Ex-justice minister sentenced to 25 years in martial law-related case SEOUL, June 22 (AJP) - Former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Monday over his involvement in disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle in 2024. The Seoul Central District Court found Park guilty of carrying out key duties related to Yoon's Dec. 3 martial law declaration. In its verdict, the court harshly criticized Park, saying he had a "grave constitutional duty" as justice minister but chose to side wi June 22, 2026

More civil servants to face questioning over ballot shortage in local elections SEOUL, June 22 (AJP) - More civil servants are set to undergo questioning on Monday over irregularities and disruptions caused by a shortage of ballot papers during this month's local elections. About eight local government officials are set to appear for questioning by a joint task force of investigators formed to probe the June 3 local elections. They are believed to have handled ballot distribution at two polling stations in southern Seoul where the shortage occurred. June 22, 2026

Lee reshuffles Cheong Wa Dae staff, names ex-Yonhap chief as communications adviser SEOUL, June 21 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday named Seong Ghi-hong, a former chief executive of Yonhap News Agency, as his senior secretary for public communications, part of a reshuffle of his top Blue House aides at the start of his administration's second year. Han Chan-sik, a former attorney at the law firm Kim & Chang, was appointed senior secretary for civil affairs, while Kim Kyung-ja, an adjunct professor at Woosuk University and a former sen June 21, 2026

Seoul seeks to reassure U.S. Congress over tighter OPCON oversight SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) - South Korea is actively explaining its wartime operational control transfer plan to the U.S. Congress after a Senate committee approved legislation that would strengthen congressional oversight of the process, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said Friday. A ministry official declined to directly assess legislation still under consideration in Washington but said South Korea and the United States were closely consulting on the transfer of wartime operational cont June 19, 2026

Media giant JoongAng Ilbo defaults on 22 bln won SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) - South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo has suffered an initial default on 22 billion won in commercial paper after failing to meet a creditor's early repayment demand due to a lack of funds. The financial failure marks a shocking development in the local media industry, as JoongAng Ilbo stands as one of South Korea's most iconic and influential major media groups. The default publicly exposes the severity of an escalating liquidity crisis threatening t June 19, 2026

More South Koreans live alone as one-person households surpass 8 million SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - More South Koreans are living alone, with one-person households exceeding 8 million, according to statistical data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Thursday. Single-person households increased by 212,000 to 8.22 million last year, topping 8 million for the second consecutive year and setting a new record. Among them, the number of employed increased by 98,000 to 5.20 million. By age, those in their 30s accounted for the largest p June 18, 2026

Seoul names new nuclear reactor sites amid AI demand SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - South Korea has designated two coastal counties to host its first new nuclear reactors in 15 years, a decisive step to secure the massive power supplies required for the country's expanding artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors. The selection clears a major bottleneck for the country's long-term energy strategy. It formally revives projects scrapped by the previous administration's nuclear phase-out policy, addressing government war June 18, 2026

Washington's new trade agenda poses fresh challenges for Seoul SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - Seoul should closely monitor Washington's evolving trade strategy and swiftly implement South Korea's trade deal with the U.S. agreed last fall, said an ex-trade chief on Wednesday. Speaking at a forum at the National Assembly in Seoul, former Trade Minister Jeong In-kyo also warned that the U.S.' annual trade report is increasingly being used as a platform for future enforcement actions beyond tariffs. "The National Trade Estimate (NTE) re June 17, 2026

Some 150,000 applicants to sit for entry-level civil service exam this weekend SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - About 150,000 people are getting ready for a written test for this year's civil service exam for entry-level government positions this weekend. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said Wednesday that some 141,546 people have signed up to take the nationwide exam scheduled for Saturday to fill about 23,390 openings, with a competition ratio of 6.1 to 1, down from 8.8 to 1 last year. About 14,530 of the 23,390 positions will be for administrative and June 17, 2026

Housing prices near chip clusters in Seoul outskirts surge amid soaring demand SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - An ongoing artificial intelligence (AI)-driven semiconductor boom is spilling over into the housing market, pushing up apartment prices near facilities operated by chip giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix in satellite cities across Gyeonggi Province. According to transaction prices disclosed through a database system operated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, an 84-square-meter unit at an apartment complex in Dongtan was traded for 2 June 17, 2026