South Korea finish fourth at AFC U-23 Asian Cup after shock penalty loss to Vietnam SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) - South Korea's under-23 football team finished fourth at the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Asian Cup on Saturday after suffering a stunning penalty shootout defeat to Vietnam in the third-place playoff, capping a deeply disappointing campaign for the former champions. The match at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium ended 2-2 after 120 minutes before Vietnam prevailed 7-6 in the shootout, handing South Korea their first-ever loss to Vietnam in the January 24, 2026

Korea's veteran progressive figure Lee Hae-chan hospitalized in Vietnam after heart attack SEOUL, January 24 (AJP) -Former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, a veteran progressive politician and one of the most influential figures in the country’s liberal camp, was rushed to a hospital in Vietnam on Friday after suffering a heart attack and remains in critical condition, officials said. Lee, 73, who currently serves as senior vice chairperson of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC), collapsed at around 1 p.m. local time shortly after arriving at January 24, 2026

South Korea is aging fast, but policy is falling behind SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - South Korea has officially entered the ranks of super-aged societies, but its policies remain anchored in a younger past. The result is a deepening crisis marked by the OECD’s highest old-age poverty rate and one of the world’s most alarming suicide rates among seniors—outcomes that experts say reflect years of delayed and fragmented responses to demographic change. According to the OECD’s Pensions at a Glance 2023, four out of ten K January 23, 2026

Senior US defense official to visit Seoul next week SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - A high-ranking U.S. defense official is expected to visit Seoul next week. Elbridge Colby, the under Secretary of defense for policy, is scheduled to meet with South Korean foreign and defense officials here from Jan. 25 to 27 as part of his Asia trip, which will also include a stop in Japan. The close aide to U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to outline the White House's new security strategy, announced early last month, which urges allies t January 23, 2026

Samsung heir to participate in multinational exercise in Thailand SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Lee Ji-ho, the son of Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong, will participate in his first overseas combined exercise next month since being commissioned as an ensign in November last year. According to military sources on Friday, Lee junior is expected to be dispatched to Cobra Gold, the largest multinational combined exercise held annually in Thailand since 1982, hosted by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. This year's exercise, slated to be held f January 23, 2026

PM tells US lawmakers Coupang probe 'not discriminatory' SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who is currently in Washington, D.C., told U.S. lawmakers that South Korea is not discriminating against e-commerce giant Coupang in its investigation into a massive data leak late last year. His remarks came on Thursday as Kim began his five-day trip to the U.S., starting with a luncheon meeting with several U.S. House members including Young Kim, Ami Bera, Dave Min, Joe Wilson, John Moolenaar, Marilyn Strickland, Michael B January 23, 2026

Over 70 South Koreans sent home after online scam crackdown in Cambodia SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Some 73 South Koreans detained in Cambodia over alleged involvement in online scams and other crimes were forcibly returned home from the Southeast Asian country on Friday. A chartered Korean Air flight carrying them arrived at Incheon International Airport at around 9:40 a.m., after departing Phnom Penh the previous day. The suspects are set to face investigations here. They are accused of swindling a total of 486.7 billion won (US$331.5 million) from 8 January 23, 2026

Kookmin University launches international design award emphasizing educator-student collaboration SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - Kookmin University announced the launch of the "DBEW AWARD 2026," an international design competition organized in partnership with the Association for Industrial Design (ADI). The award aims to highlight the educational process and collaboration between students and instructors rather than focusing solely on finished design products. The award distinguishes itself from traditional design competitions by evaluating the mentorship and cooperative January 23, 2026

BTS countdown begins as album drop, Gwanghwamun street show take shape SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) — The countdown has begun. Global K-pop phenomenon BTS is preparing a long-awaited return — not on a closed stadium stage, but potentially on the streets of central Seoul — as the group plans to unveil new music for the first time in nearly four years ahead of its upcoming ARIRANG world tour. The focal point of the comeback calendar is March 20, when BTS is set to release a new album and make its first public appearance as a full seven- January 22, 2026

Prosecutors appeal ex-president's sentence in martial law-related case SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Former President Yoon Suk Yeol's case over charges of alleged obstruction of law enforcement will go to an appeals court after Yoon and prosecutors decided to appeal the first ruling. Independent prosecutors said they reached the decision on Thursday, days after Yoon immediately appealed last week's verdict. In the first ruling delivered last Friday, Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison for obstructing investigators and other officials wh January 22, 2026