YouTuber faces arrest warrant in defamation case against Kim Soo-hyun SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Kim Se-eui, the head of YouTube channel Garo Sero Institute, also known as HoverLab, is facing an arrest warrant over defamation allegations and other charges involving actor Kim Soo-hyun. Kim appeared at the Seoul Central District Court at around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, where he denied all charges, adding that he would file a complaint against the police officers and prosecutors handling the case. "I do not admit to any of them," Kim said before en May 26, 2026

BOK to hold rate for yearlong this week and hike growth target SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea is widely expected to hold the benchmark rate at 2.50 percent, unchanged for a year, while sharply raising its 2027 growth outlook to around 2.5 percent from 2 percent to lay the groundwork for eventual tightening against mounting inflationary pressures from elevated energy prices, rising wages and overheated asset markets as the AI boom cushions the economy from the prolonged Gulf crisis. An AJP poll on economists found unanimous expectations May 26, 2026

AJP Focus: Asia's energy shock far from over despite Hormuz reopening talks SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - South Korea and other Asian economies heavily dependent on Gulf energy supplies are bracing for prolonged disruptions even as diplomatic momentum builds toward a potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with analysts warning that supply chains, refining operations and shipping flows could take months to normalize. Iran is expected to allow commercial shipping through the strait about 30 days after a peace agreement with Washington is finalized, Nikkei repo May 26, 2026

Taiwan overtakes India as world's fifth-largest stock market on TSMC-led AI rally SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Taiwan's stock market has edged past India to become the world's fifth-largest, propelled by a surge in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. that underscores how the global rally in artificial-intelligence stocks is reshaping the hierarchy of world markets. Taiwan's market capitalization reached $4.95 trillion as of Monday's close, according to a Bloomberg tally, narrowly surpassing India's $4.92 trillion — a margin of about $30 bill May 26, 2026

Nongshim signs deal with Indian grocery delivery app SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Instant noodle giant Nongshim has partnered with India's leading quick-commerce platform to expand its presence in one of the world's most populous countries. Nongshim said it held a launch event in New Delhi over the weekend for its signature "Shin Ramyun" series, after signing a deal with Blinkit to distribute its products there. Blinkit is the leading player in India's quick-commerce market, with around a 50-percent market share. T May 26, 2026

OPINION: Starbucks, memory wars and South Korea's new political taboos SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - There are taboos in South Korea that never fully fade with time. They remain politically radioactive, emotionally unresolved and socially unforgiving. Japanese colonial rule is one. The democratization movement is another. For decades, anti-communism and North Korea defined the country’s ideological fault lines. But modern South Korea has undergone a profound political inversion. Under the dominance of liberal President Lee Jae Myung and the ruling May 26, 2026

Samsung Electronics' DX union files injunction to halt wage deal vote amid internal rift SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - A labor union representing Samsung Electronics' Device eXperience (DX) division filed a court injunction on Tuesday to halt an ongoing vote on a tentative wage agreement, highlighting a deepening internal conflict among the tech giant's labor groups. The "Donghaeng" union submitted the request to the Suwon District Court, accusing the larger "Enterprise Union" of unlawfully stripping its members of their voting rights. During a May 26, 2026

Yeon Sang-ho's new zombie film draws 2 million moviegoers in less than a week since release SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Director Yeon Sang-ho's latest film "Colony" has drawn over 2 million moviegoers less than a week since its release last Thursday. According to the Korean Film Council, the zombie film surpassed 2 million in cumulative theater attendance as of Monday, reaching the milestone faster than any other film released this year and outpacing previous box-office hits such as "The King's Warden" and "Salmokji: Whispering Water" in May 26, 2026

SK hynix unveils 'iHBM' cooling tech to tackle AI chip heat SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - South Korean chipmaker SK hynix Inc. on Tuesday unveiled its "iHBM" (Integrated High Bandwidth Memory) technology, a memory solution incorporating Integrated Cooling Elements (ICE) directly into the High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) package to dramatically reduce heat and enhance the efficiency of overall AI systems.1 The company plans to apply the iHBM technology starting with its next-generation products, such as HBM5, to meet the stringent thermal mana May 26, 2026

AJP Watch: Shinsegae vows to make amends "regardless of cost" over Starbucks Korea blunder SEOUL, May 26 (AJP) - Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin on Tuesday delivered a second public apology within a week over Starbucks Korea’s controversial “Tank Day” promotion, bowing repeatedly in a televised appearance and pledging to restore public trust through action rather than words after what the group described as a “serious” failure in historical awareness. Speaking at the Josun Palace hotel in Seoul, Chung bowed deeply three times during May 26, 2026