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  Trump reaffirms 25 percent tariffs; South Korea to support affected firms with trade finance package SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed Wednesday that his administration would impose tariffs of approximately 25 percent on imported automobiles, semiconductors, and pharmaceuticals, with formal details expected to be unveiled around April 2. Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Trump outlined his plan, specifying that automobile tariffs would likely be set at 25 percent. He suggested that tariffs on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals cou February 19, 2025
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  Former SNU scholar appointed to head non-profit foundation for school safety and youth education SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Former Seoul National University president Sung Nak-in was appointed as a new chairman of a non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting school safety and youth education on Tuesday. Founded in 1999 with the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan as its first chairman, the foundation has been instrumental in raising awareness about school safety while providing educational resources and scholarships to underprivileged students to support their education. A February 19, 2025
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  Constitutional Court holds hearing in Yoon's absence SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol skipped a hearing for his impeachment trial, over his botched martial law debacle last December, which was held at the Constitutional Court of Korea in Seoul on Tuesday. Yoon's legal representatives said that he had intended to attend but changed his mind at the last minute, as the day's hearing would primarily focus on arguments from previous sessions, with no witnesses present. Except for the first two hearings, which b February 18, 2025
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  Over 140,000 visitors enjoy outdoor sledding along Han River this winter SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - Winter recreational facilities in parks along the Han River in Seoul ended their seasonal operations last week after attracting more than 140,000 visitors over the past two months, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The city government said on Monday that more than 140,000 people visited three outdoor sledding rinks —Ttukseom, Jamwon, and Yeouido — between late December and last Sunday. They drew about 1,300 visitors a day and 4,40 February 18, 2025
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  South Korea suspends new downloads of DeepSeek over privacy concerns SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - New downloads of Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) app DeepSeek have been temporarily suspended due to excessive data collection and privacy concerns, South Korea's data protection watchdog said on Monday. The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) said it decided to suspend the service here since last Saturday, after a probe raised concerns over the app's compliance with data protection regulations. The suspension applies to Apple February 17, 2025
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  Around 2,000 teachers take sick leave every year SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - Nearly 2,000 teachers in South Korea take a leave of absence from school every year due to illness, a report reveals. According to the report submitted to the National Assembly by the Ministry of Education on Monday, 1,973 full-time teachers took sick leave between April 2023 and April 2024. More than half of them were teachers from primary schools, with 412 from middle schools and 289 from high schools. Despite the number of those taking sick leave ste February 17, 2025
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  Another former sex slave dies, leaving only seven survivors SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) - Gil Won-ok, one of the last surviving victims of the Japanese military sexual slavery during World War II, died on Sunday. She was 97. Gil was only 13 years old when she was forced to serve as a sex slavery by imperial Japan during the war. With Gil's passing, only seven survivors now remain. "Gil was an active advocate for raising awareness about sex slavery both domestically and internationally. We hope she finds peace," said Shin Young- February 17, 2025
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  China expresses concern over attempted break-in by costumed pro-Yoon protester SEOUL, February 15 (AJP) -- The Chinese Embassy in South Korea expressed "concern and regret" on Saturday over an attempted break-in by a supporter of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was dressed as the Marvel character "Captain America." The incident occurred on Friday evening when a man in his 40s, identified only by his surname Ahn, tried to enter the embassy in Seoul's Myeongdong district as its doors were briefly opened. He was immediately arrest February 15, 2025
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  South Korea adds one more gold on last day of Winter Asiad in Harbin SEOUL, February 14 (AJP) - South Korea added one more gold in the women's curling on the last day of this year's Winter Asian Games in Harbin on Friday. Led by skip Gim Eun-ji, the South Korean curling team defeated China, earning the country's 16th and final gold medal at the quadrennial sporting event. But the men's curling team settled for silver after a loss to the Philippines, while the men's ice hockey team claimed bronze by defeating China. South Kor February 14, 2025
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  Six dead in construction site fire in Busan SEOUL, February 14 (AJP) - A fire broke out at a construction site in Busan, leaving six workers dead and about 25 others injured with smoke inhalation and other minor injuries. According to firefighters, the fire started around 10:50 a.m. on the first floor of the luxury Banyan Tree Hotel, which is slated to have its grand opening in the southern port city later this year. Firefighters rescued about a dozen trapped inside using helicopters from the roof, while more than a hundre February 14, 2025