South Korea sees record drug tests as narcotics use rises among young people SEOUL, June 5 (AJP) - The number of drug tests is rising as synthetic drugs spread among teenagers and cases of fatal mixed-drug use increase. According to a report released by the National Forensic Service (NFS) earlier this week, the number of drug tests conducted reached 140,775 last year, the highest on record. Drug-related busts and the amount of narcotics seized have both risen steadily year after year. The Korea Customs Service (KCS) seized 769 kilograms of drugs in 704 ca June 5, 2026

Tourism agency partners with Catch Table to simplify restaurant reservations for foreign tourists SEOUL, June 05 (AJP) - The Korea Tourism Organization has forged a partnership with WAD, the operator of the dining platform Catch Table, to improve restaurant reservations and information access for international visitors, , the state-operated tourism agency said Friday. The partnership focuses on promoting K-Local Gourmet Travels 33, a list of regional food destinations selected by KTO. Through the Catch Table global application, the organizations will create a digital service t June 5, 2026

South Koreans travel more abroad in Q1 while online shopping spending drops SEOUL, June 5 (AJP) - South Koreans' overseas card spending topped US$6 billion in the first months of this year, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said on Friday. Their total overseas card spending stood at US$6.1 billion in the first quarter, almost the same as $6.11 billion in the previous quarter but up 14.2 percent from a year earlier. Although the number of South Koreans traveling abroad increased over the period, spending remained almost unchanged, according to the BOK. Purch June 5, 2026

Police disperse protesters, secure ballot boxes after election day disruption in Seoul SEOUL, June 5 (AJP) - Police on Friday dispersed protesters from a polling station in southern Seoul after a days-long standoff over the removal of ballot boxes following shortages in ballot papers that disrupted voting during Wednesday's local elections. More than 1,000 police officers were mobilized to the polling station in Jamsil, Seoul's Songpa district, from around 7:30 a.m. to secure two ballot boxes that had remained inside the polling station for more than 35 hours June 5, 2026

Voter turnout for local elections hits 61% SEOUL, June 04 (AJP) - Voter turnout in Wednesday's local elections reached 61 percent, the National Election Commission (NEC) said Thursday. It marked a sharp increase from 50.9 percent in the previous local elections in 2022 and was the highest turnout in any local elections since 1995, when it reached a record 68.4 percent. A total of 27.25 million voters cast ballots out of 44.65 million eligible voters including those who participated in two-day early voting last week an June 4, 2026

Oh Se-hoon reelected Seoul mayor after dramatic overnight reversal SEOUL, June 4 (AJP) - Incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) was re-elected on Thursday after a nail-biting overnight count, defeating Democratic Party (DP) candidate Chung Won-o in the closest and most closely watched race of this year's local elections. According to the National Election Commission, with 97.17 percent of ballots counted as of 9 a.m., Oh was leading with 48.87 percent of the vote, edging out Chung's 48.41 percent by June 4, 2026

Ruling Democratic Party dominates early vote counting in S. Korea's local elections SEOUL, June 03 (AJP) - Early vote counting for the June 3 local elections shows the ruling Democratic Party taking the lead in 14 of 16 metropolitan and provincial races, including the Seoul mayoral election. The conservative People Power Party is leading in only one region, North Gyeongsang Province. If the current trend continues, the elections will end in a sweeping victory for the Democratic Party. The early results suggest that voters in the first nationwide elections sinc June 3, 2026

Former justice minister Choo Mi-ae to become first female provincial governor in South Korea SEOUL, June 03 (AJP) - The Ruling Democratic Party candidate and former justice minister Choo Mi-ae is certain to win the Gyeonggi Province gubernatorial race, making her the first woman to head a metropolitan or provincial government in South Korean history. According to the National Election Commission on Wednesday, Choo is projected to defeat People Power Party candidate Yang Hyang-ja in the June 3 local elections. The six-term lawmaker maintained a wide lead over Yang throughout June 3, 2026

National Election Commission apologizes for ballot shortage SEOUL, June 3 (AJP) - Heo Chul-hoon, secretary-general of South Korea's National Election Commission, issued a public apology on Wednesday evening after several polling stations ran out of ballot papers during local elections. Speaking at the commission headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Heo said he takes full responsibility for the oversight. He said the commission deeply apologizes for causing great confusion and concern, acknowledging that the incident inconvenience June 3, 2026

Ruling party leads in South Korean local election exit polls SEOUL, June 03 (AJP) -South Korea's ruling Democratic Party of Korea holds a strong lead in 11 out of 16 metropolitan mayoral and gubernatorial races, according to joint election-day exit polls released Wednesday. The projected outcomes position the party to expand its local administrative power as President Lee Jae-myung enters the second year of his term. The nationwide vote serves as the first major electoral test for the Lee Jae Myung administration, a critical midterm ref June 3, 2026