Poland hopes for swift weapons procurement from South Korea

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday expressed his hope for the swift shipment of weapons as part of its massive arms deal with South Korea. In a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in Warsaw, Duda "expressed his hope for swift progress" in finalizing the second-phrase purchase deal of K2 battle tanks to facilitate local production, the Foreign Ministry here said in a press release, quoting his as saying. Speaking later at

March 7, 2025

Military vows support for victims after live-fire drill mishap

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - Military authorities on Thursday vowed support for the victims of an accidental bombing in Pocheon, north of Seoul the previous day, pledging to come up with measures to prevent similar incidents. Fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs outside a training range during a live-fire drill in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, injuring 15 people including villagers and soldiers and also destroying five homes along with several other buildings and structures. Ini

March 7, 2025

Why many South Korean women are exposed to unwanted pregnancies and STIs

SEOUL, March 7 (AJP) - Despite a growing awareness of sexual health in South Korea, contraception remains largely a woman's responsibility, leaving many women vulnerable to unwanted pregnancies and exposing them to the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In a country still steeped in Confucian traditions and values, many men often refuse to use condoms in their intimate relationships, leaving their female partners to often bear much of the blame for not p

March 7, 2025

OECD warns South Korea's population could 'halve in six decades'

SEOUL, March 6 (AJP) - With one of the world's lowest birth rates, South Korea's population could shrink by half within the next six decades, according to a forecast by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In report titled "Korea's Unborn Future" released on Wednesday, the Paris-based organization said the country "where fertility has imploded to unprecedented lows" is expected to see its population "halve ov

March 6, 2025

15 injured as fighter jets accidentally drop bombs on village during live-fire drill

SEOUL, March 6 (AJP) - Bombs from two Air Force fighter jets fell during a live-fire drill in Pocheon, north of Seoul on Thursday, leaving at least 15 people injured. According to military authorities, the accident occurred at around 10 a.m. when the KF-16 fighter jets taking part in the drill accidentally dropped eight bombs outside a training range in Pochoen, Gyeonggi Province, injuring 15 villagers and destroying several buildings in the surrounding area. The explosion caused

March 6, 2025

North Korea deploys additional troops to Russia, US defense official confirms

SEOUL, March 6 (AJP) - North Korea has deployed additional troops to Russia to assist its war in Ukraine, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported on Thursday, citing an anonymous U.S. defense official. According to the U.S. government-funded nonprofit news outlet, the newly deployed North Korean forces look to be a "replenishment of battlefield losses" to replace those killed or wounded, with an assessment of the exact number in the latest deployment underway. Last month, South

March 6, 2025

Instant noodle-themed store in Seoul becomes pilgrimage site for tourists

SEOUL, March 5 (AJP) - An instant noodle-themed store in Seoul has become something of a pilgrimage site for foreign tourists and other visitors. Drawn by the global popularity of K-pop and South Korean dramas, many who have seen their favorite idols enjoying instant noodles on screen flock to the store for an authentic taste. Run by convenience store chain CU, the store called "Ramyun Library," solely dedicated to instant noodles, has its shelves filled with a massive col

March 5, 2025

Pentagon deputy nominee urges US allies to share greater burden, stresses strengthening alliance with Seoul

SEOUL, March 5 (AJP) - A nominee for a high-ranking post at the Pentagon stressed the need for U.S. allies to take greater responsibility for regional and global stability, arguing that the U.S. has long shouldered an unfair burden. In a written statement submitted to the Senate Committee on Armed Services ahead of his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Elbridge Colby, the nominee for U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, said, "I believe alliances are key. But, as President

March 5, 2025

Korea's opposition party gains ground as ruling party support declines, poll finds

SEOUL, March 03 (AJP) - Support for South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has risen to 44.2 percent, surpassing the ruling People Power Party (PPP) by a margin greater than the survey’s margin of error, according to a new poll released on Monday. The survey, conducted by Realmeter among 1,506 adults aged 18 and older last week, found that the DP’s approval rating climbed 3.1 percentage points from the previous week. Meanwhile, support for the PPP

March 3, 2025

Nearly 30 percent of new hires at major firms have work experiences: Survey

SEOUL, March 02 (AJP) - Nearly three in ten newly hired university graduates at major South Korean companies last year had prior work experience, reflecting a growing preference for experienced candidates. According to a survey by the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI) on major companies' hiring plans for the first half of 2025, released on Sunday, 28.9 percent of newly hired university graduates in 2024 had prior work experience. This marks a 3.2 percentage point increa

March 2, 2025