news highlight
'Garden of Gratitude' memorial sparks political sparring ahead of Seoul elections
SEOUL, May 14 (AJP) - Gwanghwamun Square, which gained international attention after hosting a Netflix-streamed BTS concert in March, has now added a new multinational landmark to its symbolic landscape. The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Tuesday officially opened the “Garden of Gratitude” at Gwanghwamun Square, a memorial space dedicated to the 22 United Nations member states that fought alongside South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War, unveiling a politically char
May 14, 2026
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Seoul stays cautious on blaming Iran over HMM Hormuz attack SEOUL, May 11 (AJP) - South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun maintained a cautious stance Monday, stopping short of directly blaming Iran for the attack on a Korean-operated cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz despite the government’s initial conclusion that the vessel had come under an external strike. “There are still things that need to be studied before making a judgment,” Cho told reporters, signaling Seoul’s reluctance to escalate tensions before the i May 11, 2026 -
South Korea's first constitutional reform push in decades fails amid boycott SEOUL, May 08 (AJP) - South Korea's National Assembly came close this week to passing its first constitutional amendment in nearly four decades aimed at preventing presidential abuses of power such as martial law declarations, but the effort collapsed after a boycott by the opposition People Power Party. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik withdrew plans to resubmit the amendment shortly after Thursday's plenary session opened after the People Power Party warned it would May 8, 2026 -
INTERVIEW: Chip czar rides AI chip boom to challenge political Goliath for Gyeonggi governorship SEOUL, May 05 (AJP) - Bidding for the gubernatorial post that birthed the current president — whose approval rating is nearing 60 percent — while facing a ruling-party heavyweight known for colliding head-on with disgraced former president Yoon Suk Yeol would not be an easy race for most politicians. But for Yang Hyang-ja, the determination appears rooted in something deeper than party politics: an almost singular devotion to semiconductors, the industry responsible for May 5, 2026