Korea and China agree to establish diplomatic security dialogue

SEOUL, May 26 (AJU PRESS) - President Yoon Suk Yeol and Chinese Premier Li Qiang met in Seoul on Sunday and agreed to initiate a diplomatic security dialogue and resume talks to enhance their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) to strengthen economic ties. During their meeting, Yoon and Li reached an agreement to enhance trade, investment, and cooperation in key industry supply chains, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo announced in a press briefing. The le

May 26, 2024

President Yoon and Chinese Premier Li Qiang discuss strengthening bilateral relations

SEOUL, May 26 (AJU PRESS) - Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Chinese Premier Li Qiang met in Seoul Sunday to discuss strategies for enhancing economic collaboration and addressing crucial regional and global issues. Premier Li, making his first visit to Korea since taking office in March 2023, is also set to attend a trilateral summit with President Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday. In his opening remarks, President Yoon highlighted the importance of c

May 26, 2024

Seoul partners with private institutes to curb imports of harmful materials

SEOUL, May 24 (AJU PRESS) - The Seoul Metropolitan Government has partnered with three private institutes to conduct screening for harmful materials in products purchased by Korean costumers from foreign websites, such as toys, accessories, and clothing, it said Friday. The capital city said in a press release that it joined hands with the three institutes -- the Korea Conformity Laboratories (KCL), specializing in the fields of construction and energy environment, the Korea Appar

May 24, 2024

More educated Koreans embrace international marriage, survey reveals

SEOUL, May 24 (AJU PRESS) - A shift in the perception of international marriage in Korea, where conservative Confucianism remains a fundamental part of society, has led an increasing number of highly educated men to seek lifelong partners from overseas through marriage brokerage services, a recent survey released by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Friday reveals. For centuries, many Koreans have focused on preserving their culture and family traditions, rooted in Confuc

May 24, 2024

Actress Cha Ye-ryun to promote International Day of Yoga in Korea

SEOUL, May 23 (AJU PRESS) - Actress Cha Ye-ryun was appointed as a promotional ambassador for an event to raise awareness of the benefits of yoga to be held in Seoul next month. Organizers for the 10th United Nations International Day of Yoga in Korea announced the appointment of the actress to promote the spiritual practice that originated in ancient India. The announcement was made about a month ahead of the event, at a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, attended by the Ind

May 23, 2024

Leaders affirm commitment to AI safety, innovation, inclusivity at Seoul summit

SEOUL, May 22 (AJU PRESS) - Global leaders have affirmed their commitment to the safety, innovation and inclusivity of artificial intelligence utilization at the AI Seoul Summit. The two-day virtual meeting, which commenced on Tuesday, builds upon the inaugural AI Safety Summit held in November 2023 at Bletchley Park, Britain. The leaders adopted a joint statement outlining their agreements to collaborate on establishing AI safety research institutes and enhancing cooperation am

May 22, 2024

South Korea, Britain host global summit on AI safety

SEOUL, May 21 (AJU PRESS) - The AI Seoul Summit, aimed at seeking cooperation among governments, businesses and institutions for the safe utilization of artificial intelligence, began in Seoul on Tuesday. The two-day virtual summit, co-hosted by South Korea and Britain, is a follow-up to the inaugural AI Safety Summit held in November 2023 at Bletchley Park in Britain. The AI Seoul Summit consists of leaders' and ministerial sessions. The leaders' session, attended by nat

May 21, 2024

Annual 'space-out' competition to be held in Seoul this weekend

SEOUL, May 21 (AJU PRESS) - Eighty teams from Korea and around the world will gather to do absolutely nothing at an event set to take place in central Seoul this weekend, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday. According to city officials, the annual International Space-out Competition, now in its 8th year, will be part of the "Seoul Friendship Festival," a three-day event scheduled to start on May 24, that offers diverse programs to indulge in the cultures of doz

May 21, 2024

Web-based fiction soars in popularity, boosted by adaptations

SEOUL, May 20 (AJU PRESS) - The popularity of web-based fiction and novels has surged, with the market growing by 62 percent this year, compared to two years ago, according to a recent study by the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea. Experts attribute the growth to the booming demand driven by popular web series being adapted into Netflix shows. The so-called web-novels, name-wise, are literary works available primarily or solely on online platforms such as Kakao Page,

May 21, 2024

SNU student arrested for distributing explicit images using faces of female classmates

SEOUL, May 21 (AJU PRESS) - A 40-year-old student from Seoul National University (SNU) has been arrested for creating and distributing explicit images and videos using the faces of his female classmates, police said Tuesday. The suspect, identified only by his surname Park, was detained on charges of doctoring explicit images and sharing them through a group chat room on Telegram. Two other SNU students were also arrested on the same allegation. Authorities said that Park colle

May 21, 2024