Industry

  • US to cap tariffs on Korean pharmaceuticals at 15 percent
    US to cap tariffs on Korean pharmaceuticals at 15 percent SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - The United States has agreed to cap tariffs on South Korean pharmaceutical products at 15 percent, offering welcome relief to an industry that had faced threats of tariffs as high as 100 percent. The commitment was outlined in a joint fact sheet issued Friday (KST) by the White House and South Korea’s presidential office, following last month’s bilateral summit. The document states that Washington will ensure tariffs on Korean pharmaceutical go November 14, 2025
  • South Korea tightens quarantine on Chinese poultry after detecting avian influenza genes
    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 pr November 14, 2025
  • HMMs $2.8 billion value slide fuels talk of POSCO takeover
    HMM's $2.8 billion value slide fuels talk of POSCO takeover SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - HMM's market value has fallen by more than 4 trillion won ($2.8 billion) in the past five months, sharpening speculation that POSCO Holdings could soon move to acquire South Korea's largest container line as the carrier struggles with collapsing freight rates and a steep drop in profits. POSCO signaled last month during its third-quarter earnings call that a potential deal remained in its "early review" phase and that no significant progr November 14, 2025
  • KAI, Samsung team up to develop AI chips for defense systems
    KAI, Samsung team up to develop AI chips for defense systems SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries has formed a strategic partnership with Samsung Electronics to develop next-generation semiconductors for defense applications. KAI said Friday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Samsung at its headquarters in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, to cooperate on the research, design and production of artificial intelligence and radio-frequency chips for aerospace and defense systems. The companies plan to November 14, 2025
  • South Koreas import prices surge to 9-month high on weak won
    South Korea's import prices surge to 9-month high on weak won SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - South Korea’s import prices rose in October to their highest level in nine months, pushed up by a sharp depreciation of the won. Export prices climbed even more steeply, reflecting both currency effects and strengthening demand for semiconductors and metals. Data released Friday by the Bank of Korea showed that import prices increased 1.9 percent in October from the previous month, the fastest pace since January, after modest 0.3 percent gains i November 14, 2025
  • Asian markets drop on Wall Street losses, diminished Fed cut hopes
    Asian markets drop on Wall Street losses, diminished Fed cut hopes SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - Asian stock markets declined broadly on Friday morning, dragged lower by renewed concerns over U.S. interest rates and a downturn in global technology shares. In South Korea, the benchmark Kospi dropped 2.5 percent to 4,066.30 as of 11:22 a.m., while the tech-heavy Kosdaq slipped 1.3 percent to 906.20. The country’s three most valuable companies — each with a market capitalization exceeding 100 trillion won, or about $68.6 billion — all November 14, 2025
  • Foreign investors extend buying spree in Korean stocks but retreat from bonds
    Foreign investors extend buying spree in Korean stocks but retreat from bonds SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - Foreign investors extended their months-long buying streak in South Korean equities in October, even as they pulled back from the country’s bond market, according to data released Friday by the Financial Supervisory Service. Overseas investors purchased a net 4.2 trillion won ($3.1 billion) in Korean stocks last month, marking the sixth straight month of net inflows. The bulk of the buying was concentrated in the benchmark KOSPI market. By the en November 14, 2025
  • Samsung, Hanwha chiefs to visit UAE next week for AI, defense collaboration
    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 Kor November 14, 2025
  • Asian shares end Thursday with modest gains
    Asian shares end Thursday with modest gains SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - Major Asian markets in South Korea, Japan, and China closed modestly higher on Thursday, buoyed by relief over the normalization of U.S. government operations after the longest shutdown in American history. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI added 0.5 percent to close at 4,170.63, while the secondary KOSDAQ advanced 1.3 percent to 918.37. The partial U.S. government shutdown ended late Wednesday after 43 days, as the House passed a temporary spending b November 13, 2025
  • Koreas poetic way to authenticate test-takers for college entry exam
    Korea's poetic way to authenticate test-takers for college entry exam SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - Poet Ahn Gyu-rye may not be widely known, but to the half million South Korean youths who sat for Thursday’s once-a-year college entrance exam Suneung, the line “Youth, like waves of springing green” from poem Morning Walk will likely remain etched as a final memory of the day. Suneung is a cruel make-or-break ritual that can shape a student’s entire adult trajectory in Korea, a society long obsessed with a handful of elite universi November 13, 2025