Over four million families leave Seoul for Lunar New Year visits

SEOUL, January 26 (AJP) - More than four million families are estimated to leave Seoul on Sunday to visit relatives in their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holiday, creating heavy traffic congestion on expressways and country roads nationwide. "Seollal," the Korean Lunar New Year, is one of the country's most significant holidays, drawing families to the home of the eldest member, often grandparents, to share traditional food and participate in ancestral rites. The

January 26, 2025

Holiday rush in S. Korea with over 35 million travelers expected

SEOUL, January 25 (AJP) - The annual mass migration began on Saturday as South Koreans travel to their hometowns to celebrate Lunar New Year, known as Seollal. Seollal, a traditional Korean holiday celebrating the first day of the lunisolar calendar, falls on Wednesday this year. With additional public holidays surrounding Seollal, an estimated 35 million people are expected to travel during the six-day holiday from Saturday to Thursday. The Ministry of Land, Infrastruct

January 25, 2025

Court rejects second bid to extend Yoon's detention

SEOUL, January 25 (AJP) - A Seoul court on Saturday rejected prosecutors' second request to extend the detention of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his martial law declaration last month. On Friday, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed the prosecution's initial request for a 10-day extension, citing a lack of reasonable grounds for the prosecution to continue the investigation. Prosecutors filed their second request on Saturday, only to be denied on similar grounds.

January 25, 2025

Court rejects extension of Yoon's detention

SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - A court on Friday rejected prosecutors' request to extend the detention of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Earlier in the day, they filed for an extension with the Seoul Central District Court, as his detention period is set to expire early next week, amid his constant refusal to cooperate with questioning over his botched martial law debacle last month. But the court refused the request, citing a lack of proper grounds for prosecutors to proceed with the i

January 24, 2025

Main opposition party takes lead over ruling party again in latest poll

SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has slightly overtaken the ruling People Power Party (PPP) in support ratings, according to a poll released on Friday. Pollster Gallup Korea surveyed over 1,000 adults earlier this week and found that about 40 percent of respondents supported the DP, while some 38 percent preferred the PPP. The slightest reversal came amid a tight race between the two parties within the margin of error for several weeks, with the

January 24, 2025

Trump to 'reach out' to North Korean leader

SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would "reach out" to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. His comments come just a few days into his non-consecutive second term earlier this week, suggesting that he intends to re-engage in talks with Pyongyang. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said, "I'll reach out to him again," but gave no specific details. "I got along with him. He is not a religious zealot. He happens

January 24, 2025

Yoon rejects martial law allegations once again at hearing in impeachment trial

SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol showed up for a hearing in his impeachment trial over his botched martial law debacle last month at the Constitutional Court of Korea in Seoul on Thursday. It was his second appearance after his previous attendance earlier this week. Yoon, who has been held in a solitary cell since his arrest last week on charges of insurrection and abuse of power over the debacle, met with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who also appeared as

January 23, 2025

Chief of broadcasting watchdog reinstated after court rejects impeachment

SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Lee Jin-sook, chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), has been reinstated to her position following a court ruling overturning her impeachment over a controversial decision-making process at the broadcasting watchdog. The Constitutional Court of Korea on Thursday failed to reach a majority of six votes, with four of its eight judges voting for her impeachment and the other four voting against, clearing the way for Lee's return to work.

January 23, 2025

South Korean FM, new US Secretary of State reaffirm alliance in first phone conversation

SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul spoke with newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the first time over the phone on Thursday. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here, the two discussed various issues including the bilateral alliance between South Korea and the U.S, as well as trilateral cooperation with Japan. Cho expressed hopes for the continued strong alliance with Washington under the new U.S. administration, following

January 23, 2025

Prosecutors take over investigation into Yoon's martial law debacle

SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) have handed over the case involving President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle last month to prosecutors. The CIO, which is not entitled to prosecute a suspect, said on Thursday that it decided to refer the case to prosecutors. After several failed attempts to question Yoon over charges of insurrection and abuse of power, due to his continued refusal to coopera

January 23, 2025