South Korean, Japanese firms consider joint venture for next-generation chip materials

SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - Samsung Electro-Mechanics said on Wednesday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical Group to explore establishing a joint venture for producing glass cores, a key component in next-generation semiconductor packages. The agreement comes as they are seeking to strengthen their foothold in the fast-evolving semiconductor packaging industry, where new materials are increasingly critical to supporting artificial

November 5, 2025

South Korea's stock market rides early wave of AI-driven supercycle

SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - South Korea’s stock market appears to be entering the early stages of what analysts are calling an artificial intelligence–driven “supercycle,” as investors pour into semiconductor, robotics, and infrastructure shares amid growing optimism about the country’s role in the global AI boom. The rally gained momentum following recent international events such as the APEC summit and Nvidia’s AI conference, both of which un

November 5, 2025

Viral K-beauty powered by rich foundation palette for every skin tone

SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - “You guys have no idea how happy I am right now — it’s literally perfect. I can finally use their cushion foundation,” said @MissDarcei, a beauty influencer with more than 800,000 YouTube followers. Her excitement reflects a growing wave of international consumers who say Korean cushion foundations now work just as well on darker skin tones as they do on lighter ones. The secret behind the viral rise of K-beauty lies in its fast-e

November 4, 2025

South Korea, U.S. reaffirm support for nuclear submarine plan

SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed plans to move ahead with South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine program and other key alliance issues during the 57th Security Consultative Meeting held Tuesday at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan. The two discussed follow-up measures from last month's summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in Gyeongju, where Trump approved

November 4, 2025

Unification Ministry undergoes organizational revamp to restore inter-Korean relations

SEOUL, November 4 (AJP) - In its latest organizational overhaul, the Ministry of Unification revived its office handling inter-Korean dialogue while abolishing the one responsible for addressing North Korea's human rights violations and related issues. The ministry said on Tuesday the newly streamlined structure for its affiliated agencies took effect at midnight, after going through relevant legislative procedures. The office, abolished two years ago under disgraced former P

November 4, 2025

Four out of ten Korean tech workers eye work abroad as firms vie to keep them home

SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - Four out of ten South Koreans employed in science and engineering say they want to work abroad in pursuit of higher compensation and better social recognition, underscoring the talent pressures Korean companies face as global competition intensifies in AI and IT. A recent Bank of Korea study found that 42.9 percent of salaried STEM-degree holders are considering relocating overseas within the next three years, and the share rises to about 70 percent amo

November 4, 2025

INTERVIEW: UAE, Korea deepening hydrogen and CCS partnership as they look beyond nuclear

SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - The governments of the United Arab Emirates and South Korea are engaged in "high-level discussions" on joint hydrogen production and hydrogen logistics for future transportation and supply, according to a senior UAE energy official. His Excellency Eng Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), said hydrogen will play a central role in both countries' lon

November 4, 2025

Asian markets retreat as regional winners KOSPI and Nikkei give way to profit-taking

SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - Asian stocks fell across the board Tuesday as profit-taking swept through the region, with South Korea’s KOSPI posting the steepest loss among major Asian benchmarks and Japan’s Nikkei 225 also tumbling sharply. South Korea’s KOSPI slid 2.37 percent to close at 4,121.74, wiping out the previous day’s gains. Foreign investors dumped 2.2 trillion won ($1.5 billion) worth of shares, joined by institutional investors who offloaded 498

November 4, 2025

Game developer Krafton posts robust revenue in Q3

SEOUL, November 4 (AJP) - Game developer Krafton has posted a hefty 870.6 billion Korean won (US$605 million) in its third-quarter revenues, up 21 percent from a year earlier, driven by robust growth in its PC and mobile gaming operations. According to a regulatory filing released on Tuesday, the maker of "PUBG: Battlegrounds" saw its quarterly operating profit rise 7.5 percent year-on-year to 348.6 billion won. The strong quarterly performance pushed nine-month cumulat

November 4, 2025

Korean streamer TVING to launch K-content hub on Disney+ in Japan

SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - South Korean streaming platform, TVING, said Tuesday it has formed a partnership with Disney+ to enter the Japanese market. TVING said it will launch the “TVING Collection on Disney+” in Japan, offering a curated lineup of original Korean series, including Transit Love, Pyramid Game, and Yumi’s Cells, along with other popular titles from CJ ENM, its parent company. Japan is one of the world’s largest and most competitive stre

November 4, 2025