Korea eyed as key partner to India's maritime vision: envoy SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - South Korea is poised to become a key partner in India's drive to build a globally competitive shipbuilding industry, Seoul's ambassador to New Delhi said Tuesday, describing maritime cooperation as the next flagship project in bilateral economic ties. "We believe Korea will participate as an important partner in India's shipbuilding mission," Ambassador Lee Seong-ho said at a Seoul forum, adding that New Delhi has increasingly turned its July 21, 2026

KOSPI rebounds over 3% as chipmakers lead broad rally SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - South Korean stocks closed higher on Tuesday, with the benchmark KOSPI advancing more than 3 percent as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix led a rebound in semiconductor shares. The KOSPI rose 231.68 points or 3.56 percent to close at 6,747.95 as a buy-side sidecar was activated on the main bourse after the index's gains accelerated. It opened 0.58 percent higher at 6,553.88 and fell to an intraday low of 6,429.03 during early volatile trading before clim July 21, 2026

KAI pitches TF-50 for British trainer contract SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - South Korea's aerospace contractor Korea Aerospace Industries is pitching its TF-50 trainer jet for a Royal Air Force competition that has not yet formally launched, using this week's Farnborough International Airshow in Britain to make its case against rivals with a significant head start. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) said Tuesday it is showcasing next-generation air combat systems and aerospace solutions at the airshow, running July 20 to 24, a July 21, 2026

Seoul steps in as ETF crash takes toll on retirees and minors SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - A crash inevitably leaves collateral damage, and the nearly 50 percent plunge in leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to chip behemoths Samsung Electronics and SK hynix has hit some of South Korea's most vulnerable investors, wiping out retirement savings and money invested on behalf of minors. "Were we guinea pigs?" one investor wrote after watching losses mount in the newly launched single-stock leveraged ETFs. "Will anybody he July 21, 2026

Samsung creates CEO-led robotics office to speed humanoid push SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics on Tuesday unveiled a new robotics unit reporting directly to Chief Executive No Tae-moon, centralizing development and business operations as it steps up efforts to expand its robotics business. The new RX (Robotics eXperience) Business Office, reporting directly to Vice Chairman and DX chief No Tae-moon, will oversee the company's robotics strategy, core technology development and commercialization under a unified structure. July 21, 2026

Midfielder Hwang In-beom joins Portuguese club FC Porto SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Midfielder Hwang In-beom has transferred to Portugal's FC Porto, the club announced on Tuesday. FC Porto said they paid 4.5 million euros (US$5.14 million) to sign the midfielder on a three-year deal, with an option to extend the contract for another season. Hwang will wear the No. 16 jersey at FC Porto. Hwang's transfer from Dutch club Feyenoord marks another step in his international football career, which has taken him to several different co July 21, 2026

Lee orders review of leveraged chip ETFs after retail investor losses SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) — President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday ordered financial authorities to draw up "swift and thorough" stabilization measures for controversial single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs), saying the government must address mounting losses suffered by retail investors who piled into the products after regulators approved their launch. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Lee pointed to the divided views over leveraged ETFs linked to Samsung Electro July 21, 2026

Seoul assures oil supplies enough, but Houthi risk clouds Q4 SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Just as Asian economies had adapted to the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz by relying increasingly on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea exports, Yemen's Houthi militants are threatening the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, putting the region's alternative oil lifeline at risk and raising the prospect that the Middle East's two principal oil export corridors could be disrupted simultaneously. The new threat leaves major Asian importers, including South Korea, faci July 21, 2026

South Korea falls to 32nd in FIFA rankings after early World Cup exit SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - South Korea dropped seven places to 32nd in FIFA's latest men's world rankings, released on Tuesday, after this year's World Cup in North America wrapped up over the weekend. South Korea, ranked 25th just before the quadrennial football tournament kicked off last month, slipped to 32nd after its early World Cup exit. In its group-stage matches, South Korea beat Czechia 2-1 in its opening match and appeared to be off to a strong start, but suffer July 21, 2026

High-school baseball team gets reduced ban over chants mocking Gwangju uprising SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Paichai High School's baseball team can now return to competition after South Korea's top sports disciplinary body cut its ban from six months to one month over chants mocking the 1980 Gwangju democratic uprising. The Sports Fairness Committee of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) made the decision after a meeting in southern Seoul on Monday, reversing most of the punishment issued by the Korea Baseball Softball Association (KBSA) early th July 21, 2026