AI boom lifts KOSPI in H1 but focus shifts to earnings SEOUL, July 6 (AJP) - Artificial intelligence (AI) stocks were South Korea's biggest gainers in the first half of this year, as the AI rally spread beyond semiconductors into infrastructure such as power equipment and cables, according to a Korea Exchange analysis released Monday. Investors now watch whether second-quarter earnings will turn those expectations into results. Top gainers on the country's benchmark KOSPI for the first six months of this year included semiconductor giants S July 6, 2026

Korea's Lee orders speed in "Chip Republic" projects SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) -South Korea's ambition to transform itself into a "Chip Republic" is expected to gain traction as President Lee Jae Myung on Monday ordered officials to fast-track implementation of the country's three AI mega projects, declaring that "speed is everything" in the global race for technological supremacy. "The outcome will depend on who moves faster," Lee said during a public-private review meeting on the projects at the presidential off July 6, 2026

China extends lead in global shipbuilding as South Korea focuses on high-value vessels SEOUL, July 6 (AJP) - China maintained its dominance in the global shipbuilding market in the first half of this year, accounting for 72 percent of global orders. South Korean shipbuilders held just 19 percent, as they focused instead on high-value ships like liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. According to data released by London-based Clarkson Research Services on Monday, cumulative global ship orders in the first six months of this year reached 42.95 million compensated gross tons (CGT), o July 6, 2026

Asia markets mostly lower ahead of big news related to Korean chip giants SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) — Asian equities opened the week cautiously Monday, with investors awaiting a string of major developments for South Korea's semiconductor sector, including Samsung Electronics' earnings guidance and SK hynix's landmark U.S. listing. As of 10:50 a.m., the benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.58 percent to 8,033.76, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ tumbled 3.60 percent to 837.32. Retail investors were the market's only net buyers, purchasing 1 trillion won worth of KO July 6, 2026

Korea's FX market shifts to 24-hour system in bid to globalize won SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) -South Korea's foreign exchange market began operating on a near 24-hour basis Monday, a milestone reform aimed at making the won more accessible to global investors and strengthening the country's case for inclusion in developed-market indexes. Under the new framework, spot trading will run continuously from 6 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Saturday during U.S. daylight-saving time, with the opening and closing shifting to 7 a.m. during U.S. winter time. Deputy Prime Minis July 6, 2026

Canada to announce preferred bidder for 12 submarines Monday SEOUL, July 06 (AJP) -Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will make a major defense announcement in Halifax, home to the country's largest naval base, on Monday before departing for the NATO summit in Türkiye, with South Korea and Germany awaiting a decision on Canada's multibillion-dollar submarine procurement program. Canadian daily The Globe and Mail reported Sunday, citing two government sources, that Carney is expected to formally announce whether South Korea or Germany has em July 6, 2026

Young South Koreans sour on Lee's housing policy SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) — More than half of young South Koreans are disgruntled with the current administration's housing policy amid sky-high rent prices. A survey released Friday by polling firm Korea Gallup showed that 46 percent of respondents viewed the President Lee Jae Myung administration's housing policy negatively, compared with 26 percent who viewed it positively. Negative sentiment was strongest among younger adults, with 56 percent of people in their 30s and 51 percent July 3, 2026

KOSPI rebounds 5.8 percent on chip rally SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - South Korean stocks staged their sharpest rebound of the year on Friday, as institutional buying and a fresh artificial intelligence catalyst for Samsung Electronics erased most of the previous session's rout in a single day. The benchmark KOSPI surged 5.8 percent to close at 8,088.3. The index added 440.3 points, recovering the bulk of Thursday's 7.9 percent plunge, as a report that Anthropic is in talks with Samsung Electronics to manufacture a custom AI chip r July 3, 2026

Korea's Lee to head to NATO summit as Seoul courts defense partners SEOUL, July 3 (AJP) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will travel to Türkiye and Mongolia next week for a five-day diplomatic swing aimed at expanding Seoul's security, defense industry and supply chain partnerships, the presidential office said Friday. Lee will attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Ankara from July 7 to 8 before making a state visit to Mongolia from July 9 to 11, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said at a briefing at Cheong Wa Dae, So July 3, 2026

Samsung defies chip rout as KOSPI sinks SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) -The Seoul market extended losses as foreign selloff continued Friday. Chip stocks were mixed. Samsung Electronics rose 1.6 percent to 290,500 won (about 188 dollars), while SK hynix fell 1.1 percent to 2,163,000 won (about 1,398 dollars). The KOSPI 2.18 percent to 7,281.39. The overnight catalyst was a US chip rout, where the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell as much as 6 percent, its worst two-session stretch since early June, as investors questioned stretched AI July 3, 2026