Won falls, Korean bond yields hit multi-year highs as oil surges SEOUL, Sept. 15 (AJP) — The South Korean won weakened and government bond yields climbed to multi-year highs Tuesday as surging oil prices and U.S. Treasury yields fanned inflation and interest-rate concerns. The three-year government bond yield rose 6.6 basis points to 4.091 percent, its highest close since Oct. 26, 2023. The benchmark 10-year yield gained 6.4 basis points to 4.600 percent, the highest since Oct. 21, 2022. The won closed at 1,359.4 won per dollar in Seou September 15, 2026

Seoul mulls contingency as Saudi disruption complicates cold-season oil supplies SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - International oil prices climbed again Tuesday on supply concerns ahead of colder weather after drone attacks crippled Saudi Arabia's main oil pipeline bypassing the dysfunctional Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rose $1.24 to $106.93 a barrel in early trading, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate gained $1.29 to $102.65, as traders weighed how long Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline could remain offline and whether alternative export routes could compe September 15, 2026

FSS chief calls for fairer CEO succession at financial groups SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - South Korea's top financial regulator called on financial holding companies Tuesday to strengthen the fairness and transparency of CEO succession at their subsidiaries, saying existing procedures remain inadequate. Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Chan-jin said at an executive meeting that succession procedures at most financial holding companies lacked clear standards for choosing subsidiary chiefs. Lee identified several weaknesse September 15, 2026

TWICE to release live vinyl SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - K-pop girl group TWICE will release a special live vinyl record from the Seoul finale of its "THIS IS FOR" world tour next month, JYP Entertainment said Tuesday. The record, titled "TWICE Special Vinyl WORLD TOUR FINALE in SEOUL - LIVE," will be released at 1 p.m. on Oct. 16. It will feature live versions of songs performed during the group's Seoul finale at KSPO Dome in Olympic Park in July. The Seoul concerts were held f September 15, 2026

LG Electronics to test heat pump system at occupied residence in Jeju SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - LG Electronics will test a heat pump-based heating and hot water system at an occupied apartment complex on Jeju Island, marking the first such demonstration at a residential apartment building in South Korea, the company said Tuesday. LG signed a memorandum of understanding with the Jeju provincial government, Jeju Development Corp. and the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology on Tuesday to carry out the project. The system will be installed a September 15, 2026

AI slowdown may put a damper but not dent in Korean HBM demand SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - Shares of South Korea's chip bellwethers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix turned sharply lower this week amid a growing chorus among Big Tech companies and AI developers to moderate the pace of AI advances since that could mean less work for the memory giants. The two for the time being have less to worry about as multiyear contracts could keep them busy well into 2028. Samsung said during its second-quarter earnings call in July that it expects September 15, 2026

Seoul braces for strike as bus drivers in last-ditch talks over wages SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - Bus drivers in Seoul are in last-ditch wage talks on Tuesday to avert a planned strike that could halt all bus services in the capital starting with the first buses on Wednesday. Their union, affiliated with the Korean Automobile Workers' Federation, met with the city's bus operators for another round of talks at 2 p.m. and again threatened to strike if no agreement is reached by 9 p.m. If the two sides fail to reach a breakthrough in their tal September 15, 2026

Taeseok Optical seeks KOSDAQ listing SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - South Korean eyewear and fashion company Taeseok Optical has applied for preliminary approval to list on the KOSDAQ, starting the review process for a potential market debut, the company said Tuesday. The company said it submitted the preliminary listing application to the Korea Exchange (KRX), a required step before proceeding with an initial public offering (IPO). Founded in 2015, Taeseok Optical has built its business around eyewear manufacturing, s September 15, 2026

Foreign selling hands KOSPI 4th straight loss before Fed SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - Foreign investors sold Korean shares for a fifth straight session on Tuesday, handing the KOSPI a fourth consecutive loss as worries over a possible U.S. rate hike this week weighed on the main board. Buyers turned instead to battery makers and the KOSDAQ. The main index in Seoul shed 57.11 points, or 0.9 percent, to 6,627.26. Foreigners sold a net 1.57 trillion won ($1.15 billion) of KOSPI shares and institutions 904.9 billion won ($665 million), September 15, 2026

Ulsan to host global horticulture meeting in 2028 SEOUL, September 15 (AJP) - Ulsan, South Korea’s leading industrial city, will host the 2028 Spring Meeting of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), bringing global horticulture leaders to the city as it prepares for a major international garden expo. The southeastern city said Tuesday that the decision was finalized during the AIPH Annual Congress being held in Bari, Italy. Ulsan plans to hold the spring meeting in April 2028 in conjunction with t September 15, 2026