BLACKPINK to unveil new song at upcoming concert in Goyang SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - K-pop girl group BLACKPINK will perform their new song for the first time during their upcoming concert at Goyang, north of Seoul, during the four-member band's two-day concert schedule in early July, YG Entertainment said Monday. "There were many discussions on how to showcase the new song," YG said in a statement. "We decided to unveil it at the concert in Goyang as it marks the beginning of their world tour." Starting in Goyang next month, BLACKPINK will embark on a world tour spanning 31 shows across 16 cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Tokyo, and Toronto. Excluding "The Girls," released as an original soundtrack (OST) for the smartphone game "BLACKPINK THE GAME" released in 2023, the upcoming track marks BLACKPINK’s first new release in nearly two years and eight months since their second full-length album "BORN PINK," released in September 2022. The members recently filmed the music video for the new song in South Korea. YG added that more details about the song's release date will be announced soon. 2025-06-24 14:56:43

US expands tariffs on steel-based appliances, raising stakes for Korean firms SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - The Trump administration has expanded tariffs on steel-derived goods to include a wide range of major home appliances, a move expected to heighten costs for foreign manufacturers and potentially ripple through U.S. retail prices. The new measures, announced by the Commerce Department this month and taking effect Monday, target appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, washing machines, cooking stoves and garbage disposals. The tariffs will be assessed based on each product’s steel content, a calculation designed to incentivize domestic sourcing of steel and reduce dependency on imports. The move poses a fresh challenge for South Korea’s Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, two of the largest appliance exporters to the United States. Analysts warn the expanded duties could erode the price competitiveness of Korean brands in an already fragile consumer market. The action echoes a similar policy from 2018, when tariffs on imported washing machines — initially set at 20 percent and rising to 50 percent — were imposed following a petition by Whirlpool. Those duties were credited with pushing washing machine prices up by about 20 percent by mid-2018. From February 2018 through February 2023, washing equipment prices climbed 34 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The broader implications for global supply chains — and South Korea’s tech giants in particular — remain unclear. Samsung and LG have both expanded manufacturing operations within the U.S. in recent years, but they continue to rely on global sourcing for parts and components. 2025-06-24 14:27:40

Visa hurdles threaten operations at Korean battery plants in US SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - South Korea’s major battery makers are facing mounting obstacles in operating their U.S.-based plants, as tightening American entry regulations delay the dispatch of skilled workers. LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On have all experienced repeated denials or prolonged delays in sending technicians to their American factories, according to industry sources. The difficulties stem from what companies describe as a de facto policy shift: U.S. authorities now view the use of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA, for short-term business trips as unauthorized employment, subjecting travelers to heightened scrutiny at the border. These restrictions are creating bottlenecks at a critical moment. Early-stage factory operations, including equipment calibration, quality assurance and technical knowledge transfer, often depend on months of on-site support from experienced engineers. Company officials complain that delays in deploying such personnel could disrupt production timelines, compromise product quality and damage the credibility of Korean manufacturers operating in the United States. They argue that it’s not just a visa issue, but a threat to the entire supply chain. The stakes are particularly high given the role of these U.S. facilities in helping the Korean firms meet local content requirements of the U.S. Those rules tie generous tax incentives to domestic manufacturing thresholds — meaning any operational delays could also jeopardize subsidies for electric vehicle batteries and related components. Alternative visa pathways offer little relief. The H-1B program, typically used for foreign professionals, is capped and allocated via a competitive lottery. The B-1 business visa, meanwhile, often takes months to process — an ill fit for the fast-moving demands of global manufacturing. The affected firms have called for a dedicated visa quota system modeled on arrangements Washington has with close partners such as Singapore and Australia. They argue that such a framework should be established under the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement to reflect the scale and strategic importance of bilateral industrial cooperation. South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is in active talks with the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and consular officials across the United States. The government is also pushing for passage of the “Partner with Korea Act,” a bill in the U.S. Congress that would create a Korea-specific professional visa category aimed at easing cross-border business operations. For now, battery makers are scrambling to work around the constraints — juggling travel plans, appealing denials, and seeking emergency visas wherever possible. But they say the long-term solution must come through policy change, not improvisation. 2025-06-24 10:38:33

