Citizens shop ahead of Chuseok holiday Citizens shop at Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, September 7, 2026. September 8, 2026

Citizens shop ahead of Chuseok holiday Citizens shop at Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, September 7, 2026. September 8, 2026

Citizens shop ahead of Chuseok holiday Citizens shop at Gyeongdong Market in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, September 7, 2026. September 8, 2026

More jobseekers eligible for support as age limit rises to 34 SEOUL, September 8 (AJP) - More young adults in South Korea will become eligible for job-related support as the government decided to raise the age limit from 29 to 34. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the revisions to the relevant rules, approved at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, raise the upper age limit to 34, expanding the range to those aged 15 to 34, from the previous range, which defined young people as those aged 15 to 29. The ministry said the move will September 8, 2026

Japanese yen and bonds rally as BOJ tightening bets build SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - The Japanese yen and long-dated government bonds rallied together Tuesday as investors priced faster tightening by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) alongside lower longer-term inflation risks. The yen strengthened as far as 152.89 per dollar, its strongest level since Feb. 17, before returning to around 153.3. Japan's 10-year government bond yield fell 4 basis points to 2.890 percent in morning trading. Ataru Okumura, senior rate strategist at SMBC Nikko September 8, 2026

Will Korea's most-loved game StarCraft become a K-game? SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - South Korean game publisher Nexon is moving to bring the iconic StarCraft franchise under its arm through a licensing deal with Blizzard Entertainment, aiming to roll out the first new mainline installment of the battle game loved for nearly three decades in 16 years. The Chosun Ilbo reported that the deal was "on the verge of being finalized," after which Nexon would hold development rights to a successor to the existing series. "We can September 8, 2026

New bridge connects North Korea and Russia amid deepening ties SEOUL, September 8 (AJP) - A new road bridge across the Tumen River now connects North Korea and Russia, signaling a deepening economic and strategic partnership between the two countries. The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Tuesday that the motor bridge's opening ceremony was held simultaneously the previous day in North Korea's northeastern city of Rason and Russia's Khasan in Primorsky Krai, with North Korean premier Pak Thae-song September 8, 2026

Korea opens first industrial insect protein complex SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - South Korea opened its first industrial-scale insect complex in Chuncheon, a 20 billion won ($14.85 million) facility built to produce up to 1,000 tons of mealworms a year for food and pharmaceutical buyers. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Tuesday the site in Gangwon Province covers 23,815 square meters and is anchored by a smart factory farm where artificial intelligence and robots watch the larvae and adjust temperature, humidit September 8, 2026

HMM lands $3.5 billion long-term shipping contract with Vale SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - HMM has signed a 4.7 trillion won ($3.5 billion) long-term shipping contract with Brazilian mining giant Vale, locking in cargo for eight new bulk carriers for 25 years as South Korea's largest container shipper expands stable earnings outside its mainstay container business. The agreement is HMM's third major long-term contract with Vale following two 10-year deals signed in May and September last year worth a combined 1.07 trillion won, the So September 8, 2026

Repeat takers of Korea's CSAT likely highest in 23 years SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) -Nearly 200,000 repeat and non-school test-takers are expected to join South Korea's once-a-year college entrance exam on Nov. 19, the largest number in 23 years and a development likely to intensify competition for a shrinking pool of current high-school seniors. A total of 551,864 people applied to sit the College Scholastic Ability Test, or CSAT, for 2027 admissions, the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation said Tuesday. The total was dow September 8, 2026