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  US Senate approves defense bill prohibiting unilateral USFK troop cuts SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed a defense bill that includes a provision prohibiting a unilateral reduction of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. The annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which sets defense policy, allocates funding priorities, and provides guidance on key security matters, was approved by the Senate in a decisive 77-20 vote, following its passage in the House of Representatives last week. The bill, which allocates a December 18, 2025
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  Opposition parties push for independent probe into Unification Church scandal SEOUL, December 18 (AJP) - The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is working together with the minor centrist Reform Party (RP) to push for a probe by independent prosecutors into bribery allegations involving the Unification Church, also known as the Moonies. After a meeting between the two parties' floor leaders Song Eon-seok and Cheon Ha-ram on Wednesday, they agreed to proceed with it as early as this week, although they need to resolve some differences including the s December 18, 2025
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  Much ado about nothing: Korea's "Hwandan Gogi" controversy winds down SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Claims that Korean ancestry dates back to the Stone Age and that an ancient polity called Hwan-guk once spanned territories stretching from western Europe to China resurfaced briefly in South Korea’s political spotlight this month — before being swiftly dismissed by historians. The claims originate from Hwandan Gogi, a book published in 1979 by Yi Yu-rip, founder of the religious group Taebaekgyo. The text asserts that Hwan-guk had a population December 17, 2025
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  SHINee's Key leaves TV shows amid alleged improper medical treatment controversy SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - K-pop boy band SHINee member Key belatedly admitted to receiving improper medical treatment and issued an apology, announcing his departure from all the shows he had been appearing on. According to a statement released by his agency, SM Entertainment on Wednesday, Key had received treatment at a hospital in Gangnam, southern Seoul after being referred by a circle of his acquaintances and believed the hospital's practitioner, known by her last name Le December 17, 2025
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  Korea set to test digital ADHD treatment amid overuse of concentration pills SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often taken lightly in Korea, particularly when strong school grades compensate for disruptive or reckless behavior — and, in some cases, when parents quietly encourage medication use ahead of college preparation. The neglect, delayed diagnosis and lingering aversion to child psychiatry frequently lead to long-term difficulties for patients. For many, treatment begins late and remains narrowly focuse December 17, 2025
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  South Korea sees steady rise in fathers taking parental leave SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The number of fathers taking parental leave in South Korea surpassed 60,000 for the first time last year, accounting for 30 percent of all parental leave takers. According to data released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Wednesday, the number of parental leave takers reached 206,226 in 2024, up four percent from the previous year, with some 29.2 percent being fathers. The number of fathers taking parental leave has steadily increased from 32 December 17, 2025
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  Propaganda leaflets floated to North Korea months before martial law fiasco, Defense Ministry reveals SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korea floated propaganda leaflets into North Korea at least 23 times under the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the Ministry of Defense said Wednesday. According to the ministry's recent internal investigation, the leaflet drops, halted in July 2017 under Yoon's predecessor, resumed from February to November last year after a decision was made at a security meeting in October 2023, attended by then-Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, then-Un December 17, 2025
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  Ex-golfer Pak Se-ri's father gets suspended sentence for fraud SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korean golf pioneer Pak Se-ri's father received a suspended sentence for document forgery and fraud on Wednesday. The Daejeon District Court in central South Korea sentenced him to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years on several charges. He was convicted of falsely claiming to be the head of his daughter's namesake foundation from June 2021 to July 2023, and allegedly forging the foundation's seal and other documents in an at December 17, 2025
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  South Korea 'considers separate agreement with US for nuclear submarines' SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korea is considering a separate agreement with the U.S. for the construction of nuclear submarines, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lak said on Tuesday. Upon arriving at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., Wi said that such an agreement would be needed, separately from the comprehensive joint fact sheet signed between the two countries last month, which outlines agreements on bilateral trade and security. Wi then added that he December 17, 2025
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  24/7 hotline for transnational crimes available, spy agency says SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Victims of transnational crimes such as online scams and phishing schemes, as well as those who encounter or are aware of misinformation threatening national security and public safety, can dial 111 to report them, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on Tuesday. They also can text to #0111 or leave messages on the NIS' website around the clock. These crimes involve multiple countries or foreign nationals, including voice phishing, oversea December 16, 2025