Kakao posts record first-quarter earnings as AI fuels Korea's platform giants SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - South Korea's platform giants are converting an artificial intelligence investment cycle into top-line momentum, with Kakao joining rival Naver in delivering AI-revved first-quarter earnings. According to regulatory filings on Thursday, Kakao's consolidated operating profit jumped around 65.9 percent from a year earlier to 211.4 billion won ($145.7 million) on an adjusted basis, while revenue climbed 11.1 percent to 1.94 trillion won — both first May 7, 2026

BTS gets state-visit red-carpet treatment in Mexico SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - K-pop supergroup BTS appeared alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum at the presidential office in Mexico City on Thursday, drawing tens of thousands of fans ahead of the group's sold-out stadium concerts. Sheinbaum welcomed the seven-member band during her regular morning press briefing, known as "Mañanera," describing BTS as artists who "always convey messages of friendship, peace and love." The May 7, 2026

Coupang credit card transaction volume surpasses levels recorded before data leak SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - April credit card transaction volume for South Korean e-commerce leader Coupang surged back to record levels, signaling that the platform's market dominance remains intact. The rebound follows a massive personal information breach revealed late last year, according to mobile index data released by artificial intelligence firm IGAWorks on Thursday. IGAWorks' data showed that monthly credit and debit card payments for Coupang reached 4.6 trillion won ($ May 7, 2026

KOSPI briefly tops 7,500 for first time as AI chip rally powers Seoul stocks SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - South Korean stocks surged to another record Thursday, with the benchmark KOSPI briefly topping the 7,500 mark for the first time as easing oil prices, renewed optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran agreement and another global surge in AI-linked chip shares fueled heavy buying in Seoul’s largest technology stocks. The main index climbed as high as 7,531.88, breaking above the 7,500 mark after Wall Street’s three major indexes closed sharply higher o May 7, 2026

CJ CheilJedang to promote Korean liquor at PGA Tour event SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - CJ CheilJedang announced it will use this year's "The CJ Cup Byron Nelson," a PGA Tour event, as a platform to introduce Korean traditional liquor to global consumers, part of a broader push to position Korean distilled spirits alongside Japanese sake and Chinese baijiu. The South Korean food giant said cocktails made with Munbae-ju and Gamuchi soju will be served to players and spectators at the tournament, which the company has sponsored through May 7, 2026

Trump says Washington 'closing in on a deal' with Iran to end months of conflict SEOUL, May 7 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday raised hopes that the U.S. is "closing in on a deal" with Iran to end the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. In a phone interview with PBS News, Trump said, "I think it's got a very good chance of ending," suggesting that the deal could be reached before his trip to China for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week. But he left some doubt, saying, "I felt that way before May 7, 2026

New imaging technique uses LED light to map material structures in 3D SEOUL, May 07 (AJP) - A joint research team has developed a new imaging technology that uses standard light-emitting diodes to look inside materials and map their complex internal structures in three dimensions. The method, called incoherent Dielectric Tensor Tomography, allows scientists to see how molecules are arranged without using high-powered lasers or destroying the sample, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology said Thursday. The project was a collaborative May 7, 2026

Korea's FX reserves rebound in April on eased foreign stock selling and dollar SEOUL, May 7 (AJP) — South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves rebounded in April after a brief contraction a month earlier, as gains in foreign-currency assets fueled by a stronger U.S. dollar helped offset pressure from authorities’ won-defense operations, the central bank said Thursday. According to monthly data from the Bank of Korea (BOK), the country’s foreign exchange reserves stood at $427.88 billion at the end of April, up $4.22 billion from the prev May 7, 2026

Jo Sumi marks 40th anniversary debut with vision for young artists SEOUL, May 06 (AJP) - World-renowned soprano Jo Sumi marked the 40th anniversary of her international debut Wednesday, outlining a forward-looking vision focused on nurturing young artists while expanding her musical scope through new collaborations. The milestone signals a strategic shift for South Korea's most iconic classical figure as she integrates her legacy with modern entertainment structures. "What I can do now is share what I have with as many people as possibl May 6, 2026

Trump-Xi summit likely sideline Iran and security issues: Yan Xuetong SEOUL, May 06 (AJP) - Iran will likely dominate the backdrop of next week’s summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, but the two leaders are unlikely to produce any coordinated strategy on the Strait of Hormuz crisis as the world drifts deeper into a fragmented “G0 order,” according to prominent Chinese international relations scholar Yan Xuetong. Yan, speaking Wednesday at a seminar titled “Changes and Prospects in U.S.- May 6, 2026