South Korea's factory output slips in September, but investment surge signals upbeat outlook SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s industrial production dipped in September as auto exports faltered under the weight of higher U.S. tariffs, but a sharp rebound in capital investment suggested that the manufacturing sector may be regaining its footing amid a global semiconductor boom and signs of easing trade frictions. According to data released Friday by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, manufacturing output fell 1.2 percent from the previous month — the fi October 31, 2025

Nvidia's Jensen Huang steals the show in Seoul, outshining Trump and Xi SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) -Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping may have dominated global headlines during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation events in South Korea, but the figure who truly captivated the Korean public was the chief executive of the world’s most valuable company. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang drew hundreds of reporters the moment he landed in Seoul on Thursday. By evening, the southern Gangnam district had nearly ground to a halt as crowds October 31, 2025

Asian stocks end flat Thursday as U.S.–China talks yield little beyond gestures SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Asian stock markets ended mostly flat on Thursday, as the highly anticipated summit between the United States and China produced little beyond diplomatic optics, offering no meaningful signals on trade or geopolitical issues. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.2 percent to 4,087, after a volatile session in which the index tested the 4,100 level and touched a fresh intraday high of 4,146.72. Among large caps, Hyundai Motor, Hanwha Ocean, Samsung Ele October 30, 2025

Leverage builds as South Korean investors chase stock gains SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) — South Koreans are taking on more debt to invest in stocks, as a wave of market optimism drives both leveraged trading and record cash holdings at brokerages. Margin loans — money borrowed from securities firms to buy shares — climbed above 25 trillion won ($18.1 billion) for the first time, reaching 25.1 trillion won as of Thursday, according to data from the Korea Financial Investment Association. That represents an 8 percent increase October 30, 2025

Shinsegae Duty Free follows Shilla in retreat from Incheon airport as losses mount SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Another of South Korea’s leading duty-free operators is retreating from Incheon International Airport, as mounting rental costs and sluggish traveler spending continue to erode profits in what was once one of the world’s most lucrative retail hubs. Following Shilla Duty Free’s withdrawal last month, Shinsegae Duty Free said Thursday it will return part of its concession rights at the Incheon airport, citing heavy financial losses and a October 30, 2025

Hyundai Motor's Q3 profit dips 29% on U.S. tariff shock; shares hold firm on trade deal SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor reported a sharp retreat in third-quarter operating profit Thursday as the spike in U.S. auto tariffs wiped more than $1 billion from the automaker’s bottom line, but reiterated that its EV and expansion strategy in the U.S. remains intact regardless of setbacks. South Korea’s largest automaker — and the world’s No. 3 as of March — said operating profit fell 29.6 percent on quarter and 29.2 percent on year to 2. October 30, 2025

South Korea begins beef exports to UAE Korean beef products at a market in Seoul on Oct. 27, 2025/ Yonhap SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - South Korea has shipped its first beef exports to the United Arab Emirates. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Thursday that about 1.5 tons of chilled and frozen Korean beef were shipped to the UAE, marking South Korea’s formal debut in the country’s $1.9 billion halal beef market. A ceremony celebrating the inaugural shipment was held at the National Agri October 30, 2025

South Korea's LS Electric to co-develop power systems for UK data centers SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s LS Electric is accelerating its push into the global data center market, forming new international partnerships to strengthen its foothold in advanced power infrastructure. The company said on Thursday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Elecsis, a British manufacturer of low-voltage switchboards, to co-develop power systems tailored for data centers in the United Kingdom. Founded in 2001 and based in Bristol, El October 30, 2025

Hyundai Motor breaks ground on hydrogen fuel cell plant in Ulsan SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor has begun construction of a large-scale hydrogen fuel cell plant in Ulsan, signaling its ambition to lead the global shift toward clean energy. The groundbreaking ceremony took place at Hyundai’s Ulsan complex, where the new facility will rise on the site of a former internal combustion engine transmission plant. The transformation, company officials said, reflects Hyundai’s commitment to making Ulsan a center for next-generati October 30, 2025

South Korea's LG Chem partners with Germany's ZEISS on holographic windshield displays SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - LG Chem said Thursday that it has partnered with German optics maker ZEISS to supply advanced photopolymer film for use in next-generation holographic windshield displays in vehicles. The holographic windshield display, or HWD, projects navigation and entertainment content directly onto the windshield, effectively turning it into a transparent screen. Unlike traditional head-up displays, which show limited data in a small area, the holographic versio October 30, 2025