Trump trade war to hit US harder than China: World Bank

SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - The World Bank sharply lowered its forecast for U.S. economic growth this year, citing mounting fallout from the Trump administration’s trade policies. In its latest Global Economic Prospects report, released Tuesday, the bank revised its U.S. growth estimate to 1.4 percent for 2025, down from 2.8 percent in 2024. The Washington-based institution attributed the downgrade primarily to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff measures, which it said a

June 11, 2025

Samsung SDI signs battery supply deal with German energy firm

SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - Battery manufacturer Samsung SDI said on Wednesday that it has signed a new supply agreement with Tesvolt, a leading German energy storage company. While the company did not disclose the value or exact timing of the deal, a Samsung SDI spokesperson confirmed that executives from both firms met on May 8 regarding the agreement. The contract will see Samsung SDI deliver its flagship battery solution, the Samsung Battery Box, to Tesvolt by the end of June. The

June 11, 2025

Poland set to acquire 180 more K2 tanks from South Korea

SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - Defense manufacturer Hyundai Rotem is close to finalizing a multibillion-dollar arms agreement with Poland, paving the way for the delivery of an additional 180 K2 main battle tanks. Valued at approximately 9 trillion won, or around $6 billion, the contract is expected to be signed by late June or early July, industry sourced close to the deal said Wednesday. If concluded, it would mark the largest single arms export deal in South Korea’s history an

June 11, 2025

Samsung Electronics sees surge in AI appliance sales

SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics reported a sharp rise in sales of its flagship artificial intelligence-powered home appliances in the first five months of 2025. The company said sales of its AI-enhanced air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines grew significantly year-over-year between January and May, underscoring growing consumer appetite for connected, adaptive home devices. Sales of Samsung’s AI air conditioners — including both stand-alon

June 10, 2025

Musinsa aims to be gateway for Korean fashion abroad

SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - South Korean fashion platform Musinsa on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious international expansion strategy, aiming to position itself as the leading conduit for domestic fashion brands seeking global markets. At a press briefing held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, CEO Park Jun-mo said the time is ripe for Korean fashion to capitalize on the global popularity of Korean culture. He noted that despite the international success of K-pop, television dramas, an

June 10, 2025

President Lee to meet corporate leaders this week

SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung is set to hold his first meeting with the heads of largest conglomerates this week. The meetings are expected to take place Thursday or Friday at the presidential office in Yongsan, ahead of Lee’s departure for the Group of Seven summit in Canada, scheduled for June 15 to 17. The agenda is expected to focus on current economic challenges and the administration’s policy priorities. According to business people briefed on

June 10, 2025

Bank of Korea sounds alarm as won-backed stablecoin momentum builds

SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - As interest in won-denominated stablecoins intensifies, the Bank of Korea is cautioning that a premature rollout could jeopardize the nation’s monetary stability. Central bank officials say that without carefully designed regulations, stablecoins could pose systemic risks and weaken the South Korean currency's status as legal tender. In response, the Bank of Korea will host a high-profile conference on July 1 to address the implications of stablec

June 10, 2025

Doosan Enerbility signs $650 million deal to build gas-fired power plant in Vietnam

SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - South Korean energy company Doosan Enerbility has secured a contract valued at approximately 900 billion Korean won, or $650 million, to build a major gas-fired power plant in southern Vietnam, in partnership with the state-owned Petrovietnam. The agreement, signed on June 6 in Hanoi, marks one of the largest foreign energy infrastructure deals in Vietnam this year. The project involves construction of a combined cycle gas turbine power plant, located rou

June 10, 2025

Shinsegae scion to debut in K-pop group

SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - Moon Seo-yoon, the eldest daughter of Shinsegae International President Chung Yoo-kyung and a scion of one of South Korea’s most prominent retail dynasties, is set to debut as a K-pop idol later this month. Moon, 22, will perform under the stage name Annie as a member of ALLDAY PROJECT, a five-member co-ed group managed by The Black Label, a prominent music agency known for representing artists such as Taeyang of Big Bang and Rose of Blackpink. The group

June 9, 2025

Daiso's budget cosmetics find devoted following

Editor's Note: This is the fourth article in our series exploring the evolving landscape of the Korean beauty industry and the products that captivate international visitors. SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - In South Korea’s bustling beauty market, a surprising contender has quietly become a cultural force: Daiso, the ultra-low-cost retailer known more for household goods than cosmetics. The chain, beloved by locals and tourists alike, is defying expectations — and industry

June 9, 2025