Korea's U.S. crude oil imports rise steadily despite premium pricing

SEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - South Korea's crude oil imports from the United States reached a record high in 2024, despite higher prices compared to Middle Eastern sources. According to data from the Korea National Oil Corp. on Monday, U.S. crude imports from January to November 2024 totaled 156.29 million barrels, surpassing the previous year's record of 142.37 million barrels. The import value amounted to $13.33 billion, positioning the United States as the second-largest c

January 7, 2025

Russia may share space technology with North Korea: Blinken

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul (right) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hold a press conference after their talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul on Jan. 6, 2025. Yonhap SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday Russia may provide advanced space and satellite technology to North Korea in exchange for weapons and other military supplies from Pyongyang. "We have reasons to believe that Moscow intends to share advanced

January 6, 2025

[CES 2025] Samsung, LG, SK to present AI-driven innovations

LAS VEGAS, January 5 (AJP) - South Korea’s leading technology companies are poised to unveil groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence at CES 2025, the world’s largest electronics and IT trade show, which kicks off Tuesday here. The four-day event will also serve as a platform for these firms to forge strategic alliances with global tech giants, further cementing their standing in the international arena. As of Sunday (local time), two days before the o

January 6, 2025

[CES 2025] Korean firm to unveil smart glass technology

LAS VEGAS, January 5 (AJP) - KCC Glass, a South Korean glass manufacturer, said Monday that it will unveil technology capable of adjusting transparency using electric currents at CES 2025 in Las Vegas. At the four-day exhibition starting on Tuesday, the Korean firm will showcase its Variable Polarized Liquid Crystal (VPLC) technology. This innovation uses a transparent film attached to the glass, through which electric currents flow to control the transparency based on voltage. Th

January 6, 2025

[CES 2025] Startup consultant highlights human-centered innovation

LAS VEGAS, January 05 (AJP) - A startup consultant emphasized the significance of health tech and human-centered innovation, noting that technologies and products blending these two elements will profoundly transform people’s lives in the future. In an interview with AJP at CES Unveiled, a preview event for CES 2025 held in Las Vegas on Jan. 5 (local time), Sam Ha, a professor at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, advocated for technological advancements that address real

January 6, 2025

[CES 2025] Forbes '30 Under 30' innovator shares insights on technology trends

LAS VEGAS, January 05 (AJP) - CES 2025 once again proved to be a showcase of cutting-edge technologies that promise to shape the future. Among the standout attendees was Spencer Foust, partner at Sozo Ventures and a Forbes "30 Under 30" honoree, who shared his insights into the key trends dominating this year’s show. Foust highlighted the rise of health tech innovations and gave a glimpse into what lies ahead for augmented and virtual reality. For Foust, digital

January 6, 2025

Police consider arresting presidential guards for blocking Yoon's detention

SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - South Korean police said Monday they are considering arresting presidential security staff if they continue to block attempts to execute an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. The police also effectively rejected a request from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) to take charge of detaining Yoon on charges of insurrection. Earlier in the day, the CIO revealed that it had requested the police to execute th

January 6, 2025

HD Korea delivers first vessel of 2025

SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. (HD KSOE) kicked off 2025 with the delivery of its first vessel on Monday. The firm aims to complete 139 ships this year. The vessel, a 174,000-cubic-meter liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier, was built at the HD Hyundai Samho Co. shipyard in South Jeolla Province. The ship was completed roughly two and a half years after the order was placed by an Asian shipping company in June 2022. The momentum conti

January 6, 2025

N. Korea to resume international marathon race after five-year hiatus

SEOUL, January 06 (AJP) - North Korea will resume its international marathon competition this April, marking the first time the event will be held since its suspension in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The marathon, which features both professional and amateur runners, offers distances of 5 kilometers, 10 kilometers, a half marathon, and a full marathon (42.195 kilometers). The course winds through some of Pyongyang’s most iconic landmarks, including Kim Il Sung Squar

January 6, 2025

BTS' J-Hope shares resolutions for 2025

SEOUL, January 6 (AJP) - J-Hope, a member of K-pop superstar BTS, shared his New Year's greetings with fans, promising to reveal much this year. "I hope 2025 will be a year where everyone blooms beautifully," the 30-year-old artist shared on Sunday on the social media platform Weverse. J-Hope also expressed a deep sense that this year would hold incredible significance for him. He also noted his intention to approach the year with a more mature mindset and a plan th

January 6, 2025