Residents near Coupang warehouse ordered to evacuate as blaze continues SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - Authorities ordered residents living near e-commerce giant Coupang's logistics center in Incheon there to evacuate late Sunday amid concerns that the fire-damaged building could partially collapse, as firefighters continue to battle a massive blaze that has raged for more than two days. The fire, which broke out at around 6:50 a.m. last Saturday on the sixth floor of the eight-story logistics center in Seoknam-dong, Incheon, spread to the seventh floor and July 20, 2026

South Korea's GDP per capita estimated to near $40,000 this year SEOUL, July 19 (AJP) - South Korea's gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is forecast to approach US$40,000 this year, supported by strong exports led by an artificial intelligence (AI)-fueled semiconductor boom, according to data from financial authorities released on Sunday. The country's GDP per capita is projected to reach $39,164 this year, up $2,750 or 7.6 percent from a year earlier, marking the largest annual increase in about five years. The projected growth w July 19, 2026

Firefighters still battle to contain major blaze at Coupang logistics center in Incheon SEOUL, July 19 (AJP) - Firefighters are still battling a major blaze at e-commerce giant Coupang's logistics center in Incheon on Sunday, more than 24 hours after the fire broke out on the facility the previous day. The fire broke out at about 6:50 a.m. on the sixth floor of the multi-story storage center in Seoknam-dong, Incheon. Authorities said the flames later spread to the seventh floor, complicating efforts to contain the blaze. One firefighter was hospitalized after in July 19, 2026

North Korean foreign minister Choe Son Hui arrives in Moscow for official visit SEOUL, July 18 (AJP) - North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui arrived in Moscow on Saturday for an official visit at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Russian state media reported. Russia's Foreign Ministry said Choe was visiting Moscow at Lavrov's invitation, according to RIA Novosti. Details of the purpose of the trip and her schedule have not been disclosed. The visit comes as Pyongyang and Moscow deepen political and military ties und July 18, 2026

US caps foreign student visas at four years in sweeping overhaul SEOUL, July 17 (AJP) - The United States will limit foreign students, exchange visitors and journalists to fixed periods of stay under a sweeping rule finalized by the Department of Homeland Security, ending a decades-old system that let them remain as long as they kept up their studies or work. Under the rule, students on F visas and exchange visitors on J visas will be admitted for the length of their program, up to a maximum of four years, after which they must apply to U.S. Citi July 17, 2026

Ex-first lady's final ruling on multiple charges delayed until next week SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - Former first lady Kim Keon Hee's final ruling on multiple allegations against her has been postponed until next week after the Supreme Court on Wednesday delayed its scheduled decision. Kim, who faces several charges including the acceptance of luxury handbags and jewelry in exchange for favors, involvement in stock manipulation, and interference in candidate nominations for the 2022 local by-elections, was supposed to receive the ruling later th July 15, 2026

Seoul, one of Asia's richest cities, leaves one village behind SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - The journey takes barely two minutes. Yangjae-daero, a six-lane boulevard cutting through southern Seoul, is little more than another busy artery carrying commuters toward Gangnam's gleaming office towers and luxury apartment complexes. Thousands cross it every day without giving the road a second thought. Yet few roads in South Korea separate two different economic realities more starkly. On one side stand apartment towers wh July 15, 2026

A very Korean dream hatched in the country's most unlikely place SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - Before Cheon Young-hwan tells visitors about Guryong Village, he tells them about his sons. Forty years ago, he walked down the hill from the cluster of shacks where his family had settled after being displaced by Seoul's redevelopment drive and knocked on the door of a stranger living across Yangjae-daero. He was not asking for money. Nor was he asking for food. He was asking to borrow an address. Without one, his two boys could not enroll i July 15, 2026

Korea's National Museum sees 7 million annual visitors after record H1 SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) —South Korea's National Museum is on pace for another record year as domestic and foreign visitors flock to one of the country's fastest-rising cultural landmarks. The National Museum of Korea welcomed 3.8 million visitors in the first half of 2026, up nearly 40 percent from a year earlier and already exceeding its total attendance for all of 2024, according to data released Tuesday. Foreign visitors have been a major driver of the increase. Ne July 15, 2026

Minimum wage set at 10,700 won for next year SEOUL, July 15 (AJP) - Next year's minimum wage in South Korea has been set at 10,700 South Korean won (about US$7) per hour after monthlong negotiations between workers and employers. A 27-member committee, with nine representatives each from workers, employers and government-appointed independent members, held a meeting in the administrative city of Sejong on Tuesday and decided to raise the minimum hourly wage by 3.7 percent from the current 10,320 won to 10,700 won next year July 15, 2026