Korea's top business lobby ties economic recovery to green growth SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - South Korea’s most powerful business lobby urged the government Thursday to pair consumer stimulus with an ambitious green transition as the country struggles with sluggish growth and rising climate pressures. The Federation of Korean Industries, which represents the country’s largest conglomerates, presented a seven-point “renewal” strategy that it said could both spur household consumption and advance the nation’s carbon neutrality goals. The initiative borrows from China’s trade-in policies, which encourage consumers to replace outdated goods with cash rebates for newer, more efficient products. The plan underscores growing pressure on policymakers to find ways of jump-starting Asia’s fourth-largest economy, which has been buffeted by weak consumer spending, global trade frictions and the costs of a low-carbon transition. The proposals cover a wide range of sectors: transforming homes into high-efficiency “smart” dwellings, accelerating the shift to green mobility, overhauling aging infrastructure, upgrading artificial intelligence systems, and expanding cultural and residential development. Much of the plan hinges on large-scale replacement of old vehicles and appliances. The federation called for scrappage subsidies to retire internal combustion cars and broadened incentives for electric and hydrogen vehicles, including tax breaks and direct subsidies. It also urged the government to extend programs that support energy-efficient appliances and expand eligibility for consumers. On the industrial front, the group recommended greater support for “smart green” industrial complexes and new carbon-reduction incentives to speed companies’ environmental transitions. For housing, it pushed for easing regulations on reconstruction projects and loosening floor-area restrictions to make green remodeling more attractive to private developers. “The seven tasks proposed by FKI serve as a roadmap to inject vitality into the stagnant economy and secure future growth engines,” said Lee Sang-ho, head of the federation’s economic and industrial research department. “The government needs to actively consider this as a means to improve Korea’s economic fundamentals by enhancing productivity across all sectors.” 2025-09-04 16:15:41

South Korea finds lifeline in Southeast Asia as US tariffs weigh on exports SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - South Korea’s exports to Southeast Asia surged in August, offsetting declines in shipments to the United States as Washington’s trade barriers increasingly disrupt bilateral flows. Exports to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations rose 12 percent from a year earlier to a record $10.89 billion, the trade ministry said Thursday. It was the third consecutive month of growth to the bloc, which has become an increasingly vital market for Korean manufacturers. For the second month in a row, exports to ASEAN outpaced those to the United States, a shift last seen in late 2023. U.S.-bound shipments tumbled 12 percent, the sharpest fall this year, while exports to China slipped 2.9 percent. Semiconductors led the rebound in Southeast Asia, with sales up 47 percent to $2.7 billion, fueled by investments in artificial intelligence and data centers. Shipments of vessels soared nearly 360 percent, while oil products rose 16 percent and petrochemicals 13 percent, though pricing pressure from Chinese competitors tempered gains. South Korean conglomerates are also deepening their footprint in the region. Hyundai Motor and steelmaker POSCO are building new factories and export hubs in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, underscoring ASEAN’s growing role in Korea’s global supply chain strategy. Economists say the region could soon eclipse both the United States and China as South Korea’s most dynamic export market, driven by its young demographics, expanding middle class and rapid digital transformation. Still, risks loom. Chinese imports to five major ASEAN economies grew 6 percent between 2021 and 2024, compared with just 0.1 percent for Korean goods, according to a recent trade agency report. And much of Korea’s export strength remains tied to semiconductors, many of which are shipped to Vietnam for packaging and testing before being re-exported to the United States — a structure that leaves Korean trade exposed to geopolitical tensions. 2025-09-04 16:08:37

