Seminar explores S. Korea's diplomatic relations with Russia amid recent developments

SEOUL, July 17 (AJU PRESS) - A seminar offering insights on South Korea's diplomatic relation with Russia took place in central Seoul early this week. The three-hour-long seminar was part of a weekly program, hosted by a community learning center run by Seoul's Jongno district office. It invites notable figures from various fields every Tuesday to give classes and lectures on a wide range of topics. They are open to all residents, with a particular focus on providing learnin

July 17, 2024

Korean-American ex-CIA official accused of acting as spy for Seoul

SEOUL, July 17 (AJU PRESS) - A Korean-American expert on North Korea has been accused of acting as an "agent for Seoul," multiple U.S media outlets reported Tuesday. Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA agent and senior fellow at American think tank Council on Foreign Relations, has worked for the South Korean government since June 2013 after leaving the intelligence agency, according to a 31-page indictment released by federal prosecutors in Manhattan. She allegedly received lu

July 17, 2024

High-ranking N. Korean diplomat in Cuba defected to Seoul last year, spy agency confirms

SEOUL, July 16 (AJU PRESS) - A high-ranking North Korean diplomat who had been stationed in Cuba, defected to South Korea last year, the National Intelligence Service said Tuesday, confirming media reports. Ri Il-kyu, a former counselor at the North's embassy to Cuba, sought asylum with his wife and children last November. Ri, 52, who studied Spanish at Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies, served in North Korea's diplomatic mission in Cuba for nearly a decade between

July 16, 2024

Filipino domestic helpers to arrive in Seoul this fall

SEOUL, July 16 (AJU PRESS) - About 100 Filipino workers are expected to arrive in Korea this fall, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said Tuesday. These domestic helpers from the Philippines will be allowed to work for couples in Seoul starting from September. Hiring them as maids or nannies, a program initiated by Seoul City Mayor Oh Se-hoon, aims to relieve difficulties faced by young couples who struggle to balance childcare and household chores as well as encouraging them to

July 16, 2024

Korea witnesses largest-ever number of lottery first prize jackpots with 63 winners

SEOUL, July 15 (AJU PRESS) - Korea saw an unprecedented number of Donghang Lottery jackpots on Saturday, with 63 winners sharing the top prize. According to the Korean Lottery Commission, operated by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the record-breaking 63 winners surpassed the previous record of 50 winners set in June 2022. Each winner from Saturday's draw received approximately 419 million won ($303,074), which is about a quarter of the average Korean Lotto first-plac

July 15, 2024

Lawmaker proposes bill to shift burden of proof to manufacturers in product liability cases

SEOUL, July 15 (AJU PRESS) - A bill has been proposed to relieve customers of the burden of proof in cases involving faulty or defective products featuring latest technologies. The proposal mooted by Jung Jun-ho, a lawmaker from the main opposition Democratic Party on Sunday, comes after a fatal car crash allegedly caused by sudden unexpected acceleration (SUA). Currently, Korean law requires plaintiffs who claim to have been damaged by a defective product to carry the burden of p

July 15, 2024

President Yoon wishes speedy recovery of Trump

SEOUL, July 14 (AJU PRESS) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol denounced the assassination attempt on former United States President Donald Trump, calling it "horrible political violence" and wished him a speedy recovery. Trump, who is pursuing his second term in the White House, was shot in his right ear during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday (local time). The former U.S. president was a few days away from being selected as the Republican representative

July 14, 2024

OECD urges Korea to address low birth rates for economic growth

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - Korea must take decisive action to tackle its low birth rates, enhance productivity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as the country recovers from the global inflation shock, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said Thursday. In its latest report, the OECD projected the growth of Korea's gross domestic product (GDP) to rebound from 1.4 percent in 2023 to 2.2 percent in 2025, driven by robust exports and resurging de

July 12, 2024

S. Korea to observe first North Korean Defectors' Day

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea will observe the first national day for North Korean defectors on Sunday. The government designated July 14 as North Korean Defectors' Day earlier this year as part of efforts to assist North Korean refugees in adapting to their new life in the South. The initiative aims to raise awareness about the challenges many defectors face and to provide support for their resettlement. Various week-long events, film screenings, and c

July 12, 2024

S. Korea, US reaffirm commitment to deterring N. Korea's nuclear threat

SEOUL, July 12 (AJU PRESS) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden reaffirmed mutual security cooperation in deterring North Korea's nuclear threat during biliteral talks on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington D.C. on Thursday. After the talks, the two leaders signed a set of guidelines for nuclear deterrence and nuclear operations that stipulate that the U.S. will provide a "nuclear umbrella" over the Korean Peninsula, ensu

July 12, 2024