U.S. senator proposes redeploying tactical nukes to Seoul

SEOUL, May 30 (AJU PRESS) - A high-ranking U.S. official has brought up the idea of redeploying U.S. tactical nuclear weapons to Seoul as a deterrent against increasing threats from North Korea. In a report released on Wednesday, Senator Roger Wicker, the top-ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services said, "North Korea continues to outpace expectations with respect to its nuclear and missile programs, with capabilities that can target the continental Unite

May 30, 2024

Non-alcoholic options now available at restaurants and bars in Korea

SEOUL, May 29 (AJU PRESS) - Restaurants and bars are now able to sell no- and low-alcohol beverages, such as non-alcoholic beer or non-alcoholic wine, following the recent amendment to Korea's relevant law took effect on Tuesday. Previously, wholesalers were banned from supplying restaurants with premade or mass-produced beverages containing less than one percent alcohol. Non-drinkers, attending corporate drinking parties or other events, had to consume something else like w

May 29, 2024

Chinese-lettered Gwanghwamun signboard harms national pride, Hangeul campaigners say

SEOUL, May 29 (AJU PRESS) - A group of scholars and activists demanded Wednesday the government replace the Chinese-lettered signboard of Gwanghwamun, a landmark gate in central Seoul, with one written in the Korean alphabet, Hangeul, citing concerns about national pride and cultural identity. About 20 advocates of Hangeul held a news conference in front of the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, organized by the Korean Language Society and other Hangeul-related institutions.

May 29, 2024

Late-night 'misleading' emergency public alert confuses some people in Korea

SEOUL, May 29 (AJU PRESS) - Late on Tuesday night, an emergency government text message startled residents in provinces neighboring the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), particularly foreign nationals with the English phrase of "air raid preliminary warning." The message was sent to residents in about a dozen areas in Gyeonggi Province at 11:34 p.m. (1434 GMT), and to those in two counties -- Yanggu and Inje – in Gangwon Province around midnight. While the Korean text m

May 29, 2024

Young Koreans indulge in luxurious summer treats

SEOUL, May 28 (AJU PRESS) - Having a bowl of shaved ice topped with tropical fruits at luxury hotels has become an irresistible fad among young Koreans. The summer refreshment, called bingsu in Korean, offers a taste of luxury hotel experiences and becomes a popular trend propagated on Instragram. Traditionally served with sweet toppings such as red beans, rice cakes, and a mix of fruits, the one featuring apple mangos has recently taken center stage. The craze first began in 2008

May 28, 2024

Uncertain times fuel fortune-telling frenzy among Korean youths

SEOUL, May 28 (AJU PRESS) - Jang, a 27-year-old office worker, first encountered saju, a Korean-style fortune-telling, during his college years. Going through a rough patch amid a bleak job market, he felt completely unsettled. Assurances from loved ones were of no help. Then a friend introduced him to the practice, saying that through a saju reading he would know when he might land a job and what to avoid in doing so. "The fortune teller told me I would get a job in my desired

May 28, 2024

Leaders from Korea, China, and Japan agree to boost cooperation at trilateral summit

SEOUL, May 27 (AJU PRESS) - Leaders of Korea, China and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to promote peace and prosperity in the East Asian region during their trilateral summit in Seoul on Monday. The summit, attended by Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, came in about four years and five months since it was halted due to the COVID-19 and historical spats and other issues among the Asian neighbors. At a press con

May 27, 2024

Korean equivalent to NASA sets sail with ambitious space initiatives

SEOUL, May 27 (AJU PRESS) - The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), the Korean equivalent of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), commenced operations Monday. Located in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, KASA will integrate policy functions spread across various ministries and agencies, including overseeing research and development, promoting industries and safeguarding Koreans from space-related risks. The agency aims to land a spacecraft on the moon

May 27, 2024

Local governments arrange blind dates to address Korea's record-low birth rate

SEOUL, May 27 (AJU PRESS) - As more young Koreans put off marriage, local governments are rolling up their sleeves to arrange blind dates to tackle Korea's super-low birth rate. These include various events from group meetings to recreational games to give a chance of romance in hopes of reversing the country's dwindling population. A district office in Daegu, southeastern Korea made its first foray into a dating project in 2016. The program called "GoGo meeting"

May 27, 2024

Korea and Japan forge dialogue to boost hydrogen and resource cooperation

SEOUL, May 26 (AJU PRESS) - Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met in Seoul on Sunday, marking their first encounter in six months since the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November last year. During this pivotal meeting, the leaders of both nations pledged to bolster bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on initiating a consultative group to facilitate dialogue and collaboration in the hydrogen and resource sector.

May 26, 2024