Lee calls for emergency readiness amid escalating Middle East tensions SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Monday called on all ministries to maintain emergency readiness amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East after U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites over the weekend. During his first meeting with senior aides at the presidential office in Yongsan since taking office earlier this month, Lee Jae-myung urged them to do their "utmost to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals" in the region. His remarks came after the U.S. military's overnight operation last Saturday, dubbed "Midnight Hammer," which struck three Iranian nuclear sites including a secret underground uranium enrichment facility in a remote mountainous area near Tehran using powerful "bunker-buster" bombs for the first time. Lee said, "Thorough measures must be taken to ensure the safety of South Koreans in the region," adding that funds from the supplementary budget he signed off last week could be allocated, if necessary, to "urgently" evacuate them and implement any other measures. Amid the heightened military tensions triggered by Israel's surprise attack on Iran on June 13, which led to retaliatory strikes, the South Korean government has begun evacuating South Korean nationals from the region. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, around 56 South Koreans and their family members have so far been evacuated from Iran by land to Turkmenistan. Another 26 have been evacuated from Israel to Jordan. Currently, around 70 South Koreans still remain in Iran, while about 460 are in Israel. 2025-06-23 17:55:52

HD Hyundai partners with US firm to construct commercial vessels in US SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - HD Hyundai has signed a strategic partnership with American marine services company Edison Chouest Offshore to jointly construct commercial vessels in the United States, HD Hyundai said Monday. The agreement, signed in New Orleans, Louisiana, marks HD Hyundai’s latest move to expand its footprint in the U.S. shipbuilding market. Under the deal, the two companies plan to begin building medium-sized liquefied natural gas dual-fuel container ships at Edison Chouest’s facilities by 2028. HD Hyundai will contribute vessel design, construction technology, and some manufacturing support. The company will also supply ship blocks and oversee equipment procurement. Edison Chouest, based in Louisiana, operates five commercial shipyards and is a dominant player in the offshore support vessel sector, with a fleet of roughly 300 ships built and operated in-house. However, it has limited experience in the construction of commercial vessels like container ships — an area where HD Hyundai is a global leader. The partnership brings together the complementary strengths of the two firms: Hyundai’s technological prowess and Edison Chouest’s U.S. manufacturing base. Officials said the alliance will support Hyundai’s long-term goal of entering the American shipbuilding market while helping Edison Chouest diversify into new vessel types. The companies also signaled plans to explore future cooperation in related sectors, including port crane operations — an area considered strategically sensitive due to its implications for national security. 2025-06-23 16:40:27

Lee taps dozen nominees for ministerial posts SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Monday named a dozen new ministers to fill posts in his Cabinet. At a press briefing, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik said the nominees were selected "based on their expertise and experience" in line with Lee's pragmatic approach that emphasizes skills and performance. Among the picks included Ahn Gyu-baek, a five-term lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party (DP), who was nominated as defense minister. Once approved, Ahn is expected to become the first civilian to lead the ministry since 1961, when former strongman Park Chung-hee seized power through a military coup. Former unification minister Chung Dong-young was nominated to return to the role. Kang stressed Chung's peace-oriented philosophy and his ability to facilitate dialogue with North Korea while easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Former first vice foreign minister Cho Hyun was named foreign minister, while Kim Young-hoon, who led the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions was nominated as labor minister. Baek Kyung-hoon, head of LG AI Research, was nominated as science minister and Han Seong-sook, former Naver CEO, as minister for SMEs and Startups. Both are expected to bring private-sector experience in digital innovation to enhance the country's tech competitiveness. Other nominees include DP lawmaker Kim Sung-hwan as environment minister, Jun Jae-soo as oceans and fisheries minister, and Kang Sun-woo as minister of gender equality and family. Former lawmaker Kwon Oh-eul was named minister of patriots and veterans affairs. In a rare move, Song Mi-ryeong, the incumbent agriculture minister from the previous administration, will remain in her post. 2025-06-23 16:39:35

Lee's first bilateral summit with Washington unlikely anytime soon as he skips NATO trip SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - As President Lee Jae-myung opted to skip the NATO summit scheduled for early this week in the Hague, Netherlands, attention now shifts to when he will hold his first bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Initially, it was expected that the two leaders would hold their first meeting either on the sidelines of last week's Group of Seven (G7) summit in Canada or this week's NATO summit. "Lee had considered attending the NATO summit, but he decided to skip it this time in consideration of various factors including internal affairs and other pressing issues amid the escalating situation in the Middle East," presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung said on Sunday. Lee, who took office earlier this month, already faces numerous tasks while still in the process of forming his cabinet and appointing key aides, as he had no time to spare for a full transition period, because he was elected to replace former disgraced President Yoon Suk Yeol after the Constitutional Court of Korea's ruling in April to impeach him over his botched martial law debacle late last year. The ongoing deadly conflict between Iran and Israel, which could negatively impact the country's security and economy, made him even more busy as he needs to closely to monitor the situation and comes up with relevant measures. Amid the U.S.' overnight military operation over the weekend dubbed "Midnight Hammer," which struck three Iranian nuclear sites including a secret underground uranium enrichment facility in a remote mountainous area near Tehran using powerful "bunker-buster" bombs for the first time, uncertainty also looms over Trump's participation in the NATO summit. This development led Lee to forgo his trip to the European country, as he would once again be unable to sit down with Trump, after their planned meeting in Canada fell through last week due to his early departure. During their first phone conversation shortly after Lee's inauguration, the two leaders agreed to meet as soon as possible, either on the sidelines of a multilateral gathering or through a bilateral visit. However, with current domestic and international circumstances not permitting, it is unlikely that Lee will visit Washington soon, although Seoul aims to hold a summit no later than August to avoid excessive delays in coordination between the two allies. If current domestic and international circumstances linger, their first meeting may instead take place on the sidelines of the high-level session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York in September or at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for the country's southern historic city of Gyeongju at the end of October. Meanwhile, there are fears that the U.S. could resort to similar strikes against North Korea if future denuclearization talks with the renegade country fail, although many experts believe that is unlikely, as Pyongyang reportedly has about 50 nuclear warheads, which can be mounted on intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. 2025-06-23 15:53:58

