Independent prosecutors summon ex-first lady to appear for questioning

SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors on Monday asked former first lady Kim Keon Hee to appear for questioning early next month. Prosecutors led by Min Jung-ki, who are investigating a slew of allegations involving Kim, including the acceptance of a luxury handbag, involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, election-related meddling in candidate nominations, and several other accusations, summoned her, about three weeks after forming a team for the probe. According

July 21, 2025

S. Korea's security chief visits Washington for urgent talks as tariff deadline approaches

SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - South Korea's National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac has arrived in Washington, D.C. on Sunday (local time), returning just 11 days after his previous trip, to prevent a looming trade conflict with the United States and finalize plans for a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump. South Korean officials predict that Wi will meet U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio, who also serves as National Security Advisor. Wi

July 21, 2025

Scorching heat returns with vengeance as monsoon season ends

SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Scorching heat has returned, with temperatures soaring above 30 degrees Celsius across the country, as the monsoon season ended with a last bout of torrential rains that battered southern regions over the weekend. With recovery efforts from flooding and landslides still underway, temperatures climbed to as high as 34 degrees, prompting the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) to issue heat advisories for most parts of the country on Monday. Daytime hig

July 21, 2025

Gov't begins handing out cash vouchers to all South Koreans

SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Starting Monday, all South Koreans are entitled to receive a handout ranging from 150,000 won to 550,000 won (US$108–$395), depending on their income brackets. Each eligible person can apply by Sept. 12 to receive 150,000 won in the form of cash vouchers, credit card points, or other gift options valid at local stores for three months, followed by an additional 100,000 won this fall, though the top 10 percent of earners will be excluded from the second r

July 21, 2025

Police find homemade bomb at suspect's home after fatal gun attack

SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Police on Monday raided the home of a man in his 60s who had fatally shot his son the night before, retrieving a homemade explosive device. The suspect is now being questioned in connection with the rare firearm-related homicide, an unusual occurrence in South Korea, where private gun ownership is strictly regulated. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, on July 21, a special operations team was dispatched to the suspect's apartment in north

July 21, 2025

Prosecutors seek arrest warrant for drone operations chief in martial law probe

SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors are seeking an arrest warrant for the head of a key military unit responsible for drone operations, surveillance, and reconnaissance. They said the warrant was filed on Sunday to secure the custody of Kim Yong-dae, commander of the Drone Operations Command, as part of their investigation into disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle late last year. They suspect Yoon allegedly ordered Kim, in collusio

July 20, 2025

Torrential rains leave dozens dead or missing, thousands displaced

SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - Torrential downpours across the country have left at least 14 people dead and 12 others missing, while forcing thousands to flee their homes, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on Sunday. As relentless heavy rain battered mostly southern part of the country for about a week since last Wednesday, flooding and landslides caused casualties in Osan, Gyeonggi Province; Seosan and Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province; and Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Provinc

July 20, 2025

South Korea's special prosecutor indicts impeached president on martial law charges

SEOUL, July 19 (AJP) - South Korea's special prosecutor team on Saturday indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges related to his failed attempt to impose martial law last December, marking the third time the embattled leader faces prosecution. The special investigation team, led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, said it filed formal charges against Yoon while he remains in detention, including abuse of power and obstruction of rights. The charges stem from his brie

July 19, 2025

Lee administration's first cabinet hearings draw criticism over lack of scrutiny

SEOUL, July 19 (AJP) - South Korea's first cabinet confirmation hearings under President Lee Jae Myung concluded Friday amid widespread criticism that the process lacked proper verification of ministerial nominees. The five-day ‘super week’ hearings examined 16 cabinet nominees from July 14 to 18, but opposition lawmakers and critics described the proceedings as ineffective and superficial. The ruling party focused on defending candidates while the opposition stru

July 19, 2025

South Korea braces for fourth day of torrential rains as casualties mount

SEOUL, July 19 (AJP) - Torrential rains that began pounding South Korea's central regions four days ago continued to wreak havoc across the nation, with casualties and infrastructure damage mounting. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters reported Saturday morning that the death toll remained at four, with two people still missing. The fatalities occurred in Gyeonggi Province's Osan city and South Chungcheong Province's Seosan and Dangjin cities, wh

July 19, 2025