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  Seoul's lantern festival extended for two more weeks SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Seoul's annual lantern festival along the Cheonggye Stream will be extended by two more weeks, organizers said on Friday. In its 17th year, the festival featuring around 500 lanterns made from traditional handmade paper, as well as glowing displays and other festive decorations, was supposed to close this weekend but will now continue to illuminate the capital until mid-January. The extension came as the festival has drawn nearly 300 million people January 2, 2026
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  Seoul shivers through freezing start to new year SEOUL, January 2 (AJP) - Biting cold continues to linger, with morning lows in Seoul and other metropolitan areas plunging to -12 degrees Celsius on Friday. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the freezing temperatures brought plenty of incidents including burst pipes, although no cold-related illnesses such as hypothermia were reported. As the cold wave advisory issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration on New Year's Eve remained in place, the city govern January 2, 2026
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  [AI Analysis] Economy outweighs politics in South Korea, New Year polls show SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) -New Year polls show economic anxiety outweighs political concerns as livelihoods come under strain in South Korea. Across multiple polls released at the turn of the year, voters expressed more anxiety than optimism — not in the form of crisis fear, but as a growing sense of fatigue from prolonged cost pressures and stalled improvement in daily life. Roughly 45–50 percent of respondents said the economy would worsen this year, while only t January 1, 2026
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  South Korea welcomes first babies of 2026 amid signs of fragile fertility recovery SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) - South Korea marked the start of the Year of the Red Horse with the birth of its first newborns at the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, 2026, as two baby girls were delivered simultaneously at a maternity hospital in Seoul. According to CHA University Gangnam Medical Center, the two girls were born at exactly 12:00 a.m. to mothers aged 37, both in stable condition. One baby, weighing 2.88 kilograms, was delivered by cesarean section, while the other January 1, 2026
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  Half of Koreans expect economy to worsen in 2026, inflation tops concern: poll SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) -About half of South Koreans believe economic conditions will deteriorate in 2026, with inflation emerging as the most urgent concern, even as many remain optimistic that the stock market’s rally can extend further, a survey showed Thursday. A poll conducted by Realmeter on behalf of Energy Economy News found that 46.4 percent of respondents expect the economy next year to be “worse than now,” compared with 33.8 percent who believe conditi January 1, 2026
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  Kim Jong Un stresses internal unity, honors troops sent to Russia in New Year address SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un used his New Year speech to emphasize domestic cohesion and praise soldiers deployed to Russia, avoiding any direct message toward South Korea or the United States. According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim delivered the remarks late Wednesday at a large celebration held at Pyongyang’s May Day Stadium. He said North Korea’s drive for “comprehensive socialist development” had successfully passe January 1, 2026
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  South Korean defense minister conducts New Year's Day command flight SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) -South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back conducted a command flight on New Year’s Day under escort by domestically produced fighter jets in a symbolic move to demonstrate military readiness across the Korean Peninsula, the Ministry of National Defense said Thursday. Ahn boarded an Air Force E-737 Peace Eye airborne early warning and control aircraft before dawn for what the ministry described as an “airborne command post” operation. January 1, 2026
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  Korea bets on AI-driven productivity as new engine of growth in 2026 SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) -South Korea is entering 2026 with a renewed push to reset its growth model around artificial intelligence, as the government and corporate leaders converge on AI-led productivity and solution-based innovation as the country’s next economic engine, according to New Year's addresses by key officials from the government and private sector. In his New Year’s address Thursday, President Lee Jae Myung raised urgency on a national transition b January 1, 2026
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  South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok pledges people-driven policies, growth and stability in New Year address SEOUL, January 01 (AJP) - South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok vowed on Thursday to steer national policy based on the will of the people, outlining a government agenda centered on growth, stability and peace in his New Year’s address. Kim said the administration, launched last year “with a heavy heart” amid concerns about a crisis in democracy, is beginning 2026 with renewed confidence in economic recovery. “This year will mark the first step toward a January 1, 2026
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  Japan tops most popular international routes as China sees sharp rise in passengers SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - Japan-bound flights emerged as the most popular international routes this year, while passenger traffic on China routes posted the strongest growth, according to travel data released by South Korean low-cost carrier Eastar Jet. Based on an analysis of customer usage data for its 2025 travel trends, Eastar Jet said on Wednesday that it carried approximately 5.6 million passengers this year, up 23 percent from the previous year, bringing its cumulative passe December 31, 2025