Latest Yonhap News & Updates

Seoul, April 13 (IANS) A pro-North Korea newspaper based in Japan on Monday called for countries to distance themselves from the United States in a bid to defend their national interests amid the US-Iran war and Tehran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Choson Sinbo claimed in its commentary that the blockade of the crucial waterway and volatile oil prices showed that the more countries depend on US-led international order, the greater they could face the risk of their national interes…

Seoul, April 11 (IANS) Cash assistance for the bottom 70 per cent of income earners will begin being rolled out later this month, the government announced on Saturday, as part of efforts to ease the financial strain caused by rising oil prices.The aid will first reach the most vulnerable within that income bracket starting April 27 and expand to the broader eligible group May 18, reports Yonhap news agency.Approximately 32.5 million people are eligible for the aid, with payments ranging from 100…

Seoul, April 10 (IANS) South Korea’s media watchdog on Friday approved regulations requiring bulk phone text messaging service providers to implement safeguards against illegal spamming as a condition for maintaining their certification.The Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) made the announcement after holding its first regular meeting since its launch in October 2025, as part of the government’s efforts to curb illegal messaging activities, reports Yonhap news agency.In detail, me…

Seoul, April 7 (IANS) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was set to hold a meeting with leaders of the ruling and the main opposition parties Tuesday, officials said, as they were expected to discuss measures to mitigate economic fallout from the war in the Middle East.Lee is scheduled to meet with Democratic Party (DP) leader Jung Chung-rae, DP floor leader Han Byung-do, People Power Party (PPP) leader Jang Dong-hyeok and PPP floor leader Song Eon-seog at Cheong Wa Dae later in the day.Prime …

Seoul, April 3 (IANS) The government will take stern measures, including legal means, against malicious activities aimed at taking advantage of recent market volatility through the spread of fake news and rumours, a senior finance ministry official said on Friday.”Spreading unfounded fake news in a time of extraordinary crisis is a serious matter that can fuel market anxiety and undermine trust in policy,” Moon Ji-sung, deputy minister for international economic affairs, said while presiding ove…

Seoul, March 28 (IANS) South Korea will likely join as a co-sponsor of this year’s UN resolution on North Korean human rights, government sources said, amid earlier expectations that Seoul might skip the move in line with its conciliatory gestures toward Pyongyang.The South Korean government has tentatively decided to participate as a co-sponsor of the resolution on the human rights situation in North Korea to be adopted at a regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council later this …

Seoul, March 24 (IANS) The government will strictly enforce a mandatory five-day vehicle restriction system for the public sector to respond to possible oil supply disruption amid persisting tensions in the Middle East while implementing additional energy-saving measures, the climate ministry said on Tuesday.Starting Wednesday, the government will beef up monitoring of the public sector’s compliance with the five-day driving restriction system, under which cars are divided into five groups based…

Seoul, March 24 (IANS) Seoul stocks trimmed earlier gains late on Tuesday morning, despite easing military tensions between the United States and Iran.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 45.02 points, or 0.83 percent, to 5,450.77, as of 11:20 a.m.The index reduced its gains following a sharp rebound of over 4 percent in the opening bell, as the broader market came under selling pressure from foreign investors, reports Yonhap news agency.Overnight, major U.S. stock i…

Seoul, March 21 (IANS) South Korea is in close talks with countries, including Iran, to ensure a swift normalisation of the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran said it is ready to allow Japan-bound vessels to pass through the sea route virtually closed in the wake of the Middle East crisis, a foreign ministry official said on Saturday.”The government is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East while exploring ways to protect our citizens and secure energy transport routes,” the official said…

Seoul, March 21 (IANS) South Korea is in close talks with countries, including Iran, to ensure a swift normalisation of the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran said it is ready to allow Japan-bound vessels to pass through the sea route virtually closed in the wake of the Middle East crisis, a foreign ministry official said on Saturday.”The government is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East while exploring ways to protect our citizens and secure energy transport routes,” the official said…