Russian Embassy in Seoul celebrates Maslenitsa with traditional performances

SEOUL, March 02 (AJP) - The Russian Embassy in the Republic of Korea hosted a Maslenitsa celebration on February 28, bringing together students, diplomats, and guests for a day of cultural festivities. The event was attended by about 100 guests, including Russian embassy officials and their families, as well as representatives from other foreign embassies. Students from the Russian school at the embassy performed traditional songs and dances, showcasing

March 2, 2025

North Jeolla province edges out Seoul in bid to host 2036 Summer Olympics

SEOUL, March 1 (AJP) - North Jeolla province secured the right to represent South Korea in the bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics, delivering a stunning upset over the capital Seoul in a national vote that showcased growing support for regional development. The southwestern province garnered 49 votes to Seoul's 11 in Friday's secret ballot held by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), shattering expectations and positioning a regional contender to potentially host S

March 1, 2025

Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul to implement nighttime curfew for tourists amid overtourism concerns

Tourists take a photo at Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul on Jan. 9, 2025. Yonhap SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - Tourists will be banned from sightseeing in Bukchon, a district known for its characteristic alleys filled with traditional Korean homes in central Seoul, during certain hours. With the tourist curfew starting from Saturday, visiting hours for Bukchon Hanok Village will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and violators will face a fine of 100,000 Korean won (US$75). The village attracts

February 28, 2025

Nearly 60 percent support Yoon's impeachment over martial law debacle, survey shows

SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - Nearly 60 percent of South Koreans favor impeaching President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law debacle last year, a poll suggests. According to the survey of 1,000 adults conducted by Pollster Gallup Korea earlier this week, about 50 percent of respondents supported impeachment and 35 percent were against it. The rest were undecided. By political inclination, nearly all or 97 percent of supporters of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) w

February 28, 2025

South Korea slips in global democracy rankings amid political turmoil

SEOUL, February 28 (AJP) - South Korea's democracy has been mired in political turmoil caused by President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle last year. In the latest report released on Thursday by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a think tank affiliated with the U.K. magazine, the country's democracy index ranked 39th among 167 countries in the world, down ten spots from a year ago. Since 2006, the EIU has evaluated countries in five categories

February 28, 2025

Constitutional Court rules Acting President's refusal to appoint justice unconstitutional

SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - The Constitutional Court of Korea ruled on Thursday that Acting President Choi Sang-mok's refusal to appoint one of nominees for a court justice last year was unconstitutional. In its ruling, the court said that Choi's decision infringed on the National Assembly's legislative power by not appointing Ma Eun-hyuk, a nominee recommended by the main opposition Democratic Party, but it dismissed a request to assign him the post, deem

February 27, 2025

South Korea, US and Japan condemn North Korea's nuclear program at disarmament conference in Geneva

SEOUL, February 27 (AJP) - South Korea, the U.S., and Japan have condemned North Korea's nuclear weapons program at the annual UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva which wrapped up this week. The three countries warned in a joint statement on Wednesday that Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs are "in clear violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions." "It is deeply regrettable that persists in distorting real

February 27, 2025

Former PPP leader releases book for political comeback

SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon released a new book on Wednesday, reflecting on his brief political career while hinting at his presidential ambitions. The prosecutor-turned-politician is set to embark on a nationwide tour to promote his book, with the first stop in Seoul scheduled for next Tuesday. It will be his first public appearance in about three months since stepping down as party leader, shortly after President Yoon Suk Yeol's De

February 26, 2025

Nominee for Pentagon deputy secretary call for enhanced missile defense to counter North Korean threat

SEOUL, February 26 (AJP) - Stephen Feinberg, a nominee for U.S. deputy secretary of defense, stressed the need to counter North Korea's growing nuclear arsenal, which poses a "clear threat to stability on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region, and across the globe." In a written response submitted to the Senate Committee on Armed Services for his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Feinberg said, North Korea "remains intensely focused on expanding its illi

February 26, 2025

Yoon makes lengthy final statement as impeachment trial concludes

SEOUL, February 25 (AJP) - The Constitutional Court of Korea on Tuesday held the final hearing in President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial, wrapping up weeks of arguments over his botched martial law debacle last December. The session, which began at 2 p.m., included closing statements from both sides. Lawmakers leading the case accused Yoon of ordering military forces "to block lawmakers from entering the National Assembly and arrest them," presenting an alleged me

February 25, 2025