Rainy long holiday weekend to bring relief to drought-hit southern province SEOUL, August 13 (AJP) - Rain may ruin the plans of many holidaymakers over this weekend, but it is expected to bring much-needed relief to drought-hit areas in the southern part of the country. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on Thursday, rain is forecast for most parts of the country from Friday through Monday, which is a substitute holiday as this year's Liberation Day falls on Saturday. Up to 50 millimeters of precipitation is expected over the August 13, 2026

Over 200 water tankers sent to southern province to combat drought SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Some 200 water tankers and 400 firefighters have been deployed to South Gyeongsang Province to provide emergency water supplies amid prolonged dry conditions exacerbated by recent extreme heat, fire authorities said on Wednesday. The emergency water supply to run for two days until Thursday comes as drought conditions have worsened across the southern region after weeks of dry weather, with no rainfall from late June to mid-July. These medium-sized truc August 12, 2026

More nighttime ferry rides available on Han River this weekend SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Seoul's water ferry service along the Han River will expand its nighttime operations starting this weekend, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday. Two additional departures from Jamsil in southern Seoul to the financial district of Yeouido in western Seoul will be available at 6:50 p.m. and 7:20 p.m., while routes connecting Yeouido and Magok, a newly developed neighborhood in far western Seoul, will also have departures at 8:25 p.m. and 8:5 August 12, 2026

Even Buddhism gets muddled over election in South Korea SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - Elections can get dirty, and even one of South Korea's oldest religious traditions is not immune to the rough edges of politics. Inside Jogyesa Temple in downtown Seoul on Tuesday, 53 members of the Jogye Order's Central Assembly bowed before the Buddha and recited a declaration supporting incumbent chief administrator Ven. Jinwoo for another four-year term. They praised his first term for making Buddhism more "friendly and warm" and s August 11, 2026

About 12% of wage workers earn below minimum wage SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - About one in eight workers in South Korea earn an hourly wage below the minimum wage, with women and temporary workers more likely to be paid less and struggle to make ends meet. Some 2.77 million workers were paid less than the minimum wage of 10,030 won (about US$6.7) per hour last year, accounting for 12.4 percent of the country's 22.42 million wage workers, according to a report released on Tuesday by the Minimum Wage Commission under the Ministry August 11, 2026

Dog days of summer end, so does Korea's dog meat tradition SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - There are "dog days of summer" for English-speaking societies. Korea likewise has its own pun from ancient calendar for the season’s punishing heat — and this Friday, its final dog day will carry an unusually literal sense of ending. Aug. 14 is Malbok, the last of the three traditional hottest days collectively known as Sambok, or Boknal. It will also be South Korea’s last Malbok before breeding, slaughtering and selling dogs fo August 11, 2026

Police raid state authorities in Jeju Air crash probe SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - South Korean police investigating the 2024 Jeju Air disaster raided the transport ministry and other aviation authorities Tuesday as part of a widening probe into possible negligence linked to the crash that killed 179 people. A special investigation team began executing search warrants at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Airports Corp. and the Busan Regional Office of Aviation at around 9 a.m., according to police. Investigator August 11, 2026

Seoulites get respite from tropical nights as heatwave eases with arrival of autumn SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - The scorching heat that has gripped South Korea in recent weeks is showing signs of easing, although daytime temperatures are expected to remain high. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, morning lows fell below 20 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country on Tuesday as the sweltering heatwave has abated a little since last Friday, a day known as Ipchu or the beginning of autumn in the lunar calendar. Temperatures in Seoul, which soa August 11, 2026

Massive blaze hits hazardous chemical warehouse in Pyeongtaek, no casualities SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - No casualties were reported after a massive fire tore through a hazardous-chemical warehouse in Pyeongtaek early Tuesday, with firefighters bringing the main blaze under control in about five hours while the extent of property and chemical damage remained unclear. The fire broke out at 12:03 a.m. at PJK's Pyeongtaek No. 1 Center in Cheongbuk-eup, Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters. August 11, 2026

Extreme heat adds to Korea's inflationary pressure SEOUL, August 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s prolonged heat wave is pushing up food prices, as extreme temperatures disrupt fresh food output and add volatile press pressure on top of energy costs. While the worst of last week’s near-40 C heat has eased, heat wave alerts remained in effect across most of the country Monday, with daytime highs forecast at 27 to 34 C and tropical nights continuing in many areas. Temperatures topped 40 C in some parts of the country as recen August 10, 2026