Kazakhstan showcases exports at Korea Import Fair 2025 in Seoul SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - Kazakhstan highlighted its national products and services at the Korea Import Fair 2025, held in Seoul from July 7 to 9, as part of efforts to deepen trade relations with South Korea. The Kazakhstan Embassy in the Republic of Korea said that the event was hosted by the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), with support from South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). More than 200 companies from 40 countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa participated. Kazakhstan's booth featured services from national carriers Air Astana and Scat Airlines, along with consumer goods such as Maximus products and chocolate by Lotte Rakhat. The booth attracted several hundred visitors, and a number of South Korean companies expressed interest in possible cooperation with Kazakh businesses. In her opening remarks, KOIMA Chairperson Youn Young-mi stressed the importance of expanding imports from friendly countries. "This exhibition gives foreign companies a unique opportunity to present their products in Korea and connect with potential partners," she said. Kazakhstan's Ambassador to South Korea Nurgali Arystanov toured the exhibition alongside Youn and National Assembly member Seo Il-jun. The three visited the Kazakh display and exchanged views on expanding bilateral trade. In 2024, trade volume between Kazakhstan and South Korea reached 3.1 billion US dollars, making South Korea one of Kazakhstan's top ten trading partners. 2025-07-13 17:44:33

KAIST team develops microbe for efficient, eco-friendly lutein production SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - A research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has developed a safe, high-yield microbial strain capable of producing lutein more efficiently than conventional methods. The new approach provides an eco-friendly and scalable alternative to plant or algae-based extraction, which is often slow, costly, and difficult to industrialize. KAIST said in a statement on July 13, that the study led by Distinguished Professor Lee Sang -yup of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering was published in the journal Nature Synthesis on July 4. It demonstrates the potential of microbial metabolic engineering to mass-produce valuable health-related compounds using sustainable processes. Lutein is an antioxidant known for its benefits to eye health, particularly in preventing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. It is typically extracted from marigolds or microalgae, but these sources present limitations, including low yield and seasonal variability. To overcome these challenges, the KAIST team focused on Corynebacterium glutamicum, a microorganism widely recognized as safe for food and pharmaceutical use. By modifying the strain's internal metabolic pathways and applying a technique known as electron channeling, the researchers accelerated the chemical reactions needed to produce lutein. By optimizing enzyme arrangement and enhancing electron transfer, they achieved a production rate of 1.78 grams per liter in just 54 hours. That translates to an average of 32.88 milligrams per liter per hour, significantly outperforming conventional extraction methods. "This research overcomes the production bottlenecks in microbial lutein synthesis and establishes a competitive, eco-friendly process," said Eun Hyun-min, a doctoral student and co-first author of the paper. "We expect this to help accelerate the practical use of microbial platforms for producing various natural compounds." The team used glucose, a common and renewable sugar source, to feed the microbe. This not only enhances production efficiency but also supports a more sustainable manufacturing process. The researchers also employed spatial enzyme engineering techniques, arranging enzymes in close proximity within the cell to boost reaction speed and output. "Microbial metabolic engineering is emerging as a next-generation strategy that goes beyond traditional plant-based or chemical synthesis," said Professor Lee. "We will continue researching ways to produce high-value natural substances more efficiently using microorganisms." The work was funded by South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT as part of a national initiative to develop next-generation bio-refinery technologies. The technology is expected to be commercialized by SilicoBio, a startup founded by Professor Lee. 2025-07-13 15:42:51