KAIST and LG Energy Solution develop EV battery capable of charging in 12 minutes and driving 800km SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - A joint team of researchers in South Korea has developed a powerful new battery that can charge in just 12 minutes and allow electric vehicles to drive up to 800 kilometers on a single charge. This new battery's performance also lasts for over 300,000 kilometers and could help solve some of the biggest problems in the EV industry. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said on Thursday that a research team led by Professor Kim Hee-tak from KAIST's Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering worked together with South Korean battery maker LG Energy Solution through their joint lab, the Frontier Research Laboratory (FRL). Together, they created a special liquid electrolyte that makes lithium metal batteries work better, charge faster, and last longer. This new kind of battery replaces the graphite used in regular lithium-ion batteries with pure lithium metal. Lithium metal has the potential to hold more energy, but it also has a serious problem. During charging, tiny tree-shaped crystals called dendrites can grow on the battery’s surface. These dendrites can cause the battery to short-circuit, especially during fast charging, making the battery unsafe or unreliable. Until now, it has been very difficult to prevent dendrites from forming. But the KAIST-LG research team found the cause: uneven chemical reactions happening on the surface of the lithium metal. They designed a new liquid electrolyte that fixes this problem by keeping the surface reactions more balanced. This new electrolyte uses negatively charged ions that do not easily stick to lithium ions. Because of this, the battery surface stays smooth and even, which stops dendrites from forming. As a result, the battery can handle fast charging without becoming unstable or dangerous. The researchers tested their battery by charging and discharging it many times at high speed. Even at a high charging rate of 4C (which equals 8.4 milliamps per square centimeter), the battery performed well for more than 350 cycles. It was able to go from 5 percent to 70 percent charge in under 12 minutes. In another test using a high-energy design with 386 watt-hours per kilogram, the battery reached 80 percent charge in just 17 minutes over 180 cycles. "This study is a major step forward," said Professor Kim. "We were able to solve one of the toughest problems in lithium metal batteries by understanding how the surface reacts. With this, we have moved past a key barrier to using lithium metal batteries in electric vehicles." Kim Jae-young, Chief Technology Officer at LG Energy Solution, said, "Our collaboration with KAIST over the last four years through FRL is producing real results. We will continue working together to solve difficult technical challenges and lead the next generation of battery technologies." The research was published on September 3, 2025, in Nature Energy, one of the highest-ranked scientific journals in the world. The first author of the paper is Dr. Kwon Hyuk-jin, a researcher in KAIST’s Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering. This research was carried out at the Frontier Research Laboratory, a joint center created by KAIST and LG Energy Solution in 2021 to focus on next-generation lithium metal battery technologies.` 2025-09-04 15:04:07

Trump calls Beijing parade 'impressive,' mentions Kim and Putin SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - United States President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was "very surprised" that Chinese President Xi Jinping did not highlight America’s role in World War II during a speech at a military parade in Beijing. "I watched the speech last night. President Xi is a friend of mine," Trump told reporters at the White House as he met with Polish President Karol Nawrocki. "I thought that the United States should have been mentioned last night during that speech, because we helped China very, very much." China staged the parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, with Xi flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Before a crowd of more than 50,000, Xi thanked "the foreign governments and international friends who supported and assisted the Chinese people," according to an official account, but he did not specifically mention the U.S. Trump also praised the event. "I thought it was a beautiful ceremony. I thought it was very, very impressive," he said. "But I understood the reason they were doing it, and they were hoping I was watching, and I was watching." On Truth Social the previous day, Trump had asked whether Xi would note the "massive amount of support and blood" given by the U.S. during the conflict. "Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory," he wrote. "I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice!" The president emphasized his ties with the three leaders in Beijing. "My relationship with all of them is very good," he said. "We’re going to find out how good it is over the next week or two." In another post, Trump wrote to Xi, "Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America." 2025-09-04 14:32:20

Russian envoy underscores Soviet role in Korea's liberation at Seoul exhibition SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - The Russian Embassy in South Korea opened an exhibition in Seoul on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of the Korean Peninsula. The event, titled "Remembering the Liberation of the Korean Peninsula," is being held at Gallery Kartina and runs through September 26. Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev used his welcome remarks to highlight what he called the decisive role of the Soviet Union in Japan's defeat. "Soviet operations dismantled Japan's defense within Korea and, though the Red Army stopped at the 38th parallel under agreement with the United States, its contribution was decisive," he said. "Soviet casualties in Korea numbered over 1,900." He contrasted the Soviet campaign with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. "Unlike the bombings, which had no real military significance and caused countless civilian deaths, the Red Army crushed the largest Japanese group on the continent and destroyed its military-industrial base," he said. "It also shut down Japan's programs for mass destruction weapons, particularly biological weapons, saving millions of lives." Former South Korean Ambassador to Russia Woo Yoon-keun also spoke at the opening. "Korea's liberation was primarily the result of the Korean people's long struggle," he said. "But Russian territory was a base for our independence fighters, and the Soviet Union's role has often been minimized while the contribution of the United States has been overstated. I hope this exhibition helps set the record straight." Woo, a former Democratic Party floor leader, described the effort to strengthen ties with Russia as consistent across administrations. "From President Kim Dae-jung through Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in and now Lee Jae Myung, our governments have pursued engagement with Russia and the northern region," he said. He also noted former President Roh Tae-woo's role in opening ties, saying he respected that contribution despite being from another political camp. Calling the modest exhibition space "symbolic," Woo added, "There is a saying that when a small space is filled, blessings come. Seeing so many gathered here makes me feel that South Korea–Russia relations will also be blessed." The event takes place at a time when ties between South Korea and Russia remain strained. Seoul has joined Western sanctions over Russia's 2022 attack on Ukraine, restricting technology exports and financial flows. At the same time, Moscow continues to look eastward for partners, deepening cooperation with North Korea, including a security treaty signed in 2024 and infrastructure projects such as a road bridge across the border. Trade links remain, though they have weakened. Russia was South Korea's tenth-largest export destination before the war in Ukraine, and discussions on a bilateral Economic Partnership Agreement have been on the table since 2019. The exhibition features archival photographs, documents, and records illustrating the Soviet Union's wartime campaign in Asia and its role in dismantling Japan's colonial rule on the peninsula. 2025-09-04 13:30:27

