Cuba woos Korean firms as sanctions risks loom large SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - Cuba urged Korean companies to explore business opportunities in agriculture and renewable energy on Thursday, as Havana seeks to turn its new diplomatic ties with Seoul into practical economic cooperation despite deepening U.S. sanctions and persistent payment and logistics risks. The pitch came at the “Cuba Business Opportunities” seminar held in central Seoul, co-hosted by the Cuban Embassy in Korea, the Korea Cooperation League of Latin America June 11, 2026

KOSPI claws back early rout, but SpaceX liquidity fears keep Korea on fragile ground SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) — After another volatile day — swinging between losses and gains more than 50 times — South Korean shares managed to end higher on Thursday. But with the market's fear gauge touching a record high intraday, the rebound underscored the panic behind foreign capital outflows and aggressive retail bargain hunting. The KOSPI rose 33.13 points, or 0.43 percent, to close at 7,763.95. The index opened 2.86 percent lower at 7,509.62 and b June 11, 2026

BTS turns Busan into Asia's hottest destination SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - Busan, South Korea's second-largest city and biggest port, has turned into a mini-Asia as it hosts a two-day homecoming concert for BTS, timed with the group's 13th anniversary. The summer vacation season arrived early for the coastal city, with fans crowding department stores, luxury outlets, convenience stores and Olive Young shops, while roaming beaches and BTS-themed streets ahead of the June 12-13 concerts. By late May, major hotels including June 11, 2026

From Ejae to BTS, K-pop in spotlight at World Cup SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - K-pop is set to steal some of the spotlight at this year's FIFA World Cup, with singer Ejae, who gained global fame through Netflix's hit animation, scheduled to perform at the opening ceremony, and BTS set to headline the halftime show at the final. According to organizers, Ejae, along with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, is scheduled to perform "DNA," the official anthem of this year's World Cup, at the opening ceremony in Mexico City on June 11, 2026

Sookmyung Women's University startup develops ultra-lightweight, snow-melting solar panels SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - A technology startup founded by a mechanical engineering professor at Sookmyung Women's University has developed and commercialized a new line of lightweight solar modules designed to melt snow and integrate seamlessly into electric vehicles. The prominent university in Seoul said Thursday. ACE Inventor, founded by Joung Young-soo, a professor at Sookmyung Women's University's School of Mechanical Systems Engineering, has been receiving researc June 11, 2026

Jeju Air launches new daily flight between Incheon and Kobe SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - Low-cost carrier Jeju Air launched a new daily route linking Incheon to the Japanese city of Kobe, it said on Thursday. The route operates seven flights a week, departing Incheon at 1:35 p.m. and arriving in Kobe at 3:15 p.m., with return flights leaving Kobe at 4:15 p.m. and arriving in Incheon at 6:15 p.m. From next month, departure and arrival times will be slightly adjusted. The port city of Kobe is known for its distinctive architecture and exotic buil June 11, 2026

Buried beneath Korea's chip boom, refiners fight for survival SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - Buried beneath South Korea's semiconductor boom is a quieter survival story unfolding in the country's refineries and petrochemical plants. South Korea's economic narrative has been dictated by silicon in recent years. Memory giants have propelled the KOSPI past stock markets in cities such as London and Toronto while joining the exclusive trillion-dollar market-capitalization club. In contrast, some of the country's oldest industrial pillar June 11, 2026

Netflix rolls out mobile-first updates to make content discovery easier SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - Streaming giant Netflix on Tuesday showcased new product and technology updates designed to help users find content more easily, with a focus on mobile viewing, personalized curation and gaming. The company unveiled the updates at an online Product and Technology Innovation Showcase for media in the Asia-Pacific region. Elizabeth Stone, Netflix's chief product and technology officer, said the company's mission is "to entertain the world" June 11, 2026

K-pop boy group CORTIS sells out North American presale for first tour SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - Rookie K-pop boy group CORTIS has sold out all North American dates for its first tour, "PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN," during membership presales, the group's agency BigHit Music said Wednesday. CORTIS — an acronym for Color Outside the Lines — is a five-member boy group under Big Hit Music and Republic Records in the US, consisting of James, Juhoon, Martin, Seonghyeon, and Keonho debuted last year. Tickets for six North American shows, June 11, 2026

AI technologies take center stage at global longevity summit SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) —Artificial intelligence (AI) and Human Digital Twin (HDT) technology could fundamentally reshape how people age, enabling physicians to predict disease risks, simulate health outcomes and deliver personalized interventions before symptoms appear, longevity researchers said Wednesday. The technologies are increasingly being viewed as a bridge between decades of aging research and practical healthcare applications, allowing scientists to combine genomic, June 11, 2026