Korean justice minister calls to scrap statute of limitations on state crimes SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - South Korean Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho on Monday called for abolishing the statute of limitations for crimes committed by the state, saying those responsible for torture and other forms of state violence must be held accountable regardless of how much time has passed. In a post on X, Jung referred to the so-called Nakdong River murder case, a wrongful conviction that was overturned in a retrial after two men spent more than two decades in prison for a ki June 29, 2026

KAIST appoints Bae Choong-sik as 18th president SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has appointed Bae Choong-sik, a mechanical engineering professor and specialist in carbon-neutral propulsion technology, as its 18th president, following a vote by the university's board of directors on Monday. The board, chaired by Kim Myung-ja, met at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology's (KAIST) Seoul campus in Gangnam District to make the selection. Founded in 1971 as South Kor June 29, 2026

Stay-at-home fathers in South Korea hit record high in first quarter SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - The number of South Korean men staying out of the workforce to care for preschool children or manage household duties climbed to a record high in the first quarter, while the number of women doing the same fell to the lowest level since comparable data became available. According to data released Monday by Statistics Korea through the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS), 274,000 men were classified as economically inactive because of childcare or June 29, 2026

Young South Korean Ph.D.s face record employment crisis SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - More than one-third of South Korea's newly minted Ph.D. graduates were without jobs last year, with the share of unemployed or economically inactive doctorate holders exceeding 30 percent for the first time since the government began compiling the data, according to a government survey released Monday. The survey also showed that more than half of doctorate recipients under age 30 were jobless, underscoring worsening employment prospects even among the c June 29, 2026

South Koreans to have slightly more days off next year SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - South Koreans with a five-day workweek will get 72 holidays next year, two more days than this year. According to next year's calendar released by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute on Monday, there will be 52 Sundays and 24 annual public holidays including substitute days off in 2027. If additional Saturdays off are counted, there will be 124 days off work. But several holidays including Labor Day (May 1), Constitution Day (July 17), June 29, 2026

Ryu Hae-ran captures maiden LPGA major title in breakthrough victory SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - Golfer Ryu Han-ran on Sunday won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship to claim the first LPGA major title of her career. In the fourth and final round at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, the 25-year-old carded a 2-under 70 to finish at 13-under 275, securing her long-awaited maiden major championship. She also became the first South Korean to win the tournament since Amy Yang claimed the title two years ago. The win came after an imp June 29, 2026

South Korean footballers to return home quietly after early World Cup exit SEOUL, June 28 (AJP) - South Korea's national football squad will return home later this week after being eliminated from this year's World Cup, having spent the past few days waiting in vain as the country's slim hopes of advancing to the next round faded. According to the Korea Football Association, head coach Hong Myung-bo is set to arrive at Incheon International Airport on Tuesday with several players and coaching staff, including striker Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint- June 28, 2026

South Korea offers support as death toll from quakes rises in Venezuela SEOUL, June 28 (AJP) - After powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last week, the death toll has been rising, with aftershocks hampering rescue efforts. Some 1,430 people have been confirmed dead, with at least 68,900 missing and about 3,200 injured, with the toll expected to rise further as search efforts continue, according to Jorge Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela's National Assembly speaking on state television on Saturday. The two deadly earthquakes, June 28, 2026

South Korea pins hopes on luck for World Cup round of 32 SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - South Korea's hopes of reaching the round of 32 at this year's FIFA World Cup remain alive, but their path has become more complicated as key group-stage matches elsewhere have tightened the race for a berth in the next round. With this year's expanded 48-team tournament split into 12 groups hosted by three countries - Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., the top two finishers from each group advance to the knockout stage, along with the eight best third- June 26, 2026

Ex-first lady sentenced to 7 yrs in prison over bribery charges SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - Disgraced former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to seven years in prison on Friday after a court found her guilty of accepting luxury gifts and artworks in exchange for using her influence to help secure appointments and other favors. The Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence on charges of influence-peddling and bribery, slightly lighter than the seven years and six months prosecutors had sought. Prosecutors earlier argued that Kim ha June 26, 2026