KOSPI surges above 3,200 for first time since 2021

SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index climbed above the 3,200 level for the first time in nearly four years on Friday, buoyed by a global rally in semiconductor stocks, before paring gains as foreign investors turned net sellers. The index surged as high as 3,216.69 in morning trading, its highest intraday level since September 7, 2021, when it reached 3,201.76. By early afternoon, however, the index had trimmed its advance, standing at 3,186.14 — up

July 11, 2025

Korean exporters brace for weaker second half as tariff uncertainty looms

SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - South Korea’s export momentum is expected to falter in the second half of 2025, weighed down by rising uncertainty over U.S. trade policy and softening global demand, according to a new industry survey. The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), in partnership with research firm Mono Research, surveyed 150 companies among Korea’s top 1,000 exporters across ten key sectors. The findings paint a cautious picture: overall export volume is projected

July 11, 2025

Samsung to launch XR headset this year, targeting Apple, Meta

SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics plans to introduce its first extended reality headset later this year, positioning the device as a premium rival to Apple’s Vision Pro and Meta’s Quest lineup. The device, developed under the code name Project Moohan, marks Samsung's most ambitious move yet into immersive computing. The project is a collaboration with Google and Qualcomm, uniting three of the world’s largest tech companies as they seek to carve out spa

July 11, 2025

Daboseong Gallery unveils additional imperial and aristocratic treasures from China

SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - During the expert appraisal event held on July 8 (Tuesday) and 9 at Daboseong Gallery in Gyeonun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, a new selection of previously unpublished Chinese relics believed to have been used by members of the imperial family or aristocracy was unveiled. ◆ Ru ware celadon-glazed vase with gilt-rimmed mouth from the Northern Song Dynasty (北宋汝窑天青釉金口纸槌瓶) This Ru ware celadon-glazed vase from the Northern Song period (960 to 1127) i

July 11, 2025

Record early heat wave leads to surge in heat-related illnesses

SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - As a record-breaking early heat wave continues to grip the country, more than 1,300 cases of heat-related illnesses including nine deaths have been reported so far this summer, prompting health authorities to urge vulnerable people to take extra care on Friday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), some 1,357 people have been taken to emergency rooms nationwide with heatstroke, dehydration, or exhaustion since mid-May, a sharp in

July 11, 2025

Hyundai Motor unveils high-performance EV, Ioniq 6 N

SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor has debuted its latest high-performance electric vehicle, the Ioniq 6 N, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in southern England, marking the brand’s second entry into its performance-focused N electric vehicle lineup. Following last year’s launch of the Ioniq 5 N, the new model builds on Hyundai’s ambition to fuse electric powertrains with track-ready performance. The Ioniq 6 N features a dual-motor setup, enabling it to spr

July 11, 2025

Lee Jae Myung leans on local currency legacy in push for grassroots recovery

SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - After polishing off two hearty portions of Korean-style barbecue, Kim Eun-hee reached for her go-to payment method: a slim, peach-colored card labeled “Hwaseong Special City.” The 52-year-old social worker swiped it with ease, as she does nearly everywhere she shops, commutes, and eats. “I get 10 percent back every time I charge it,” Kim said, sipping an americano from a seniors’ cafe where a cup costs just 1,100 won, or about 81

July 11, 2025

Hyundai, Kia gain US market share despite 25 percent tariffs

SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia notched a record 11 percent combined market share in the United States over the first five months of 2025, sidestepping the immediate effects of steep American tariffs by holding vehicle prices steady and relying on preexisting inventory. The two South Korean automakers sold a combined 752,778 vehicles from January through May, up from 10.5 percent in the same period a year earlier, according to data released Thursday by W

July 10, 2025

US think tank proposes slashing USFK troops in Seoul to 10,000

SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - A Washington-based think tank has proposed cutting the number of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea by more than half, according to a report released on Wednesday. Stressing the need to "revise the U.S. global military posture to be consistent with protecting vital national interests," the report by Defense Priorities argued that the U.S. should cut its military presence in South Korea "by more than 50 percent, leaving about 10,000 personnel a

July 10, 2025

Krafton opens cultural gaming hub in Seongsu-dong, Seoul

SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Krafton, the South Korean game developer best known for the global hit PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), is venturing beyond screens with the launch of a new three-story cultural and gaming complex in Seoul’s Seongsu-dong, a district known for its blend of street culture and creative retail. Set to open to the public on Friday, the “PUBG Seongsu” complex was unveiled to the media on Thursday, offering a first look at Krafton’s

July 10, 2025