N. Korean leader meets Russian foreign minister, reaffirms deepening ties with Moscow SEOUL, July 13 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday in Wonsan, reinforcing a growing partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow amid heightened global tensions, Pyongyang's state media the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday. Lavrov's visit, which followed the second foreign ministerial strategic dialogue between the two countries, was marked by a show of unity on key international and regional issues. During the meeting, Kim said North Korea and Russia "share the same views on all strategic issues," describing their relationship as having reached a "high strategic level." Before the meeting, Kim was briefed on the outcome of Lavrov’s talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui. He expressed confidence that the "coordinated and harmonious diplomatic stands" of the two countries would contribute positively to peace and security in the region and beyond. Kim also voiced full support for Russia’s handling of the war in Ukraine. "We are ready to unconditionally support and encourage all the measures taken by the Russian leadership as regards the tackling of the root cause of the Ukrainian crisis," he said. Lavrov, delivering a personal message from Russian President Vladimir Putin, stressed Moscow's commitment to strengthening "strategic and tactical cooperation" with North Korea and deepening coordination on the global stage. Although neither side announced a new summit, Russian media reported that Lavrov conveyed Putin’s message expressing hope for a direct meeting with Kim "in the very near future." The Russian president had extended an invitation during his visit to Pyongyang in June 2024. North Korean state media also released a joint statement on the second strategic dialogue, which reaffirmed the two governments' commitment to their comprehensive strategic partnership treaty. Both sides agreed to implement its provisions "faithfully" and continue developing what they called a long-term strategic alliance. Russia also made its position clear on the Korean Peninsula, rejecting any attempts to undermine North Korea’s status and expressing "unwavering support" for Pyongyang's efforts to protect its sovereignty and national security. The two countries signed a bilateral exchange plan for 2026 and 2027 and agreed to hold further high-level meetings. While the details were not made public, experts believe discussions may have included military cooperation, tourism initiatives, and energy support. Lavrov was welcomed at a banquet held at the newly reopened Songdowon Hotel in the Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone. The event is seen as part of North Korea’s push to attract Russian tourists and rebuild economic links with its longtime ally. 2025-07-13 10:44:04

Naver Webtoon halts popular 'Wind Breaker' series over tracing allegations SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) - Naver Webtoon has suspended its long-running sports webtoon "Wind Breaker" after the creator admitted to tracing scenes from Japanese manga, ending a 12-year serialization that had become one of the platform's flagship titles. Creator Jo Yong-seok acknowledged the plagiarism allegations in the final episode revealed on Friday, confessing that some scenes in his work bore striking similarities to other comic book images. The webtoon, which follows a protagonist's journey through amateur bicycle racing competitions, had been running since 2013. Jo attributed his actions to the pressure of weekly deadlines spanning over a decade. He expressed deep regret for failing to uphold the standards expected of creators, offering repeated apologies to readers who had followed the series faithfully. Naver Webtoon confirmed it had identified similarities in composition and directing between "Wind Breaker" and other works, prompting the decision to halt both serialization and service of the webtoon immediately. The suspension marks another blow to the webtoon industry, which has grappled with recurring plagiarism scandals. Naver Webtoon faced similar controversies in 2023 with titles including "I want to date a girl" and "Can I Cancel My Confession" Critics have pointed to the platform's inconsistent approach to handling such incidents. While previous plagiarism cases prompted official announcements, this latest suspension was disclosed quietly at the bottom of the final episode without separate notification. The incident has reignited discussions about quality control measures in the rapidly expanding webtoon market. Naver Webtoon had previously promised to develop detection technology and strengthen monitoring systems following the 2023 plagiarism controversies. 2025-07-12 14:25:59

