SEOUL, October 28 (AJP) - South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction said on Tuesday that it has completed key construction work at the Basra refinery in southern Iraq and begun test operations. Awarded to Hyundai E&C in 2020, the 2 trillion won ($1.4 billion) project is expected to be fully completed early next year. Located about 450 kilometers southeast of Baghdad, the upgraded facility will produce 24,000 barrels of gasoline per day using residues from crud

SEOUL, October 28 (AJP) - Eastar Jet has become the first South Korean airline to launch direct flights between Incheon and Manado, Indonesia, which is famed for its crystal-clear waters, coral reefs, and rich biodiversity. The budget carrier began operating the new route on Oct. 26, with four weekly flights scheduled through mid-December. Starting Dec. 16, the service will increase to daily operations. Tickets and travel packages are now available through local travel agencies,

SEOUL, October 28 (AJP) - CJ ENM, one of South Korea’s largest entertainment companies, is betting that K-pop’s next wave of global expansion will happen not just on stage, but on screens. The company announced plans to turn its digital platform Mnet Plus into a global “fanteractive” hub — blending content, fandom, and commerce for the hyper-connected generations of Gen Z and Alpha. At a Culture TALK event in Seoul, Tuesday, CJ ENM said Mnet Plus

SEOUL, October 28 (AJP) - South Korea's Samsung SDI reported a fourth consecutive quarterly loss on Tuesday, as a downturn in electric vehicle demand and trade headwinds in the United States continued to weigh on the South Korean battery maker’s earnings. The company logged an operating loss of 591.3 billion won, or about $430 million, in the July–September period, pushing its cumulative deficit above 1 trillion won for the year. Revenue fell 22.5 percent from a

SEOUL, October 28 (AJP) - Hanwha Ocean’s red-hot rally lost steam Tuesday after the Korea Exchange (KRX) warned of overheating in the shipbuilder’s stock, which has surged more than 20 percent this month on anticipation of blockbuster quarterly earnings. Shares of Hanwha Ocean fell about 5 percent to 132,300 won ($92.16) by midday after the KRX designated the stock as an “issue of investment caution,” citing excessive volatility in price and trading volume.

SEOUL, October 28 (AJP) - Seoul and Tokyo shares slipped Tuesday morning as investors locked in profits following a sharp rally, while China-related markets firmed on expectations of progress in upcoming U.S.–China summit talks. The benchmark KOSPI fell 1 percent, slipping back below the 4,000 threshold just a day after breaching it for the first time, as traders took profits from a near two-week rally. The stronger-than-expected third-quarter GDP report failed to lift sentime

SEOUL, October 28 (AJP) - South Korea’s leading charcoal-grilled rib franchise, Myeongryun Jinsagalbi, said Tuesday it has established a local subsidiary in the Philippines, betting on Southeast Asia to turn “K-barbecue” into a global brand. Through a master franchise agreement, it opened eight restaurants there as of October 2025, including one directly operated outlet. The move reflects a deeper commitment to managing brand quality and adapting to local taste

INCHEON, October 27 (AJP) - About 2,000 Korean business leaders from around the globe convened in Incheon for a four-day economic summit aimed at strengthening commercial ties between overseas Korean entrepreneurs and domestic firms. The 2025 Korea Business Expo Incheon opened Monday at Songdo, south of Incheon, drawing about 1,500 Korean businesspeople from abroad and 500 domestic participants including corporate executives and government officials. The four-day convention, runn

SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - Breaking into the global mainstream has long been a challenge for Korean fashion labels. Yet the rise of social media—coupled with the global influence of K-pop stars and K-dramas—has propelled a new wave of brands such as Matin Kim and platforms like Musinsa to the forefront of the international fashion scene, celebrated for their blend of style, affordability, and authenticity. Matin Kim, which this month made its debut on Amazon following s