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  Seoul gears up for Halloween with safety measures SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday that several safety measures have been implemented in about a dozen areas in the capital, ahead of Halloween later this month. Under the measures effective until Nov. 2, district officials, police, and firefighters in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will carry out patrols, inspections, and traffic control in Seoul's entertainment district of Itaewon, trendy alleys around Hongik Un October 24, 2025
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  South Korea makes baby step in same-sex recognition through census inclusion SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - South Korea has taken a small but symbolic step toward recognizing diverse family structures by including cohabiting couples for the first time in its national census — a quiet shift in a country still wrestling with traditional views on marriage and gender. The 2025 Population and Housing Census, conducted from Wednesday through mid-November, now includes a new category for "unmarried cohabiting partners," the Ministry of Data and St October 24, 2025
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  Pohang earthquake victims call for justice and stronger prevention measures SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - The National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, was filled with citizens on Thursday morning as a forum titled "Pohang, Asking Again: Accountability and Prevention of Recurrence" took place on October 23. Residents of Pohang, victims’ groups, and experts in law and geology gathered to discuss the long-running damages lawsuit stemming from the 2017 Pohang earthquake, which is now under review by the Supreme Court. Many October 24, 2025
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  Son Heung-min vies for 'Newcomer of the Year' after stellar MLS debut season SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC (LAFC) has been named for Major League Soccer (MLS)'s "Newcomer of the Year." According to the finalists for the American league's year-end awards announced on Friday, Son was named among them. The awards recognize the "top performers during the regular season" across 16 MLS clubs. With the winners set to be announced in early December, other contenders for the award include Danish footballers October 24, 2025
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  No-fly zones, strict aerial restrictions set for next week's APEC summit in Gyeongju SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Flights and other aerial activities will be restricted near the vicinity of next week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Friday. To ensure safety during the summit scheduled for Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, the no-fly zone will be in effect from next Monday until Nov. 2 at Gimhae International Airport, applying to all aircraft including drones and ult October 24, 2025
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  Seoul confirms summits with Trump and Xi, Japan's under discussion SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, host of this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, will hold bilateral talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Oct. 29 and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Nov. 1, both attending as state guests, the presidential office confirmed Friday. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said a separate meeting with Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is being discussed October 24, 2025
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  Trump to hold back-to-back summits with Korea, China, Japan during APEC week SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) -U.S. President Donald Trump will embark on a week-long Asian tour next week, making stops in Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and China for a series of summit talks with regional leaders coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, the White House confirmed Thursday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s first stop will be Malaysia, where he will meet Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday and a October 24, 2025
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  D-8: APEC summits to arrive with fully packed agendas of their own SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - Big and small Asia-Pacific economies alike are preparing to leverage next week's APEC summit in Gyeongju to advance their respective agendas in a trade environment reshaped under the second Trump presidency. New and familiar faces among APEC leaders will descend on South Korea's southern ancient city carrying fully loaded diplomatic and economic agendas — each aiming to redefine its position in the emerging post-globalization trade order. F October 23, 2025
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  Seoul voices concerns over Chinese installations in waters near West Sea SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday vowed to keep monitoring and raise issues over Chinese unilateral installations in maritime buffer zones along the West Sea that overlap with South Korea's. The pledge comes a day after lawmaker Lee Byung-jin of the ruling Democratic Party revealed during a parliamentary audit that Chinese personnel were spotted on such structures in the area. Lee shared photos showing five people on the structures, believe October 23, 2025
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  US secretary of state expected to accompany Trump at next week's APEC summit SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit South Korea next week as part of his trip to Asian countries, the State Department said Wednesday. In a press statement, the department said Rubio will "travel to Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, and Gyeongju" from Oct. 26 to 30 to "advance peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region," after wrapping up his trip to Jerusalem where he will "reaffirm America's unwavering commitment to Israel& October 23, 2025