Nam Joo-hyuk set to return with Netflix series after completing military service SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - Actor Nam Joo-hyuk was still serving in the military when the script for The East Palace landed in his hands. Reading it inside the barracks, he found himself drawn to an unusual idea: a swordsman who hunts ghosts by crossing between the worlds of the living and the dead. That script has now become his first project since completing military service. Set for release on July 17, Netflix's eight-episode series "The East Palace" blends palace intrigu July 8, 2026

South Korea urges US to reconsider proposed tariffs over alleged forced-labor imports SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - South Korea urged the U.S. earlier this week to reconsider its proposed tariffs on imports linked to forced labor, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). In a statement submitted to the USTR last Monday, South Korea said it believes the proposed action against the country "is unwarranted and needs to be revised," while sharing Washington's concerns over the "use of forced labor in global supply chains and th July 8, 2026

The missing ingredient in Korea's AI cake: a foundation model SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - "Seize this opportunity," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang exclaimed during his visit to South Korea last month, calling the country one of the few capable of owning the entire AI stack — from energy and memory to data-center infrastructure, AI models and applications. Huang may have overrated Korea. By almost every measure, South Korea is among the world's most enthusiastic adopters of artificial intelligence. Yet one crucial ingredient remains July 8, 2026

S.Korea's digital industry sales top $913 billion in 2024 SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - South Korea's digital industry generated 1,378 trillion won ($913.6 billion) in sales in 2024, up 9.3 percent from a year earlier, as the rapid embrace of artificial intelligence reshaped the country's industrial landscape. According to figures released by the Ministry of Science and ICT on Wednesday, digital industry sales accounted for 15.2 percent of all industry sales of 9,038 trillion won and exceeded half of the country's total manufacturing July 8, 2026

Samsung Heavy Industries tops $10 billion in orders with new tanker deal SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries has secured an order for two additional crude oil tankers, bringing its cumulative orders this year above US$10 billion, the shipbuilder said on Wednesday. The order, placed by a Bermuda-based shipowner, is worth about 284.9 billion won and is scheduled for delivery by May 2029, according to the shipbuilder. With the latest deal, Samsung Heavy Industries' cumulative orders for this year reached $10 billion, including 32 mer July 8, 2026

Incoming US ambassador to arrive in Seoul soon SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - Incoming U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel is expected to arrive in Seoul soon after completing the confirmation process in Washington. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul said Steel is "scheduled to arrive in Seoul soon and looks forward to further strengthening the relationship between our two countries." "I am so honored to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to South Korea," Steel said i July 8, 2026

Hanwha Aerospace pledges stronger role in NATO defense supply chains SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - Hanwha Aerospace has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding defense industrial cooperation in Europe as NATO allies seek to strengthen their defense production capacity and supply chain resilience, the company said Wednesday. The pledge was made during the NATO Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, held on the sidelines of the NATO Summit. Jacek Cyrek, president and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace Europe, said at a panel session that the company will continue to suppor July 8, 2026

Stray Kids preview new EP after chart-topping single, Billboard record SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - K-pop boy group Stray Kids are moving toward their first album release of 2026 with a new EP, "THIS & THAT," after a strong run on global charts and festival stages, the group's agency, JYP Entertainment, said Wednesday. The group's June 24 single "RUN IT" topped iTunes songs charts in 43 regions, including the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Spain and Britain, according to agency JYP Entertainment. T July 8, 2026

UNDP, Hyundai foundation name winners of Asia-Pacific start-up programme SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - Ten impact start-ups from five Asia-Pacific countries presented solutions linked to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals at a Demo Day in Seoul this week, concluding a three-month accelerator programme co-hosted by the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre and the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation. The programme, Global ImpactPreneur, ended with a networking event and final pitch session held on July 6 and 7 at ONDREAM SOCIETY in Myeong-dong, central Seoul. It wa July 8, 2026

Samsung tops economic contribution among South Korea's major firms SEOUL, July 8 (AJP) - South Korea's major companies contributed more than 1,700 trillion won (about US$1.13 trillion) to the economy last year as their earnings improved with Samsung Electronics topping the list, according to a report released by corporate tracker CEO Score on Wednesday. The combined economic contribution of South Korea's 100 largest privately owned companies by sales totaled 1,731.16 trillion won last year, up 7.4 percent from 1,612.47 trillion won July 8, 2026