Lee offers condolences to victims of Hong Kong's deadliest fire

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Friday expressed his condolences to the victims of a fire at a high-rise apartment complex in Hong Kong and wished the injured a swift recovery. In a message posted on Facebook, Lee said, "I extend my deepest condolences and sympathy to those affected by the tragic incident involving our neighbors." The fire "resulted in numerous casualties, leaving South Korea and the world in deep sorrow," he added, off

November 28, 2025

UPDATE: Korea's factory output and investment slump Oct on stalled chip activity

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - South Korea’s factory output in October shrank at the steepest rate in five years, while facility investment tumbled by double digits — all tied to stalled chip activity — further underscoring the country’s heavy reliance on the semiconductor sector for economic performance, data showed Friday. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, mining and manufacturing output fell 4 percent on month, the steepest drop since the

November 28, 2025

PHOTOS: History in miniature

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - At the entrance, a large Lego poster reading “Daehan Independence Manse” comes into view. Next to it sits a tiny corner shop marked “Jeongdong Stationery,” its shelves packed with marble games, ice cream buckets, paper cards, and cotton candy. The miniature space feels like a small time capsule, carrying the warmth of the years it represents. Inside the special exhibition hall, visitors walk through a

November 28, 2025

AI now essential in Korea's job market for both recruiters and applicants

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming indispensable in South Korea’s job market, with four out of five companies now using AI tools in their hiring processes and a growing majority of job seekers relying on AI to boost their recruitment chances. The Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Employment Information Service on Tuesday released the second part of their 2025 Corporate Hiring Trends Survey, conducted from Aug. 1 to Sept. 1. T

November 28, 2025

Hyundai Motor Group to set up battery research center in Anseong

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group has unveiled plans to build a major battery research and development hub in Anseong, south of Seoul. The company held a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday for the “Future Mobility Battery Anseong Campus,” located in the city’s fifth industrial complex. Construction began in January, with Hyundai investing 1.2 trillion won in a facility spanning 197,000 square meters. Completion is targeted for late 2026. The Anse

November 28, 2025

Nexon shares fly in Tokyo with cap nearing $20 bn on strong pipeline

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Tokyo-listed shares of South Korean game publisher Nexon have hit their highest level since 2021, sending its market valuation of around $20 billion as investors rally behind its live-service games and global expansion strategy of CEO Lee Jung-hun. Nexon shared closed Thursday at ¥3,768 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, lifting its market cap above ¥3.1 trillion (around $19.8 billion) and extending an upward trend that began after its strong thir

November 28, 2025

Asian stocks open lower as Wall Street closes for Thanksgiving

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI opened lower on Friday morning, dropping 1 percent to 3,947.53. The decline was driven by foreign investors offloading shares worth a net 260.9 billion Korean won (US$17.8 million), while domestic retail and institutional investors bought a net 258.1 billion won and 9.4 billion won, respectively. But the tech-heavy junior KOSDAQ began the day higher, gaining 3 percent to 906.31 and extending a three-day upward trend. Among

November 28, 2025

Lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae accused of sexual assault

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - Lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae of the ruling Democratic Party has been embroiled in a sexual assault scandal after a complaint was filed with police. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Jang allegedly sexually harassed a woman at a gathering in Seoul late last year. Jang immediately denied the allegations, posting a message on Facebook saying, "I will firmly respond including legal action against these false accusations." In response

November 28, 2025

Fresh cold snap grips nation

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - A cold snap swept across the country on Friday, with morning temperatures dropping below zero and strong winds making it feel even colder. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, cold air from the northwest caused temperatures to plunge below the seasonal average. In some central regions, temperatures fell 5 to 7 degrees Celsius, compared to the previous day. While temperatures are forecast to rise slightly in the afternoon, most regions

November 28, 2025

Hanwha Ocean secures $725 million order for 4 container ships from HMM

SEOUL, November 28 (AJP) - South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean announced Friday that it has secured a $725 million (1.07 trillion won) order from HMM to build four container ships. The deal is part of HMM’s broader strategy to transition to eco-friendly vessels and bolster the competitiveness of South Korea’s shipping and shipbuilding sectors. Hanwha Ocean said it will leverage its advanced container ship construction technology and extensive project experience to deliv

November 28, 2025