[K-Beauty] Foreign patients flock to Korea, fueling hospital-based skincare industry

Editor's Note: This is the seventh article in our series exploring the evolving landscape of the Korean beauty industry and the products that captivate international visitors. SEOUL, August 04 (AJP) - South Korea is experiencing an unprecedented wave of medical tourism, driven not by emergency surgeries or rare procedures, but by dermatology clinics and skincare treatments that are drawing patients from around the world — and transforming clinics into international beaut

August 4, 2025

[K-Tech] South Korea to invest $27 million in AI-powered cancer drug research

SEOUL, August 04 (AJP) - South Korea will invest 37.4 billion won, or roughly $27 million, this year to advance the use of artificial intelligence and robotics in developing next-generation pharmaceuticals — with a particular focus on precision cancer therapies. The initiative, unveiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, aims to bolster the country’s competitiveness in the fast-growing field of antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs — a class of targeted c

August 4, 2025

Tax reform plan triggers market rout, political fallout in South Korea

SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - A sweeping tax reform proposal from President Lee Jae Myung’s administration has sparked political infighting and market turmoil, raising doubts about its ability to reconcile its pro-growth rhetoric with investor sentiment. Unveiled on July 31, the tax overhaul plan includes a controversial provision that would lower the threshold for shareholders subject to capital gains taxes from 5 billion won (about $3.9 million) per stock to 1 billion won ($770

August 3, 2025

US demand for rice market access clouds prospects for Lee-Trump summit

SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - A dispute over U.S. access to South Korea’s rice market is casting a shadow over a planned summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump, raising concerns that economic friction could spill into broader diplomatic discussions. American officials have claimed that South Korea agreed to open its rice market to U.S. imports as part of recent trade negotiations. But South Korean officials, including President Lee&

August 3, 2025

South Korea's new ruling party leader rejects dialogue with PPP, citing threat to democracy

SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - Jung Chung-rae, a hardline lawmaker who is loyal to President Lee Jae Myung, ruled out cooperation with the conservative opposition People Power Party after being elected as leader of the ruling Democratic Party, on Aug. 2, denouncing the PPP as a “force that destroys democracy." Jung won 61.74 percent of votes in the party’s leadership contest, decisively defeating another Lee loyalist Rep. Park Chan-dae, who received 38.26 percent. Sp

August 3, 2025

Torrential downpours return to Korea amid unrelenting heat and tropical nights

SEOUL, August 2 (AJP) - With sweltering heat persisting across the country, South Korea is set to see intense rainfall starting Sunday as back-to-back downpours are expected to sweep much of the country. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) on Saturday warned that very heavy rain is forecast from Sunday to Monday, particularly across the Seoul metropolitan area, the central provinces of Chungcheong, the southwestern Jeolla region, and southern coastal parts of South Gye

August 2, 2025

[K-pop] 'Golden' from K-pop anime reaches top of UK music chart

SEOUL, August 2 (AJP) - "Golden," a track from Netflix’s K-pop Demon Hunters, has become the first K-pop song in over a decade to top the UK’s Official Singles Chart. Released six weeks ago, the song "Golden" by the film’s fictional girl group HUNTR/X topped the UK’s Official Singles Chart. The chart's official website described the song as a "phenomenon," saying it "takes over this week’s Official Chart,&qu

August 2, 2025

Trump says Washington and Seoul have 'great' relationship ahead of summit

SEOUL, August 2 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. and South Korea have a "great relationship," ahead of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's visit to the White House within two weeks. "We have a great relationship with South Korea," said Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House before departing for New Jersey. When asked about the timing of the summit, he added that Lee is expected to visit within two weeks.

August 2, 2025

Yoon refuses to comply with arrest in probe involving wife

SEOUL, August 1 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors on Friday failed to forcibly bring in disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol for questioning, as he refused to cooperate. Prosecutors led by Min Jung-ki, who have been investigating a string of allegations involving Yoon’s wife and former first lady Kim Keon Hee, visited a remand prison in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, in an attempt to arrest Yoon. Yoon reportedly protested vehemently by lying almost bare-naked on the floor of

August 1, 2025

[K-Pop] IVE to drop new album late this month

SEOUL, August 1 (AJP) - K-pop girl group IVE will release a new album later this month, their agency Starship Entertainment said Friday. Slated for release on Aug. 25, the album, dubbed "IVE Secret," is expected to feature songs with summer vibes, although no details have been disclosed. To create buzz ahead of its release, a teaser poster was also unveiled, featuring six members holding various props such as a tumbler, an animal-shaped object, and a toy gun, piquing cu

August 1, 2025