South Korean companies accelerate China exit amid trade tensions SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) - South Korean companies are rapidly withdrawing from China as regulatory pressures and trade tensions make operations increasingly unprofitable, with major manufacturers joining what was once limited to retail firms. About 40 major South Korean companies have closed or downsized their Chinese operations since 2017, according to the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. The trend has expanded beyond retail to encompass key manufacturing sectors including automotive, steel and petrochemicals. POSCO sold its stainless-steel subsidiary Zhangjiagang Pohang Stainless Steel to a Chinese steel company for about 400 billion won (US$290 million) earlier this month. The facility, established in 1997 to target the Chinese market, was once hailed as "China's POSCO" but has posted annual losses exceeding 100 billion won due to oversupply and price competition. Hyundai Motor's Beijing Hyundai Motor Company joint venture has been shedding assets, selling its Chongqing factory last year, while currently pursuing the sale of its Changzhou plant. Kumho Petrochemical also joined the exodus last year by divesting its entire stake in the SB latex business, a joint venture with a Chinese company. Companies cite sluggish sales in China, intensified competition from local rivals, rising production costs and labor shortages as primary challenges. Beijing Hyundai's revenue plummeted 83.5 percent to 3.31 trillion won last year from 20.13 trillion won in 2016, while Hyundai's China sales dropped to 125,000 units with just 0.6 percent market share. The business environment has deteriorated further since Donald Trump's second administration began, with strengthened sanctions against China creating additional uncertainty, with U.S. tariffs on Chinese products currently standing at 30 percent. South Korea's overseas investment patterns reflect this dramatic shift. Chinese investment, which accounted for 39.1 percent of total foreign direct investment in 2005 at $2.92 billion, has collapsed to just 3 percent last year. Meanwhile, U.S. investment has surged from $7.05 billion in 2015 to $22.29 billion last year, creating an 11.6-fold gap with Chinese investment. The divergence marks a striking reversal from 2010, when the two destinations received similar investment levels. Trump's "Make America Great Again" agenda is expected to accelerate this trend, with POSCO and Hyundai Steel planning an integrated steel mill in Louisiana and LS Cable launching a $750 million subsea cable factory. Hyundai Motor Group also announced plans in March to invest an additional $21 billion in the U.S. over four years. 2025-07-12 13:47:23

US tariff revenue hits record high as trade war escalates SEOUL, July 12 (AJP) - The United States recorded its highest-ever monthly tariff revenue in June, collecting $27.2 billion as the Trump administration's aggressive trade policies continue to reshape federal finances. The figure represents a nearly four-fold increase from the same period last year, according to Treasury Department data released Friday. The surge in tariff income helped push total federal revenue to a record monthly high of $526 billion, up 13 percent from June 2024. Federal spending fell 7 percent to $499 billion, resulting in a monthly budget surplus of $27 billion. However, the Treasury noted that accounting for welfare payment timing adjustments, the government would have faced about a $70 billion deficit. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hailed the results as vindication of President Donald Trump's trade strategy. "As President Trump works hard to take back our nation’s economic sovereignty, today’s monthly Treasury Statement is demonstrating record customs duties – and with no inflation," Bessent wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Tariffs have rapidly emerged as a major revenue source for the federal government, with their share of total tax collection doubling from 2 percent to 5 percent in about four months. The levies now rank as the government's fourth-largest income source, trailing only withheld income taxes, non-withheld income taxes, and corporate taxes. For the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024, tariff revenue reached $113.3 billion over nine months, marking the first time such collections exceeded $100 billion in a fiscal year. The previous record underscored the dramatic shift in U.S. trade policy under the current administration. Trump has signaled further escalation, promising that "big money coming in" when higher reciprocal tariffs take effect from August 1. Bessent predicted during a Cabinet meeting last week that tariff revenue could exceed $300 billion this year. The revenue windfall comes as interest payments on the national debt continue climbing, reaching $921 billion over nine months of the fiscal year, representing a 6 percent increase from the previous year. 2025-07-12 10:59:58

