Korean steelmakers struggle under US tariff pressure, global glut

SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - South Korea’s steelmakers endured another punishing quarter as a persistent global supply glut collided with a sharp escalation in U.S. tariffs. Steel exports from South Korea fell 5.9 percent year-on-year to $15.63 billion in the first half of 2025, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The downturn accelerated in May and June — dropping 12.4 percent and 8.0 percent respectively — as the full effects of the Trump administr

July 14, 2025

PHOTOS: Ancient rock carvings in South Korea added to UNESCO heritage list

SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has finalized the inscription of a series of ancient Korean rock carvings onto its World Heritage list, recognizing the sites as significant historical and artistic treasures. The petroglyphs, discovered in the 1970s, offer a vivid glimpse into the lives of the early inhabitants of the Korean Peninsula. Located on the cliffs of the Bangudae Stream, a tributary of the Taehwa River in Ulsan, the carvings are situated on a

July 14, 2025

Samsung supplies advanced image sensor to Xiaomi, challenging Sony in global market

SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has begun external shipments of its newest image sensor, the Isocell JNP, to Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, marking a key step in the firm's effort to challenge Sony’s long-standing dominance in the global image sensor market. The Isocell JNP, which features Samsung’s industry-first nanoprismatic technology, has been integrated into Xiaomi’s new CIVI 5 PRO smartphone, the company’s latest flagship equipped with

July 14, 2025

Soaring fruit prices in South Korea reflect strain of heat wave

SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - Fruit prices in South Korea have surged sharply in recent weeks, as an early summer heat wave scorches the country, disrupting crop yields and straining supply chains. Watermelons and napa cabbage — summertime staples — have seen particularly steep price increases, prompting emergency measures from the government. As of July 11, the average retail price of a watermelon stood at 29,115 won, or about $21.16, according to data from the Korea Agro-F

July 14, 2025

BigHit to debut new BTS' brother band next month

SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - BigHit Music, home to BTS and Tomorrow X Together (TXT), said Monday that it will debut a new five-member boy band on Aug. 18. This will be the label's first rookie group since TXT, which debuted in 2019. The new act features Martin, James, Juhoon, Sunghyun, and Gunho. All are teenagers and will work together as a creative unit without being limited to fixed roles. BigHit described them as a "young creator crew" who writes music, choreograph

July 14, 2025

Kazakhstan showcases exports at Korea Import Fair 2025 in Seoul

SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - Kazakhstan highlighted its national products and services at the Korea Import Fair 2025, held in Seoul from July 7 to 9, as part of efforts to deepen trade relations with South Korea. The Kazakhstan Embassy in the Republic of Korea said that the event was hosted by the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), with support from South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). More than 200 companies f

July 13, 2025

KAIST team develops microbe for efficient, eco-friendly lutein production

SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - A research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has developed a safe, high-yield microbial strain capable of producing lutein more efficiently than conventional methods. The new approach provides an eco-friendly and scalable alternative to plant or algae-based extraction, which is often slow, costly, and difficult to industrialize. KAIST said in a statement on July 13, that the study led by Distinguished Professor Lee Sang -

July 13, 2025

N. Korean leader meets Russian foreign minister, reaffirms deepening ties with Moscow

SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday in Wonsan, reinforcing a growing partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow amid heightened global tensions, Pyongyang's state media the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday. Lavrov's visit, which followed the second foreign ministerial strategic dialogue between the two countries, was marked by a show of unity on key international and region

July 13, 2025

Naver Webtoon halts popular 'Wind Breaker' series over tracing allegations

SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) - Naver Webtoon has suspended its long-running sports webtoon "Wind Breaker" after the creator admitted to tracing scenes from Japanese manga, ending a 12-year serialization that had become one of the platform's flagship titles. Creator Jo Yong-seok acknowledged the plagiarism allegations in the final episode revealed on Friday, confessing that some scenes in his work bore striking similarities to other comic book images. The webtoon, which foll

July 12, 2025

South Korean companies accelerate China exit amid trade tensions

SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) - South Korean companies are rapidly withdrawing from China as regulatory pressures and trade tensions make operations increasingly unprofitable, with major manufacturers joining what was once limited to retail firms. About 40 major South Korean companies have closed or downsized their Chinese operations since 2017, according to the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. The trend has expanded beyond retail to encompass key manufacturing sectors incl

July 12, 2025