Samsung, Hanwha chiefs to visit UAE next week for AI, defense collaboration SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan are among a group of prominent South Korean executives traveling to the United Arab Emirates next week, industry sources said on Friday. The two leaders are expected to attend the Korea-UAE Business Round Table on Nov. 19, an event organized by the Korea Economic Association and KOTRA. The gathering follows last month’s APEC meeting in Gyeongju, where South Korean officials and business chiefs underscored the need for stronger international cooperation amid global geopolitical volatility. Industry officials said roughly 15 top executives will join the delegation. Lee, who has shown growing interest in investments and partnerships in the Gulf region, is expected to raise discussions on artificial intelligence and next-generation technologies. Kim, whose conglomerate has emerged as a major player in aerospace and defense, is likely to focus on expanding defense exports — an area where the UAE has become one of South Korea’s most important customers. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-14 10:01:59

Another body recovered at Ulsan power plant with one worker still missing SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - Another body was recovered early Thursday morning from the rubble of a thermal power plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan. According to rescue workers, a man in his 30s was retrieved from the debris at the state-run utility Korea East-West Power at around 1:18 a.m. This brings the death toll to six, with one person still missing. The incident occurred when a 60-meter boiler tower suddenly fell during demolition work last Thursday, trapping seven of the nine workers at the site. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-13 09:41:24

Seoul reiterates its planned nuclear-fueled submarine fleet built at home SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) — Senior Seoul officials on Thursday reiterated that South Korea’s planned fleet of nuclear-powered submarines must be built domestically, arguing that constructing them in the United States would be “realistically” unfeasible. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told lawmakers during a parliamentary hearing that Seoul aims to develop “cost-effective nuclear-fueled submarines tailored to our operational needs, rather than adopting the U.S. Virginia-class model,” reaffirming earlier remarks made by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back during recent government audits. Wi said investing in new submarine facilities at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard is impractical. He also dismissed suggestions that General Dynamics, the American defense contractor, could take on construction of the vessels. The series of clarifications followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s social-media post last week claiming he had approved South Korea’s plan to build a nuclear-powered submarine — and that the project would be carried out in Philadelphia. Trump offered his endorsement during his visit to South Korea during last week’s APEC summit, after President Lee Jae Myung stressed the need for conventionally armed submarines powered by stable nuclear propulsion. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-07 07:40:54

Actor Yeo Jin-goo to join KATUSA next month SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - Actor Yeo Jin-goo will begin his mandatory military service with the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) next month. "Recruited as a member of KATUSA, Yeo will fulfill his 18-month military duty starting Dec. 15," his management agency said on Monday. "We ask for your continued support and encouragement until he returns healthy and more mature after completing his military duty," it added. But the exact time and location of his enlistment have not been revealed. Since his debut with a minor role in "Sad Movie" (2005), Yeo has appeared in various dramas and films including "A Frozen Flower" (2008), "Moon Embracing the Sun" (2012), "The Crowned Clown" (2019) and "Hijack 1971" (2024). * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-03 16:13:44

Drunk driver arrested after hitting Japanese tourists in Seoul SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - Two pedestrians were hit by a drunk driver in central Seoul on Sunday, according to police. They have been identified as a Japanese tourist and her daughter. A man in his 30s was arrested for drunk driving after allegedly driving onto the sidewalk and hitting them as they crossed the street at around 10 p.m. His blood alcohol level was high enough to have his license immediately revoked. The mother, in her 50s, was taken to a nearby hospital in cardiac arrest and later died, while her daughter, in her 30s, sustained minor injuries. Police are investigating the exact cause of the accident after arresting the driver at the scene. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-03 09:49:02

Season's first cold wave advisory issued in Seoul SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - Morning lows in Seoul fell below 1 degree Celsius on Monday, prompting the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) to issue the season's first cold wave advisory for the capital and nearby areas the previous day. Such an advisory is issued when morning temperatures are expected to drop by more than 10 degrees Celsius from the previous day, or at least 3 degrees below the seasonal average, or when the morning low is forecast to remain at or below -12 degrees for two or more consecutive days. According to the KMA, morning lows were 0.9 degrees Celsius in Seoul, 1.0 degree in Incheon, and -0.1 degree in Suwon. The KMA said cold air from the north caused morning temperatures to drop by 5 to 10 degrees from the previous day. "Daytime temperatures will recover to 15 to 20 degrees in midweek, returning to the seasonal average," said a KMA official. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-03 09:20:11

Subway breakdown in Seoul causes delays for commuters on first day back after Chuseok SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - A subway train in Seoul broke down Friday morning, disrupting service for nearly an hour and causing delays for commuters returning to work on the first day after the week-long Chuseok holiday. According to operator Seoul Metro, the incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. between Banghwa and Myeongil stations on subway line No. 5, causing delays of approximately 50 minutes. The exact cause of the breakdown is under investigation. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-10 09:18:20

Lee to hold talks with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in Seoul SEOUL, October 1 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung is meeting with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at the presidential office in Seoul on Wednesday. During the meeting, Lee is expected to seek Altman's advice on Soth Korea's strategy for transitioning to the artificial intelligence (AI) era, while encouraging collaboration with domestic companies and greater investment in the country. Lee has prioritized making South Korea one of the world's top three AI powerhouses and is actively promoting policies to foster related industries. Recently, Altman met with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink in New York, where he expressed his vision of making South Korea the AI hub of the Asia-Pacific region. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-01 08:24:35

Korea unsure about a currency swap tied to trade deal with US-security adviser SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - South Korea is not "optimistic" about securing a currency swap agreement as a safeguard for the pledged $350 billion investment to the United States, according to Seoul's top security official, who nevertheless expected a trade deal to lower tariffs for Korean exports to eventually come through. "Our government has suggested a currency swap line, but it will not be easy, given precedent in how the U.S. has handled such arrangements," National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told local reporters Monday. Wi emphasized that a currency swap alone cannot not resolve all issues as "sufficient conditions" must be met for a deal to be finalized. He was referring to the stalemated negotiations between Seoul and Washington over the Korean proposed $350 billion investment in return for the lowering of tariffs on Korean goods from 25 percent to 15 percent. U.S. President Donald Trump demanded Seoul to provide the funds "up front", which Seoul resists in fear of stoking a financial crisis as such bulky outlay amounts to 80 percent of the country's foreign exchange reserve. The U.S. dollar has been hovering above 1,400 won amid the concerns. South Korea last drew a temporary currency swap lines with the U.S. during the 2008 global financial crisis and 2020 pandemic. The former career diplomat however said he was "not that pessimistic" about an eventual deal, expressing hope for a momentum during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in South Korea. On defense matters, Wi said Seoul and Washington have "reached equilibrium" on security package that includes Korea's increase in defense spending and revisions to a nuclear pact. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-30 09:14:53

Lee travels to Busan for talks with outgoing Japanese PM SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is holding talks with outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Busan on Tuesday. The two leaders will discuss expanding cooperation in areas such as declining population and regional development as well as advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and hydrogen energy. Although not on the official agenda, South Korea's stalled tariff negotiations with the U.S. are also likely to be discussed, given that Japan has already concluded its own talks with Washington. Tuesday's meeting marks their third, after they first met at the G7 summit in Canada in mid-June, followed by another meeting in Tokyo late last month. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-09-30 08:34:36