[[K-Culture]] S. Korean Tony-winning musical 'Maybe Happy Ending' to hit theaters next month SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) - South Korean musical "Maybe Happy Ending," which swept six awards at this year's Tony Awards in the U.S., is set to be released as a film in theaters next month, its distributor said Wednesday. Kino Films, the film's distributor, said the it will premiere exclusively at the multi-screen chain Megabox nationwide from October 2. Written by South Korean lyricist Hue Park and composed by American composer Will Aronson, the musical debuted in a 300-seat theater in Seoul in 2016 before moving to Broadway last year, where it claimed six Tony Awards, including the top honor of Best Musical. Maybe Happy Ending depicts a story about two robots who fall in love after being thrown away by humans. In a recent media interview, Park recalled how the musical was conceived. After briefly working as a lyricist in South Korea, he went to New York University to study visual arts, where he was introduced to Anderson by a mutual friend. Park said the story was inspired by personal hardships, including a breakup and the death of a close friend. Around that time, he heard Damon Albarn’s song “Everyday Robots” at a Brooklyn café, which compares lonely modern people to robots. The song sparked the idea of writing a love story about robots rediscovering forgotten human values. The film reunites South Korean actors Shin Joo-hyeop and Kang Hye-in, who starred in the 2018 stage production in Seoul, as the lead characters Oliver and Claire. Veteran actor Yoo Jun-sang joins as James, Oliver’s former owner, under the direction of Lee Won-hoe. Meanwhile, the musical is set to embark on a North American tour next June, starting at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore before traveling to more than 30 cities. 2025-09-04 11:32:50

Kim, Putin vow to boost ties in Beijing summit SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in Beijing on Wednesday, pledging to strengthen their partnership and voicing support for each other's strategic priorities, Pyongyang's state media reported Thursday. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim and Putin discussed "long-term plans for cooperation" in detail and "reaffirmed their steadfast will to continue to lead the bilateral relations to a high level." The summit took place at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse after China's "Victory Day" celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The two leaders also exchanged views on "important international and regional issues" in what KCNA described as "comradely and friendly atmosphere." Putin praised "bravery and heroism" of North Korean troops deployed to the Kursk region amid the war in Ukraine, saying the "relations between the two countries are special ones of trust, friendship and alliance." He also asked Kim to "convey the warmest greetings" to North Korean people. Kim, in return, said Pyongyang would "fully support the struggle of the Russian government, army and people for defending the national sovereignty, territorial integrity and security interests." He pledged North Korea "remain faithful to the implementation" of the bilateral treaty signed in June 2024, which includes a mutual-defense clause. Putin again invited Kim to visit Russia, though the state media made no reference to it. The summit followed a rare joint appearance by Kim, Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who stood side by side on Tiananmen during the massive military parade. The display was widely viewed as symbolizing a deepening geopolitical divide, with China, North Korea, and Russia agon one side and Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. on the other. KCNA, in a separate report, said Kim took part in Beijing's celebrations, where he greeted Xi, met with war veterans and attended a state reception. With the North Korea–Russia summit wrapped up after the parade, attention is now turning to when Kim might sit down with Xi. 2025-09-04 11:17:28

US patent firm alleges LCD patent infringement by LG Electronics SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - A U.S. intellectual property management company has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission, accusing LG Electronics and several other television manufacturers of infringing patents covering liquid crystal display (LCD) technology. BH Innovations LLC named South Korea’s LG, China’s Hisense and TCL, and U.S.-based Vizio as respondents in the case, according to data released Thursday by the patent information platform RPX. The company alleges the manufacturers violated Section 337 of the Tariff Act by importing products that use LCD panels covered by its patents. The firm is seeking an import ban on televisions and other products that incorporate the disputed technology. In a notice published in the Federal Register, the commission invited public comments on how a potential ban might affect U.S. health, welfare, competitive conditions and consumer access to similar goods. The ITC also asked whether BH Innovations or third-party suppliers would have the capacity to meet demand should imports from the named companies be blocked. BH Innovations is described by analysts as a patent assertion entity — sometimes called a “patent troll” — that acquires or licenses intellectual property and pursues litigation against large manufacturers, typically aiming to secure licensing fees or trade restrictions. Such disputes are common in the consumer electronics industry, where control of component patents can shape supply chains and market access. The ITC has not yet ruled on whether it will initiate a formal investigation. 2025-09-04 11:09:23

