TRAVEL: Korea's coastal 'fan trail,' where land meets sea

GANGNEUNG, July 09 (AJP) - Along South Korea's rugged East Coast, a unique pedestrian path known as the Badabuchae-gil Trail offers a captivating journey where ancient geology meets stunning ocean vistas. Stretching from Jeongdongjin to Simgok Port in Gangneung, this coastal walk is distinguished as the nation's sole trail built along a marine terrace, a testament to millions of years of geological transformation. The coastal terrace at Jeongdongjin, a prominent feature

July 9, 2025

KAIST president urges action for South Korea to join AI's global top three

SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung on Monday called for South Korea to take bold steps to become one of the world's three leading artificial intelligence powers, stressing the urgency of building a fully independent AI ecosystem. Speaking at a national science and technology policy forum held in Seoul on Monday, Lee laid out a wide-ranging strategy that ties AI development to national infrastructure, education, semiconductors, and global alliances. &qu

July 8, 2025

Teaser video for BLACKPINK's new single builds excitement ahead of release this week

SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - K-pop girl group BLACKPINK unveiled a teaser video for their upcoming single on Tuesday, just days ahead of its release later this week. The music video for "Jump," which is set for release on Friday, was created by multiple Grammy-winning American director Dave Meyers, according to their agency YG Entertainment. The quartet already showcased the song during their two-day concert in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province last weekend, where the four members reu

July 8, 2025

Seoul sees hottest early July temperature on record

SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - The temperature in Seoul soared to 37.7 degrees Celsius on Tuesday afternoon, the highest ever recorded for early July in the capital, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The record high temperature comes as an early heat wave continues to persist, breaking the previous record of 36.8 degrees set in 1939. Other parts of the country also sweltered through record-high temperatures, with Busan at 34.5 degrees, Inchon at 35.6 degrees, and

July 8, 2025

HD Hyundai Infracore secures deal to supply engines for K2 battle tanks

SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Infracore has signed a 92.3 billion won (approximately $66.5 million) contract with South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration to supply engines for the K2 main battle tank. The deal covers phased deliveries of DV27K engines through 2028. The DV27K is a domestically developed 1,500-horsepower powerplant capable of propelling the 56-ton K2 tank at speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour. It features a high-efficiency combustio

July 8, 2025

South Korea's economy stalls despite stimulus, KDI warns

SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - South Korea’s economy continues to lose steam despite the rollout of a supplementary budget earlier this year, the state-run Korea Development Institute said in its latest monthly report, highlighting persistent weakness in the construction sector and mounting external pressures. In its July economic trends report released Tuesday, the institute offered a downbeat assessment of the economy’s trajectory, stating that growth indicators remained &ldquo

July 8, 2025

Kim Jong-un visits mausoleum on his grandfather's death anniversary

SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited the mausoleum of his grandfather and regime founder Kim Il-sung to mark the 31st anniversary of his death, state media reported on Tuesday. Kim junior visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang around midnight, accompanied by senior party officials, according to the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). He "paid high tribute to the statues of the great leaders" and made "a d

July 8, 2025

Seoul's top security adviser in Washington to arrange summit between two countries

SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, who is visiting Washington, met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday to arrange a summit between the leaders of the two countries. Wi told Rubio that Seoul hopes to hold a summit between President Lee Jae-myung and U.S. President Donald Trump "at the earliest possible," the presidential office here said on Tuesday. He also stressed the importance of close cooperation between the two countries to

July 8, 2025

TRAVEL: The still lake in the sky: A journey to Baekdu Mountain's Heaven Lake

Baekdu Mountain, July 07 (AJP) - Surrounded by steep cliffs streaked with greens and reds, Heaven Lake at the top of Baekdu Mountain appears like a pool painted with deep blue and navy ink. Not a ripple disturbs its surface. From the western and northern slopes, the lake mirrors the jagged ridgelines and the fractured walls that encircle it, an untouched reflection resting in complete silence. In late June, I visited both the North and West Slopes

July 8, 2025

Insulin pump maker Sooil inks $21.6 million deal with Mediq

SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - Sooil Development, a South Korean medical device company known for portable insulin pumps, says it has signed a four-year, 30 billion won (approximately $21.6 million) supply agreement with Mediq, Europe’s largest medical device distributor. The deal marks a significant step in Sooil’s effort to expand its footprint in Europe’s diabetes care market. Under the agreement, Sooil will supply Mediq with its Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) sy

July 8, 2025