Recovery workers leave for Nepal to replace search-and-rescue team SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - A new group of South Korean relief workers left for Nepal on Friday to support recovery efforts following devastating floods and landslides that struck late last month, killing more than 1,400 people and leaving thousands still missing, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here. The eight-member team including ministry officials and other personnel from the National Fire Agency, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the National M September 11, 2026

Hanwha lands Chunmoo deal in Croatia, widening K-defense footprint in Europe SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - South Korea's K-defense drive is spreading beyond its Polish beachhead into a broader European network, with Hanwha Aerospace adding Croatia as the fourth European operator of its Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system in a 410 million euro ($477 million) deal. Hanwha Aerospace signed the contract Thursday to supply 18 Chunmoo systems to Croatia, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The deal is worth about 640 billion won September 11, 2026

Seoul's industry min back in Washington for final push on US investment deal SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) -South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan shuttled back to the United States from Europe after accompanying President Lee Jae Myung on his state visit to France earlier this week, making his second U.S. trip in little more than a week to finish the first action plans under Seoul's $350 billion investment commitment. Kim traveled to the United States after completing his European schedule via Belgium and is due to remain there through Saturday. He September 11, 2026

Common painkiller revives fading muscle protein in aging mice SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - The arthritis painkiller meloxicam slowed muscle wasting in old mice by restoring a protein that muscles lose with age, researchers at two South Korean universities have found. Sarcopenia, the gradual loss of muscle mass and strength that comes with age, contributes to frailty, lost mobility, metabolic problems and higher death rates in older adults, the researchers wrote. The processes that drive it are still not fully understood, they added, which has September 10, 2026

KOSPI defends 7,000 despite foreign selloff SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) -- South Korean stocks recovered from steep early losses on Thursday, with the KOSPI holding above 7,000 despite heavy foreign selling and elevated oil prices, while the KOSDAQ turned higher on institutional buying and semiconductor gains. The benchmark KOSPI fell 0.25 percent or 17.72 points to close at 7,033.92. The index dropped as low as 6,898.45 in morning trading, briefly losing the 6,900 level, before recovering more than 130 points from its intrad September 10, 2026

AI, robotics firms help revive South Korea's IPO scene SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) –The number of initial public offerings is showing signs of recovery in September, with as many as 11 companies preparing to go public. Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics firms are emerging as a major source of new listings. Expected fundraising this month is estimated at 400 billion won (US$299 million) to 450 billion won. An early-September estimate by Eugene Investment & Securities put the combined market capitalization of companies expe September 10, 2026

Seoul bus strike looms next week as wage talks stall SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - A full-scale strike by bus drivers in Seoul is increasingly looming, as they threatened again on Thursday to proceed with their planned strike next week. The union, affiliated with the Korean Automobile Workers' Federation, has held a dozen rounds of wage talks with the city's bus operators since March. But the two sides have still been unable to narrow their differences over the workweek hours used to calculate wages as well as a proposed pay i September 10, 2026

Korean games swap console blockbusters for phone anime in Tokyo SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - South Korea's biggest game publishers arrive at Tokyo Game Show next week with a lineup that fits in a pocket, trading the console blockbusters they hauled to Gamescom three weeks ago for free-to-play anime games built mostly for phones. Nexon, Netmarble, NC and Smilegate are all bringing what the industry calls subculture titles — character-driven games drawn in Japanese animation style and largely monetized through randomized character draws. September 10, 2026

Hanwha Systems unveils space AI solution at Poland defense expo SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Hanwha Systems has unveiled an artificial intelligence-powered satellite imagery analysis solution overseas for the first time, as the South Korean defense company seeks to expand its presence in the global space and defense markets. The company said Thursday it introduced its "Space AI Solution" at MSPO 2026, a major defense exhibition held in Kielce, Poland, on Wednesday. During the launch event, Hanwha demonstrated the system analyzing imager September 10, 2026

Nexon opens Mabinogi Mobile to outside AI agents SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Nexon will let its cross-platform role playing game "Mabinogi Mobile" players hand routine chores to outside AI agents such as Claude Code, while keeping trading, payments and character growth off-limits. The feature, called AI Connector, will first arrive as a beta on the role-playing game's PC version in an upcoming update, its operators said in a notice posted Wednesday. It is switched off by default and works only with AI tools player September 10, 2026