Nongshim taps Netflix hit 'KPop Demon Hunters' to rival Samyang SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) - Nongshim, South Korea’s largest instant noodle maker, has teamed up with the hit Netflix animation "KPop Demon Hunters" in a bid to challenge Samyang Foods, whose fiery Buldak noodles have become a global social media sensation. The collaboration places characters from the series on packaging for Nongshim’s flagship Shin Ramyun and Shrimp Crackers. The show, which has been streamed more than 260 million times worldwide, prominently depicts cup noodles resembling Nongshim products — a link the company seized on to create what it calls a “natural synergy.” Nongshim also released special edition Shin Ramyun cups featuring designs seen in the series, with three versions highlighting the protagonists Rumi, Mira and Zoey. The move underscores intensifying competition in the $50 billion global instant noodle market, where Samyang has built a cult following with its hyper-spicy Buldak line, propelled by online “fire noodle” challenges and celebrity endorsements. Analysts see Nongshim’s foray into entertainment tie-ins as a creative counteroffensive aimed at younger consumers. The strategy comes as the company faces sluggish earnings. In the second quarter, Nongshim reported consolidated revenue of 867.7 billion won, a modest 0.8 percent increase, while operating profit slipped 8.1 percent to 40.2 billion won. “We expect recovery in North American operations in the second half, with price increases of about 10 percent implemented in July having a positive impact on third-quarter results,” said Shim Eun-joo, an analyst at Hana Securities. Investors appear encouraged by the brand’s pop culture play. Since the partnership was announced on Aug. 20, Nongshim shares have surged about 19 percent. 2025-09-04 11:00:14

From Beijing startup to global powerhouse: China's ByteDance rewrites rules of social media Editor's Note: This article is the 34th installment in our series on Asia's top 100 companies, exploring the strategies, challenges, and innovations driving the region's most influential corporations. SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - When Zhang Yiming founded ByteDance in a modest Beijing apartment in 2012, his goal was deceptively simple: build software that could serve people the information they didn’t know they wanted. A decade later, his company has become the world’s most powerful social media empire, eclipsing even Silicon Valley’s titans. In the second quarter of 2025, ByteDance’s revenue surged to $48 billion, outpacing Meta’s $42.3 billion. TikTok, its short-video app born out of the $800 million acquisition of Musical.ly, now commands more than 1.6 billion monthly users and has redefined how people, especially young ones, spend their time online. The company’s valuation, bolstered by employee share buybacks, has swelled to more than $330 billion. ByteDance’s rise has been fueled by an uncanny ability to predict — and shape — what people want to watch. Its AI-powered recommendation engine, endlessly feeding users with tailored clips, has been hailed as one of the most sophisticated algorithms in tech. For many, TikTok is not just another app but a cultural engine: a place where pop songs take off, comedians launch careers, and political debates are reframed in seconds-long bursts. Yet the company’s ascent has also thrust it into the center of geopolitical fault lines. In Washington, where lawmakers worry that TikTok could be used as a tool of influence by Beijing, Congress passed legislation ordering ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations. U.S. President Donald Trump extended the deadline for a sale to Sept. 17, with investment firms including Susquehanna International Group, General Atlantic and KKR circling as potential buyers. The standoff has cast doubt over TikTok’s future in its most lucrative foreign market. For now, the company is thriving. Its revenues flow from advertising, live commerce, and creator partnerships, with TikTok Shop alone recording $33.4 billion in merchandise sales last year. Chief Executive Shou Zi Chew, who oversees global operations, presides over a sprawling but flat organization that prizes experimentation and data-driven decisions. ByteDance is also looking beyond social media. The company has made forays into education technology, enterprise software, and e-commerce, while pledging to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. It has rolled out youth protection measures and content moderation systems, even as critics say they do little to blunt the addictive pull of its apps. The story of ByteDance is, in many ways, the story of a new era of the internet — one where Chinese companies are no longer content to imitate Silicon Valley but are setting the pace of global innovation. From Zhang’s original news aggregation app Toutiao to TikTok’s global dominance, ByteDance has shown that a Chinese startup can capture the world’s attention, and hold it. As the Sept. 17 divestment deadline looms, the company’s future in the United States hangs in the balance. Whether it emerges as a fractured giant or a stronger, more globalized enterprise will help define not only ByteDance’s trajectory, but also the future of social media itself. 2025-09-04 10:50:01