Korea exceeds $90 billion in export SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - South Korea's exports topped $90 billion for a third straight month in August, as record semiconductor shipments offset weaker sales of cars and ships, the trade ministry said Tuesday. Exports rose 68.7 percent from a year earlier to $98.25 billion, while imports climbed 22.5 percent to $63.51 billion, leaving a trade surplus of $34.75 billion, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said. The surplus stayed above $30 billion for a third co September 1, 2026

White House explores steps for possible Trump-Kim deal SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - The White House has asked the U.S. agency responsible for recovering missing service members to outline steps it could take in preparation for possible talks with North Korea. Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), said Monday that his agency had been asked to outline what could realistically be done in the event of an agreement between Trump and Kim. McKeague made the remarks during a virtual discussion hosted by the September 1, 2026

Seoul toughens crackdown on overcharging eateries SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - South Korea will suspend restaurants and other food businesses on their first overcharging offense, moving to curb the price-gouging scandals that have battered the reputation of traditional markets such as Seoul's Gwangjang Market. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Tuesday it had revised and promulgated the enforcement decree of the Food Sanitation Act, replacing a corrective order for a first violation with a five-day suspension effective im September 1, 2026

KOSPI reverses early losses as chip gains offset SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - South Korean stocks reversed early losses Tuesday morning, with the benchmark KOSPI edging higher as gains in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix offset renewed U.S.-Iran tensions, rising oil prices and pressure from higher U.S. Treasury yields. The KOSPI stood at 6,844.90 as of 10:30 a.m., up 0.4 percent from the previous session. The index had fallen as low as 6,732.47 after opening lower before rebounding to an intraday high of 6,857.35, a swing of nea September 1, 2026

Margin debt swells back as investors rotat into KOSDAQ SEOUL, September 1 (AJP) - South Korean margin borrowing rose for a ninth straight trading day and returned to the levels of mid-July as investors migrated to KOSDAQ outperforming the main index since last month. Outstanding margin loans across the two markets stood at 33.34 trillion won ($24.36 billion) as of Aug. 28, up 8.96 billion won ($6.5 million) from a day earlier, according to the Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA). The increase was driven by KOSDAQ stocks, September 1, 2026

South Korea sends 44 rescuers to Nepal at Kathmandu's request SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - An emergency South Korean relief team was set to fly to Nepal late Tuesday to search for nine workers missing since a massive flash flood engulfed a Himalayan valley last week. South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the deployment in a statement released Tuesday. Nepal had asked Seoul to send a team to support search and rescue work in the flood zone, and a public-private council approved the mission the same day under South Korea's September 1, 2026

South Korea to impose antidumping duties on Chinese butyl acrylate SEOUL, September 1 (AJP) - South Korea will impose antidumping duties on butyl acrylate imported from China for five years starting later this month, the Ministry of Finance and Economy said on Tuesday. The duties, which will take effect on Sept. 28, will range from 8.32 percent to 19.17 percent and remain in place through Sept. 27, 2031. The measure follows an investigation by the Korea Trade Commission that began in September last year after LG Chem filed a complaint. The commi September 1, 2026

Korea adds semiconductors to export control list SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - South Korea added high-performance AI chips and advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment to its strategic export control list Tuesday, requiring exporters to obtain government approval before shipping the items overseas. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said the revised Public Notice on Strategic Goods Export and Import took effect the same day. The revision reflects more than 80 changes agreed under four international export contr September 1, 2026

LG Energy Solution signs long-term supply deal with US lithium developer SEOUL, September 1 (AJP) - LG Energy Solution (LGES) has signed a long-term supply contract with a U.S. lithium developer, it said on Tuesday. Under the contract with Smackover Lithium, a joint venture formed by U.S. lithium developer Standard Lithium and Norwegian state owned energy company Equinor, LGES will receive a total of 80,000 tons of lithium carbonate over 10 years starting in 2029, when Smackover Lithium begins full-scale production. The amount is enough to make batt September 1, 2026

Unionized workers at Hyundai Motor reach wage deal SEOUL, September 1 (AJP) - Unionized workers at Hyundai Motor have reached a wage agreement for this year, ending months of labor tensions that disrupted production at South Korea's largest automaker. In a vote on Monday, 61.55 percent of the 31,166 union members who cast ballots voted in favor of the agreement, the union said on Tuesday. The union has about 39,000 members in total. Under the new wage deal, workers will receive a 100,000 won (US$73) increase in monthly base September 1, 2026