Hanwha Systems to cooperate with Northrop Grumman on air, missile defense system SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - South Korean defense company Hanwha Systems has signed a memorandum of understanding with Northrop Grumman of the United States to jointly develop technologies for Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) systems, Hanwha said Monday. The agreement aims to combine Northrop Grumman’s globally deployed Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) with Hanwha’s expertise in command-and-control systems. The two firms plan to cooperate on both domestic and international defense programs, seeking to address the growing complexity of modern aerial threats. The partnership comes as global demand for air defense solutions surges, fueled by the rising use of ballistic missiles, drones and long-range artillery in conflicts from Ukraine to the Middle East. Northrop Grumman’s IBCS integrates sensors and weapons systems across air, land and sea domains, enabling real-time information sharing and coordinated responses to airborne threats. The system is currently being deployed in the United States and Europe. Hanwha Systems brings to the table its experience in developing South Korea’s key command infrastructure. The company is also a major provider of multifunction radar technologies for layered defense. Park Sung-kyun, who leads the Defense Electronics Division at Hanwha Systems, said the company is embracing bold changes as it seeks to evolve into a global defense leader. “We will continue to actively develop cutting-edge weapons systems driven by innovative technology,” he said. 2025-06-23 15:18:46

ATEEZ's latest album debuts at No. 2 on Billboard 200 SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - K-pop boy band ATEEZ's latest album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 for the week ending this Saturday. According to Billboard on Sunday, the octet notched "their seventh top 10" entry on the U.S. main albums chart with "Golden Hour: Part 3," the third in the series, about a week after its release on June 13. With 105,000 copies sold in the U.S., the album ranked just behind American country singer Morgan Wallen's "I'm the Problem," which held the top spot for a fifth consecutive week. With the latest feat, ATEEZ have now placed seven albums in the top 10 of the chart including their previous "Golden Hour" series, which reached No. 1 in November last year as well as their first chart-topper "The World EP. Fin: Will" in December 2023. Meanwhile, they will hold a concert in Incheon, Gyeonggi Province next month, kicking off their world tour, which includes stops in Los Angeles, New York, and Tokyo. 2025-06-23 14:59:17

Mideast tensions jolt financial markets SEOUL, June 23 (AJP) - South Korea’s main stock index dropped below the 3,000-point threshold on Monday as rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East unsettled global financial markets and triggered a sharp sell-off by foreign investors. The benchmark KOSPI fell 30.71 points, or 1.02 percent, to 2,991.13 as of 10:31 a.m. in Seoul, slipping back below the key psychological level it had reclaimed on June 20 for the first time in more than three years. The decline came in the wake of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, marking a dramatic escalation in the simmering conflict between Washington and Tehran. The strikes — authorized by U.S. President Donald Trump just days after issuing an ultimatum to Iran — prompted fears of broader regional instability and energy supply disruptions. Foreign investors were at the forefront of Monday’s sell-off, dumping 358.4 billion won, or about $260 million, worth of shares. Institutional investors followed suit, offloading 522.5 billion won. Currency markets also reflected the growing unease. The South Korean won weakened sharply, rising 6.5 won, or 0.47 percent, to 1,383.0 per dollar as of 10:47 a.m. The won had opened 9.4 won higher at 1,375.0, extending losses as investors sought refuge in dollar-denominated assets. Global energy markets were quick to react to the turmoil. West Texas Intermediate crude futures for August delivery jumped 2.60 percent to $75.76 per barrel, driven by fears that Iran’s retaliatory move to close the Strait of Hormuz — a vital conduit for global oil shipments — could choke off supplies. The renewed volatility underscores South Korea’s economic vulnerability to geopolitical shocks, particularly those threatening the flow of Middle Eastern oil, which accounts for a significant portion of the country’s energy imports. Analysts warn that sustained disruption in the region could ripple through the broader economy, weighing on corporate earnings, consumer sentiment, and inflation. 2025-06-23 14:00:13