Police withdraw after forced entry to Jamsil vote venue fail SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) -Police withdrew Tuenday after an unsuccessful attempt to help employees of sports organizations re-enter Seoul's Olympic Handball Gymnasium, where protesters have blocked access to workplaces for 12 straight days since demonstrations over ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections began. Employees affiliated with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee arrived at the venue in Seoul's Songpa district shortly after 9 a.m. and tried to negotiate entry throug June 16, 2026

KOSPI higher while other Asian markets on hold on expected rate hike in Japan SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) -South Korea's benchmark index maintained its upward momentum from the preliminary U.S.-Iran peace deal, bucking a broadly cautious mood across Asia as investors awaited an expected rate hike from the Bank of Japan. As of 10:30 a.m., the benchmark KOSPI stood at 8,610.00, up 0.8 percent from the previous session. The index moved between an intraday high of 8,747.48 and a low of 8,540.41. The KOSPI 200 rose 0.9 percent to 1,372.00, after moving between an intraday high June 16, 2026

AI won't change the game dynamics: Nexon's gaming chief SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - As artificial intelligence makes building games faster and cheaper, the edge will lie in the depth of context that no prompt can generate, the head of Nexon Korea. Kang Dae-hyun, co-chief executive of Nexon Korea, made the remarks Tuesday in the opening keynote of the Nexon Developers Conference (NDC), the country's largest game knowledge-sharing event, which returned to Nexon's Pangyo campus for a three-day run. "Implementation is getting easier, but it is June 16, 2026

Korea's import prices may have peaked out while chip exports power ahead SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - South Korea's import prices may have peaked out after the Gulf war-driven oil shock eased in May, while soaring semiconductor prices continued to buttress the country's trade strength, central bank data showed Tuesday. The won-denominated import price index fell 0.3 percent in May from a month earlier, according to preliminary export-import price data released by the Bank of Korea. The decline followed a 2.1 percent drop in April after import prices had surged 18 June 16, 2026

Korean won, bonds rally on U.S.-Iran framework SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - The South Korean won and government bonds strengthened Monday on signs of foreign return after a de facto resolution to the monthslong Iran crisis. The won closed at 1,511.1 per dollar in the Seoul foreign exchange market, down 8.7 won from the previous session. South Korean government bonds extended last week's rally. The yield on the three-year government bond fell 6.4 basis points to 3.744 percent, while the 10-year yield dropped 7.7 basis points to 4.118 percent June 15, 2026

KOSPI, Nikkei jump on US-Iran war deal; China lags SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) -South Korean and Japanese markets surged around 5 percent in early Monday session as uncertainties over energy shocks from the prolonged blockade of the Strait of Hormuz were lifted upon the news of a peace deal between the United States and Iran. The KOSPI rose 415.20 points to 8,538.82, up 5.1 percent, by mid-morning. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 jumped 5.3 percent to a year-to-date high, while Chinese markets lagged, the Shanghai Composite gaining 0.6 percent; in Seoul the June 15, 2026

Korea's main stock index jumps 5%, won sharply eases on Iran peace deal SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) -South Korean stocks roared at Monday's opening bell after the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire framework and announced plans to sign a permanent agreement later this week to guarantee toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, reigniting a rally in the country's memory chip giants. The benchmark KOSPI surged 5.46 percent to 8,567.05 in early trading, comfortably outpacing the roughly 3 percent gain in Japan's Nikkei 225. Large-cap stocks did m June 15, 2026

South Korean president offers olive branch in Vatican despite Pyongyang's snub SEOUL, June 14 (AJP) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung used a Vatican peace gathering on Sunday to renew his offer of dialogue and reconciliation with North Korea, insisting that the "ember of hope" for inter-Korean cooperation remains alive despite Pyongyang's continued refusal to engage with Seoul. Speaking at a special Mass for peace and solidarity at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, Lee framed his administration's North Korea policy as one rooted June 14, 2026

Won, bonds rally on U.S.-Iran peace hopes SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - The South Korean won and government bonds strengthened sharply Friday as hopes for an end to the U.S.-Iran conflict eased pressure from oil prices, the dollar and foreign equity outflows. The won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,519.8 won, down 9.1 won from the previous session, in Seoul’s foreign exchange market. The rate opened 10.9 won lower at 1,518.0 won before trimming part of its decline, but still ended in the 1,510-won range. The move came as investors pri June 12, 2026

KOSPI surges over 4% as foreign buyers return after weeks of selling SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - The KOSPI closed up 4.63 percent Friday, capping a volatile week with a broad rally as foreign investors returned to Korean stocks after weeks of relentless selling. South Korea's benchmark KOSPI closed up more than four percent on Friday, capping a volatile week with a broad rally as foreign investors returned to the market after weeks of relentless selling. The index gained 359.67 points or 4.63 percent, though it eased from a sharper morning advance that briefly p June 12, 2026