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  Farewell, volatile 2025. Welcome, year of the Fire Horse SEOUL, December 31 (AJP) - South Korea passed through a year of sharp political rupture, marked by martial law and impeachment, yet it did not remain suspended in crisis. Gradually, the pulse of society returned. The economy gathered speed from near stillness, and the KOSPI rose with uncommon force, its 76 percent surge reflecting both the promise of artificial intelligence and shifting winds in the global order. Beneath the recovery, divisions linger and the young continue to shoulder un December 31, 2025
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  Public bike stations close ahead of New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - The Seoul Metropolitan Government will temporarily close 16 public bike rental stations near Bosingak Pavilion from 7 p.m. on December 30 to 8 a.m. on January 1 in preparation for large crowds expected at the New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony. The measure aims to ensure public safety and prevent accidents as thousands gather for the traditional event. The bell-ringing ceremony, held at midnight on January 1, marks the end of the year and welcomes December 30, 2025
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  PHOTOS:KOSPI tops 2025 performance SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s stock market wrapped up the year on a strong note despite a slight pullback on the final trading day. On Monday, the benchmark KOSPI closed at 4,214.17, down 6.39 points, or 0.15 percent, from the previous session. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ ended at 925.47, down 7.12 points, or 0.76 percent. For the full year, the KOSPI and KOSDAQ jumped roughly 75 percent and 36 percent, respectively, marking significant annual gains. In the afterno December 30, 2025
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  Seoul completes elevator rollout across 338 stations; Protesters flag remaining barriers SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) — The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Tuesday that all 338 subway stations in the capital are now equipped with elevator access from ground level to the platforms, marking a milestone in the city's efforts to improve public transit accessibility. To commemorate the achievement, city officials held a ceremony at Kkachisan Station on Line 5. The completion of the "one-route" system means that passengers with reduced mobility, December 30, 2025
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  Avatar 3 maintains box office lead for 13th consecutive day SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - "Avatar: Fire and Ash" continued its box office dominance for the 13th straight day, showing strong momentum in its third week of release. According to the Korean Film Council's integrated computer network on December 30, the film attracted 139,110 viewers on December 29 alone, bringing its total audience to 4.175 million. Directed by James Cameron and released in South Korea on December 17 ahead of its global premiere, the film topped the December 30, 2025
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  PHOTOS: One year after deadly Jeju Air disaster SEOUL, Dec. 29 (AJP) — South Korea on Monday marked one year since a Jeju Air passenger jet crashed during an emergency landing, killing 179 people in one of the country’s deadliest aviation disasters. Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, a Boeing 737-800 traveling from Bangkok, struck a concrete localizer structure while attempting to land at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province at 9:03 a.m. on Dec. 29 last year. Of the 181 people on board, 179 were killed and two December 29, 2025
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  Job security demands shadow S. Korean president's return to Blue House SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - As South Korean President Lee Jae Myung officially commenced duties at Cheong Wa Dae, the celebratory atmosphere was met with immediate domestic pressure as non-regular presidential staff launched a labor protest through the heart of the capital. On Monday morning, members of the Seoul Regional Public Services Branch — a chapter under the powerful Korean Confederation of Trade Unions — convened at Gwanghwamun Square to demand permanent job se December 29, 2025
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  President Lee Jae-myung's first commute to Blue House SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung arrived at the Blue House main building for the first time on Dec. 29, holding a morning tea time with aides and marking the beginning of the Blue House era. President Lee's commute to the Blue House comes about seven months after his inauguration and about three years and seven months after the Yoon Suk-yeol administration moved the presidential office to Yongsan in May 2022. At 12 a.m. on this day, the Phoenix Flag, symb December 29, 2025
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  Homeless left outdoors in Seoul's deep freeze SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) -A bitter cold settled over Seoul as temperatures fell below zero, pushing the wind chill near minus 17.6 degrees Celsius (0.3 degrees Fahrenheit). Beneath Seoul Station, some homeless people lay on the floor wrapped in cardboard and thin sleeping bags, sheltering under fluorescent lights that never go out. Outside, they huddle inside fragile tents as Arctic air cuts through. The city issued its first freeze warning of the winter and activated round-th December 26, 2025
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  Cold wave grips South Korea SEOUL, December 26 (AJP) - Bitter Artic air gripped South Korea Friday, sending temperatures in Seoul and elsewhere well below freezing and triggering widespread weather alerts. The mercury fell to as low as minus 17.6 degrees Celsius (0.3 degrees Fahrenheit) as of 5 a.m. and will stay subzero for most of the day. December 26, 2025