KAIST embryo scan technique wins global fertility science award SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - A South Korean research team has developed a way to look inside living eggs and embryos in three dimensions without damaging them, a technique fertility specialists say could sharpen how doctors choose which embryos to implant during in vitro fertilization. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said Tuesday that the work won the Basic Science Award for Poster Presentation at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology July 21, 2026

Hanwha Solutions rights issue cut to $810 million after 21% discount SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) -Hanwha Solutions has bowed to regulatory scrutiny by finalizing on Monday a scaled-back 1.17 trillion won ($810 million) rights offering, less than half the 2.4 trillion won it originally planned to raise. The final fundraising reflects months of regulatory intervention and investor backlash that forced repeated revisions to one of South Korea's largest equity offerings this year, before a slide in the company's share price further reduced the proceed July 21, 2026

Coupang warehouse fire in Incheon contained after three-day battle SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - A massive fire at e-commerce giant Coupang's logistics center in Incheon was brought under control on Monday night after burning for about 61 hours, with firefighters continuing efforts to extinguish the remaining flames. According to fire authorities and emergency officials in Incheon, the fire, which broke out at around 6:50 a.m. last Saturday on the sixth floor of the eight-story logistics center in Seoknam-dong, was largely contained at around 8 p.m. July 21, 2026

BLACKPINK's Jennie to summer-seasoned single SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's Jennie will officially release her new solo single "Less than a Lover" on July 24 after previewing the song at a string of major international music festivals, her agency OA Entertainment (ODD ATELIER) said Tuesday. Jennie gave audiences an early listen to the track during headlining appearances at the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York, Denmark's Roskilde Festival, Poland's Open'er Festival and S July 21, 2026

Fire at Coupang warehouse in Incheon burns into third day SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - A fire at a Coupang logistics center in Incheon had burned for more than 51 hours as of Monday, with flames spreading to all four sides of the building. Local authorities have ordered an evacuation near the site as a precaution, though fire officials have pushed back on earlier media reports that firefighters were given an emergency escape order over building collapse fears. The fire broke out around 6:54 a.m. Friday on the sixth floor of Coupang's Fulfi July 20, 2026

Reality check for Korea's Lee and Japan's Takaichi as their honeymoons end SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - The chemistry between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi appeared immediate, culminating in an impromptu drumming performance during their January summit in Nara. They also had much in common. Both took office as agents of change after periods of political turmoil. Both entered government with approval ratings that would be enviable in almost any mature democracy. Both benefited from weakened opposition camps and July 20, 2026

Coupang back under fire over warehouse automation's safety trade-off SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - Fast delivery has long been at the core of Coupang's identity, helping transform South Korea into a republic of logistics. But a fire that was still burning Monday afternoon, more than 55 hours after breaking out at the company's state-of-the-art fulfillment center in Incheon, west of Seoul, underscored a new challenge facing increasingly automated warehouses - the costly trade-off between efficiency and the safety risks posed by lithium-powered robo July 20, 2026

Samchundang Pharm shares surge on hopes for diabetes generic SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - KOSDAQ-listed drugmaker Samchundang Pharm saw its shares soar on Monday amid expectations that its diabetes drug would move a step closer to entering the U.S. pharmaceutical market. Its shares surged 29.82 percent to close at the daily trading limit of 239,000 won after the drugmaker said it had received a written response from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its oral semaglutide generic, a pill for Type 2 diabetes, although the approval July 20, 2026

KOSPI drops 4.5% as sell sidecars hit both markets SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - Korean stocks closed sharply lower Monday, with the benchmark KOSPI losing more than 4 percent and the KOSDAQ falling more than 5 percent as sell-side sidecars were activated in both markets. The KOSPI dropped 304.33 points, or 4.46 percent, to close at 6,516.27. The index opened 2.60 percent lower at 6,643.58. It climbed as high as 6,814.86 during the session before falling to an intraday low of 6,472.80. The selloff followed a buildup of investor anx July 20, 2026

Won holds at 1,478 as strong dollar offsets BOK hike; bond yields climb SEOUL, July 20 (AJP) - The South Korean won ended nearly unchanged Monday as a strong dollar and renewed U.S.-Iran tensions offset support from the Bank of Korea’s interest-rate increase last week. Government bond yields rose as investors continued to price in the possibility of further monetary tightening. The won closed the daytime trading session at 1,478.4 per dollar, up 0.1 won from the previous session. The currency showed little reaction to the BOK’s decis July 20, 2026