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Nvidia CEO's Seoul trip signals shift from chip buyer to physical-AI partner SEOUL, June 5 (AJP) - When Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang stepped off his plane at Gimpo International Airport on Friday and made an esports cafe his first stop, the image was familiar: the chip merchant returning to the gaming culture that built him. The substance of this visit, however, points somewhere far off.
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South Korea pushes hydrogen trucks in final pitch for Canada's submarine race SEOUL, June 5 (AJP) - South Korea has proposed a multibillion-dollar hydrogen truck project in Canada as part of its final push to win Ottawa's next-generation submarine contract, turning an earlier request for automotive investment into a broader industrial package centered on hydrogen mobility, local manufacturing and jobs.
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'Black Friday' chip sell-off sends KOSPI plunging more than 5% SEOUL, June 5 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI plunged more than 5 percent on Friday to close at 8,161.59 points, as semiconductor stocks led a sharp sell-off across global markets. The decline followed an artificial intelligence (AI)-led chip outlook from U.S. chipmaker Broadcom, which reignited fears that the AI boom has run ahead of itself.
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Xi to visit North Korea for summit next week
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Lee 'mulls cabinet reshuffle' after DP falls short in key local election races
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South Korea extends current account surplus streak to 36 months SEOUL, June 5 (AJP) - South Korea extended its current account surplus in April, boosted by strong semiconductor exports, according to preliminary data released by the Bank of Korea on Friday. The country's current account surplus reached US$28.29 billion in April, the second-largest on record, after hitting an all-time high of US$37.93 billion in the previous month. -
Seoul stands firm on building nuclear submarines domestically SEOUL, June 05 (AJP) - South Korea’s presidential office said Friday there has been no major change to plans to build nuclear-powered submarines domestically, as Seoul and Washington seek to make tangible progress in related talks by the end of the year. -
What lies ahead for DP after falling short where it mattered most despite overall win? SEOUL, June 5 (AJP) - South Korean voters handed President Lee Jae Myung's ruling Democratic Party (DP) a broad victory in this week's local elections while simultaneously delivering a warning against one-party dominance, as the conservatives retained the key Seoul mayoralty and narrowed losses in parliamentary by-elections. -
Michelle Steel's nomination as US ambassador to South Korea clears Senate panel SEOUL, June 5 (AJP) - Michelle Steel, U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to South Korea, has cleared a key Senate committee, leaving only a final confirmation vote before the full Senate. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations voted 14-8 on Thursday to advance Steel’s nomination, moving her one step closer to taking up the post in Seoul.
ASIA Insight>
ASIA DEEP INSIGHT: US Defense Chief speech in Singapore brings tough choices for Seoul The world is changing fast, and the recent defense meeting in Singapore proved it. United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue, and his words carry a heavy message. For South Korea, sitting right between major global powers, his speech is a loud wake up call. The days of relying on a system where America promises to protect everyone without asking for much in return are officially over. Washington wants friends to pay more and do much more on their own. This new by Park Sae-jin
Expanded World Cup brings new chances for Asia as South Korea looks beyond 11th straight berth
SEOUL, June 1 (AJP) - This year's World Cup, now just over a week away, will be remembered as special for several reasons. It will be the first hosted by three countries in the quadrennial football extravaganza's history, spread across vast distances in North America and, most notably, the first to expand from 32 to 48 teams. For Asia, the number itself matters almost as much as the tournament. What once felt like a narrow gate to the sport's grandest stage has widened significantly
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Essay
From PC cafés to pork belly: Inside Jensen Huang's unconventional Seoul summit
SEOUL, June 05 (AJP) - Neon lights, the rapid clatter of keyboards in a bustling Hongdae PC café, and the unmistakable sizzle of meat hitting a hot grill—these are hardly the traditional backdrops for high-stakes tech diplomacy. Yet, on the evening of June 5, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang traded the polished boardrooms of Silicon Valley for the vibrant, everyday rhythms of Seoul. Immersing himself first in South Korea's grassroots digital culture, Huang eventually made his
AJP Focus>
Won plummets past 1,540 as bonds extend losses SEOUL, June 5 (AJP) - South Korea's financial markets remained unsettled on Friday as the won-dollar exchange rate closed at about 1,540 won, for the first time in nearly 17 years and bond yields extended their rise. Heavy foreign selling in local equities continued to weigh on the won and debt markets, while traders saw no clear signs of actual intervention by foreign exchange authorities. In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the exchange rate closed at 1,539.1, down 9.4 from the previou
South Korea sees record drug tests as narcotics use rises among young people
SEOUL, June 5 (AJP) - The number of drug tests is rising as synthetic drugs spread among teenagers and cases of fatal mixed-drug use increase. According to a report released by the National Forensic Service (NFS) earlier this week, the number of drug tests conducted reached 140,775 last year, the highest on record. Drug-related busts and the amount of narcotics seized have both risen steadily year after year. The Korea Customs Service (KCS) seized 769 kilograms of drugs in 704 cases in 2023, 7
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- Tourism agency partners with Catch Table to simplify restaurant reservations for foreign tourists
- South Koreans travel more abroad in Q1 while online shopping spending drops
- Police disperse protesters, secure ballot boxes after election day disruption in Seoul
- Voter turnout for local elections hits 61%
