Opposition leader gets suspended sentence for violating election law

SEOUL, November 15 (AJP) - Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was sentenced on Friday to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the election law. The Seoul Central District Court found him guilty of making false statements related to a major scandal involving a land development project in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province during his tenure as the city's mayor from 2010 to 2018. The sentence puts the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party at risk of being di

November 15, 2024

Another Korean descendant elected to US Congress

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - Democratic politician Dave Min won a U.S. House seat representing California on Wednesday. The American-born Korean descendant narrowly defeated his Republican rival Scott Baugh in the race for California's 47th congressional district in coastal Orange County, home to many South Korean immigrants. "I know many of us are anxious about the future of our country, but we cannot give up on America. In Congress, I will fight to protect our democracy,

November 14, 2024

Yoon embarks on South American trip for APEC and G20 summits

SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol is embarking on his trip to South America on Thursday to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru and the G20 summit in Brazil. Yoon is set to deliver a speech at the first session of the summit among Pacific Lim countries in Lima on Friday as the incoming chair of next year's APEC summit. The historic city of Gyeongju in the southeastern province was selected to host the summit in 2025.

November 14, 2024

Forum discusses North Korean human rights and reunification strategies

SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Experts and academics shared their valuable insights on North Korean human rights as well as other relevant topics such as tasks and challenges for reunification between the two Koreas at a forum held at Ajou University in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province on Monday. Co-hosted by the National Institute for Unification Education and the Ajou Institute for Unification, the forum drew over 100 participants. The forum's key speakers raised awareness of North Kor

November 12, 2024

Joint military exercise with British soldiers underway near demilitarized zone

SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - A military exercise involving British soldiers kicked off in South Korea on Monday. The 10-day joint exercise near the demilitarized zone dubbed "Exercise Imjin Warrior" - named after the "Battle of the Imjin River" in 1951 during the Korean War (1950~1953) - includes around 100 soldiers from the Royal Gurkha Rifles, a rifle regiment of the British Army and runs until next week. The military drill, the third of its kind, aims to stre

November 12, 2024

Chinese man released after questioning over alleged filming of NIS headquarters

SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - A Chinese national was released after being questioned on suspicion of using a drone to film the National Intelligence Service (NIS) headquarters over the weekend, police said on Monday. The Chinese man, whose name has not been disclosed, reportedly attempted to film a royal tomb in southern Seoul last Saturday, driven by his interest in UNESCO World Heritage sites and other Buddhist temples. Police believe he accidentally filmed the NIS headquarters in

November 11, 2024

Putin signs mutual defense pact with North Korea into law

SEOUL, November 10 (AJP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed a law ratifying a treaty that pledges mutual military support between Russia and North Korea. Initially signed during his visit to Pyongyang in June, Putin submitted the treaty to the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament last month. It was subsequently approved by the Federation Council, the upper house. The military pact commits the two countries to come to each other's aid in th

November 10, 2024

Ex-pollster with ties to first couple grilled by prosecutors

SEOUL, November 8 (AJP) - Myeong Tae-kyun, the enigmatic figure at the heart of a widening political scandal engulfing South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee, appeared before prosecutors on Friday. The 54-year-old former pollster arrived at the Changwon District Prosecutors Office, where he is expected to face questioning regarding his relationships with the first couple. Expressing remorse for his past actions, Myeong stated, "I feel sorry to the peop

November 8, 2024

French, Canadian envoys mark end of WWI with warning on global tensions

SEOUL, November 8 (AJP) - The French and Canadian embassies in Seoul marked the 106th anniversary of the end of World War I (1914- 1918) Friday reflecting on lessons from the Great War for today’s global hostilities. The solemn commemoration at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul drew dozens of attendees, including diplomats, military officials and members of the French and Canadian communities in South Korea. The event included a poetry reading by high school students, a m

November 8, 2024

Conference highlights deepening Korea-ASEAN ties

SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - South Korea's relationships with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were highlighted at a conference in Seoul on Thursday, focusing on enhanced collaboration and partnership across various sectors. Hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ASEAN Secretariat, the conference, under the slogan of "Towards a Sustainable and Resilient Future," brought together hundreds of government officials, diplomats and other participant

November 7, 2024