Korean navy searches for missing sailor near NLL in East Sea SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) -South Korea's Navy is searching for a missing sailor who disappeared while serving aboard a frigate conducting a patrol mission near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East Sea, military officials said Sunday. The missing sailor, a private first class, was reported missing after failing to report for duty at around 8 a.m., according to the Navy. He was last seen between midnight and 2 a.m. by a watchstander conducting an internal security patrol thro July 12, 2026

Seoul mulls nationwide sick pay program in H1 2027 SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) - South Korea plans to roll out a nationwide sick pay program in the second half of next year, extending income support to all eligible workers who are unable to work because of illness or injury outside the workplace, after four years of pilot projects that paid more than 20 billion won in benefits. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has begun consultations with labor groups, medical professionals and other stakeholders ahead of the nationwide launch, which w July 12, 2026

South Korea bakes as 'life-threatening' heat warning debuts SEOUL, July 12 (AJP)-Sweltering South Korea activated its highest-level heat alert on Sunday for the first time, as temperatures and heat indices surged to levels authorities described as life-threatening, marking the inaugural issuance of the newly created Heat Wave Emergency Warning 18 years after the country's heat alert system was introduced. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety issued the emergency warning at 11 a.m. fo July 12, 2026

Gov't pledges emergency aid for regions hit by torrential rains SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - About 2.1 billion South Korean won (about US$1.4 million) in emergency disaster relief funds will be provided to regions affected by torrential rain earlier this week, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on Friday. According to the ministry, six regions affected by heavy downpours that began Wednesday are eligible for the support including Daejeon, Sejong, Gyeonggi Province, North Chungcheong Province, South Chungcheong Province and North Gyeo July 10, 2026

Prosecutors seek 13 years in prison for Moonies leader over bribery allegations SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Prosecutors on Friday sought a 13-year prison term for Han Hak-ja, leader of the powerful Unification Church, better known as the Moonies, over multiple allegations including bribery involving former first lady Kim Keon Hee. Han, the widow of the church's founder Moon Sun-myung, is suspected of bribing Kim with a luxury bag and jewelry, in return for favors for the church in 2022. She is also accused of colluding with an ex-cult follower the sam July 10, 2026

Teen's killing tests South Korea's family exemption law SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - A serving police officer destroyed evidence in his own son's murder case, and under South Korean law he cannot be prosecuted for it. That fact, uncovered during the investigation into the killing of a high school girl in the southern city of Gwangju in May, has pushed South Korea into a national debate over a decades-old provision of its Criminal Act that shields relatives from punishment when they hide offenders or destroy evidence on their behalf. P July 10, 2026

Monsoon downpours leave one missing, force 700 people to evacuate nationwide SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Torrential monsoon rains that battered South Korea's central region and other parts of the country over the last two days left one person missing and damaged more than 4,000 facilities, government authorities said on Friday. Fire officials and other emergency workers have been searching for a man in his 70s who was swept away by floodwaters while crossing a stream in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province the previous day. Landslides were also reported in s July 10, 2026

Korea's top court upholds ex-president's 7-year prison term SEOUL, July 9 (AJP) - Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to seven years in prison after the Supreme Court on Thursday found him guilty of obstructing investigators' attempt to arrest him following his botched martial law debacle in December 2024. Thursday's ruling marks the first final verdict among the eight separate trials Yoon is facing over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. It came after a lower court sentenced Yoon to five years in prison in January, b July 9, 2026

Torrential monsoon rain batters Seoul and much of Korea SEOUL, July 09 (AJP) -Torrential monsoon rains battered Seoul and central South Korea on Thursday, suspending Han River ferry services, triggering flood and landslide alerts, forcing evacuations and flooding roads and homes across the country. Seoul suspended operations at five Han River Bus piers from the first departure at 11 a.m. after heavy rain warnings were issued across the capital. Services were halted at Jamsil, Ttukseom, Seoul Forest, Oksu and Apgujeong piers, while the July 9, 2026

South Korea sees fewer foreign workers as Viet Nam overtakes China in arrivals SEOUL, July 9 (AJP) - A slowdown in the construction and manufacturing sectors reduced the number of foreign workers, particularly E-9 visa holders, for the second consecutive year, while arrivals from Viet Nam surpassed those from China for the first time. According to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Wednesday, about 428,000 foreigners entered South Korea for long-term stays of more than 90 days last year, down 23,000 from a year earlier, while abo July 9, 2026