Seoul bans brakeless fixie bicycles in public roads after fatal accidents surge SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Seoul has formally banned brakeless fixed-gear bicycles, or so-called fixie bicycles, from public roads, bike lanes and parks across the city, following a fatal accident last summer and a 50.4 percent jump in youth bicycle crashes that police have linked to a viral fixie trend among middle and high school students. The Seoul Metropolitan Government accnounced the enactement of the ordinance on Monday after passing it at the city's 6th Ordinances and Rules R May 18, 2026

KOSPI sinks as U.S. tech selloff and Samsung strike fears dampen sentiment SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - South Korean stocks opened sharply lower on Monday, with the benchmark KOSPI falling below 7,300, after weeks of an unprecedented rally. The drop, the lowest since May 4, came as investors reacted to a global technology selloff and rising U.S. bond yields, while uncertainty over Samsung Electronics' ongoing labor dispute added further pressure. The index opened down 0.67 percent at 7,443.29 points before extending losses and falling as low as 7,142.71 in May 18, 2026

North Korean leader orders 'strengthening of front-line units along border with South Korea' SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered the strengthening of front-line units along the border with South Korea and called for turning the area into an "impregnable fortress," state media reported on Monday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim convened a meeting with military and defense officials the previous day to outline plans for "remodeling the military organizational structure and strengthening the first May 18, 2026

Lee discusses outcomes of recent US-China summit with Trump in phone call SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump, Cheong Wa Dae said on Monday. In a written press briefing, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said the phone call, which was arranged at Seoul's request to hear about the outcomes of last week's summit in Beijing between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, lasted about 30 minutes. Trump said he and Xi held meaningful discussions on issues related to peace on May 18, 2026

First 'India Day' transforms Seoul riverfront into 'Mini India' SEOUL, May 17 (AJP) - On Saturday, May 16, the weekend breeze off the Han River carried the heavy scents of cumin, masala, and roasting curries. Under a cloudless early-summer sky, Mulbit Square at Yeouido Hangang Park was temporarily remade into a "Mini India." More than 1,500 people navigated the sprawling outdoor festival, where visitors in bright saris mingled alongside families setting up pop-up tents and picnic mats under the trees. Hosted by the Embas May 17, 2026

South Korean government threatens emergency mediation to stop Samsung strike SEOUL, May 17 (AJP) - The South Korean government officially raised the possibility of invoking emergency mediation powers for the first time to avert a looming general strike at Samsung Electronics. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok issued a public statement on Sunday, warning that the state would use all available legal measures if the walkout severely damages the national economy. The announcement puts maximum pressure on both management and labor ahead of a critical post-mediation m May 17, 2026

N. Korean women's football team arrives in S. Korea ahead of historic inter-Korean clash SEOUL, May 17 (AJP) - A North Korean women's football team arrived in South Korea on Sunday to compete in the Asian Football Confederation Women's Champions League semifinals, setting the stage for a rare and highly anticipated inter-Korean match. The Naegohyang Women's FC delegation, consisting of 27 players and 12 staff members, landed at Incheon International Airport at approximately 2:20 p.m., according to South Korea's Ministry of Unification. The team is s May 17, 2026

ASIA DEEP INSIGHT: Can Korean won stable coin actually become real? Professor Lee Jong-seop’s Vision of K-Content Convergence and the Future of Korean Digital Finance The global economy of the 21st century is now fighting two currency wars simultaneously. One is the visible battle of interest rates and exchange rates. The other is the quieter yet potentially more consequential struggle for digital monetary supremacy unfolding across blockchain networks. In the past, nations that controlled oil shaped the world order. Today, the countri May 17, 2026

ASIA DEEP INSIGHT: Is Bloomberg's National Dividend controversial coverage misreporting or overinterpretation? The press is not merely an institution that relays facts. In the age of global finance, international news agencies shape market psychology and, at times, influence the trajectory of national economies themselves. Vast pools of capital moving through New York, London, Hong Kong, and Singapore now react more swiftly to a single headline on a financial terminal than to the smokestacks of factories. In that sense, the recent dispute between Bloomberg L.P. and the South Korean pres May 17, 2026

Samsung Chairman apologizes for labor standoff as tech giant agrees to resume talks SEOUL, May 16 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong issued a rare public apology on Saturday regarding the ongoing labor dispute that has threatened a major disruption at the world’s largest memory chipmaker, just as management and labor groups agreed to return to the negotiating table. Returning to South Korea via Gimpo Business Aviation Center from an overseas business trip, Lee directly addressed the escalating tensions that have brought the company to the bri May 16, 2026