S. Korea sees surge in complaints over social media livestream shopping

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - South Korea’s consumer protection agency on Friday warned of a surge in complaints from shoppers who purchased fashion items through livestreaming on social media platforms. The Korea Consumer Agency said it had received 444 complaints related to clothing and textile products sold through livestream commerce on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Naver Band and Facebook from 2022 through June 2025. The number of grievances has grown e

September 12, 2025

Hyundai says immigration crackdown will delay Georgia battery plant by 2-3 months

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor’s top U.S. executive said Friday that construction of its $7.6 billion battery plant in Georgia will be pushed back by at least two to three months. Jose Munoz, Hyundai Motor’s global president and chief operating officer, said raids at the construction site created staffing shortages as some workers returned to South Korea following mass detentions. “For the construction phase of the plants, you need to get specialize

September 12, 2025

PHOTOS: Korean workers released from US custody depart for home

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - A charter flight carrying 316 South Koreans who were recently released from U.S. immigration custody departed from a Georgia airport on Thursday, bound for their home country. The plane, which left Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport at approximately 11:38 a.m. local time, is expected to arrive at Incheon International Airport on Friday at around 3:00 p.m. Korean time. The individuals had been detained for a week following a crackdown on

September 12, 2025

Brazil underscores closer ties with S. Korea at Independence Day event in Seoul

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - At a reception marking the 203rd anniversary of Brazil's Independence Day, Ambassador Márcia Donner Abreu stressed that the occasion was designed not only to commemorate Brazil's history but also to reaffirm the expanding cooperation between Brazil and South Korea in trade, investment, culture, and responses to global challenges. "Brazil and Korea are partner countries not just by history but by shared values and hopes," Ambassa

September 11, 2025

Korea goes all-out to pull slumbering 30s back into the labor market

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - U.K.-educated Koo turned 30 this year but still cannot dream of moving out of her parents’ home in Seoul after repeated job rejections. “Once you miss the usual hiring window, it gets harder each year and many peers end up stuck like me,” said Koo, who asked not to be fully named. After studying fashion in Britain for three years, Koo returned home and searched for work for more than a year. She gave up after repeated denials in th

September 11, 2025

Hanwha Ocean positions itself at center of Korea-US maritime ties

Editor's Note: This article is the 35th installment in our series on Asia's top 100 companies, exploring the strategies, challenges, and innovations driving the region's most influential corporations. SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Hanwha Ocean, the South Korean shipbuilder once known as Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, is staking its future on a bold wager: reviving America’s long-dormant shipbuilding industry. The company announced a $5 billion inves

September 11, 2025

South Koreans detained in US immigration raid set to return home after delay

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Hundreds of South Koreans detained in a sweeping immigration raid in Georgia in the U.S. are expected to return home at last after their scheduled departure was unexpectedly delayed earlier this week. According to the Foreign Ministry, 316 South Koreans, along with about a dozen foreign workers, are set to board a chartered flight in Atlanta and arrive at Incheon International Airport on Friday. The ministry added that one South Korean chose to remain in

September 11, 2025

Shadow device attack adds to Korea's cybersecurity scare

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - South Korea, an ICT powerhouse, is again confronting the perils of ever-evolving cyber threats, with the latest breach involving what appeared to be a benign device designed to boost mobile coverage. KT Corp., one of the nation's major wireless carriers, estimates losses of around 170 million won ($122,305) after unauthorized micro-payments were routed through rogue micro base stations. Reports of fraudulent transactions surfaced on Aug. 26, with a

September 11, 2025

Son of ex-president tapped as new envoy to China

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Roh Jae-heon, the eldest son of former President Roh Tae-woo, has been tapped as South Korea's new ambassador to China, according to government sources on Thursday. Despite not being a career diplomat or a key political figure, Roh, 60, has engaged in various activities related to China including serving as an adviser to an international council of the Chinese city of Chengdu in 2016 and participating in exchange programs to foster ties with Beijing t

September 11, 2025

Lee puts AI at the heart of South Korea's economic future in 100-day address

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung marked his 100th day in office on Thursday with a press conference that put artificial intelligence (AI) at the core of his economic agenda. He stressed that embedding AI into everyday life could open a path for South Korea to become more competitive globally. "Education policy is not about changing the admissions system," Lee said when asked about competition in schools. He pointed to excessive competition as the root pr

September 11, 2025