Coupang challenges 162 billion won antitrust fine in Korean court

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Korea's leading e-commerce platform Coupang has filed an administrative lawsuit against the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), contesting a record fine of about 162 billion won ($120 million) for alleged unfair business practices, market insiders said on Tuesday. The legal action, initiated on Sept. 5 at the Seoul High Court, seeks to overturn both the corrective order and the monetary penalty imposed by the antitrust regulator last month. The KFT

September 10, 2024

Putin to discuss peace negotiations for Ukraine war with Indian national security advisor

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to discuss peace negotiations for the Russia-Ukraine war with Indian national security advisor this week, according to news reports. Russian state media outlet RT, citing India Today, reported that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is expected to visit Moscow on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sources indicated that Doval will meet with President Putin to discuss India

September 10, 2024

TEPCO resumes fuel debris retrieval at Fukushima nuclear plant

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (TEPCO) restarted efforts on Tuesday to extract a small amount of melted fuel from a damaged reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex, following a suspension last month due to technical issues. The operation, which aims to retrieve some of the estimated 880 tons of fuel debris from three affected reactors, had been halted on Aug. 22 after problems were discovered during preparations. TEPCO, the plant'

September 10, 2024

Japanese court expands benefits for Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - A Japanese district court ruled on Monday to extend health care benefits to 15 plaintiffs who experienced the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki outside the previously designated area, potentially impacting thousands of survivors. The Nagasaki District Court ordered local authorities to certify the 15 individuals as atomic bomb survivors, despite their location being beyond the officially recognized zone but within a 12-kilometer radius of the bomb'

September 10, 2024

PHOTOS: Inside the IFA 2024

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - IFA 2024, Europe's largest consumer electronics show, is held from Sept. 6 to 10 in Berlin, Germany. Major electronics companies from around the world, including Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, participated in the event, showcasing their latest technologies and products. Both companies focused on AI-based smart home technologies, with Samsung presenting the theme "AI for All" and LG featuring "AI Home Reimagined with Affectionate Intelligen

September 9, 2024

RSQUARE to transform shopping mall into mixed-use office space in Seoul

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - RSQUARE, a commercial real estate firm, said Monday it has been selected to carry out a project to transform a large-scale shopping mall in eastern Seoul into office space. The building, which houses Enter 6 - Park Avenue Hanyang University, was purchased by GRE Partners Asset Management for 112.1 billion won ($83.5 million) and will be repurposed from a shopping mall to office space and redeveloped into a mixed-use complex. RSQUARE was selected as th

September 9, 2024

BTS RM's collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion's new song dominates global charts

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - Popular American female rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s new track "Neva Play," featuring BTS member RM, has made a notable performance on global song charts. As of Monday, the song stood at No. 13 on Spotify’s daily global chart, with more than 3.6 million streams. The song is in fifth place on Apple's iTunes Song Chart The track, dropped last Friday, is a hip-hop song with an addictive beat. Megan Thee Stallion&rsqu

September 9, 2024

Slow-paced TV variety shows captivate viewers craving countryside peace

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - TV viewership ratings reveal a growing trend among people longing to escape the hustle of urban life for a slower pace in rural areas or abroad, according to Nielsen Korea data released Monday. Leading the ratings in the first week of September was "Jinny's Kitchen 2," a tvN variety show featuring "Parasite" star Choi Woo-sik, actor Lee Seo-jin, and other celebrities running a Korean restaurant in Iceland. The show garnered a top

September 9, 2024

KAIST, NYU to launch joint degree program in AI

SEOUL, September 9 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and New York University (NYU) agreed Monday to establish a joint degree program in artificial intelligence. KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung and NYU President Linda G. Mills signed a memorandum of understanding in Seoul to initiate the groundbreaking program. The agreement follows years of cooperation between the two institutions in AI research and student exchange programs. Both instituti

September 9, 2024

Chinese navy engages in extensive maritime activities with southeast Asian nations

SEOUL, Sept. 9 (AJP) -The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has recently been involved in a series of naval interactions with various ASEAN countries, the PLA Navy said last Saturday. These activities, which include joint exercises and ship visits, are seen by experts as strengthening regional security cooperation, particularly in light of tensions involving the Philippines. A joint flotilla exercise between China and Singapore, named Exercise Cooperation 2024, conclud

September 9, 2024