Rising avian flu threat prompts expanded controls at Korean poultry farms SEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - South Korea is tightening biosecurity controls at poultry farms across the country as cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza continue to rise, fueled by a seasonal influx of migratory birds and the spread of multiple virus serotypes. The Central Accident Management Headquarters said Friday that six cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been confirmed at domestic poultry farms this year, along with 10 cases detected in wild birds. The first outbreak was reported in September at a native chicken farm in Paju, north of Seoul, with four additional farm cases and seven wild bird infections recorded in November alone. Authorities say the surge in migratory birds is amplifying the threat. The Ministry of Environment reported that roughly 1.33 million migratory birds were observed at 200 sites nationwide in November — a 111 percent increase from the previous month. Environmental samples collected near farms and major waterways in Gyeonggi and North Jeolla provinces tested positive for H5 antigens, pointing to significant contamination near poultry production zones. For the first time, South Korea has also detected H5N1, H5N6 and H5N9 strains in wild birds this year. In response, the government plans to expand the number of rented disinfection vehicles from 39 to 135, targeting areas with dense poultry populations and migratory bird habitats. Special inspections will be carried out in 27 cities and counties with a history of outbreaks, and tighter controls will be imposed on spent hen shipments and the movement of egg transport vehicles. Lee Dong-sik, director of the Agriculture Ministry’s Quarantine Policy Bureau, urged local governments to rigorously enforce on-farm biosecurity and to strengthen education efforts. He stressed that farmers must remain vigilant and adhere to self-disinfection protocols to reduce the risk of further spread. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-21 15:31:25

South Korea tightens quarantine on Chinese poultry after detecting avian influenza genes SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - South Korea has tightened inspections on processed poultry from China after the country’s quarantine authority detected genes linked to avian influenza in a shipment of duck ham. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency said Friday that the 21-ton shipment, imported on Nov. 2, tested positive for AI genetic material during routine screening. Officials emphasized that the finding did not involve a live virus and posed no risk of infection. The products were either destroyed or sent back and never reached consumers. The batch originated from a facility located near a Chinese plant where AI genes were found in August — a discovery that prompted Seoul to suspend imports from that site at the time. Now, regulators are expanding their caution. The agency has temporarily blocked imports from all producers within the same industrial complex and plans to run enhanced inspections on processed poultry from two additional areas in Inner Mongolia over the next month. “We will continue rigorous inspections of imported livestock products to prevent the entry of animal diseases,” said Choi Jeong-rok, the agency’s chief. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-14 14:38:27

Surge in Cambodian remittances via NH NongHyup Bank spurs crime concerns SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Remittances to Cambodia through South Korea’s NH NongHyup Bank have soared in recent years, prompting concerns among lawmakers and regulators about potential links to voice phishing and organized crime. According to data released by Rep. Eo Gi-gu of the Democratic Party, the amount sent to Cambodia has nearly tripled since 2021. Annual remittances rose from 36.8 billion won ($25.7 million) in 2021 to 45.9 billion won in 2022, 94.2 billion won in 2023, and 103.8 billion won this year. As of September, total transfers over the period had reached 360.5 billion won ($251.7 million), with roughly 88 percent originating from South Korean senders. “With the rise of kidnapping and extortion-related voice phishing centered in Cambodia, NH NongHyup Bank’s anti-fraud system remains inadequate,” Rep. Eo said. “The risk of remittances being misused for criminal purposes is significant, and the bank must strengthen its overseas account verification, transaction monitoring, and transparency in local operations and donations.” Authorities have frozen 31 accounts since last year, citing possible involvement in voice phishing operations connected to kidnapping and extortion schemes. Despite investing about 5.4 billion won in anti-fraud systems since 2020, NH NongHyup Bank has struggled to curb such crimes. Between 2020 and August 2025, the bank recorded 8,807 voice phishing cases with total losses of 136.6 billion won, recovering only about 21.7 billion won. The bank has also come under scrutiny for its charitable activities in Cambodia. From 2022 to this year, NH NongHyup donated $37,000 to AFESIP, a Cambodian women’s support group founded by Somaly Mam, whose credibility was discredited after reports of fabricated testimonies led to the loss of her organization’s nonprofit status in the United States. The U.S. Embassy in Cambodia has also raised concerns about AFESIP’s financial management. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-24 14:02:35

South Korea's inflation rises back above 2 percent in September SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - Consumer prices in South Korea rose 2.1 percent in September from a year earlier, returning to the 2 percent range after two months of slower growth, according to government data released on Thursday. The uptick was driven largely by higher costs for processed foods and livestock products, the National Data Office said. The consumer price index climbed to 117.06, rebounding from a 1.7 percent increase in August, when a temporary reduction in telecom fees following a hacking incident at SK Telecom eased inflation. Prices of processed foods rose 4.2 percent, adding 0.36 percentage points to the overall inflation rate. Bread prices increased 6.5 percent and coffee surged 15.6 percent. Livestock products climbed 5.4 percent, while fishery products were up 6.4 percent. The living cost index, which reflects consumer sentiment more directly, accelerated to a 2.5 percent increase from 1.5 percent in August. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 2 percent, signaling persistent price pressures despite the recent slowdown in headline inflation. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-02 08:37:03

ADB holds South Korea's 2025 growth outlook at 0.8 percent SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s economy is expected to grow 0.8 percent this year, the Asian Development Bank said Tuesday, leaving its July projection unchanged as government stimulus measures help counter sluggish exports and a cooling property market. In its September Asian Development Outlook, the bank reiterated that fiscal and monetary easing should support a modest recovery in the second half of 2025. The bank had cut its April forecast of 1.5 percent growth for South Korea to 0.8 percent in July, citing weaker construction activity and falling overseas demand. The ADP said South Korea's economic growth in 2026 is projected at 1.6 percent, with inflation holding steady at 1.9 percent this year and next. Across the Asia-Pacific region, the bank nudged its 2025 forecast upward to 4.8 percent, 0.1 percentage point higher than in July, as stimulus policies are expected to blunt the impact of U.S. tariff increases and other trade frictions. Still, the ADB warned that exports would likely contract in 2026, trimming its regional growth projection to 4.5 percent. The region’s inflation outlook softened for this year, to 1.7 percent from 2 percent, as oil and food prices decline. Consumer prices are expected to rise by 2.1 percent in 2026, the bank said, unchanged from its earlier forecast. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-30 14:04:15