Korean defense industry posts record quarter amid export boom to Europe, Middle East

SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s defense industry continued its unprecedented growth trajectory in the second quarter, buoyed by sustained international demand for weapons systems and armored vehicles. The nation’s four leading defense contractors — Hanwha Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem, LIG Nex1, and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) — are projected to report a combined operating profit exceeding 1 trillion won for the first time, according to financial estim

July 10, 2025

Samsung C&T's 8 Seconds opens first Philippine store, expanding K-fashion reach in Southeast Asia

SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Samsung C&T’s casual fashion brand 8 Seconds made its official debut in Southeast Asia this week, opening its first store in the Philippines through a partnership with local retail powerhouse Suyen Corporation. The 420-square-meter flagship, located on the second floor of SM Mall of Asia in Manila, launched Wednesday with a grand opening event. Founded in 2012, 8 Seconds is positioned as a trend-driven, accessible fashion label aimed at younger

July 10, 2025

Samsung unveils slimmest foldable yet with Galaxy Z Fold7

SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has introduced its latest flagship foldable, the Galaxy Z Fold7, touting it as the slimmest and lightest model in its Z Fold series to date. Unveiled at the company’s Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event in Brooklyn, the Fold7 represents a significant leap in both design and functionality as the firm continues to bet big on foldables and artificial intelligence. The new device measures just 8.9 millimeters thick when folded and 4.2 millime

July 10, 2025

Bank of Korea halts rate cuts amid soaring housing prices

SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.5 percent on Thursday, pausing its monetary easing cycle as policymakers contend with a surge in housing prices and rapidly rising household debt. The decision underscores mounting concern within the central bank over asset bubbles forming in the capital region. In recent weeks, apartment prices in Seoul have accelerated at their fastest pace in nearly seven years. “Stabilizing market s

July 10, 2025

Rare Chinese relics unveiled at Daboseong Gallery appraisal session with top experts

SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Daboseong Gallery in South Korea has once again opened its doors to reveal a selection of Chinese antiquities rarely seen by the public, even in China itself. For the third year running, the gallery invited top Chinese appraisal experts to assess items from its vast collection, believed to be one of the most extensive private holdings of rare Chinese artifacts in Asia. The appraisal session, held on July 9, was led by Professor Lee Jung-soon of Chung-Ang U

July 10, 2025

Hanwha Ocean intensifies bid for Poland's $6 billion submarine project

SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Hanwha Ocean is intensifying its campaign to win a multibillion-dollar submarine contract from the Polish government, offering a localized production model, technology transfer, and strategic financing in a bid to secure the next-generation Orka submarine program. The project, valued at an estimated 8 trillion won, or roughly $6 billion, is a key component of Poland’s broader military modernization push, as the country seeks to bolster its naval capabi

July 10, 2025

Tata Group of India bets on AI, EVs, renewables to power its next chapter

Editor's Note: This article is the 26th installment in our series on Asia's top 100 companies, exploring the strategies, challenges, and innovations driving the region's most influential corporations. SEOUL, July 10 (AJP) - Spanning sectors from steel and software to salt and automobiles, the Tata Group of India stands as Asia’s most enduring industrial empire. With operations in more than 100 countries and a global workforce exceeding one million, the conglom

July 10, 2025

Bank of China supports Korea Eximbank's first Hong Kong dollar bond issuance

SEOUL, July 09 (AJP) - Bank of China has assisted the Export-Import Bank of Korea in issuing its first Hong Kong dollar-denominated public bond, known as a Wanthang bond. It is the first time the Bank of China has underwritten a bond for a South Korean policy bank. The bank served as settlement and clearing agent, joint lead manager and bookrunner, and handled the cross-currency swap transaction. Korea Eximbank’s bond is the fourth Wanthang bond to be issued globally, f

July 9, 2025

Korea looks to shipbuilding ties as strategic tool in tariff talks with US

SEOUL, July 09 (AJP) - As South Korea prepares for high-stakes tariff negotiations with the United States over the next three weeks, the country’s shipbuilding industry has emerged as a central element of Seoul’s diplomatic and strategic playbook. Government officials said Wednesday that cooperation in the shipbuilding sector is being positioned as more than just a bargaining chip in ongoing trade discussions. A senior official at the presidential office noted that

July 9, 2025

Korean instant noodle firms Samyang, Nongshim poised for strong earnings

SEOUL, July 09 (AJP) - South Korea’s leading instant noodle exporters, Samyang Foods and Nongshim, are expected to post robust second-quarter earnings, buoyed by growing overseas demand and a favorable currency rate. According to analyst consensus, Samyang Foods is projected to report 542.6 billion won ($395 million) in revenue for the April–June period, a 27.9 percent increase from the same period last year. Operating profit is forecast to rise 43 percent to 127.9

July 9, 2025