As energy demands soar, Korea turns to small modular reactors

SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - As global electricity demand rises at an unprecedented pace — fueled by the growth of artificial intelligence, data centers, and high-performance computing — nuclear power is experiencing a resurgence. At the center of this renewed interest are small modular reactors, or SMRs, a next-generation nuclear technology that is gaining traction across the globe. South Korea, long a major player in nuclear energy, is now moving decisively to claim a stak

June 17, 2025

G20 nations discuss stronger EPR cooperation for circular economy

SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - G20 member states and international organizations gathered on Jun. 10 for a high-level webinar to examine global cooperation on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems, a cornerstone policy tool for advancing the circular economy. The webinar, held under the G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue (RED), was hosted by South Africa, the 2024 G20 presidency, and organized by the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG). The session focu

June 16, 2025

Lee embarks on first overseas trip to Canada for G7 summit

SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Monday left for Canada along with first lady Kim Hye-kyung to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit. This marks his first overseas trip since taking office earlier this month, making him the fastest among South Korean presidents to do so, unlike his predecessors who usually spent two to three months settling in before traveling abroad. The G7 summit brings together leaders of the G7 countries — Canada, France, Germany, I

June 16, 2025

PHOTOS: 2025 Seoul royal palaces international walk

SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - Roughly 1,600 people gathered in Seoul on Saturday for the 2025 Seoul Royal Palaces International Walk, hosted by Aju News Corporation and AJP. The 6.3-kilometer route guided participants through some of the capital’s most iconic royal sites, including Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Changgyeonggung Palace. Among the walkers were about 700 foreign nationals from countries such as China, Vietnam, Japan, France, Russia, Canada, and the

June 16, 2025

ENHYPEN's latest album on course for another Billboard 200 top-10 entry

SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - K-pop boy band ENHYPEN's latest album is poised to debut at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart later this week, marking their fifth consecutive top-10 entry on the American chart. Billboard, which makes preliminary calculations based on album sales in the U.S. , streaming, and online downloads, said on Sunday that "Desire: Unleash" by the septet is on the verge of becoming their "fifth top 10" on the chart for the week ending June

June 16, 2025

Peru and S. Korea mark International Potato Day in Pyeongchang

SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - The Peruvian Embassy in Seoul and the Highland Agriculture Research Institute (HARI), operated by the Rural Development Administration, joined hands to celebrate the first International Potato Day on May 30 at HARI's headquarters in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. The Peruvian Embassy said in a statement on Jun. 13 that the event, marking a United Nations-recognized day established in 2023, brought together diplomats, scientists, and researchers from both

June 16, 2025

Korea Zinc sends first shipment of antimony to US

SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - Korea Zinc, South Korea’s sole producer of antimony, a mineral deemed critical for national defense, has shipped its first direct export of the material to the United States, according to the company officials on Monday. Roughly 20 metric tons of antimony were recently loaded onto a cargo vessel bound for Baltimore, Maryland, marking a significant milestone in Washington’s efforts to diversify sources of critical minerals and reduce its reliance on

June 16, 2025

PHOTOS: From lavender hues to golden canola, country enjoys floral flourish

SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - Across South Korea, flower fields are bursting into vibrant bloom, drawing visitors eager to soak in the seasonal beauty. In Donghae, a coastal gem in Gangwon Province, the annual lavender festival has just commenced, painting vast stretches of land in hues of purple. The festival will continue through July 22, offering a fragrant escape from urban life. Further south, in Suwon, a farm has become an unexpected early spectacle, with cosmos flowers — typically a

June 16, 2025

Korean gaming group condemns Tencent's reported Nexon takeover bid

SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - A South Korean gaming industry association on Monday strongly condemned a reported bid by Chinese technology giant Tencent to acquire Nexon, one of South Korea’s largest game developers, calling the move a threat to the country’s “industrial sovereignty” and urging the government to intervene. In a statement, the Korea Game Society criticized what it described as “systematic domination attempts” by foreign entities to gain c

June 16, 2025

US tariffs on steel-based appliances rattle key industry players of South Korea

SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - South Korean manufacturers are facing mounting trade pressures as the United States escalates its protectionist policies under the Trump administration. In a fresh blow to exporters, the U.S. will impose new 50 percent tariffs on home appliances made from steel derivatives starting June 23, expanding a web of duties that now encompasses everything from industrial metals to consumer goods — and potentially, automobiles. Samsung Electronics and LG Ele

June 16, 2025