Oil shock a sober reckoning to diversify away from Middle East crude: Rep. Lee Un-ju SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) - The turbulence triggered by the Middle East conflict raises a sober reckoning over South Korea’s energy vulnerabilities and the urgency to correct its energy sourcing structure, which is heavily dependent on imports of Middle Eastern fossil fuels, a three-term ruling party lawmaker said. “The spike in oil prices since the war reminds us how important energy security is and how poor South Korea stands in energy sufficiency,” Rep. Lee Un-ju, a March 10, 2026

Mug shots of alleged serial killer released SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - Prosecutors on Monday released the mug shots of a suspect arrested for allegedly committing a series of killings. The Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office released the suspect's photos along with personal information including her name and age, which will be made public until April 7. Kim So-young is accused of giving drinks containing benzodiazepine-class drugs to three men on separate occasions between mid-December and early February, cau March 9, 2026

South Korea on alert as nearly 200 sailors remain in Persian Gulf SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - Some 183 South Korean sailors are confirmed in the Persian Gulf, with the government here stepping up efforts to ensure their safety amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. After a meeting chaired by Vice Minister and Acting Minister Kim Seong-beom, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said on Monday that about 146 sailors are aboard 26 South Korean-flagged ships, while 37 are on foreign-flagged vessels as of last Sunday. No South Korean sailors hav March 9, 2026

South Korea, US kick off annual joint exercise SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - South Korean and U.S. troops began their annual joint military exercise on Monday to strengthen their combined defense posture. The exercise, dubbed Freedom Shield (FS), runs until March 19 under a scenario simulating a full-scale war to prepare for contingencies on the Korean Peninsula. The exercise, involving about 18,000 troops, similar to the levels seen last year, also aims to assess combat readiness to prepare for the transfer of wartime operational March 9, 2026

Kim Yun-ji becomes first South Korean woman to win Winter Paralympics gold SEOUL, March 9 (AJP) - Biathlete Kim Yun-ji on Sunday won gold at the Winter Paralympics, which kicked off last week in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Kim finished with a time of 38:00.1 in the women's sitting sprint 12.5-kilometer biathlon, narrowly ahead of Germany's Anja Wicker, who crossed the finish line with 38:12.09. Kendall Gretsch of the United States took bronze with 38:36.1. With the victory, she became the first South Korean woman to win a gold medal March 9, 2026

South Korea dispatches top trade envoys to U.S. to navigate tariff uncertainties SEOUL, March 07 (AJP) - South Korea has dispatched its top trade officials to the United States to ease growing uncertainties over U.S. tariff policies following a recent court ruling against the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), the industry ministry said Saturday. Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jeong-gwan and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo held talks with key U.S. counterparts on Friday to address pending bilateral trade issues and the implementati March 7, 2026

S.Korean fuel prices surge on Hormuz blockade, bypassing standard physical lag SEOUL, March 07 (AJP) - South Korean retail fuel prices have surged immediately following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, bypassing the standard two-to-three-week lag typically required for global crude fluctuations to reach domestic pumps. As of Saturday, the national average gasoline price reached 1,871.83 won ($1.39) per liter, up 178.94 won ($0.13) from Feb. 28, according to the Korea National Oil Corp (KNOC). Diesel prices outpaced gasoline, hitting 1,887.38 won per March 7, 2026

Speculation grows as US military assets gather at Osan Air Base SEOUL, March 6 (AJP) - Patriot missile batteries and heavy transport aircraft have been quietly amassing at a U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, in what appears to be a consolidation of U.S. air defense assets. According to multiple government sources, Patriot missiles and large U.S. military transport aircraft including C-5s and C-17s have recently been spotted at U.S. Forces Korea (USFK)'s Osan Air Base. Some of the Patriot missiles were reportedly transferre March 6, 2026

South Korea to face Japan this weekend after huge win in WBC opener SEOUL, March 6 (AJP) - South Korea will face Japan in its second game of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) this weekend, as the quadrennial tournament's regional rounds kicked off on Thursday. South Korea, led by manager Ryu Ji-hyun, defeated the Czech Republic 11‑4 in its WBC opener in Tokyo, hitting four home runs. The dominant win boosted the team's morale ahead of a game against archrival and defending champion Japan slated for Saturday evening at the Tokyo Dome. March 6, 2026

South Korea asks UAE to help bring home travelers stranded in Middle East SEOUL, March 6 (AJP) - South Korea asked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to help support the return of South Korean nationals stranded in Middle Eastern countries, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday. In a phone conversation with UAE's Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan the previous day, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun requested special attention and support from the UAE government including assistance for those unable to return due to the closure of airports in Dubai shortl March 6, 2026