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  Why Korea should benchmark Japan in tweaking retirement age and managing super-aged society SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Korea, under strong pressure from labor unions, is moving to extend the statutory retirement age to 65 as it enters a super-aged demographic structure, but the shift could strain public finances and the national pension system if it fails to draw voluntary participation from the private sector, responsible for most hiring. Korea's two largest umbrella unions are urging the progressive government and ruling party to mandate a "blanket, unconditi November 12, 2025
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  South Korea maintains support for UN resolution on North Korean human rights abuses SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - South Korea will continue to support a UN General Assembly resolution condemning North Korea's human rights abuses and violations. According to the resolution disclosed on Wednesday, South Korea remains a co-sponsor, dispelling speculation that Seoul would soften its stance toward North Korea to avoid provoking Pyongyang under President Lee Jae Myung's rapprochement. After co-sponsoring the resolution from 2008 to 2018, South Korea withdrew un November 12, 2025
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  Seoul's bike-sharing service marks 10 years with 250 million cumulative rides SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Marking its 10th year, bicycle-sharing app Seoul Bike has accumulated more than 250 million rides, or 25 per resident of the capital, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Wednesday. Launched amid much skepticism in October 2015 with some 2,000 bicycles at 150 locations, the app, also known as "Ddareungi," has grown to around 37,500 bikes across more than 3,000 stations in the city. According to the city government, during weekdays, more t November 12, 2025
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  Ex-spy chief arrested over alleged involvement in martial law debacle SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Cho Tae-yong, a former head of South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), was arrested on charges of allegedly being involved in disgraced ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle last year. The Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for him, citing concerns he could destroy or tamper with evidence. Cho is accused of failing to notify the National Assembly of Yoon's plan to declare martial law, despite being November 12, 2025
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  Two more bodies recovered at Ulsan power plant SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Two more bodies were recovered overnight from the rubble of a thermal power plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan, bringing the death toll to five after a large structure collapsed last week. According to rescue workers, one victim was found several hours after two large boiler towers at the state-run utility company Korea East-West Power were blown up the previous day to facilitate search operations for workers trapped beneath the debris. Another b November 12, 2025
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  Sober reckoning on Korea's college entrance ritual as record number awaits test day SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - It's that time of year again in Korea, as the country prepares to solemnly mark "Suneung" — the once-a-year nationwide college entrance exam — on Thursday, when a record 554,174 test-takers will vie for 2026 admissions, clinging to singular hopes despite an increasingly bleak job market for university graduates. On Suneung Day, Korea enters an extraordinary national ritual. Business hours are delayed to clear roads for anxious a November 11, 2025
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  South Korea sets ambitious target for greenhouse gas emissions over next decade SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - South Korea has set an ambitious goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 53 to 61 percent over the next 10 years, compared to levels in 2018. The decision on the nationally determined contribution (NDC) target, slightly higher than the government's initial proposal, was made during a cabinet meeting presided by President Lee Jae Myung at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on Tuesday. The NDC under the 2015 Paris Agreement sets a 10-ye November 11, 2025
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  Flights to be grounded for 30 minutes to reduce noise for test-takers during their crucial exam SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - All flights in South Korea will be grounded for about 35 minutes on Thursday to help students take their English listening test undisturbed, as more than 550,000 test-takers nationwide will sit for their annual university entrance exam. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, takeoffs and landings at airports nationwide will be suspended from 1:05 p.m. to 1:40 p.m. to minimize noise disruptions for students, affecting around 140 November 11, 2025
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  Hazardous towers demolished at Ulsan power plant as search for missing workers continues SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - Two large boiler towers at a thermal power plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan were blown up at around noon on Tuesday to facilitate rescue operations for four workers still missing after a similar structure collapsed during demolition work last week. The towers at the state-run utility company Korea East-West Power had posed an obstacle to search efforts due to the risk that they could also collapse. According to rescue officials, search operatio November 11, 2025
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  TV personality Park Kyung-lim donates 200 million won to support children in need SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - Versatile TV personality Park Kyung-lim has donated 200 million Korean won (or about US$136,000) to support children from underprivileged families, a charity agency run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Tuesday. The donation came just a few months after she invited around 1,000 children and young people to her musical "Again Dream High," supporting them in pursuing their dreams and fostering their career development. At that tim November 11, 2025