Unionized workers at Hyundai Motor reach wage deal SEOUL, September 1 (AJP) - Unionized workers at Hyundai Motor have reached a wage agreement for this year, ending months of labor tensions that disrupted production at South Korea's largest automaker. In a vote on Monday, 61.55 percent of the 31,166 union members who cast ballots voted in favor of the agreement, the union said on Tuesday. The union has about 39,000 members in total. Under the new wage deal, workers will receive a 100,000 won (US$73) increase in monthly base September 1, 2026

Gyeongbokgung's royal refreshments: A taste of Joseon “King Munjong’s Refreshment Set” is displayed during a rehearsal for the 2026 fall season of the “Gyeongbokgung Saenggwabang” program at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Aug. 31, 2026. The program, scheduled to run from Sept. 2 to Oct. 26, will be held under the theme “The Story of the Brilliant Father and Son of the Joseon Royal Family.” Two new refreshment sets inspired by King Sejong and King Munjong will be presented during the September 1, 2026

Gyeongbokgung's royal refreshments for 2026 “King Sejong’s Refreshment Set” is displayed during a rehearsal for the 2026 fall season of the “Gyeongbokgung Saenggwabang” program at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Aug. 31, 2026. The program, scheduled to run from Sept. 2 to Oct. 26, will be held under the theme “The Story of the Brilliant Father and Son of the Joseon Royal Family.” Two new refreshment sets inspired by King Sejong and King Munjong will be presented during the fa September 1, 2026

New refreshments at Gyeongbokgung's fall event A rehearsal for the 2026 fall season of the “Gyeongbokgung Saenggwabang” program is held at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Aug. 31, 2026. The program, scheduled to run from Sept. 2 to Oct. 26, will feature the theme “The Story of the Brilliant Father and Son of the Joseon Royal Family,” following the spring season centered on Kings Yeongjo and Sukjong. Two new refreshment sets inspired by King Sejong and King Munjong will be presented during the pro September 1, 2026

India brings Odissi dance, film festival to Korea for Sarang 2026 SEOUL, August 31 (AJP) - The Embassy of India in Seoul will bring traditional dance performances, workshops and Indian cinema to cities across South Korea this fall as part of Sarang 2026, its flagship annual cultural festival. Indian Ambassador to South Korea Gourangalal Das introduced this year’s program during a media briefing at the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre in Seoul on Monday, saying the festival is designed to expose Korean audiences to different traditions from August 31, 2026

Japan beckons as SK hynix weighs next memory-chip hub SEOUL, August 31 (AJP) - SK hynix, fresh from breaking ground on a more than $4 billion HBM packaging plant in the United States, is weighing Japan as a possible next overseas production base as surging AI demand pushes the South Korean memory giant to widen its manufacturing footprint. "We are in the process of studying. As soon as we finish, I'll let you know," SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won told reporters in Japan on Monday when asked about potential investment in August 31, 2026

When the crowd becomes the court SEOUL, August 31 (AJP) - The Korean social media audience can be punishing and unforgiving toward celebrities and public figures. Its frenzied, vindictive pile-ons persist despite tragic casualties such as actor Lee Sun-kyun. The latest target is South Korean YouTuber Park Wi. The controversy began after Park, a wheelchair user who runs the popular YouTube channel Weracle, fell while getting off a KTX train on Aug. 14. A week later, he uploaded CCTV footage showing his wheel August 31, 2026

Sky Labs cuts IPO price ahead of KOSDAQ debut SEOUL, August 31 (AJP) - South Korean digital healthcare company Sky Labs will make its KOSDAQ debut Friday after setting its offering price at the bottom of its proposed range, with more than 60 percent of institutional orders coming in below the minimum price sought by the company. The company is scheduled to list on Sept. 4 at an offering price of 10,000 won ($7.20) per share, with Korea Investment & Securities serving as the lead underwriter. Retail subscriptions were held August 31, 2026

Two Koreas reshuffle military command for very different battles SEOUL, August 31 (AJP) - South and North Korea are reshaping their military leadership at the same time, but for markedly different challenges. Seoul is turning back to a career general to steady an institution unsettled by contentious reforms, while Pyongyang is tightening party control for stronger push into weapons modernization. President Lee Jae Myung's nomination of retired four-star Gen. Kang Shin-chul as defense minister effectively puts a career military officer back in August 31, 2026

G-Star 2026 launches promotional push with first pop-up store SEOUL, August 31 (AJP) - South Korea's largest gaming exhibition, G-Star 2026, has begun a pre-opening marketing campaign, unveiling a new "Special Pass" bundle and its first-ever pop-up store, as the country's game industry seeks to broaden its appeal beyond core players. The committee announced Monday that it will open the pop-up store from Sept. 1 to 6 at the Hyundai Department Store's Pangyo branch, south of Seoul, marking the first time the annual show has August 31, 2026