Occupation Jamsil turns into political battleground SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - South Korean and American flags fluttered in the scorching summer heat, handmade signs covered the sidewalks and hundreds of protesters occupied entrances to Seoul's Olympic Park on Tuesday as the Jamsil demonstrations entered their 12th day, turning a dispute over ballot shortages into a broader political confrontation over democratic legitimacy. What began as a protest over ballot shortages reported during the June 3 local elections has June 16, 2026

KOSPI refueled on U.S.-Iran preliminary deal SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI posted sharp gains on Monday, buoyed by investor optimism following news of a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States. The KOSPI opened 402.50 points, or 4.95 percent, higher at 8,526.12 and extended its rally in early trading. The rapid advance triggered a buy-side sidecar six minutes after the market opened. The volatility control measure is activated when KOSPI 200 futures rise more than June 16, 2026

Korea joins Pride Month SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - South Korea's celebration of Pride Month is relatively young by global standards. The Seoul Queer Parade, now in its 27th year, is still modest in size compared with some of the world's largest Pride events that attract hundreds of thousands, and in some cases millions, of participants. Yet its growth has been striking. What began as a small gathering of about 2,000 people in 2000 has evolved into an event drawing tens of thousands each June 16, 2026

World Cup 26: Koreans ride emotional journey during the first match SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) -The thrill before kickoff Thousands of supporters dressed in red packed Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square on Friday morning, creating a sea of national flags and cheering sticks as South Korea opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against the Czechia. Office workers on leave, families with children and foreign visitors gathered beneath giant screens, united by anticipation and hope. The nail-biting first half As the match sett June 12, 2026

A shipwreck, a gift and 140 Years of friendship between Korea and France SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - The story of how Korea and France first encountered each other began far from Paris — on a remote island off Korea's southwestern coast. In the spring of 1851, the French whaling ship Narval ran aground near Bigeumdo. Stranded sailors found unexpected refuge among local Joseon officials who offered food, shelter and assistance despite sharing no common language. When French consul Charles de Montigny arrived from Shanghai to retrieve t June 12, 2026

Over 500 companies showcase latest technologies at expo in southern Seoul SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - South Korea's largest annual tech expo in southern Seoul has been drawing visitors since its opening this week, bringing tech professionals and others together to explore the latest innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and extended reality (XR). Under the theme "The Tech Nexus," the annual "Smart Tech Korea" expo, which kicked off at COEX in southern Seoul on Wednesday, runs until Friday, showcas June 11, 2026

Seoul braces for this summer's heatwave with air-conditioned shelters SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - More than a dozen makeshift shelters have been installed in public areas, including Cheonggyecheon Stream and Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, as another record-breaking summer season approaches, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Thursday. These shelters are equipped with air conditioners, fans, tables and chairs, allowing Seoul residents to rest comfortably and find temporary relief from high temperatures. They will be ope June 11, 2026

Kakao workers stage first-ever strike amid pay disputes SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - Unionized workers at mobile messaging giant Kakao staged a rally on Wednesday, their first-ever strike since the company's founding in 2006. They gathered in front of their office in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province at around 10 a.m. before marching for about an hour in a partial strike, chanting slogans demanding job security and management's resignation. They claimed about 1,000 Kakao employees as well as 1,500 workers across its affiliated companies par June 10, 2026

Healthcare-themed event kicks off in central Seoul SEOUL, June 9 (AJP) - A healthcare-themed event kicked off in central Seoul on Tuesday, bringing together industry workers and health-conscious visitors. Now in its fourth year, the three-day event at Seoul Plaza showcases the latest trends in health-related industries and displays of medical devices, wellness equipment, and other smart technologies. The event also offers a wide range of health-related programs, exhibitions, and hands June 9, 2026

Chip sell-off sends KOSPI below 8,000 SEOUL, June 8 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI closed at 7,484.41, down 676.18 points, or 8.29 percent, from the previous session, falling below the 8,000-point level According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI opened at 8,048.09, down 112.50 points, or 1.38 percent, from the previous close, before extending its losses throughout the session. The index fell as low as 7,442.73 during intraday trading. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ also declined sharply, ending the day at 911.39, d June 8, 2026