South Korea, US to hold tariff talks in Washington

SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - Officials from South Korea and the U.S will meet for talks in Washington in the coming week. According to government sources here, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun will head to Washington for working-level discussions with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Both sides are currently in finalizing the agendas and other details, with the talks, proposed by t

April 20, 2025

Relocation of Presidential office on the cards again

SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - With the presidential election less than two months away, uncertainties loom over the future of the current presidential office in Seoul's central district of Yongsan. Many believe it would be inappropriate to continue using the office, which has been tainted by the impeachment of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law debacle late last year. With Yoon's impeachment over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law upheld by a

April 20, 2025

Unidentified balloons with leaflets discovered south of DMZ

More than ten balloons were discovered last week in areas just south of the DMZ. Military and police believe they were launched from two sites nearby, though the sender remains unidentified. “The balloons seem to have fallen short and landed near the DMZ,” a police official said. A civic group is reportedly planning to resume leaflet launches next Wednesday, after canceling a similar attempt last October. The move comes as spring winds, especially sou

April 19, 2025

Political leaders honor citizens of 1960 pro-democracy uprising

SEOUL, April 19 (AJP) - South Korean political leaders on Saturday paid tribute to the citizens who took part in the pro-democracy uprising 65 years ago. Leaders from both major parties, including Democratic Party acting leader Park Chan-dae and People Power Party floor leader Kwon Seong-dong, visited a cemetery in northern Seoul to pay respects to those who died in the 1960 pro-democracy movement. The revolution was triggered by widespread protests against election fraud and

April 19, 2025

Constitutional Court left with seven justices as two retire

SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - Two justices retired from the Constitutional Court of Korea on Friday as their six-year terms came to an end this week. The retirement of justices Moon Hyung-bae and Lee Mi-sun comes just a few weeks after delivering their historic ruling on the impeachment of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his botched martial law debacle late last year. The two outgoing justices stressed the need to "respect" the court's rulings in order to up

April 18, 2025

Disgraced ex-president to get some shield from media attention at court appearance

SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol is expected to avoid at least some public attention when he makes his court appearance next week for his trial on insurrection charges related to his botched martial law debacle late last year. Yoon is likely to be whisked once again into the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul next Tuesday, as he did so earlier this week, through a secluded passageway from the underground parking lot. The Seoul High Cour

April 18, 2025

Han Duck-soo sees split public opinion amid rising support for Lee Jae-myung

SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - Acting President Han Duck-soo is facing divided public opinion over his job performance, according to a new Gallup Korea poll released Friday. The survey found that 41 percent of respondents believe Han is doing well in his role, while 50 percent said he is not. Nine percent reserved judgment. Han received strong backing from supporters of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), with 88 percent offering a positive evaluation. In contrast, 90 percent of Democra

April 18, 2025

Lee Jae-myung outlines regional pledges ahead of first televised debate

SEOUL, April 18 (AJP) - Lee Jae-myung, a leading presidential contender from the Democratic Party (DP), pledged Friday to relocate the ocean ministry to the southern port city of Busan to strengthen South Korea’s maritime competitiveness. Through a social media post, Lee said he would move the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Busan to make the city “the undisputed center of South Korea’s maritime leadership” and to ensure “field-oriented policymaki

April 18, 2025

Presidential favorite Lee Jae-myung among TIME magazine's '100 most influential people'

SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - Lee Jae-myung, considered a front-runner in the upcoming presidential election slated for early June, has been included in the U.S. magazine TIME's "100 Most Influential People" for this year, in its annual list released on Wednesday. The former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) made it onto the list along with Rosé, a member of K-pop girl band BLACKPINK, making them the two South Koreans on the list. Lee was named al

April 17, 2025

Ex-president's daughter slapped with fine for DUI and other offenses

SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - Former President Moon Jae-in's daughter Da-hye on Thursday was slapped with a fine of 15 million won (US$10,000) on Thursday for charges of drunk driving and illegally running a lodging business. The Seoul Western District Court ruled to let her off with only a fine, citing the defendant's "deep regret" for her wrongdoings and also taking into account that she has no prior criminal record. The sentence came about several months after the

April 17, 2025