AI becomes centerpiece of South Korea's military strategy SEOUL, November 20 (AJP) - South Korea’s defense industry is increasingly positioning itself at the forefront of the global arms race, leaning heavily on artificial intelligence to offset shrinking troop numbers and to adapt to fast-changing warfare technologies. The shift has drawn in some of the country’s most powerful semiconductor companies, deepening ties between its tech and defense sectors. Industry officials say the military has begun widening its defense November 20, 2025

Asian shares finish broadly lower as AI-bubble anxiety persist SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - Asian stocks edged lower for a second straight session on Wednesday, with investors remaining cautious ahead of Nvidia’s earnings and the growing “AI bubble” narrative that has weighed on sentiment across the region. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.61 percent to 3,929.51, recovering part of its earlier plunge after falling as low as 3,854.95 in morning trade. Foreign investors sold a net 1.04 trillion won ($709 million) November 19, 2025

HOT STOCK: Hyundai Autoever and Samsung Electro survive AI overvaluation scare SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - Hyundai AutoEver and Samsung Electro-Mechanics were among a selective KOSPI stocks that managed to survive this week’s sharp rout triggered by fears of an AI-driven bubble ahead of Nvidia’s earnings release scheduled for Thursday. Hyundai AutoEver — the Hyundai Motor Group affiliate responsible for software development and next-generation mobility strategy — gained 2.92 percent to close Wednesday at 186,500 won ($127.1). Its rally November 19, 2025

Aju-sponsored Korea-Japan forum calls for bilateral FTA as a stepping stone toward economic bloc SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - South Korea and Japan — two of the largest economies in East Asia — are increasingly viewed as a single investment destination by foreign capital as their tech-driven manufacturing capabilities grow more interconnected. But the absence of a meaningful bilateral trade framework or policy coordination still constrains the growth potential that could be unlocked if the two nations were to combine their industrial strengths, lawmakers, scholars November 19, 2025

Samsung takes laid-back stance in HBM catchup with SK hynix on DRAM strengthening SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - South Korea’s two dominant memory names Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are showing signs of divergence and avoiding a head-on clash in the red-hot high bandwidth memory (HBM) market, with strengthening DRAM prices reducing the pressure to take risks. Samsung Electronics, a long-time frontrunner in DRAM until the rise of HBM powering AI chips, appears to be in no hurry to ramp up its lagging HBM capacity, holding output at 150,000 wafers per month November 19, 2025

South Korea's HD Hyundai celebrates 5,000th ship delivery SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - South Korea’s HD Hyundai has become the world's first shipbuilder in the world to deliver 5,000 vessels. The company commemorated the achievement with a ceremony at its flagship shipyard in Ulsan. HD Hyundai delivered its first vessel — the Atlantic Baron, a 260,000-ton very large crude carrier — in 1974. In the five decades since, it has supplied ships to more than 700 customers across 68 countries. The 5,000th vessel, the November 19, 2025

India's Mukesh Ambani to visit Korea for meeting with Lee Jae-yong SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - Mukesh Ambani, chairman of India’s Reliance Group known as Asia’s wealthiest individual, is scheduled to visit South Korea next week for discussions on artificial intelligence and next-generation communications technology with Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong. Industry sources said Ambani will arrive on Nov. 25 for a two-day visit accompanied by his son, Akash Ambani, chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm. The trip will include November 19, 2025

South Korea's external debt rises to $738 billion, but stability indicators improve SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - South Korea’s external debt climbed to more than $738 billion in the third quarter, though government officials said the country’s overall financial position strengthened as short-term liabilities declined and long-term debt expanded. The Ministry of Economy and Finance said Wednesday that external debt reached $738.1 billion at the end of the July–September period, an increase of $2.5 billion from the previous quarter. The rise was l November 19, 2025

Global defense officials attend KOTRA forum to explore Korean weapon systems SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) on Wednesday hosted a defense export networking event with the Seoul Association of Military Attachés (SAMA), bringing together foreign defense officials and South Korean defense companies in an effort to expand global partnerships. The gathering drew 110 participants, including 35 military attachés from 30 countries — including Chile, India, Poland and Canada — as well as re November 19, 2025

South Korea's Innospace to develop space data center with UAE firm SEOUL, November 19 (AJP) - South Korea’s Innospace, a private rocket developer, is deepening its ties with the Middle East as it seeks new footholds in the global space economy. The company said Wednesday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Madari Space, a United Arab Emirates start-up, to jointly develop and commercialize a space-based data center. The agreement was announced during the Dubai Airshow. Under the partnership, the two companies will expl November 19, 2025