USFK chief warns against rushing wartime control transfer

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Gen. Xavier Brunson, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), on Friday stressed the importance of meeting conditions for the transfer of wartime operational control to Seoul from Washington rather than rushing to it. Speaking at an online seminar hosted by the Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation and the Korea Defense Veterans Association, Brunson said, "We cannot say we're going to slide away from the conditions just so that we can get this done i

December 12, 2025

SK On–Ford breakup signals Korea's battery pivot to ESS amid EV fog

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - The dissolution of the $11.4 billion battery joint venture between SK On and Ford Motor stands as a stark symbol of the shifting center of gravity in the global battery business — away from electric vehicles and toward energy storage systems (ESS), where surging power demands from AI-driven data centers are rewriting the industry's growth map. The two companies will formally part ways in the first quarter of 2026, splitting control of three giga

December 12, 2025

China Duty-Free Group emerges as key contender in Incheon airport duty-free bid

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - China Duty-Free Group (CDFG), the world’s largest duty-free operator, is emerging as a major contender in the re-bidding of duty-free concessions at Incheon International Airport, setting the stage for heightened competition with South Korean rivals Lotte, Hyundai, Shilla and Shinsegae. A Dec. 18 bidder briefing is expected to confirm participation. Incheon Airport Corporation on Thursday reopened the tender for operators of the DF1 zone

December 12, 2025

Over 100 South Koreans brought home from Cambodia over online scams

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - The government has brought back some 107 South Korean suspects allegedly involved in online scam crimes in Cambodia, the presidential office said on Friday. During a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said a sweeping crackdown has been conducted in cooperation with the Southeast Asian country since October, making it possible to bring them back. The efforts were made following revelations of a series of kidnappings, detentions and bru

December 12, 2025

OPINION: Thailand and Korea: A legacy of friendship and sacrifice

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - It is encouraging to see Korea and Thailand gaining renewed momentum in their economic partnership, as demonstrated at the recent Ignite Thailand–Korea Business Forum in Bangkok. More than 500 participants, including senior officials from both nations, explored cooperation in smart agriculture, advanced manufacturing, digital

December 12, 2025

Newlyweds fall below 1 million for second straight year

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - The number of newlyweds has remained below one million for the second year in a row, the Ministry of Data and Statistics said on Friday. About 952,000 couples married last year, down 2.3 from a year earlier. First-time newlyweds with children accounted for 51.2 percent, down 1.3 percentage points from the previous year, with an average of 0.61 children per couple. Only 49.1 percent of dual-income couples had children, compared with 55.2 percent of sin

December 12, 2025

Australia allows Hanwha to increase stake in strategic shipbuilding firm

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Hanwha Group has secured approval from the Australian government to increase its stake in Austal, a global shipbuilding and defense contractor, to 19.9 percent, the company said Friday. Austal, which operates major shipyards in the United States, builds vessels for the U.S. Navy and is considered a strategic defense asset by the Australian government. Hanwha sees the stake expansion as a step toward strengthening its shipbuilding capabilities and deepe

December 12, 2025

Samsung Tri-Fold sells out in Korea despite hefty price

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - The priciest handset-to-date Galaxy Z Tri-Fold landed across South Korea on Friday with much fanfare, selling out on the day one as consumers lined up to try the new concept phone whose dual display wings unfold into a 10-inch tablet-like screen. The device debuted through Samsung.com and 20 stores nationwide, including Samsung Gangnam, where initial online inventory sold out almost immediately, leaving only restock notifications available. The Ga

December 12, 2025

Hyundai Motor's Ioniq 9 outperforms BMW iX, Volvo EX90 in German magazine's SUV review

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor’s flagship electric SUV, the Ioniq 9, has taken the top spot in a major German comparison of electric SUVs, outperforming competing models from BMW, Volvo and Polestar, the company said Friday. German automotive magazine Auto Zeitung evaluated the Ioniq 9 against the BMW iX, Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3, reviewing categories including body design, driving convenience, powertrain and dynamic performance. The publication highlighted t

December 12, 2025

Shinsegae chairman flies to US to attend dinner hosted by VP Vance

SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin departed for the United States on Friday to attend a Christmas dinner hosted by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the vice president’s residence in Washington D.C. The event, scheduled for Friday evening, local time, is expected to draw prominent figures from U.S. political and business circles, as well as members of the Rockbridge Network, an American public policy and investment organization founded by Va

December 12, 2025