YouTubers shape K-beauty retail in Leferi's latest Select Store pop-up SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - South Korean beauty content company Leferi has launched its fourth Select Store pop-up event, showcasing a curated lineup of Korean cosmetics selected through a sweeping analysis of YouTube beauty content. Running through July 13 at Starfield COEX Mall, Hanam, and Suwon, the Select Store – THE KYEA SELECTION features 21 standout products from 13 brands, including Jung Saem Mool, AHC, and TOKO. What sets this edition apart is its methodology: rather than relying solely on star creators, Leferi utilized its proprietary Beauty Brand Power Index to mine data from more than 15,000 unsponsored YouTube review videos by 929 Korean beauty creators, amassing insights from 553 million views between November 2024 and April 2025. The result, according to Leferi, is a new kind of curation — one based not on paid partnerships or influencer popularity, but on algorithmically assessed product performance across skincare, color cosmetics, and inner beauty supplements. “This is not just another influencer event,” said a Leferi spokesperson. “It’s a retail experience backed by big data and actual viewer engagement.” Leferi has previously hosted similar events featuring star YouTubers like Leo J and Minsko at luxury retail destinations such as The Hyundai Seoul. But this iteration marks a shift toward platform-based authority, blending beauty tech with consumer trust. Still, creators remain central to the experience. Beauty YouTuber Bitnal Young, serving as the event’s "muse," underscored the influence and responsibility that come with her role during a fan meet-and-greet held on Friday. “I have to be very careful because I can’t just recommend any product,” she said in an interview. “When subscribers say that the products I recommended worked well for them, it feels like I’m really having an influence.” Her audience, she added, is primarily women aged 25 to 35 — a key demographic in Korea’s competitive beauty market. The pop-up has also drawn international attention, highlighting the global reach of Korean beauty content. Danya, a 20-year-old visitor from Chicago, browsed the selection after learning about K-beauty through Korean influencers. “I bought a few AHC eye creams — they felt very hydrating and nice,” she said. “Korean brands are huge in the U.S. now.” Positioned as a hybrid between a high-concept retail store and an industry showcase, the Select Store aims to do for beauty what Apple Stores did for tech — or what CES does for product innovation. The event includes creator-led festivals and talk shows designed to foster deeper community engagement. Founded in 2013, Leferi manages a roster of about 800 creators globally and launched the Korea YouTuber’s Excellence Awards to recognize standout content in the beauty space. The company’s touring platform model aims to serve as a new kind of distribution channel — connecting influencers, brands, and consumers in real time and across geographies. 2025-07-11 17:12:59

Lee names picks for remaining two ministerial posts SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Friday tapped candidates to fill the remaining two ministerial posts, completing the nominations for his 19-strong first cabinet. Kim Yun-duk, a three-term lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party (DP), was named to head the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, while Chae Hwi-young, CEO of travel platform Nol Universe, was nominated to lead the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik told reporters in a press briefing. Kang explained that Kim, a close aide to Lee, is expected to "offer a vision for balanced regional development" while tackling various other issues through his expertise in legislation and policymaking and Chae will be also able to contribute to enhancing the country's soft power "based on his extensive experience leading an online portal and founding a travel platform." With the latest nominations, of the 19 ministerial posts, almost half or nine are now filled with incumbent lawmakers from the DP including Prime Minister Kim Min-seok who was officially appointed early this week. Hearings for each ministerial candidate are scheduled for next week, with several nominees already facing criticism over various controversies. These include Lee Jin-sook, nominee for the Ministry of Education; Jeong Eun-kyeong, nominee for the Ministry of Health and Welfare; and Kang Sun-woo, nominee for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. Their allegations range from thesis plagiarism and stock transactions involving potential conflicts of interest to abuse of power such as assigning personal errands and other inappropriate conduct. Unlike the post of prime minister, cabinet appointments do not require parliamentary approval, though nominees are still subject to confirmation hearings in the National Assembly. 2025-07-11 17:04:38

