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  Ex-bobsleigh medalist elected to IOC Athletes' Commission SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - Bobsledder Won Yun-jong was elected to the Athletes' Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday, becoming the first South Korean athlete in winter Olympic disciplines to serve. According to the IOC, Won secured 1,176 votes from some 2,393 athletes participating in this year's Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, finishing first among 11 candidates. The silver medalist at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics becam February 20, 2026
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  The heat is on Seoul as Tokyo gets a head start on U.S. investment SEOUL, February 20 (AJP) - Japan has moved swiftly to translate its pledged $550 billion investment commitment to the United States into concrete projects, unveiling an initial $36 billion package centered on energy, infrastructure and critical materials — areas closely aligned with Washington’s strategic priorities — while Seoul remains mired in legislative gridlock. President Donald Trump welcomed the announcement, publicly praising Tokyo’s commitment and r February 20, 2026
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  Impeached ex-president sentenced to life behind bars SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday on charges of insurrection and abuse of power over his botched martial law debacle in 2024. In a nationally televised trial, the Seoul Central District Court handed down the sentence over his botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, lighter than the death penalty prosecutors had sought at Yoon's final hearing last month. The court found Yoon guilty of resorting to February 19, 2026
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  Tens of thousands of liters of jet fuel spill at US bases in Gunsan, Osan SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - More than 40,000 liters of fighter jet fuel spilled at a U.S. Air Force base in the southwestern city of Gunsan last month, while a similar spill occurred at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province earlier this month, U.S. Forces Korea said on Thursday. According to U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), the U.S. Air Force's 8th Fighter Wing detected a leak of about 41,600 liters of jet fuel from a fuel tank in an accident on Jan. 26 at Gunsan. There w February 19, 2026
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  South Korea mulls restoring no-fly zone along border SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - South Korea is considering redesignating a no-fly zone along border areas while ensuring it does not affect military readiness, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday. In a regular media briefing, ministry spokesperson Jeong Bit-na said the ministry is consulting with relevant government agencies and the U.S. side to partially restore the inter-Korean military pact, which was signed in September 2018 to ease military tensions between the two Koreas but was February 19, 2026
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  South Korean citizens proposed for Nobel Peace Prize for defending democracy SEOUL, February 19 (AJP) - South Korean citizens have been proposed for the Nobel Peace Prize for defending democracy by stopping former disgraced President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle in 2024. A group of professors led by Kim Eui-young at Seoul National University submitted a recommendation to the Norwegian Nobel Committee last month, proposing the citizens collectively as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. The group includes Pablo Oñate, a professor at February 19, 2026
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  A long ride back to Seoul as holiday winds down SEOUL, February 17 (AJP) -Heavy traffic clogged major highways across South Korea on Tuesday as millions of holiday travelers began returning to Seoul as the long Lunar New Year holiday ends on Wednesday. According to the Korea Expressway Corp., travel times to Seoul as of noon had lengthened sharply, with trips from Busan taking up to 10 hours, Ulsan 9 hours and 40 minutes, Daegu 9 hours, Mokpo 9 hours and 20 minutes, Gwangju 8 hours and 50 minutes, and Daejeon 4 hours and 40 minu February 17, 2026
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  South Korea adds speed skating top-10 finish, falls short in skeleton mixed team debut SEOUL, February 16 (AJP) - South Korea's Lee Na-hyun placed 10th in the women's 500-meter speed skating on Sunday, marking her second top-10 finish at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, while the country's skeleton mixed team finished 11th in the inaugural Olympic event. Lee clocked 37.86 seconds at Milano Speed Skating Stadium, finishing 0.59 seconds behind bronze medalist Miho Takagi of Japan. The 20-year-old had earlier placed ninth in the women's 1,000 meters, February 16, 2026
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  South Korea secures fifth medal, eyes more in short-track speed skating SEOUL, February 15 (AJP) - With this year's Winter Olympics now halfway through in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, South Korea added one more silver medal as short-track speed skater Hwang Dae-heon finished second in the men's 1,500 meters on Saturday. South Korea is currently ranked 14th in the overall tally, with one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals. Norway continued to lead the standings with ten gold medals, followed by Italy with six, the U.S. with five, and bot February 15, 2026
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  3.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Gyeonggi Province SEOUL, February 15 (AJP) - A 3.0-magnitude earthquake struck Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province early Sunday morning. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the quake occurred at around 4:13 a.m. Residents in nearby areas such as Gimpo, Paju, and Pocheon in the province, as well as Cheorwon in Gangwon Province, felt weak tremors. So far, there have been no reports of damage or injuries. It was the strongest earthquake recorded on the Korean Peninsula this year. February 15, 2026