Naver, Kakao, telecoms and startups line up for Korea's free AI project SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - South Korea's biggest technology names are jostling to join the government's "AI for All" project, a state drive to build a homegrown artificial intelligence service that every citizen can use free of charge, as the contest for a slice of the initiative gathers pace. Kakao and LG Uplus have confirmed their bids, while Naver, SK Telecom and KT are weighing entry, industry sources said on Tuesday. AI startups and mid-sized firms are also sou July 14, 2026

New rooftop garden to open in Gwanghwamun by year's end SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - The rooftop of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will open to the public by the end of this year, offering panoramic views of Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Tuesday. The city government said it has obtained building permits for the center's rooftop garden and an exterior elevator, with construction set to begin in September. It said the rooftop garden will be open to everyone, featuring rest area July 14, 2026

Seoul court suspends FTC order naming Coupang founder as controlling head SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) -A South Korean appeals court on Monday suspended the antitrust regulator's decision designating Coupang founder and Chairman Bom Kim as the controlling individual of the U.S.-listed e-commerce giant, handing the company an early legal victory in a closely watched dispute over Korea's conglomerate rules. The Seoul High Court granted part of Coupang's request for an injunction, temporarily halting the Korea Fair Trade Commission's May 1 decision July 14, 2026

Foreigners pull out record $110 bn from Korean equities H1 SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - Foreign pulled out $110 billion from Korea's red-hot stock market in the first six months, with nearly $31 billion taken out in June alone, data showed Tuesday. Inflow into the bond market following South Korea’s inclusion in the World Government Bond Index (WGBI) offered a marginal relief to the Korean won, according to the Bank of Korea. Foreign investment in South Korean securities posted a net outflow of $30.72 billion in June. Equity funds July 14, 2026

KF-16 fighters to fly nonstop to Australia for Pitch Black exercise SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - South Korea’s Air Force will take part in Pitch Black 2026, a multinational air combat exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force, at Darwin Air Base from Friday to Aug. 7, the Air Force said Tuesday. The exercise will bring together about 110 aircraft from 16 countries, including F-35A stealth fighters from the United States, Japan and Australia, Rafale fighters from India and Typhoon fighters from Spain and Germany. South Korea will send six July 14, 2026

Koreans raid retirement savings to chase the stock bull SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) — South Koreans are dipping into pension and long-term funds to join the stock market rush, risking their retirement nest eggs as they chase short-term returns. The number of Koreans cashing out private retirement savings plans jumped 62.7 percent in the first five months of the year from a year earlier, while fund redemptions rose 47.3 percent, according to data submitted by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) and the Korea Securities Depository (K July 14, 2026

South Korea braces for heavy rain as weakening Typhoon Bavi moves inland SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - Heavy rain and strong winds are expected nationwide as Typhoon Bavi, which made landfall in China last week, moves toward the Korean Peninsula, the Korea Meteorological Administration said on Tuesday. This year's ninth typhoon Bavi, named after a mountain range in Viet Nam, continues to carry large amounts of moisture despite weakening into a tropical cyclone after making landfall in China's Zhejiang province over the weekend, according the KMA. July 14, 2026

Samsung Elec edges out Apple as top smartphone vendor Q2 SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) -Samsung Electronics stole back the world's top smartphone vendor title in the second quarter from Apple amid the worst slump in global smartphone market in 13 years due to spike in memory costs. According to preliminary data released Monday by Counterpoint Research, Samsung captured a 24 percent share of global smartphone shipments in the April-June period, compared with Apple's 20 percent. In the first quarter, Apple briefly moved ahea July 14, 2026

Krafton studio Flyway Games launches action roguelike 'Ascend to Zero' SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - Krafton's creative studio Flyway Games launched its new action roguelike "Ascend to Zero" worldwide, releasing the title simultaneously as an Xbox Game Pass day-one offering. The game went live at Monday 4 p.m. Korea time across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, the ROG Xbox Ally and Steam. Game Pass subscribers can play it at no additional cost. "Ascend to Zero" casts players as a fighter who wields the power to freeze July 14, 2026

AMCHAM takes Korean delegation to Washington for annual doorknock SEOUL, July 14 (AJP)-The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) is leading a delegation of Korean companies to Washington this week for its "K-Doorknock" program, aimed at helping businesses expand into the U.S. market and address a range of pending trade, investment and regulatory issues between the two countries. The initiative will make its debut during AMCHAM's annual Washington Doorknock mission, which runs from July 13 to 16 and brings business leaders t July 14, 2026