South Koreans head abroad for Chuseok while foreign tourists pour in

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - As Chuseok, one of the country's largest holidays of the year, is set to begin later this week, many South Koreans are traveling abroad en masse, opting trips over the traditional ritual of visiting their ancestral graves, while rising numbers of foreign tourists here are raising expectations for a boost to the domestic travel industry. According to global online travel platform Trip.com, the number of South Koreans traveling overseas during the wee

September 29, 2025

Gov't services remain crippled as recovery drags on

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - A nationwide network outage caused by a fire at a state-run data center has entered its fourth day, with recovery efforts still below 5 percent. As of Monday, key services, including Government24, remain offline, and full recovery is expected to take at least two weeks. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, only 30 of nearly 650 affected systems have been restored, with a recovery rate of just 4.6 percent, following the fire at the Natio

September 29, 2025

INTERVIEW: Stronger South Korea-Japan cooperation needed to navigate U.S.-China rivalry and foster future industries

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - "Japan is a 'nation of accumulation,' known for its craftsmanship built over time. In contrast, South Korea is a 'nation of flow,' quickly adapting and integrating changes. By combining these strengths, South Korea and Japan can create a new balance against the U.S. and China," said Professor Guk Joong-ho of Yokohama City University. In an interview with Aju Business Daily earlier this month, Guk highlighted the need for South

September 29, 2025

Most postal services resume after fire at gov't data center

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - The Korea Post has resumed part of its financial services after a two-day disruption caused by a fire at a state-run data center in Daejeon. However, mail delivery and some administrative systems are still being restored, and full recovery is expected to take more time. The Ministry of Science and ICT said that all financial services including check card payments, internet banking, and ATM transactions, were back to normal as of Sunday night, while m

September 29, 2025

Son Heung-min scores twice in LA win, extends goal streak to 4 games

SEOUL, September 28 (AJP) - Los Angeles FC (LAFC) forward Son Heung-min scored two goals on Sunday, propelling his team to a 3-0 victory over St. Louis City SC at Energizer Park and extending his personal scoring streak to four consecutive Major League Soccer (MLS) matches. Son registered his seventh and eighth goals of the season during the match. His first came in first-half stoppage time with a precise right-footed shot. He added his second in the 60th minute, calmly placing

September 28, 2025

Fire at data center traced to aged battery, potential human error

SEOUL, September 28 (AJP) - The massive administrative network disruption in South Korea, caused by a fire at the National Information Resources Service headquarters in Daejeon, Friday night, is being linked to a lithium-ion battery for an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) that was in use for over a year past its recommended 10-year lifespan. As officials have launched a full-scale investigation into the incident, the focus is falling on the potential role of both the aging hardw

September 28, 2025

Data center fire causes public services meltdown in South Korea

SEOUL, September 28 (AJP) - A fire at a state-run data center in central South Korea triggered a massive network outage that left government services crippled and disrupted daily life for millions over the weekend, officials said. The blaze broke out Friday evening when a lithium-ion battery exploded inside the National Information Resources Service in Daejeon, about 100 miles south of Seoul, according to police and fire officials. The government preemptively shut down 647 onli

September 28, 2025

Trump's Tylenol vitriol upsets Korean moms-to-be, Seoul backs safety

SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump's comments linking Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism have rattled some expectant mothers in South Korea, sparking anxiety and anger, while Korean health authorities firmly denied any scientific connection. At a White House press conference Monday, Trump said he would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to restrict acetaminophen-based medicines such as Tylenol during pregnancy, except in cases of severe

September 26, 2025

South Korea to send special envoy to Egypt to mark 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties

SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - Park Beom-gye, a lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party, will visit Egypt next week as a special envoy, presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung said in a press release. His visit from Sept. 20 to Oct. 2 comes in celebration of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Seoul and Cairo. Park will meet with key figures and officials in Egypt to further strengthen bilateral relations while explaining South Korea's foreign policies and d

September 26, 2025

South Korea appoints new envoy to Tokyo ahead of outgoing Japanese PM's visit next week

SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - Former envoy to Viet Nam Lee Hyuk has been appointed as South Korea's new ambassador to Tokyo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. Born in 1958, Lee graduated from Korea University with a degree in economics before joining the ministry along with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac. The seasoned diplomat with deep expertise in Japanese affairs also served in ambassadorial posts in the Philippines and Vi

September 26, 2025