KOSPI loses early gains as Asian stocks retreat on trade war flare-up

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - South Korea’s record-setting morning session turned into broad selling by the close, as investors across Asia recoiled from a new chapter in the U.S.–China trade conflict. The benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.63 percent to 3,561.81, after hitting an intraday record high of 3,637.45 earlier in the day. The Kosdaq also dropped 1.46 percent to 847.96. Samsung Electronics, which spearheaded the morning rally on record-breaking third-quarter results, f

October 14, 2025

Naver Webtoon steals NY Comic Con show with Disney and BOOM extended family

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Naver Webtoon can no longer be seen as an exotic newcomer from Korea after its standout showing at the 2025 New York Comic Con (NYCC), held at the Javits Center in New York City from Oct. 9 to 12. One of the largest pop culture conventions in the United States, NYCC celebrates comics, graphic novels, animation, film, and television, drawing more than 200,000 fans from around the world each year. Webtoon's presence this year embodied everything the

October 14, 2025

Korean petrochemical players mull exit from ever-crowding money-losing market

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - South Korean petrochemical producers are opting to bow out of the China-dominant game as they struggle to stay afloat despite government-mandated streamlining and output controls. SKC and Kuwait's Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) are reportedly seeking a buyer for their combined stake in joint venture SK picglobal, as market woes from Chinese oversupply and Middle Eastern competition have spilled over from basic petrochemicals to downstream produc

October 14, 2025

Samsung Electronics to gift stock-tied compensation for employees

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics will grant company shares to employees tied to its stock performance over the next three years, the Korean tech giant announced Tuesday in an internal notice following record quarterly sales in the third quarter. The program, called Performance Stock Units (PSU), is designed to motivate employees by linking long-term compensation to the company’s future performance and share price growth. Unlike the company’s existing annua

October 14, 2025

Samsung Elec's record-setting Q3 results signal strongest-yet chip boom

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Despite lingering doubts over the durability and scope of the so-called AI-fueled chip supercycle, Samsung Electronics’ record-setting earnings guidance for the third quarter has set a new benchmark for the ongoing semiconductor boom. The South Korean tech giant on Tuesday projected an operating profit of 12.1 trillion won ($9.1 billion) for the July–September period, more than doubling from the previous quarter and marking the strongest quart

October 14, 2025

KT, Palantir CEOs meet in Seoul to deepen AI partnership

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - South Korean telecom company KT said Tuesday its chief executive, Kim Young-seop, met with Alex Karp, the CEO of U.S. data analytics firm Palantir Technologies, in Seoul to discuss ways to expand the use of Palantir’s artificial intelligence platforms across South Korean industries. The meeting, held at KT’s headquarters in Gwanghwamun, centered on how to implement Palantir’s technology for local businesses in sectors ranging from fina

October 14, 2025

China sanctions five Hanwha Ocean subsidiaries in US

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - The Chinese government said on Tuesday it had imposed sanctions on five U.S.-based subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean, a South Korean shipbuilding company, in retaliation for a U.S. investigation into China’s maritime and shipbuilding industries. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said the move was a direct response to Washington’s Section 301 investigation, which Beijing described as “a violation of international economic and trade rules&rdqu

October 14, 2025

Top touring car drivers to compete in Inje of South Korea Oct. 18-19

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor will co-host the Inje World Touring Car Festival with Inje County in Gangwon Province this weekend, marking the first time South Korea will host the FIA TCR World Tour, one of the world’s premier touring car championships. The two-day event, set for Oct. 18–19 at the Inje Speedium, will combine three major races — the Hyundai N Festival, the FIA TCR World Tour, and TCR Asia — turning the circuit into a global stage

October 14, 2025

South Korea's ThinkFree enters Europe's secure software market through partnership with French firm

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - ThinkFree, a software subsidiary of South Korea’s Hancom Group, said Tuesday that it has signed a supply agreement with Ercom, a cybersecurity subsidiary of France’s Thales Group, marking its entry into Europe’s data protection markets. Ercom specializes in secure communication and data protection technologies. Its flagship platform, Cryptobox, employs end-to-end encryption and is certified by the French National Cybersecurity Agency,

October 14, 2025

South Korea's chip exports hit all-time high in September

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) -South Korea’s semiconductor exports soared to a record high in September, propelling the country’s overall ICT exports to their strongest level ever. According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, ICT exports rose 14 percent on year to $25.43 billion, while imports climbed 10.4 percent to $13.78 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $11.65 billion. Semiconductors accounted for the bulk of outbound shipments, totaling $16.62 billion, u

October 14, 2025