Lee's first bilateral summit with Washington unlikely anytime soon as he skips NATO trip

SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - As President Lee Jae-myung opted to skip the NATO summit scheduled for early this week in the Hague, Netherlands, attention now shifts to when he will hold his first bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Initially, it was expected that the two leaders would hold their first meeting either on the sidelines of last week's Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada or this week's NATO summit. "Lee had considered attending the NATO summit,

June 23, 2025

Lee meets ruling and opposition leaders at his residence

SEOUL, June 22 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung met with leaders of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) to discuss state affairs and various other issues. The luncheon meeting was held at his temporary residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, bringing together Kim Byung-kee, the DP's acting leader and floor leader, Kim Yong-tae, the PPP's interim leader, and Song Eon-seok, the PPP's floor leader. Following Lee

June 22, 2025

Security officials hold emergency meeting after US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites

SEOUL, June 22 (AJP) - An emergency meeting, chaired by National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, was convened on Sunday shortly after the U.S. struck nuclear facilities in Iran. In the meeting, key security officials assessed the situation in the Middle East and discussed the potential impact on South Korea's security and economy. Earlier, the U.S. carried out airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites including a secret underground uranium enrichment facility located in a remot

June 22, 2025

US Embassy in Seoul resumes student visa applications with stricter social media screening

SEOUL, June 20 (AJP) - The U.S. Embassy in Seoul reportedly resumed accepting visa applications on Friday, about weeks after its sudden halt to scheduling new interviews for student visa applicants late last month. But the resumption appears to come with stricter "vetting" procedures including mandatory social media screening for students planning to study in the U.S. According to a notice on its website, all individuals applying for nonimmigrant visas are "request

June 20, 2025

Heavy rain advisory issued as monsoon front arrives in Seoul

SEOUL, June 20 (AJP) - A heavy rain advisory was issued for the Seoul metropolitan area and parts of Gangwon Province, as this summer's monsoon front brought downpours of up to 30 mm per hour. As the seasonal monsoon rain swept through the capital region, the Seoul Metropolitan Government ramped up efforts to prevent flooding and damage, implementing preemptive measures in flood-prone and low-lying areas. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) predicted up to 100 mm of

June 20, 2025

Concerns mount over South Korea's defense cost-sharing as US sets 'new standard'

SEOUL, June 20 (AJP) - Many Pundits here have begun to speculate about a possible renegotiation of South Korea's defense cost-sharing deal with Washington, after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier this week that the U.S. has set a "new standard" for defense spending with its allies around the world including those in Asia. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell also said Thursday that its European allies are setting a "global standard" for alliance

June 20, 2025

Four more South Koreans evacuated from Iran amid escalating conflict with Israel

SEOUL, June 20 (AJP) - Four more South Koreans were evacuated from Iran to neighboring Turkmenistan amid a deadly conflict in the Middle East, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. They joined about 30 other evacuees including their Iranian family members, who had arrived in the Turkmen capital of Ashgabat via a land route the previous day, with transportation assistance and consular support provided by South Korean diplomatic missions there. "With Iranian airspace

June 20, 2025

Number of single-person households continues to grow

SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) - An increasing number of South Koreans are opting to live alone. According to a report released by Statistics Korea on Thursday, the number of single-person households surpassed 8 million last year, up a whopping 616,000 households from a year ago. Those who live alone are increasingly likely to be employed, with some 5.1 million having jobs, up 426,000 from the previous year. By area, Gyeonggi Province had the highest number of employed single-person househ

June 19, 2025

Gov't to hand out cash vouchers to boost consumption

SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) - All South Koreans will get a cash voucher ranging from 150,000 won to 500,000 won (US$109 to $362) depending on their income brackets, as early as next month. It is part of plans to boost private consumption and revive the economy, as President Lee Jae-myung signed off on a supplementary budget worth 20.2 trillion won ($14.5 billion) during a cabinet meeting in Seoul on Thursday. The budget, which still requires parliamentary approval, also includes support

June 19, 2025

Seoul International Book Fair kicks off, welcoming over 500 exhibitors from 17 countries

SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest book fair kicked off on Wednesday at COEX in southern Seoul, drawing thousands of literature lovers, authors, and publishers from around the world. The Seoul International Book Fair, co-hosted by the Korean Publishers Association (KPA), features over 500 exhibitors from 17 countries. Among the attendees was former South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who took part in an event held during the fair and also delivered a s

June 18, 2025