees Celsius after dark. Many Seoul residents had a sleepless night on Friday as the capital region extended its streak of tropical nights to 33. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), Seoul had already experienced three oc

August 23, 2024

Korean school team wins Japan's prestigious baseball championship

SEOUL, August 23 (AJU PRESS) - A small Korean school in Japan won the island country's annual high school baseball championship for the first time on Friday. Kyoto International Junior and Senior High School defeated Kanto Daiichi High School 2-1 in the final of Koshien, the prestigious baseball tournament held every summer in Hyogo, western Japan. Now in its 106th year, Koshien features only 49 baseball teams out of about 4,000 Japanese high schools that qualify to compete.

August 23, 2024

New variant drives sharp increase in COVID-related hospitalizations

SEOUL, August 23 (AJU PRESS) - A recent wave of COVID-19 cases has led to a rise in hospitalizations during the third week of August, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KCDA) said Friday. From Aug. 11 to 17, the number of COVID-related hospitalizations surged nearly fourfold, with the number of patients rising from around 465 to 1,464 in just a few weeks. Patients with COVID-19 now account for 70.3 percent of all respiratory disease cases, up from 32.4 percent in

August 23, 2024

Travelers from Korea to Japan increase this month despite earthquake concerns

SEOUL, August 23 (AJU PRESS) - Despite concerns about major earthquakes following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Japan this month, the number of travelers flying from Korea to Japan has increased compared to last year. According to data from Incheon International Airport Corp. and Korea Airports Corp., about 1,385,000 travelers used Japan routes, including both departures and arrivals, at domestic airports from Aug. 1 to 20. This represents a 20.8 percent increase from a year ago

August 23, 2024

7 dead, 12 injured in hotel fire in Bucheon

SEOUL, August 23 (AJU PRESS) - Seven people were killed and a dozen others injured in a fire at a hotel in Bucheon, west of Seoul on Thursday. According to authorities, the fire began around 7:39 p.m. (1039 GMT) on the eighth floor of the nine-story building and quickly spread to the upper floor, generating thick smoke. The blaze was fully extinguished at 10:26 p.m., nearly three hours later. Toxic fumes were attributed to the main cause of the casualties. Initial investigations

August 23, 2024

Three Korean skiers dead after car crash in New Zealand

SEOUL, August 22 (AJU PRESS) - Three members of Korea's national ski team were killed in a head-on collision near Geraldine in New Zealand's Canterbury region on Wednesday, according to The Herald. The accident occurred when the vehicle carrying them, traveling in the opposite direction, collided with a sports utility vehicle (SUV). The identities of the victims and the cause of the crash remain unclear. Among the deceased are a national team coach and two alpine ski ra

August 22, 2024

Seoul residents eat less fruit and veg, study reveals

Boxes of grapes are displayed at a supermarket chain in Seoul on Aug. 11, 2024. Yonhap SEOUL, August 22 (AJU PRESS) - Rising prices of fruit and vegetables have taken a toll on the dietary habits of Koreans, a survey reveals. According to a report released by the Seoul Institute on Thursday, based on a long-term analysis of nearly 13,000 residents in Seoul between 2012 and 2021, their average daily fruit consumption decreased by 33.2 percent from 182.4 grams to 121.8 over the decade.

August 22, 2024

Underdog Korean high school in Kyoto reaches baseball championship final

SEOUL, August 22 (AJU PRESS) - A small school in the historic town of Kyoto, Japan advanced to the final of Koshien, the island country's annual high school baseball tournament. Kyoto International Junior and Senior High School defeated Aomori Yamada Junior and Senior High School in the semifinals held in Hyogo, western Japan on Wednesday. Only 49 baseball teams from about 4,000 Japanese high schools qualify to compete in the prestigious baseball tournament held every summer.

August 22, 2024

BTS member's DUI arrest sparks push for harsher electric scooter penalties

SEOUL, August 22 (AJU PRESS) - Lawmakers have proposed stricter penalties for drunk-driving and unlicensed operation of electric scooters and kickboards following a recent incident involving BTS member Suga. Suga, who is currently serving his mandatory military service, was arrested earlier this month after falling off his electric scooter while intoxicated in Seoul's Yongsan district. The incident sparked public concern over the safety of these personal mobility devices (PMs

August 22, 2024

Türkiye's Presidential Symphony Orchestra to collaborate with Korean pianist for concert in Chuncheon

SEOUL, August 21 (AJU PRESS) - Türkiye's Presidential Symphony Orchestra will collaborate with pianist Kim Hong-gi, who is widely recognized in Europe for his musical talent, for an annual concert held in the eastern province of Gangwon this fall, the Turkish Embassy to Korea said on Wednesday. The Turkish Presidential Symphony Orchestra, established in 1826, is one of the world's oldest symphony orchestras, renowned for its rich history and role in promoting both Tur

August 21, 2024