South Korea begins efforts to spur commercial use of quantum technologies SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Wednesday launched a team designed to accelerate the transition of quantum technology from laboratory research to industrial application. The so-called K-Quantum Industry Alliance brings together companies, universities, research institutes, and financial organizations in a coordinated effort to strengthen the country’s quantum ecosystem. During a ceremony in Seoul, participants sig November 5, 2025

Majority of South Koreans distrust national pension system, survey finds SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - More South Koreans say they distrust the national pension system than those who express confidence in it, according to a new survey highlighting deepening public skepticism toward the country’s social safety net. The poll, commissioned by the Korea Employers Federation and conducted by Mono Research, found that 55.7 percent of respondents do not trust the national pension system, compared with 44.3 percent who said they do. Distrust wa November 5, 2025

BOK governor to attend BIS meeting, Singapore fintech forum SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - Bank of Korea Governor Lee Chang-yong will travel to Basel, Switzerland, on Thursday to attend a meeting of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) governors. During his visit, Lee will join discussions with fellow central bankers on the global economy and financial markets. As a BIS director, he will also take part in meetings of the board and the Economic Consultative Committee. In his capacity as chair of the Committee on the Global Financial November 5, 2025

KRW falls to weakest in 7 mo as forex data implies limited room for Seoul to defend currency SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - The South Korean won’s recovery — fueled by the Korea-U.S. trade deal during APEC week and a bullish stock market — proved short-lived as the U.S. dollar climbed to a seven-month high amid renewed concerns over frothy AI-related stocks. The dollar hit 1,446.3 won on Wednesday, its strongest level since April, as foreign investors dumped more than 2 trillion won worth of KOSPI shares as of 2:00 p.m., dragging the benchmark index down mor November 5, 2025

Bear returns to the Asian market on AI bubble concerns SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - Asian stocks slumped Wednesday as a wave of bearish sentiment swept through regional markets. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index plunged 4.1 percent to 3,950.96, falling back below the 4,000 mark just seven trading days after breaking it for the first time in history. The small-cap KOSDAQ tumbled even further, down 4.4 percent to 886.00. The downturn was led by heavyweight chipmakers. Samsung Electronics dropped 5.5 percent to 99,100 won ($68), w November 5, 2025

BMW overtakes Tesla as top-selling imported car brand in South Korea SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - BMW has overtaken Tesla to become South Korea’s best-selling imported car brand, as demand for foreign-made vehicles continued to rise this year despite a slowdown in October sales. According to data released Wednesday by the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA), registrations of new imported passenger cars totaled 24,064 in October, up 13.2 percent from a year earlier. The figure, however, marked a 26.7 percent decli November 5, 2025

South Korean, Japanese firms consider joint venture for next-generation chip materials SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - Samsung Electro-Mechanics said on Wednesday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical Group to explore establishing a joint venture for producing glass cores, a key component in next-generation semiconductor packages. The agreement comes as they are seeking to strengthen their foothold in the fast-evolving semiconductor packaging industry, where new materials are increasingly critical to supporting artificial November 5, 2025

South Korea's stock market rides early wave of AI-driven supercycle SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - South Korea’s stock market appears to be entering the early stages of what analysts are calling an artificial intelligence–driven “supercycle,” as investors pour into semiconductor, robotics, and infrastructure shares amid growing optimism about the country’s role in the global AI boom. The rally gained momentum following recent international events such as the APEC summit and Nvidia’s AI conference, both of which un November 5, 2025

Viral K-beauty powered by rich foundation palette for every skin tone SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - “You guys have no idea how happy I am right now — it’s literally perfect. I can finally use their cushion foundation,” said @MissDarcei, a beauty influencer with more than 800,000 YouTube followers. Her excitement reflects a growing wave of international consumers who say Korean cushion foundations now work just as well on darker skin tones as they do on lighter ones. The secret behind the viral rise of K-beauty lies in its fast-e November 4, 2025

Four out of ten Korean tech workers eye work abroad as firms vie to keep them home SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - Four out of ten South Koreans employed in science and engineering say they want to work abroad in pursuit of higher compensation and better social recognition, underscoring the talent pressures Korean companies face as global competition intensifies in AI and IT. A recent Bank of Korea study found that 42.9 percent of salaried STEM-degree holders are considering relocating overseas within the next three years, and the share rises to about 70 percent amo November 4, 2025