Latest Seoul News

AP PHOTOS: Lotus Lantern Festival draws thousands in Seoul to celebrate upcoming Buddha's birthday

May. 11, 2024 11:34 AM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Holding umbrellas and pink paper lotus flowers, thousands of South Koreans joyously filled the wet streets of Seoul in an annual festival anticipating Buddha’s birthday the coming week. Despite the rain, organizers expected a turnout of around 50,000...

South Korea stresses need for fair treatment for Line chat app operator Naver

May. 10, 2024 05:52 AM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea vowed Friday to protect its companies operating in other markets after Japanese regulators told LY Corp., which runs the popular chat app Line, to reduce its dependence on Naver, the Korean partner in the venture. Friction over Naver’s 50%...

Stock market today: Asian shares are mixed after Wall St rally takes S&P 500 near record

May. 09, 2024 23:05 PM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — Stocks in Asia were mixed Friday after a rally on Wall Street that pulled the S&P 500 back within 1% of its record. Benchmarks fell in Tokyo, Sydney and Seoul but rose in China, where investors were focused on the release of April inflation figures. ...

AP PHOTOS: Workers rule the streets on May Day

May. 01, 2024 17:46 PM EDT

For one day, workers ruled the world’s biggest streets. Thousands strong marched Wednesday to mark May Day, the first day of the month when workers’ rights are celebrated in demonstrations around the globe. From Seoul to Paris, Istanbul to Berlin, they drew...

South Korean police raid office of incoming head of doctors' group over protracted strikes

Apr. 26, 2024 06:17 AM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean police said Friday they searched the office of the hard-line incoming leader of an association of doctors and confiscated his mobile phone as he faces accusations that he incited the protracted walkouts by thousands of medical interns and residents. ...

Envoy says US is determined to monitor North Korean nukes, through UN or otherwise

Apr. 19, 2024 05:14 AM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The United States and its allies are discussing options “both inside and outside the U.N. system” to create a new mechanism for monitoring North Korea over its nuclear weapons program, the American ambassador to the United Nations said Wednesday. ...

Why did Yoon's party lose in South Korea's elections and what troubles does he face now?

Apr. 12, 2024 02:59 AM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean voters have handed liberals extended opposition control of parliament in what looks like a massive political setback to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol. Some experts say the results of Wednesday’s parliamentary elections make Yoon “a...

North Korean leader Kim visits tank unit and touts war preparations in face of tensions with Seoul

Mar. 24, 2024 23:13 PM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a tank exercise and encouraged his armored forces to sharpen war preparations in the face of growing tensions with South Korea, the North’s state media said Monday. Kim made those comments Sunday while visiting...

In Japan, Ohtani's 'perfect person' image could take a hit with firing of interpreter over gambling

Mar. 21, 2024 19:06 PM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is referred to in Japan as “kanpeki no hito” — the perfect person — because of his manners and impeccable behavior. That image may have taken a hit when the Dodgers fired his good friend and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara on Wednesday...

No explosives found at Seoul stadium in police search following bomb threat against Ohtani

Mar. 20, 2024 03:51 AM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean police said they’ve found no explosives at Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome after searching the site Wednesday following a reported bomb threat against Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. About 150 police officers used sniffer dogs, X-ray...