PHOTOS: Webtoon hit 'My Daughter Is a Zombie' comes to screen July 30

SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - A press screening for the film "My Daughter Is a Zombie" was held Monday at Megabox COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, offering a glimpse into the cinematic adaptation of the popular webtoon. The movie, which is scheduled for release on July 30, stars Cho Jung-seok, Lee Jung-eun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Choi Yu-ri, and is based on a webtoon that has garnered more than 500 million views globally. Set against a backdrop of a sudden, unidentified

July 22, 2025

Hanwha Ocean tops post-merger performance among Korea's major corporate acquisitions

SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - Hanwha Ocean, formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, has emerged as the top-performing acquisition among major corporate takeovers by South Korea’s 30 largest conglomerates since 2015, according to an analysis released Tuesday by the corporate research firm Leaders Index. The report examined 20 acquisitions valued at over 500 billion won (approximately $365 million), assessing performance across key shareholder metrics including revenue

July 22, 2025

Hyundai's electric vehicle exports plunge 88 percent amid US setbacks

SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group’s electric vehicle exports plunged nearly 90 percent in the first five months of 2025, as softening demand and looming policy shifts in the United States threaten the automaker’s global electrification strategy. Data released Tuesday by the Korea Automobile & Mobility Association showed that Hyundai and its affiliate Kia shipped just 7,156 EVs between January and May, an 88 percent decline from 59,705 units during the same p

July 22, 2025

[K-Tech] LG unveils advanced EXAONE AI ecosystem

SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - LG AI Research unveiled its next-generation artificial intelligence platform, the EXAONE ecosystem, on Tuesday at its annual AI Talk Concert, signaling an aggressive push into multimodal AI, enterprise solutions, and scientific research. Held at the Magok LG Science Park in Seoul, the event highlighted the firm's ambition to position itself at the forefront of AI innovation across industries ranging from finance to biotechnology. “In 2025, we are

July 22, 2025

KDB fast-tracks $73 billion tech fund to bolster strategic industries

SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - Korea Development Bank plans to launch a sweeping 100 trillion won (approximately $73 billion) investment fund aimed at strengthening South Korea’s capabilities in critical high-tech sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology, and robotics. According to financial industry sources, the state-run lender has formed a task force to lay the administrative groundwork for the fund and is actively exploring organizational restruc

July 22, 2025

[K-Tech] Korean tech firms race to build homegrown AI foundation model

SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - South Korea’s top technology firms, artificial intelligence startups, and academic institutions are vying to lead a high-profile government initiative aimed at developing a sovereign AI foundation model — part of the country’s broader push to establish itself as a global AI powerhouse. The Ministry of Science and ICT said Tuesday it had received proposals from 15 consortia — described by officials as “elite teams” —

July 22, 2025

South Korean retail investors dump gold as stocks rally

SEOUL, July 22 (AJP) - South Korean retail investors have turned net sellers of gold for the first time in over a year, pivoting toward equities as the country’s main stock index soared to its highest level in nearly four years. Between July 1 and July 21, individual investors unloaded a net 15.9 billion won, or approximately $11.4 million, worth of gold on the Korea Exchange, with a sharp 11.1 billion won sold in a single day on July 21, according to exchange data. Proprie

July 22, 2025

TWICE's world tour kicks off with immersive panoramic stage performances

SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - K-pop girl group TWICE will fly to Osaka, Japan this weekend for concerts as part of the first leg of their world tour, their agency JYP Entertainment said on Monday. Kicking off the tour with concerts in Incheon, Gyeonggi Province over the weekend, the nine members are set to perform in Osaka on Saturday and Sunday, before heading to other Japanese cities such as Fukuoka and Tokyo in September. They will also travel to Macau, the Philippines, and Singapore

July 21, 2025

Independent prosecutors summon ex-first lady to appear for questioning

SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors on Monday asked former first lady Kim Keon Hee to appear for questioning early next month. Prosecutors led by Min Jung-ki, who are investigating a slew of allegations involving Kim, including the acceptance of a luxury handbag, involvement in a stock manipulation scheme, election-related meddling in candidate nominations, and several other accusations, summoned her, about three weeks after forming a team for the probe. According

July 21, 2025

OPINION: Beyond borders -- Advice for students considering college abroad

SEOUL, July 21 (AJP) - For students looking to study abroad, particularly in the United States, the current climate is fraught with uncertainty. With concerns around global conflicts and sharp political changes, as well as the impact of COVID-19 still fresh in our memory, a growing number of students are shifting perceptions about traditional destinations for university overseas. Students are also considering more diverse options. In my capacity as Director of University and Caree

July 21, 2025