Kim and Han clash over timing, legitimacy in second unification talks

SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - Presidential candidates Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo met for a second round of unification talks on Thursday, but the discussion once again revealed sharp differences over the timing and terms of a potential single candidacy. The meeting, held at the National Assembly’s Sarangjae at 4:30 p.m., was fully open to the press by prior agreement between both camps. Han, an independent candidate and former prime minister, pushed for immediate resolution, s

May 8, 2025

INTERVIEW : Korean Cultural Center in Abu Dhabi to celebrate 10 years of building bridges with UAE

SEOUL, May 8 (AJP) - Nestled at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country where Islamic culture coexists with modern architecture and cutting-edge global trends. Surrounded by an exotic landscape where deserts meet futuristic skylines, the Korean Cultural Center in Abu Dhabi serves as a cultural bridge between the two countries. Established in 2016, it was the first of its kind in the Middle East, venturing into this uncharted, un

May 8, 2025

Clock ticking for PPP as internal rift stalls progress on unified conservative candidate

SEOUL, May 8 (AJP) - Tensions are escalating within the ruling People Power Party (PPP) as internal wrangling continues over fielding a unified conservative candidate, with the snap presidential election less than a month away. The PPP’s presidential nominee, Kim Moon-soo, had expressed a willingness to team up with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who declared his presidential bid last week. However, Kim now appears to have changed his mind shortly after being chosen as th

May 8, 2025

Han Duck-soo calls for unity and reform in presidential campaign

SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo made a strong case for constitutional reform and conservative unity during a press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club on Wednesday, saying he would rather fix the country’s broken political system than chase long-term power. “I'm not here to be just another candidate. I'm here because our system is in crisis,” Han said, speaking with a mix of urgency and conviction. “Wh

May 8, 2025

Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo fail to reach agreement in unification talks

SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - Conservative presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party and independent candidate Han Duck-soo held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss a possible unification of their candidacies, but the talks ended without any agreement. The two candidates met privately for about an hour and 15 minutes at a restaurant in Seoul’s Jongno District around 6 p.m., without aides or representatives present. Following the meeting, Han’s spokesperson L

May 7, 2025

Six cities call on central government to cover losses from free subway rides

SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - Subway operators from six major South Korean cities, including Seoul, the southern port city of Busan, and the western port city of Incheon, are once again calling on the government to cover mounting losses from free rides provided to elderly passengers and other eligible groups. On Wednesday, Seoul Metro and five other urban rail operators issued a joint statement urging national funding to support what they describe as a public service obligation mandated b

May 7, 2025

Court postpones DP presidential candidate's retrial until after presidential election

SEOUL, May 7 (AJP) - The Seoul High Court on Wednesday decided to postpone the first hearing of presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung's retrial over his alleged violation of election laws. The hearing, originally scheduled for later this week, has now been pushed back to June 18, about two weeks after the snap presidential election set for early June, to fill a power vacuum caused by the impeachment of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol early last month over his botched mar

May 7, 2025

UN to discuss North Korea's ongoing sanctions violations and ties with Russia

SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - The United Nations Security Council will convene on Wednesday to address North Korea’s continued breaches of non-proliferation resolutions, amid growing concerns over its expanding military ties with Russia. Seven member states -- South Korea, the United States, Denmark, France, Panama, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom -- requested the meeting. Discussions are expected to focus on North Korea’s continued breaches of Security Council resolutio

May 7, 2025

Kim Moon-soo and Han Duck-soo to meet for talks on single candidacy

SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo and independent contender Han Duck-soo are set to meet Wednesday evening to discuss the possibility of unifying their campaigns ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Both camps have confirmed that the meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on May 7, though the location will be disclosed later. With both men seen as key conservative figures, the discussion is drawing attention as a potential step towar

May 7, 2025

Former PM seeks broad coalition as PPP in disarray over fielding unified candidate

SEOUL, May 6 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who declared his presidential bid last week, met with ex-Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon in central Seoul on Tuesday in a flurry of moves to gain support and consolidate forces, with the presidential election now less than a month away. After a meeting, the two said they agreed to cooperate in forming a coalition to push for constitutional reform to change the current five-year, single-term presidency, as the country faces a "

May 6, 2025