Korea's top yards post triple-digit profit growth SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - South Korea’s top three shipbuilders — HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), Hanwha Ocean, and Samsung Heavy Industries — are projected to post a combined operating profit of more than 2.57 trillion won ($1.86 billion) for the first half of 2025, more than triple the earnings from a year earlier, as the industry rides a wave of high-margin vessel deliveries and growing defense contracts. The projected total marks a 226 percent increase from the 788.5 billion won reported during the same period in 2024, according to estimates compiled by financial data provider FnGuide and industry analysts. For the second quarter alone, the shipbuilders are forecast to earn 1.33 trillion won in operating profit, up 167 percent from the year-earlier quarter. HD KSOE, the intermediate holding company that controls Hyundai Heavy Industries' shipbuilding units, is expected to lead the surge with an estimated 900 billion won in second-quarter profit, a 139 percent jump from a year earlier. For the first half, its operating profit is forecast to reach 1.76 trillion won, up 228 percent. Much of the gain stems from improved margins at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, which posted an operating margin of 11.3 percent in the first quarter and is projected to sustain margins near 12 percent in the second. Industry analysts attribute the rise in profitability to a waning impact from low-margin contracts signed during the industry downturn of 2020–21, which now account for just 2 percent of revenue. Hanwha Ocean, which returned to the black last year after four consecutive years of losses, is poised to post a dramatic turnaround. The company is projected to report an operating profit in the mid-250 billion won range for the second quarter, compared to a loss in the same period last year. Its first-half profit is expected to total about 510 billion won — an increase of more than 1,000 percent year-over-year. Hanwha's recovery is being powered by a portfolio shift toward high-value contracts, including submarine construction and maintenance and overhaul (MRO) work for the U.S. Navy. The company’s operating margin hit 8.2 percent in the first quarter and is expected to remain in the 7-percent range. Samsung Heavy Industries is also expected to show solid results, with a projected first-half operating profit of 298.8 billion won, up 43 percent from a year earlier. The company’s focus on floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) platforms — a segment where it commands a dominant share of the global market — has provided a steady stream of high-margin work. Much of the industry’s recent momentum is rooted in the delivery of high-value vessels, particularly LNG carriers and container ships. HD Hyundai’s current backlog consists of gas carriers making up about 70 percent of its total orders. LNG-related contracts account for more than 60 percent of Hanwha Ocean’s order book. Samsung, for its part, continues to bet heavily on FLNG infrastructure, with demand remaining strong amid a global push for energy security. Korean shipbuilders are also diversifying into defense and offshore energy platforms, adding stability to what has long been a cyclical industry. With the Trump administration preparing to invest in revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding sector, analysts say South Korean firms could see new opportunities emerge in the American commercial and naval markets in the latter half of the year — a development that could open a lucrative new export channel. 2025-07-11 17:01:38

South Korea, Japan and US conduct aerial drill as defense chiefs meet SEOUL, July 11 (AJP) - South Korea conducted a large-scale joint aerial drill with Japan and the United States, the Defense Ministry said on Friday. In a show of readiness against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the exercise was held over waters off the southern resort island of Jeju, involving a U.S. B-52 strategic bomber as well as South Korea's KF-16 and Japan's F-2 fighter jets, according to the ministry. "Through close cooperation, the three countries will continue conducting joint training to deter and respond to threats from North Korea," the ministry said in a press release. Friday's exercise, which came less than a month after a similar drill, coincided with an annual meeting where the top military officers of the three countries gathered in Seoul to discuss ways to strengthen trilateral security cooperation. Earlier in the day, South Korea's Adm. Kim Myung-soo met with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Gen. Dan Caine and Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, at the Trilateral Chiefs of Defense (Tri-CHOD) meeting, which rotates among the three countries and was held in Seoul this year following the previous gathering in Tokyo last July. In the meeting, Kim emphasized the importance of strong trilateral cooperation in the face of "North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats," which pose significant security challenges on the Korean Peninsula. Expressing his agreement, Caine said, "Our focus in the United States remains on reestablishing deterrence, and doing so needs and requires the trilateral cooperation between our three countries." He then added, "and China are undergoing an unprecedented military buildup with a clear and unambiguous intent to move forward with their own agendas. We need to be mindful of that." Recalling the inaugural Tri-CHOD meeting in Hawaii in July 2014, when the primary agenda was solely focused on North Korean threats, Caine also said that trilateral cooperation should now "address broader regional issues," suggesting China's growing influence in the region. 2025-07-11 15:53:01