Latest news
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Hybe names new heads for Americas and APAC as global push accelerates
SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - Hybe, the South Korean entertainment company behind BTS, has appointed Isaac Lee as CEO and Chairman of Hybe America, expanding his current leadership role over Latin America to include the entire Western Hemisphere. The move reflects Hybe's broader push to streamline global operations and build stronger local networks in key music markets. The entertainment powerhouse that nurtured top K-pop acts such as BTS and TXT said Wednesday that Lee, who has serv
July 2, 2025 -
Hanwha Ocean to build Korea's next-generation icebreaking research vessel
SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - South Korea has taken a significant step in expanding its polar research capabilities with the selection of Hanwha Ocean as the preferred bidder to construct the country’s next-generation icebreaking research vessel. The vessel, to be built under the supervision of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, is scheduled for delivery by December 2029. The new ship will more than double the capacity of the country’s first and only existing icebreaker
July 2, 2025 -
TRAVEL: The royal pines of Samcheok — A legacy etched in wood
SAMCHEOK, July 02 (AJP) - In the mountainous reaches of Samcheok, Gangwon Province, lies Jungyongmyo, the tomb of General Yangmu, the father of King Mokjo and a fifth-generation ancestor of Yi Seong-gye, the visionary who founded the Joseon Dynasty. Surrounding this sacred ground is a remarkable forest of Geumgang pine trees, a distinctive species deeply woven into the fabric of Korean history and culture. This dense cluster boasts approximately 140,000 pine trees, many of them
July 2, 2025 -
FBI on hunt for disguised North Korean IT workers in crypto theft scheme
SEOUL, July 2 (AJP) - U.S. federal investigators have been searching for four North Koreans allegedly involved in an IT scheme to steal cryptocurrency from blockchain firms and launder the illicit proceeds of their thefts. According to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), they were placed on a wanted list on Tuesday with a reward of up to US$5 million for information leading to their capture. "Kim Kwang Jin, Kang Tae Bok, Jong Pong Ju, and Chang Nam Il are wanted
July 2, 2025 -
Inflation hits five-month high in South Korea as food prices climb
SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - South Korea’s consumer inflation edged higher in June, returning to the 2 percent range after a brief dip, as rising food and seafood prices fueled by warming ocean temperatures drove costs upward, government data showed Wednesday. The Consumer Price Index rose 2.2 percent year-on-year, up from 1.9 percent in May, according to Statistics Korea. The index reached 116.31, based on 2020 prices set at 100 — the fastest rate of inflation since January
July 2, 2025 -
US set to impose new tariffs on Korean goods as steel, automobile exports stumble
SEOUL, July 2 (AJP) - South Korea’s exports declined in the first half of 2025, as mounting U.S. tariffs on key goods — including steel and automobiles — weighed heavily on trade, with additional duties of up to 15 percent set to take effect next week. According to data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, exports fell 0.03 percent year-on-year to $334.7 billion from January to June. While the drop appears slight, officials say the und
July 2, 2025 -
HD Hyundai to merge key construction units
SEOUL, July 02 (AJP) - HD Hyundai has unveiled plans to merge two of its major subsidiaries — HD Hyundai Construction Equipment and HD Hyundai Infracore — into a single, unified entity tentatively named HD Construction Equipment. The boards of both companies approved the merger plan in meetings held on July 1. The new company is expected to be officially launched on Jan. 1, 2026, pending regulatory approvals and a shareholder vote. Once combined, the company is proj
July 2, 2025 -
North Korea's massive coastal tourist zone opens after epic delay
SEOUL, July 2 (AJP) - North Korea has opened its long-awaited tourist zone in the eastern coastal area of Kangwon Province after years of construction delays, state-run media reported on Wednesday. According to the country's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the "magnificent tourist attraction which is unparalleled in the world" was opened to the public the previous day with "many guests" on the first day of its grand opening. Located in the so
July 2, 2025 -
Prosecution chief steps down citing concerns over prosecutorial reform
SEOUL, July 1 (AJP) - Prosecutor-General Shim Woo-jung tendered his resignation on Tuesday, citing concerns over prosecutorial reform, one of the major priorities expected to be pursued by the new administration. In a brief written statement, Shim said the reform, which would involve a major overhaul of the prosecution, should be implemented through thorough discussions among scholars, experts, and other professionals, as it is directly related to the "fundamental rights of all
July 1, 2025 -
S. Korea greenlights national consumption coupon plan amid heated budget review
SEOUL, July 01 (AJP) - As South Korea’s National Assembly continues to deliberate the government’s proposed 30.5 trillion won ($22.5 billion) supplementary budget, lawmakers on Tuesday approved one of its most contentious items, a 13.2 trillion won plan to distribute universal consumption coupons. The decision was made as part of a broad policy review session, where ruling and opposition parties clashed over fiscal responsibility and the effectiveness of key spending prop
July 1, 2025
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KAIST president urges action for South Korea to join AI's global top three
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Teaser video for BLACKPINK's new single builds excitement ahead of release this week
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Seoul sees hottest early July temperature on record
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HD Hyundai Infracore secures deal to supply engines for K2 battle tanks
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South Korea's economy stalls despite stimulus, KDI warns
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Kim Jong-un visits mausoleum on his grandfather's death anniversary
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Seoul's top security adviser in Washington to arrange summit between two countries
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TRAVEL: The still lake in the sky: A journey to Baekdu Mountain's Heaven Lake
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Insulin pump maker Sooil inks $21.6 million deal with Mediq
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Trump says will impose 25 percent tariffs on all Korean goods starting August