news highlight

• 
  Samsung hosts OpenAI's Sam Altman for AI strategy talks with 50 executives SEOUL, November 01 (AJP) - Samsung Group hosted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for talks with about 50 senior executives on Saturday, as South Korea's largest conglomerate accelerates efforts to integrate artificial intelligence across its businesses. The meeting, held at Samsung's Human Resources Development Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, brought together executives from its electronics, financial and biotechnology affiliates to discuss how AI could reshape industries and co November 1, 2026
• 
  Nearly 40% of middle-income Koreans saw earnings fall SEOUL, November 01 (AJP) - Nearly four in 10 middle-income earners in South Korea saw their earnings decline in 2024, the highest proportion since the COVID-19 pandemic, government data showed Sunday. According to the National Data Agency's income mobility statistics, 38.9 percent of people in the middle income bracket in 2023 earned less from wages or businesses the following year, up from 35.1 percent a year earlier. The group represents the middle 20 percent of individua November 1, 2026
• 
  Korea's exports top $900 billion for first time on chip boom SEOUL, November 01 (AJP) - South Korea's cumulative exports surpassed $900 billion for the first time in the January-October period, driven by surging semiconductor shipments, government data showed Sunday. Exports totaled $930 billion in the first 10 months of 2026, putting the country on track to reach the $1 trillion mark in November, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry. October exports jumped 93.7 percent from a year earlier to $115.28 billion, exceeding $11 November 1, 2026
• 
  Ukraine rules out diplomatic break with South Korea SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has rejected speculation over a possible diplomatic rupture with South Korea, saying Kyiv remains committed to normalizing relations with Seoul amid tensions over the disclosure of the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war. "We believe the first step is to prevent any new actions or statements that could lead to escalation," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said at a press briefing on October 31, 2026
• 
  North Korea's crypto theft industry under spotlight after Binance hack SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - North Korea's cryptocurrency hacking operations have emerged as a major source of foreign currency for the isolated regime, with a record $6.3 billion cyberattack on the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange drawing renewed attention to Pyongyang's growing reliance on digital theft to finance its weapons programs. U.S. blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs said North Korea's TraderTraitor hacking group was responsible for stealing approx October 31, 2026
• 
  Hanwha wins first U.S. Navy shipbuilding contract SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Hanwha Defense USA, a subsidiary of South Korea's Hanwha Aerospace, has secured a $269 million contract to build a landing ship for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, marking its first U.S. Navy shipbuilding contract. The company was selected by U.S. maritime services firm TOTE Services to construct one Landing Ship Medium (LSM) at Hanwha Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, with options to build three additional vessels, according to statements released by October 31, 2026
• 
  Seoul, Washington, Tokyo reaffirm North Korea denuclearization goal SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - South Korea, the United States and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and agreed to expand maritime and economic cooperation in the Pacific Arctic during trilateral talks in Atlanta on Friday (local time), amid heightened tensions following Pyongyang's latest ballistic missile launches. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshim October 31, 2026
• 
  Global firms gather in Seoul for South Korea's largest biotech expo SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - South Korea's largest biotechnology expo drew companies from some 36 countries this year, as the country sought to strengthen global partnerships in drug development, investment and manufacturing. The expo, dubbed BIOPLUS-INTERPHEX KOREA 2026 (BIX 2026), wrapped up its three-day run at COEX in southern Seoul on Friday, attracting about 12,000 visitors, according to the Korea Biotechnology Industry Organization (Korea BIO) which hosted the event. Arou October 30, 2026
• 
  Seoul vows firm response to DMZ mine blast, weighs Hormuz role SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - South Korea vowed to maintain a firm response to North Korea's land mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), while considering expanded naval operations to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the presidential office said Friday. "We will continue taking necessary measures based on clear principles regarding the DMZ mine explosion," Wi Sung-lac, South Korea's national security adviser, said at a presidential office briefin October 30, 2026