Two South Koreans released after Israeli seizure of Gaza-bound vessels SEOUL, May 21 (AJP) - Two South Koreans detained after Israeli forces seized vessels bound for the Gaza Strip have been released, Cheong Wa Dae said on Thursday. Their release comes after the Gaza-bound ship Kyriakos X, carrying humanitarian aid, was seized by the Israeli navy in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea near Cyprus last Thursday, and another vessel, Rina al Nabulsi, was seized by Israeli forces in waters near the Gaza Strip two days later, both carrying Sou May 21, 2026

Two-week-long campaigning for local elections set to begin Thursday SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - The official campaign period for next month's local elections is set to begin on Thursday, as the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) prepare to launch full-scale campaigning across the country in an already-heated race. According to the National Election Commission (NEC) on Wednesday, candidates and their supporters will be allowed to actively canvass at the stroke of midnight and will have about two weeks to win o May 20, 2026

Timeline: Samsung Electronics labor dispute SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics and its labor union failed to reach an agreement in government-mediated wage talks on Wednesday, one day before a planned strike, as disputes over bonus caps and compensation structures remained unresolved. The union said it would proceed with its planned general strike starting Thursday following the collapse of negotiations. Above is the timeline leading to the general strike, beginning with the March 18 vote in which 93.1 percent of parti May 20, 2026

South Korean elementary school violence rate hits 12.5 percent SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - One in eight South Korean elementary school students experienced school violence last year, driven by a surge in physical altercations and a collapse in bystander intervention, a survey showed Tuesday. The findings highlight persistent challenges in youth protection just a year after the government overhauled its disciplinary review system. A survey of 8,476 students conducted late last year by the Blue Tree Foundation found 12.5 percent of elementary students May 19, 2026

Starbucks Korea removes controversial campaign after CEO sacked SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) -Starbucks Korea apologized and Shinsegae Group, the retailer that owns the largest coffee chain in South Korea, quickly dismissed its chief executive Monday after facing fierce public backlash and condemnation from President Lee Jae Myung over a controversial “Tank Day” marketing campaign launched on the anniversary of South Korea’s May 18 pro-democracy uprising. The coffee chain had promoted discounted “Tank” tumblers through an May 19, 2026

S. Korea launches special inspection to investigate construction defects in Seoul's GTX station SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has launched a special on-site inspection of the GTX-A line's Samseong Station section over rebar omission and construction defects, the ministry said on Monday. The probe was triggered by the discovery that 50 of 80 main columns supporting the GTX platform at the underground fifth floor were built with only one row of main rebar instead of the two rows specified in the design, a shortfall o May 18, 2026

President Lee warns proxy revenge is serious crime SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned through a social media post on Friday that both requesting and carrying out private revenge through third parties constitutes a serious criminal offense. The statement addresses a growing trend of illegal retaliation services coordinated through encrypted messaging platforms. The direct warning from the president signals an intensified government crackdown on digital-age vigilantism. Lee emphasized that modern state May 16, 2026

Military to conduct annual computer-based simulation exercise next week SEOUL, May 15 (AJP) - The military will stage a five-day computer-based simulation exercise next week to strengthen readiness against North Korean threats, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Friday. According to the JCS, the annual command post exercise, known as Taegeuk, is scheduled to begin on Monday. The exercise is conducted based on scenarios that reflect changes in the security environment and the evolving landscape of modern warfare. The military aims to strengt May 15, 2026

BLUE HOUSE INSIGHT: Dialogue on 'excess profits, excess tax revenues, and future of South Korea in AI age' SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - The recent Facebook essays by presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom have stirred unusual debate in Seoul's financial and policy circles. Some dismissed them as overly ambitious. Others saw them as one of the first serious attempts to grapple with a profound question now emerging before advanced economies: What happens when artificial intelligence transforms not only industries, but the fiscal structure and social contract of an entire nation? At its core, May 14, 2026

Early Korean anatomy textbook to be registered as cultural heritage SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - South Korea is set to designate the country's first Korean-language anatomy textbook as a state-registered cultural heritage item, highlighting the early spread of modern medicine on the Korean Peninsula more than a century ago. The Korea Heritage Service announced Thursday that Anatomy - a three-volume medical textbook published in the early 20th century at Chejungwon, Korea's first modern medical institution established by American missionaries - will May 14, 2026