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  US commits to maintaining troop levels in South Korea SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - The presence of U.S. troops in South Korea will likely remain at current levels under an annual defense bill drafted last week by the Senate Committee on Armed Services. The committee's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for next year passed last Friday contains a clause that "prohibits a reduction in U.S. military posture on the Korean Peninsula or a change in wartime operational control over the Combined Forces Command until the Secretary of July 14, 2025
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  Naver Webtoon halts popular 'Wind Breaker' series over tracing allegations SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) - Naver Webtoon has suspended its long-running sports webtoon "Wind Breaker" after the creator admitted to tracing scenes from Japanese manga, ending a 12-year serialization that had become one of the platform's flagship titles. Creator Jo Yong-seok acknowledged the plagiarism allegations in the final episode revealed on Friday, confessing that some scenes in his work bore striking similarities to other comic book images. The webtoon, which foll July 12, 2025
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  Lee names picks for remaining two ministerial posts SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Friday tapped candidates to fill the remaining two ministerial posts, completing the nominations for his 19-strong first cabinet. Kim Yun-duk, a three-term lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party (DP), was named to head the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, while Chae Hwi-young, CEO of travel platform Nol Universe, was nominated to lead the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon July 11, 2025
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  South Korea, Japan and US conduct aerial drill as defense chiefs meet SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - South Korea conducted a large-scale joint aerial drill with Japan and the United States, the Defense Ministry said on Friday. In a show of readiness against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the exercise was held over waters off the southern resort island of Jeju, involving a U.S. B-52 strategic bomber as well as South Korea's KF-16 and Japan's F-2 fighter jets, according to the ministry. "Through close cooperation, the three count July 11, 2025
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  Daboseong Gallery unveils additional imperial and aristocratic treasures from China SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - During the expert appraisal event held on July 8 (Tuesday) and 9 at Daboseong Gallery in Gyeonun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, a new selection of previously unpublished Chinese relics believed to have been used by members of the imperial family or aristocracy was unveiled. ◆ Ru ware celadon-glazed vase with gilt-rimmed mouth from the Northern Song Dynasty (北宋汝窑天青釉金口纸槌瓶) This Ru ware celadon-glazed vase from the Northern Song period (960 to 1127) i July 11, 2025
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  Record early heat wave leads to surge in heat-related illnesses SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - As a record-breaking early heat wave continues to grip the country, more than 1,300 cases of heat-related illnesses including nine deaths have been reported so far this summer, prompting health authorities to urge vulnerable people to take extra care on Friday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), some 1,357 people have been taken to emergency rooms nationwide with heatstroke, dehydration, or exhaustion since mid-May, a sharp in July 11, 2025
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  US think tank proposes slashing USFK troops in Seoul to 10,000 SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - A Washington-based think tank has proposed cutting the number of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea by more than half, according to a report released on Wednesday. Stressing the need to "revise the U.S. global military posture to be consistent with protecting vital national interests," the report by Defense Priorities argued that the U.S. should cut its military presence in South Korea "by more than 50 percent, leaving about 10,000 personnel a July 10, 2025
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  Shim Eun-kyung's latest Japanese film invited to compete at Locarno Film Festival SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Actress Shim Eun-kyung's latest film has been invited to the upcoming Locarno Film Festival, which opens next month in Switzerland, the film's distributor said Thursday. Based on a Japanese manga by Yoshiharu Tsuge, "Tabi to Hibi" or "Two Seasons, Two Strangers" tells the story of a scriptwriter whose journey leads her to an unexpected encounter with the owner of a remote countryside inn. Directed by Japanese filmmaker Sho Miyake July 10, 2025
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  Probe into martial law debacle gains steam with ex-President's rearrest SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors are expected to speed up and intensify their probe into disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle after an arrest warrant for him was issued in the small hours of Thursday. The Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant, citing concerns that Yoon could destroy evidence, leading to his immediate detention once again in a remand prison in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. His rearrest came about four months after July 10, 2025
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  Translator Kim Jung-ah completes decade-long Dostoevsky translation project SEOUL, July 09 (AJP) - Translator Kim Jung-ah held a press conference in central Seoul on Monday to announce the publication of her Korean translation of "The Brothers Karamazov." With its release, she completed solo Korean translations of four major novels by Fyodor Dostoevsky, "Crime and Punishment," "The Idiot," "Demons," and "The Brothers Karamazov." The project took more than ten years from start to finish. Kim is the first So July 9, 2025