Korean firms ramp up family-friendly perks as low birth rate bites SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - South Korean companies are widening cash payouts and parental leave benefits to lift the world's lowest birth rate, with game publisher Krafton reporting a near doubling of in-house births a year after overhauling its childbirth and childcare program. Krafton said Thursday that 46 children were born to its employees between January and April this year, about twice the 23 births recorded in the same period last year and 21 in 2024. The Seoul-based firm rolle May 14, 2026

Ex-SK couple enters court-led mediation over billion-dollar asset split SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won and his estranged wife Roh Soh-yeong entered a court-led mediation process on Wednesday in South Korea's closely watched "divorce of the century" battle over one-billion-dollar property split. The Seoul High Court's family division held the first hearing in the remand trial at 10 a.m. Wednesday and wrapped up the session about an hour later after hearing positions from both sides. The court said it would hold May 13, 2026

Appeals court increases ex-interior minister's sentence to 9 years over martial law involvement SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - Former Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min received a nine-year prison sentence on Tuesday after an appeals court increased his initial seven-year term for his involvement in disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle in 2024. In a trial broadcast nationwide, the Seoul High Court ruled that he was guilty of aiding Yoon's Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, by instructing police and fire agencies to cut off power and wate May 12, 2026

Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square gets Korean War memorial garden SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - A memorial garden dedicated to soldiers who died in the Korean War was opened to the public at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, a ceremony celebrating its completion was held, attended by war veterans and ambassadors from the 22 countries that sent troops and provided support during the 1950–53 Korean War. According to the city government, the space dubbed the "Garden of May 12, 2026

Seoul condemns attack on HMM vessel in Strait of Hormuz SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - South Korea on Monday formally condemned a kinetic strike on a specialized cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz after a joint investigation concluded that two airborne projectiles hit the ship. The confirmation follows a week of uncertainty regarding the Panama-flagged HMM Namu, which was left with a massive hull rupture and an engine room fire after the May 4 strike. The vessel was carrying 24 crew members, including six South Korean nationals. The foreig May 11, 2026

Kurly posts record Q1 as Coupang stumbles SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - South Korean online grocer Kurly logged its strongest-ever quarterly earnings in the first three months of 2026, riding a wave of consumer migration away from market leader Coupang as the country's e-commerce hierarchy shows fresh signs of strain. According to regulatory filings released Monday, operating profit jumped to 24.2 billion won ($16.4 million) in the first quarter, a 1,277 percent skyrocketing surge from a year earlier and 1.9 times the company&# May 11, 2026

South Korean inspectors wrap up probe into fire on cargo vessel in Strait of Hormuz SEOUL, May 10 (AJP) - South Korean inspectors have wrapped up their on-site investigation into a cargo vessel that mysteriously caught fire while anchored near the Strait of Hormuz last week, government authorities said on Sunday. Their inspection into the cause of the fire and explosion on shipping and logistics company HMM's Panama-flagged cargo vessel Namu began later last week after it was towed from the strait to a port in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last Friday May 10, 2026

Former PM's jail term reduced to 15 years on appeal over martial law involvement SEOUL, May 7 (AJP) - Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo received a reduced sentence on appeal on Thursday for his involvement in disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law debacle in December 2024. In a nationally televised ruling, the Seoul High Court sentenced Han to 15 years in prison on insurrection charges related to Yoon's Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, which led to his ouster from office. Han was found guilty on most of the main charges incl May 7, 2026

CJ CheilJedang to promote Korean liquor at PGA Tour event SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - CJ CheilJedang announced it will use this year's "The CJ Cup Byron Nelson," a PGA Tour event, as a platform to introduce Korean traditional liquor to global consumers, part of a broader push to position Korean distilled spirits alongside Japanese sake and Chinese baijiu. The South Korean food giant said cocktails made with Munbae-ju and Gamuchi soju will be served to players and spectators at the tournament, which the company has sponsored through May 7, 2026

Han Byung-do reelected as DP floor leader SEOUL, May 6 (AJP) - Three-term lawmaker Han Byung-do was reelected floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) on Wednesday, becoming the first in the party to win a second consecutive term in the post. Han, who was the sole candidate in the race, won by a majority in a vote that combined ballots from both lawmakers and party members. The exact vote tally was not disclosed under the party's internal election rules. Despite some debate within the party over how to procee May 6, 2026