Kim Moon-soo pushes nuclear option, calls for tighter U.S. alliance

Editor's Note: This article is the first in a series examining the leading presidential candidates and their positions on diplomacy, security, and North Korea. SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - Presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo is drawing a firm line in South Korea’s snap election, positioning himself as a staunch advocate of military strength and nuclear deterrence. Representing the conservative People Power Party (PPP), Kim has made clear that his foreign and security policy will

May 15, 2025

Tour programs to Panmunjom to resume on limited basis this week

SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - A tour program to the truce village of Panmunjom and nearby areas is set to resume later this week after a halt of about a year and a half, the Unification Ministry said Thursday. But the program remains restricted, allowing access only to selected groups of visitors on a limited basis. About 20 government officials and executives from state-run companies are scheduled to visit there this Friday, becoming the first group to take part in the revived program a

May 15, 2025

Kim Moon-soo promises science-focused presidency in aerospace hub

SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, pledged Wednesday to become a president who prioritizes science and technology, as he toured Jinju and Sacheon, cities in South Gyeongsang Province known for their concentration of aerospace and defense industries. In a campaign speech in Jinju, Kim urged voters to back his vision of transforming South Korea into a global leader in aerospace. “Let’s raise our aerospace technology

May 14, 2025

Protesters get prison terms for violent court intrusion

SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - Two far-right YouTubers were sentenced to prison terms on Wednesday for resorting to violence in a protest against disgraced former President Yoo Suk Yeol's arrest over his botched martial law debacle late last year. The Seoul Western District Court handed down a sentence of one and a half years in prison to a 35-year-old man surnamed Kim, and a one-year sentence to another man in his late 20s surnamed So, for their violent intrusion into the court building

May 14, 2025

Lee Jae-myung urges Busan voters to hold PPP accountable in election

SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - Democratic Party (DP) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung called on voters in the southern port city of Busan to deliver a clear judgment on the People Power Party (PPP), taking direct aim at the conservative bloc for its support of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Speaking at a campaign rally in Seomyeon on Wednesday, Lee described Busan as a city with a proud democratic history and urged its citizens to reflect on the PPP’s role in backing Yoon, who w

May 14, 2025

DP's presidential candidate maintains lead in polls after campaign kicks off

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - With less than a month remaining until next month's presidential election, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential nominee of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), maintained a big lead in the latest poll released Tuesday. Pollster Hangil Research conducted a survey of over 1,500 voters nationwide shortly after last Sunday's deadline for candidate registration and found that Lee led the race with 49.5 percent of support, more than 10 percentage points ahea

May 13, 2025

Experts debate diplomatic strategies amid shifting global landscape at seminar in Seoul

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - A number of lawmakers and experts gathered in Seoul on Monday for a seminar to discuss diplomatic strategies and security measures amid a rapidly shifting global political landscape. Hosted by Aju Business Daily, the seminar was held in Yeouido, where participants engaged in a heated debate over strengthening the alliance with the U.S. in response to North Korea's continuous development of its nuclear weapons program as well as other global challenges since

May 12, 2025

Wife of DP presidential candidate slapped with fine again in appeals court

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - The wife of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP)'s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung was slapped with a 1.5 million won fine for election law violations by an appeals court on Monday. The Suwon District Court upheld the sentence from the first trial, which had been handed down in November last year. Kim Hye-kyung was indicted in February last year for allegedly using her husband's corporate expense card in August 2021, when Lee was serving as

May 12, 2025

Ex-president declines to comment at first public court appearance

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday appeared for a trial over charges of insurrection and abuse of power over his botched martial law debacle late last year. During his previous two court appearances last month, Yoon managed to avoid public attention by being whisked into the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul through a secluded passageway from the underground parking lot. Amid controversy over alleged preferential treatment of the

May 12, 2025

Official campaign for presidential election kicks off

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - The official campaign for the upcoming presidential election began on Monday and will last for about three weeks until June 3, the election day. The 22-day campaign period began at the stroke of midnight, with presidential candidates and their supporters spreading out across the country to win the hearts of voters. The snap election comes after the Constitutional Court of Korea's ruling early last month to impeach disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol

May 12, 2025