Korea's income gap widens by largest rate in 3 years

SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - South Korea’s income gap between the top and bottom 20 percent of households widened to 5.78 times last year, snapping a three-year trend of improvement as income growth slowed and gains increasingly concentrated among high-income earners and older asset-holding households. According to the 2025 Household Finance and Welfare Survey released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics on Thursday, average household income rose 3.4 percent to 74.27

December 4, 2025

Yonsei University embroiled in another cheating scandal

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - Another cheating incident has surfaced at Yonsei University, which was previously embroiled in a similar large-scale scandal. About 200 students took an online quiz for an education-related course early this month. Some allegedly shared questions and answers via anonymous chat rooms, while others collaborated using Google Docs, according to multiple university sources on Thursday. The online course had already faced cheating allegations during midterms

December 4, 2025

Driver sentenced to five years in prison for fatal crash in central Seoul

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - A driver involved in a fatal crash in central Seoul last year was sentenced to five years in prison, as the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the lower court's ruling. The man in his late 60s, identified by his last name Cha, was charged with violating traffic laws after crashing into pedestrians near City Hall in July 2024, killing nine people and injuring five others. Investigations revealed that he had mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead o

December 4, 2025

Lee to discuss AI, semiconductor cooperation with SoftBank chairman

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung is set to meet with SoftBank Chairman Masayoshi Son to discuss cooperation in advanced high-technology sectors including artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors. According to the presidential office on Thursday, their meeting is scheduled for Friday morning, with a focus on collaboration and infrastructure investment in these sectors. The meeting will also be attended by key officials including chief of staff Kang Hoon-si

December 4, 2025

Gov't seeks talks to bring home South Koreans held in North Korea

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - South Korea is seeking talks with North Korea to bring back six South Koreans being held there, the presidential office said on Thursday. It comes just a day after the revelation was made during President Lee Jae-myung's press conference with foreign media, marking the first anniversary of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle. When asked by a reporter from NK News about the South Korean detainees in North Korea and a

December 4, 2025

December sees spike in traffic accidents

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - Traffic accidents caused by slippery roads are most frequent in December, according to a study released by insurance company Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance on Thursday. The analysis of some 2,120 accidents from November 2021 to February 2024 found that 53.9 percent occurred in December, compared to 36.6 percent in January. Despite having fewer snowy or rainy days in December, the average number of accidents per day was 82.5, higher than January

December 4, 2025

Season's first snow expected in Seoul

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - The season's first snow is expected in Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas on Thursday, with sub-zero temperatures lingering, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. "A heavy snowfall is expected later in the day over a few hours, which may disrupt the evening rush hour," the KMA said, advising people to stay updated with the latest weather forecasts. The capital region may see 1 to 5 centimeters of snow, while northeastern

December 4, 2025

National team coach Hong Myung-bo arrives in Washington for World Cup draw

SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - National team coach Hong Myung-bo arrived in Washington, D.C., just days before this week's group draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Speaking to reporters at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia on Wednesday, Hong said, "Just qualifying for the World Cup is a great honor." When asked which countries would be ideal opponents for South Korea in the upcoming quadrennial sporting event next summer, which will be the first to fea

December 4, 2025

Gov't ramps up safety inspections for high-rise buildings after Hong Kong's deadly fire

SEOUL, December 3 (AJP) - Following a massive fire at a high-rise apartment complex in Hong Kong, government authorities here are conducting emergency safety inspections of buildings over 30 floors. Despite current regulations mandating the use of non-combustible materials and the installation of safety-related equipment, some buildings constructed before these regulations took effect still use flammable materials. Of some 140 skyscrapers over 50 floors or 200 meters, 18 are affec

December 3, 2025

Korean authorities up penalties and tax probe to fight online scalpers

SEOUL, December 03 (AJP) - Scalping of concert and sports tickets has exploded across Korea—surging 41-fold over the past five years—despite tougher penalties and enforcement, prompting regulators and tax authorities to intensify punitive measures. Ticketbay, the country's largest resale platform, is now capping all resale prices at 1 million won ($681) in an attempt to rein in runaway premiums and speculative behavior. The platform said Monday that listings wit

December 3, 2025