Trump threatens 25 percent smartphone tariffs, 50 percent EU duties

SEOUL, May 24 (AJP) - President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on all smartphones manufactured overseas, including Apple iPhones and Samsung devices, while also warning the European Union of a 50 percent tariff on goods starting June 1. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump expanded his initial threat against Apple to include all smartphone manufacturers selling devices in the United States that are not produced domestically. "It wou

May 24, 2025

With creator power, Leferi opens flagship K-beauty pop-up store

SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - Leferi, a global beauty retail company known for its management of online beauty creators, inaugurated its largest retail space to date on Thursday with the opening of “Select Store – THE BEAUTY UNIVERSE” in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. The store, spanning 300 square meters within the XYZ Seoul complex, marks a strategic expansion for the company. For the first time, Leferi is featuring a trio of top-tier beauty influencers — LeoJ (1.41 million

May 23, 2025

HD Hyundai Electric to supply high-voltage transformers to Scottish firm

SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Electric, a subsidiary of South Korea’s HD Hyundai specializing in power equipment and energy solutions, announced on Friday that it has secured a contract to supply four ultra-high voltage transformers to SP Energy Networks, a major utility in Scotland. The agreement marks HD Hyundai Electric’s first foray into the Scottish market. Key representatives from both companies attended the signing ceremony, including Cho Seok, vice chairman of

May 23, 2025

Samsung launches sale of Galaxy S25 Edge in South Korea

SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics on Friday launched sale of the Galaxy S25 Edge, the latest addition to its flagship smartphone line and the slimmest Galaxy S series device to date. Measuring just 5.8 millimeters thick and weighing 163 grams, the new model is the culmination of Samsung’s effort to marry minimalist design with robust engineering. It features a high-strength titanium frame and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. The launch rounds out the Ga

May 23, 2025

Chinese TV makers accused of misleading UHD advertising

SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - A South Korean industry association has lodged a formal complaint with the country’s antitrust regulator, accusing major Chinese television manufacturers of deceptive marketing over the capabilities of their ultra-high-definition (UHD) television sets. The group, UHD Korea, said on Friday that it filed a petition with the Fair Trade Commission against several companies, including Chinese electronics firms TCL and Xiaomi. The complaint alleges that the

May 23, 2025

Naver chairman meets Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for AI partnership talks

SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - Lee Hae-jin, the founder and chairman of Naver, visited Taiwan to meet with Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang, marking Lee’s first public trip abroad since he returned to management in March. Lee was joined by Naver Chief Executive Choi Soo-yeon and other top executives during their visit to Computex 2025, Asia’s largest information technology exhibition. The meeting took place on the sidelines of Nvidia’s cloud partner gathering, the NPC Su

May 23, 2025

Bitcoin surges past $111,000 as US fiscal fears spark flight from traditional assets

SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - Bitcoin soared to an all-time high on Friday, breaching $111,000 amid growing unease over U.S. fiscal policy and a broad retreat from traditional safe-haven assets. The world’s largest cryptocurrency reached $111,466.48 on Coinbase at 9:45 a.m., eclipsing its previous record of $109,358 set in January. The rally comes as investors seek alternatives to government bonds and equities, both of which have been roiled by market turbulence. The surge in Bitco

May 23, 2025

Korean Air, Asiana join hands for forestation project in Mongolia

SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - Korean Air said Thursday it has launched its annual reforestation project in Mongolia, joined for the first time by employees from Asiana Airlines. Roughly 260 new and supervisory employees from both airlines traveled to the “Korean Air Forest” in Baganuur District, on the outskirts of the city to participate in two weeks of tree-planting and forest maintenance. In a show of partnership, Korean Air employees flew on Asiana-operated flights and vic

May 22, 2025

Kakao spins off sagging Daum portal to focus on core business

SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - South Korean tech conglomerate Kakao has spun off its long-struggling Daum portal business into a wholly owned subsidiary, ending an 11-year integration between the two companies. The board of directors approved the move on Thursday, establishing the new entity under the leadership of Yang Joo-il, who currently heads Kakao’s content division and oversees Daum operations. The spin-off, according to the company, is part of a broader effort to streamline

May 22, 2025

LG Electronics solidifies lead in premium TV market in Europe

SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - LG Electronics has surpassed 10 million OLED television sales in Europe, a milestone that underscores the South Korean tech giant’s continued dominance in the region’s premium TV segment. The achievement, reached in April 2025, comes 12 years after LG first brought OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology to market in 2013. While it took eight years to reach the first 5 million units sold, the company doubled that number in just four years.

May 22, 2025