Cambodia scam networks and Korean deaths expose youth struggles at home

SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - The murder of a South Korean student kidnapped for forced crime in Cambodia has shocked the nation — and exposed the hidden world of young Koreans trapped in Southeast Asia's online-scam networks. The body of a 22-year-old university student, surnamed Park, was found near Bokor Mountain in southern Cambodia in early August after his family received a ransom call. Cambodian police later arrested several Chinese nationals suspected of running the on

October 20, 2025

Two more rescued in Cambodia as about a dozen nabbed in online scams after crackdown

SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Two more South Koreans were rescued and about a dozen others reportedly involved in online job scams and phishing schemes were arrested in Cambodia, following a crackdown, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told reporters during a press briefing in Seoul on Monday. According to Cho, they are expected to be repatriated this week, following last Saturday's deportation of more than 60 South Korean detainees allegedly involved in similar crimes in the Southeast As

October 20, 2025

Korea's winter street snacks evolve from local comforts to global favorites

SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Korean street food gyeran-ppang — literally “egg bread” — has joined the ranks of the French baguette and Montreal bagel on CNN’s list of “50 of the World’s Best Breads,” underscoring how globalized and inventive Korean street food has become. “There’s buried treasure within every loaf of gyeran-ppang,” CNN wrote. “Individually sized wheat breads with a whole egg baked inside are amon

October 20, 2025

Security alert to be raised ahead of APEC summit

SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - In preparation for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju next week, the government is set to implement a series of anti-terrorism measures while raising the country's alert levels later this week. According to the Prime Minister's Office on Monday, the measures are part of coordinated efforts by relevant agencies to ensure a proactive response to a potential rise in terror threats and other crimes during the multil

October 20, 2025

Speculation mounts over Trump–Kim meeting as Panmunjom tours suspended during APEC summit

SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Tours to the truce village of Panmunjom will be suspended from late October to early November, coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju next week. "There will be no tours to Panmunjom provided by the ministry during that period," said Gu Byung-sam, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification on Monday, adding that any further inquiries should be directed to the United Nations Command (UNC), which governs

October 20, 2025

More South Koreans likely involved in scam frauds in Cambodia

SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Statistics suggest that more South Koreans are involved in scam frauds and phishing schemes in Cambodia than previously estimated. According to data from the Ministry of Justice submitted to lawmaker Park Chan-dae of the ruling Democratic Party and revealed on Monday, the number of South Koreans who traveled to Cambodia but did not return has risen sharply in recent years. The figure was 113 in 2021, but surged to a whopping 3,209 in 2022, 2,662 in 2023,

October 20, 2025

'Progress' made in tariff Talks with US, deal expected before APEC summit

SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Expectations are growing for a possible breakthrough in tariff negotiations with the U.S. as "significant progress" appears to be made. Presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom, who returned from Washington, D.C., on Sunday, said, "Significant progress was made in negotiations with the U.S., as most issues have been settled." Though some areas still require adjustments, he expressed optimism about reaching a deal to finalize trade ta

October 20, 2025

Waseda University awards honorary doctorate to LS Chairman Koo Ja-yeol

SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - Waseda University conferred an honorary doctorate in law upon Koo Ja-yeol (Christopher Koo), chairman of LS Group's board of directors, at a ceremony attended by about 100 dignitaries from academia and business circles. The award ceremony took place at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Aizu Museum on the university's campus, with Korea University President Kim Dong-won and Waseda University President Tanaka Aiji among the distinguished guests. Koo, who j

October 19, 2025

Seoul mulls expanding organ donor criteria amid dire shortage

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Korea is considering expanding its organ donor eligibility to include patients who experience cardiac arrest after withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, joining a small group of countries that permit organ donation beyond brain-dead cases. The move comes amid an acute shortage of transplantable organs, with patients waiting an average of four years for a transplant. Whether the policy change can meaningfully ease the growing backlog remains uncertain, gi

October 17, 2025

Hyunmoo-5 deployment to begin by year-end amid rising North Korean ICBM threat

SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - South Korea will begin deploying its 8-ton "Hyunmoo-5" ballistic missile by the end of this year, as part of its effort to reinforce deterrence against North Korea's advancing nuclear threat. The Defense Ministry confirmed the plan to AJP on Friday, saying the Hyunmoo-5 — dubbed the "monster missile" for its unprecedented payload — has entered the operational fielding phase and is planned for mass production, with deploym

October 17, 2025