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  At War 60 Days: Korea learns to wean off Gulf crude and naphtha SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - A return to unfettered access through the Strait of Hormuz — and to the cartel-defined Gulf order that once governed energy flows — is increasingly unlikely, even if Middle East tensions ease. For South Korea and other import-dependent economies, the emerging reality is one where security premiums outweigh the old calculus of cost and efficiency. Seoul is already adapting. South Korea has secured 74.62 million barrels of crude for May, roughly April 30, 2026
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  Top court upholds guilty verdicts for all protesters in violent court intrusion case SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Some 18 die-hard supporters of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol including far-right YouTubers, were handed prison terms or suspended sentences on Thursday, as the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's rulings on charges of trespassing, causing a disturbance, and other offences. Some 59 people were convicted after breaking into the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo in January last year in a protest against Yoon's arrest over his botched mar April 30, 2026
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  LG Chem swings to Q1 operating loss amid EV slowdown, chemical headwinds SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - LG Chem, South Korea's largest chemical maker, reported a first-quarter operating loss of 49.7 billion won ($33.4 million), swinging from a profit a year earlier, as weakening demand across its core businesses and raw material cost volatility eroded margins. The company posted consolidated revenue of 12.25 trillion won for the January-March period, down 2.6 percent from a year ago, but up 6.2 percent from the preceding quarter, according to a regulatory f April 30, 2026
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  Korean Economy/Business Calendar SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - May 6 (Wed) Apr. 2026 Consumer Price Index (Preliminary) - Ministry of Data and Statistics May 8 (Fri) Mar. 2026 Balance of Payments (Preliminary) - Bank of Korea May 13 (Wed) Apr. 2026 Employment Trends - Ministry of Data and Statistics Mar. 2026 Money and Liquidity - Bank of Korea May 15 (Fri) Apr. 2026 Export/Import Prices + Trade Indices (Preliminary) - Bank of Korea May 19 (Tue) Q1 2026 Household Credit (Preliminary) - Bank of Korea April 30, 2026
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  LG Energy Solution posts second straight loss, bets on ESS pivot SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - LG Energy Solution reported its second consecutive quarterly operating loss in the first three months of 2026, hit by shrinking U.S. battery subsidies and weak electric vehicle demand. The nation's largest battery maker posted a consolidated operating loss of 207.8 billion won ($139.7 million) for the January to March period, reversing an operating profit of 374.7 billion won a year earlier, according to a regulatory filing on Thursday. Revenue slipped April 30, 2026
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  KOSPI tests 6,700 milestone amid heavy tug-of-war SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - South Korea's main index is set to end weekly session at fresh historic high, breaking above the 6,700 mark for the first time as foreign buying fended off local profit-taking. The KOSPI rose 0.4 percent to 6,713.16 as of 11:20 a.m. Thursday, testing above 6,700 mark for the first time. Foreign investors bought 332.7 billion won($224 million), while institutions and retail investors sold 214.9 billion won and 90.4 billion won, respectively. The marke April 30, 2026
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  S. Korea sees record inbound tourism driven by resurgent Chinese and Japanese markets SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - South Korea welcomed a record-breaking number of inbound visitors this month, with the majority of travelers arriving from China and Japan, alongside significant contributions from Taiwan and the United States, data released by the state tourism agency showed Thursday. This surge marks a pivotal moment for the nation's tourism sector, signaling a transition from post-pandemic recovery into a period of historic expansion. According to the latest report f April 30, 2026
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  South Korea to command multinational naval forces at RIMPAC exercise for first time SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - South Korea will command multinational naval forces in an U.S.-led maritime exercise late next month, the Navy said on Thursday. According to the Navy, it will be the first time the country assumes command in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world's largest multinational naval exercise, since joining in 1990. Launched in 1971, the biennial exercise, hosted by the U.S. Navy's Third Fleet, is designed to enhance cooperation among participating co April 30, 2026
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  South Korea to expand AI-related cooperation with Qatar, presidential aide says SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - South Korea has agreed with Qatar to expand cooperation in advanced industries including artificial intelligence (AI), biotech, and semiconductors, according to presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik. In a post on Facebook on Wednesday evening, Kang said he met with Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Trade Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed to discuss ways to expand cooperation between the two countries. Their meeting came a few weeks after Kang v April 30, 2026
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  LG CNS Q1 operating profit surges 19 pct on AI, cloud growth SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - South Korean IT services firm LG CNS posted first-quarter operating profit of 94.2 billion won ($63.4 million), up 19.4 percent from a year earlier, as surging demand for artificial intelligence and cloud services fueled growth across its business lines. According to regulatory filing released Thursday, revenue for the January to March period climbed 8.6 percent on-year to 1.315 trillion won, with the company's AI and cloud division accounting for about 5 April 30, 2026