Asian stocks under broad foreign selloff, KOSPI and Nikkei biggest casualties

SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - Asian stocks tumbled across the board on Wednesday, with recent winners in Seoul and Tokyo turning into the day’s biggest losers. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI closed down 2.85 percent at 4,004.42, barely holding the psychologically important 4,000 level. The index had plunged more than 5 percent in early trading, triggering a sidecar halt. The selloff followed mounting fears of a potential U.S. market bubble after steep losses in Palantir Te

November 5, 2025

South Korea begins efforts to spur commercial use of quantum technologies

SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Wednesday launched a team designed to accelerate the transition of quantum technology from laboratory research to industrial application. The so-called K-Quantum Industry Alliance brings together companies, universities, research institutes, and financial organizations in a coordinated effort to strengthen the country’s quantum ecosystem. During a ceremony in Seoul, participants sig

November 5, 2025

Former first lady admits to accepting luxury bags while seeking bail

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - Former First Lady Kim Keon Hee on Wednesday admitted to accepting luxury bags, which have been among multiple allegations against her, but claimed they were not bribes given in return for favors. In a statement released by her legal representatives, the wife of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol said she received two Chanel bags from Jeon Seong-bae, a dubious religious leader and shaman, but denied accepting high-end jewelry including a Graff neckla

November 5, 2025

Majority of South Koreans distrust national pension system, survey finds

SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - More South Koreans say they distrust the national pension system than those who express confidence in it, according to a new survey highlighting deepening public skepticism toward the country’s social safety net. The poll, commissioned by the Korea Employers Federation and conducted by Mono Research, found that 55.7 percent of respondents do not trust the national pension system, compared with 44.3 percent who said they do. Distrust wa

November 5, 2025

BOK governor to attend BIS meeting, Singapore fintech forum

SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - Bank of Korea Governor Lee Chang-yong will travel to Basel, Switzerland, on Thursday to attend a meeting of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) governors. During his visit, Lee will join discussions with fellow central bankers on the global economy and financial markets. As a BIS director, he will also take part in meetings of the board and the Economic Consultative Committee. In his capacity as chair of the Committee on the Global Financial

November 5, 2025

KRW falls to weakest in 7 mo as forex data implies limited room for Seoul to defend currency

SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - The South Korean won’s recovery — fueled by the Korea-U.S. trade deal during APEC week and a bullish stock market — proved short-lived as the U.S. dollar climbed to a seven-month high amid renewed concerns over frothy AI-related stocks. The dollar hit 1,446.3 won on Wednesday, its strongest level since April, as foreign investors dumped more than 2 trillion won worth of KOSPI shares as of 2:00 p.m., dragging the benchmark index down mor

November 5, 2025

Crowds flock to Gyeongju museum after APEC summit

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - A couple of exhibition rooms and halls at the Gyeongju National Museum, which were used as the main venues for last week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city, are set to open for general admission, starting this week. Capitalizing on the momentum from the city's successful hosting of the multilateral gathering, the museum is running a special exhibition from Thursday through the end of next month, featuring th

November 5, 2025

Bear returns to the Asian market on AI bubble concerns

SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - Asian stocks slumped Wednesday as a wave of bearish sentiment swept through regional markets. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index plunged 4.1 percent to 3,950.96, falling back below the 4,000 mark just seven trading days after breaking it for the first time in history. The small-cap KOSDAQ tumbled even further, down 4.4 percent to 886.00. The downturn was led by heavyweight chipmakers. Samsung Electronics dropped 5.5 percent to 99,100 won ($68), w

November 5, 2025

BMW overtakes Tesla as top-selling imported car brand in South Korea

SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - BMW has overtaken Tesla to become South Korea’s best-selling imported car brand, as demand for foreign-made vehicles continued to rise this year despite a slowdown in October sales. According to data released Wednesday by the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA), registrations of new imported passenger cars totaled 24,064 in October, up 13.2 percent from a year earlier. The figure, however, marked a 26.7 percent decli

November 5, 2025

PHOTOS: Dried persimmons from Sangju — taste of centuries

SEOUL, November 05 (AJP) - Late autumn transforms Sangju in North Gyeongsang Province into a spectacle of vivid orange. This is the season when the autumn sun-kissed persimmons are harvested and processed into the region’s renowned specialty: Gotgam, or dried persimmons. Sangju is traditionally famed for persimmons, rice and silk. While modern crops like grapes and cucumbers have joined its list of specialties, it is the gotgam that defines the region. Sangju's dried per

November 5, 2025