Measles cases rise in S. Korea amid global surge

SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - South Korea is seeing its highest number of measles cases in six years, as diseases once considered nearly eliminated begin to reappear, fueled by global outbreaks and increased travel, South Korea’s disease control body reported on Sunday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), 52 measles cases were reported between Jan. 1 and Apr. 1, already surpassing the total of 49 reported throughout 2024. This marks the highest annua

May 4, 2025

Two dead from suspected gas poisoning at paper factory manhole in Jeonju

SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - Two workers died and three others were hospitalized after inhaling toxic gas at a paper factory in Jeonju City on Sunday. According to the North Jeolla Fire Department and Jeonju Deokjin Police Station, an emergency call was made at 9:44 a.m. reporting that a worker had fallen into a manhole and lost consciousness from suspected gas exposure at the factory in Jeonju some 200 kilometers (124 miles) south of Seoul. One of the victims, a man in his 40s, was p

May 4, 2025

Seoul bus union faces strike as talks stall over wages

SEOUL, May 04 (AJP) - The standoff between Seoul’s city bus union and management showed no sign of easing on Sunday, raising the likelihood of a second consecutive year of strike action. Despite a warning protest on Apr. 30, where drivers followed traffic laws to the letter to deliberately delay schedules, no breakthrough has been made in wage and collective bargaining talks. The union and Seoul Bus Transport Business Association have not resumed negotiations since the secon

May 4, 2025

Kim Moon-soo wins People Power Party presidential nomination with 56.53 percent of vote

SEOUL, May 03 (AJP) - Kim Moon-soo has been selected as the People Power Party's candidate for the upcoming presidential election, securing 56.53 percent of the final vote. The conservative party confirmed its nominee for the 21st presidential election during a national convention held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Saturday. Han Dong-hoon, who advanced to the final round of the primary, received 43.47 percent of the votes. Kim defeated Han in both party member votin

May 3, 2025

Trump-Kim relations could reset, but U.S. leverage diminished by Russia factor, expert says

SEOUL, May 03 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump could reestablish relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at any time, but his negotiating leverage would likely be limited, according to a North Korea expert from a U.S. think tank. Sydney Seiler, senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), suggested in a CSIS podcast on Saturday that Trump has confidence in his ability to restart North Korea negotiations through his personal diplomacy at the

May 3, 2025

Conservatives weigh unification strategy as Han Duck-soo enters race

SEOUL, May 02 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s presidential bid is prompting a strategic rethink across South Korea’s conservative bloc, as leaders weigh the risks and rewards of unifying behind a single candidate before official registration begins next week. The 75-year-old former Prime Minister formally declared his candidacy on Friday, offering a transitional vision centered on constitutional reform. “I will form a presidential task force on const

May 2, 2025

US defends Trump's talks With Putin, citing past engagement with Kim Jong-un

SEOUL, May 2 (AJP) - The United States State Department defended President Donald Trump on Thursday over his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing the backlash he faced during meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. “There was a lot of heat when he went to visit Kim Jong-un,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said during a press briefing. She added that Trump’s view is that “people have to be spoken with, face to face, one

May 2, 2025

Han Duck-soo declares presidential run, pledges constitutional reform and early exit

SEOUL, May 02 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced his bid for the presidency on Friday, pledging to push forward a constitutional amendment and step down once the reform is in place. “I will form a presidential task force on constitutional reform on day one,” the 75-year-old former Prime Minister said during a press conference at the National Assembly. “In my third year, I will hold a new presidential and general election under the revised consti

May 2, 2025

Education Minister Lee Ju-ho steps in as acting president amid leadership shake-up

SEOUL, May 02 (AJP) - South Korea entered unfamiliar political territory on Friday as Education Minister Lee Ju-ho assumed the role of acting president, following the sudden resignations of both Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok. Han, who had been serving as acting president, stepped down to run in the upcoming presidential election. Choi, the expected successor, also resigned after the Democratic Party (DP)-led National Assembly introduced an imp

May 2, 2025

Han Duck-soo resigns as acting president to join presidential race

SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - Han Duck-soo, South Korea’s acting president and prime minister, announced his resignation on Thursday, clearing the way for a likely run in the June 3 presidential election. “I am now stepping down from my duties as acting president and prime minister," Han said in a nationally televised address from the central government complex in Seoul. Han is expected to formally declare his presidential bid as early as Friday. He had served as ac

May 1, 2025