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  '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
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  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
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  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
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  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
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  Lee's approval rating drops to lowest level since taking office SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has dropped to a record low since he took office in June this year. According to a survey of over 1,000 adults conducted earlier this week by pollster Gallup Korea and released on Friday, Lee's approval rating stood at 54 percent, down one percentage point from a similar survey at the end of September. His disapproval rating also rose to 35 percent, while about 10 percent of respondents remained undec October 17, 2025
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  Talks underway with Cambodia for repatriation of dozens of South Koreans SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Talks are underway with Cambodia to bring back about 59 South Koreans detained over alleged online job scams and other various crimes, a government task force, currently in Phnom Penh, said on Friday. The development comes after the Southeast Asian country said the previous day that the detainees including four women would be deported to Seoul in cooperation with the South Korean Embassy there. "Authorities plan to deport 59 South Korean nationals&h October 17, 2025
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  Lee Kang-in named AFC's top Asian player SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Midfielder Lee Kang-in, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), was honored with an award by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the Asian governing body for football said on Thursday. At an awards ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Lee was named this year's "AFC Asian International Player of the Year," awarded to the top player from an AFC member country, beating rivals like Japan's Takefusa Kubo of La Liga club Real Sociedad and Ir October 17, 2025
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  New military chiefs of South Korea, US hold first phone talks SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - South Korean and U.S. military chiefs spoke by phone on Friday to discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) here said. JCS chief Jin Young-seung talked with his U.S. counterpart Dan Caine for the first time since assuming his post late last month. The two agreed on the importance of maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula and deterring North Korean threats through a strong alliance October 17, 2025
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  Seoul confident of Washington's "understanding" on Korea's FX situation SEOUL, Oct. 17 (AJP) – Seoul held firm against U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand that Korea’s pledged $350 billion investment be made in upfront cash, expressing confidence that Washington’s financial and trade officials understand Korea’s vulnerability to large foreign capital outflows. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said U.S. officials have shown understanding of Korea’s position. “I met Secretary S October 17, 2025
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  USFK lodges protest over raid by prosecutors SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has lodged a protest over an abrupt raid on its base in Pyeongtaek in July. In a letter sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier this month, Lt. Gen. David Iverson, deputy commander of the USFK, expressed concerns over the July 21 raid of Osan Military Base by independent prosecutors investigating disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle late last year. Washington took issue with the raid, s October 16, 2025