KAIST and Princeton University launch Net-Zero Korea project

SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - South Korea's prestigious research institute, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), and Princeton University have launched a joint initiative called Net-Zero Korea, aimed at helping South Korea accelerate its transition to carbon neutrality. The project was announced on August 27 at the World Climate Industry Expo in Busan. It will be led by Professor Jeon Hae-won at KAIST's Graduate School of Green Growth and Sustaina

August 27, 2025

Seoul brushes off Trump's call for ownership of Pyeongtaek base land

SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - President Donald Trump startled Seoul Tuesday by suggesting the United States should own the land currently occupied by Camp Humphreys, the massive United States military base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, that serves as the largest overseas American installation. During his summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the White House on August 25, Trump said, "Maybe one of the things I'd like to do is ask them to give us ownership of the

August 27, 2025

North Korea again denounces Lee over denuclearization

SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - North Korea on Wednesday again denounced President Lee Jae Myung, dismissing remarks he made earlier this week during his trip to the U.S. In an op-ed carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), it said Lee insulted North Korea by describing it as a "poor but fierce neighbor" while talking about the North's denuclearization, which it claimed "showed his true colors as a hypocrite to the whole world." Lee said the pr

August 27, 2025

[K-Defense] S. Korean shipbuilders shortlisted for Canada's $14 billion submarine program

SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - A consortium led by South Korea’s two largest shipbuilders, Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, has been shortlisted to compete in Canada’s next-generation submarine acquisition program. This is a $14 billion defense project that could eventually swell to $43 billion over three decades when long-term maintenance and upgrades are included. Industry officials confirmed Wednesday that the two companies, bidding as a consortium, were s

August 27, 2025

[K-Tech] Shining light on brain cuts urge to drink, Korean researchers report

SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - South Korean researchers say they have found that shining near-infrared light on the brain can significantly ease alcohol cravings and dependency, opening a potential new path for addiction treatment. The Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) said Wednesday that, in a clinical study, patients who received the therapy showed measurable reductions in both their urge to drink and overall dependency levels. The research, conducted jointly

August 27, 2025

KAIST creates AI capable of detecting defects in smart factories with frequent machine replacements

SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - Researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) have developed an artificial intelligence system that can keep detecting defective products in smart factories even when machines are replaced or production conditions change. The breakthrough solves a long-standing weakness in factory AI systems, which often fail when equipment or operating environments are altered. The research team, led by Professor Lee Jae-gil of KAIST

August 26, 2025

Hardliner elected new PPP leader as party still grapples with Yoon's fallout

SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - Hardline lawmaker Jang Dong-hyeok was elected as the new leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Tuesday. Jang garnered about 220,000 votes or 50.27 percent in a neck-and-neck runoff at the National Assembly in Seoul, narrowly defeating another staunch conservative and former presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, who earned about 217,000 votes. The two-term lawmaker's win comes as a surprise as he has been vehemently opposed to the im

August 26, 2025

South Korea to introduce fast-track immigration lanes for foreign executives

SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - South Korea will open expedited immigration lanes for foreign business executives at Incheon International Airport starting Aug. 31, in a pilot program aimed at strengthening the country’s appeal as a regional business hub. The lanes, which will operate through December, are intended to shorten wait times for foreign travelers using staffed immigration counters, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Tuesday. On average, foreigners

August 26, 2025

South Korean, US firms sign wide-ranging deals during Lee's Washington visit

SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - South Korean and American companies signed 11 agreements and memorandums of understanding across shipbuilding, nuclear energy, aviation, liquefied natural gas and critical minerals during President Lee Jae Myung’s visit to Washington. The agreements were announced at a Korea–U.S. Business Roundtable on Monday at Washington D.C. (local time), attended by South Korea’s Trade Minister, Kim Jung-kwan, and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnic

August 26, 2025

[K-Pop] Soundtrack from K-pop anime tops Billboard Hot 100 again

A scene from "KPop Demon Hunters." Courtesy of Netflix SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - One of the main theme songs from Netflix's hit South Korean anime has returned to the top spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. According to Billboard on Monday, "Golden" from the soundtrack of "KPop Demon Hunters" reclaimed the top spot on the U.S. singles chart this week, after slipping to second place behind American singer Alex Warren's "Ordinary" last

August 26, 2025