National
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South Korean tourist killed during robbery in the Philippines
SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - A South Korean tourist was shot and killed during a robbery in the Philippines on Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said Monday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the South Korean Embassy in Manila said a male tourist was attacked in the afternoon near Koreatown in Angeles City, north of Manila, by two armed men on a motorcycle. According to witnesses, the victim was shot when he tried to fend off the robbers who attempted to steal his bag. The tourist was trans
April 21, 2025
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Seoul court permits limited filming of Yoon's second insurrection hearing
SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - Former President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court at 10:00 a.m. Monday, for the second hearing in his trial on charges of leading an insurrection, marking the first time the public has seen him seated in the defendant’s chair. Photographs and video footage of Yoon in court were released following the hearing, after the Seoul Central District Court approved limited media coverage. The court cited “the high level of national interest&rdquo
April 21, 2025
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Lee Jae-myung further solidifies his position as DP's likely presidential nominee
SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - Lee Jae-myung, the former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), secured a resounding victory in the party's primary in the southeastern region on Sunday, solidifying his position as a frontrunner in the upcoming presidential election slated for June 3. Lee, who declared his presidential bid earlier this month and continues to lead in most opinion polls, garnered an overwhelming 90.81 percent of the votes in the Gyeongsang provinces, which i
April 20, 2025
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South Korea, US to hold tariff talks in Washington
SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - Officials from South Korea and the U.S will meet for talks in Washington in the coming week. According to government sources here, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun will head to Washington for working-level discussions with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Both sides are currently in finalizing the agendas and other details, with the talks, proposed by t
April 20, 2025
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Relocation of Presidential office on the cards again
SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - With the presidential election less than two months away, uncertainties loom over the future of the current presidential office in Seoul's central district of Yongsan. Many believe it would be inappropriate to continue using the office, which has been tainted by the impeachment of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law debacle late last year. With Yoon's impeachment over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law upheld by a
April 20, 2025
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Unidentified balloons with leaflets discovered south of DMZ
More than ten balloons were discovered last week in areas just south of the DMZ. Military and police believe they were launched from two sites nearby, though the sender remains unidentified. “The balloons seem to have fallen short and landed near the DMZ,” a police official said. A civic group is reportedly planning to resume leaflet launches next Wednesday, after canceling a similar attempt last October. The move comes as spring winds, especially sou
April 19, 2025
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Political leaders honor citizens of 1960 pro-democracy uprising
SEOUL, April 19 (AJP) - South Korean political leaders on Saturday paid tribute to the citizens who took part in the pro-democracy uprising 65 years ago. Leaders from both major parties, including Democratic Party acting leader Park Chan-dae and People Power Party floor leader Kwon Seong-dong, visited a cemetery in northern Seoul to pay respects to those who died in the 1960 pro-democracy movement. The revolution was triggered by widespread protests against election fraud and
April 19, 2025
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Constitutional Court left with seven justices as two retire
SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - Two justices retired from the Constitutional Court of Korea on Friday as their six-year terms came to an end this week. The retirement of justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-sun comes just a few weeks after delivering their historic ruling on the impeachment of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law debacle late last year. The two outgoing justices stressed the need to "respect" the court's rulings in order to up
April 18, 2025
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Disgraced ex-president to get some shield from media attention at court appearance
SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to avoid at least some public attention when he makes his court appearance next week for his trial on insurrection charges related to his botched martial law debacle late last year. Yoon is likely to be whisked once again into the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul next Tuesday, as he did so earlier this week, through a secluded passageway from the underground parking lot. The Seoul High Cour
April 18, 2025
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Han Duck-soo sees split public opinion amid rising support for Lee Jae-myung
SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - Acting President Han Duck-soo is facing divided public opinion over his job performance, according to a new Gallup Korea poll released Friday. The survey found that 41 percent of respondents believe Han is doing well in his role, while 50 percent said he is not. Nine percent reserved judgment. Han received strong backing from supporters of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), with 88 percent offering a positive evaluation. In contrast, 90 percent of Democra
April 18, 2025