Korea's record C/A surplus overshadowed by $31 bn foreign stock sell SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - South Korea posted another record current account surplus in May, but the windfall was overshadowed by the largest foreign exodus from the country's stock market on record, exposing a widening disconnect between the economy's external strength and global investors' appetite for Korean assets — a divergence that has helped keep the won stubbornly weak. The Bank of Korea said Wednesday the current account surplus widened to a record $38.61 bi July 8, 2026

Seoul enters NATO procurement talks as alliance opens industrial network SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) -South Korea and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) agreed Tuesday to launch negotiations on a procurement framework agreement, positioning Korean defense companies to participate in the alliance's expanding industrial and joint procurement network as NATO unveiled sweeping initiatives to accelerate defense production across Europe and North America. The agreement was reached during President Lee Jae Myung's meeting with NATO Secretary Gener July 8, 2026

Kazakhstan tightens grip on flagship gas projects SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - Kazakhstan has placed construction work at its three largest gas processing projects under weekly government monitoring, a step aimed at keeping the flagship developments on schedule as the country races to meet surging domestic demand and expand its role as a Eurasian energy supplier, the state news agency Qazinform reported Tuesday. The projects under watch sit at the heart of Kazakhstan's plan to lift marketable gas output to 34.6 billion cubic meters July 7, 2026

TVXQ's Yunho to release new solo single later this month SEOUL, July 7 (AJP) - K-pop boy band TVXQ's Yunho will release a new single later this month, his management agency SM Entertainment said on Tuesday. "Time's Tickin'" will be available on major music streaming platforms at 6 p.m. on July 20, with a physical version also set for release on the same day. Preorders are already open at retailers. The upcoming single marks his first solo work since he released his full-length album "I-KNOW" last July 7, 2026

Korean retail flow suggests stock frenzy may be fizzling out SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) — Korean individual deposits at brokerage houses are thinning fast while overseas stock buying is also losing momentum, suggesting the retail stock frenzy may have peaked and the firepower that has so far sustained the KOSPI against relentless foreign selling could be running out. Investor deposits — cash held in brokerage accounts for future stock purchases — fell to 112.21 trillion won ($76.7 billion) as of Monday, according to the Korea Fina July 7, 2026

Npay launches venture capital investment platform to boost 'productive finance' SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - Npay, Naver's fintech arm, unveiled a new venture capital investment platform, aiming to bridge the gap between promising startups and investors and channel more "productive finance" into South Korea's capital markets. The service, called Npay Startup, was launched Tuesday at a ceremony at Naver's 1784 headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, with officials from the Financial Supervisory Service and the venture investment industry in July 7, 2026

Hearts2Hearts to make Japan debut SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - Hearts2Hearts will make its official Japan debut in August with the single "ICONIC HEART," SM Entertainment said Tuesday. The launch comes less than 18 months after the group's Korean debut in February 2025, marking a quick move into one of K-pop's most important overseas markets. The single's three tracks will be released on global streaming platforms on Aug. 10, followed by a physical release in Japan on Aug. 12. Hearts2Hearts h July 7, 2026

Super Junior's Leeteuk, Heechul to release first EP as 83z unit SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - Super Junior members Leeteuk and Heechul will release their first EP as the unit Super Junior-83z on July 13, SM Entertainment said Tuesday. The unit's name refers to both members being born in 1983. The six-track EP, "Promise," will be released on major platforms at 6 p.m, (0900 GMT) including Melon, Flo, Genie, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify and more. A physical version will also come out the same day. The title track, also c July 7, 2026

Canada picked Germany. Korea still made its point  SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) - South Korea may have lost the multi-decade, multi-billion-dollar submarine contract in Canada, but it did not come away empty-handed. In Korea, there is a saying, jeot-jal-ssa — literally "lost, but fought well." It best captures Hanwha Ocean's narrow defeat to Germany's TKMS in what Canada itself described as a "difficult, close decision." To impress Canadian officials, South Korea dispatched the operational KSS-III submar July 7, 2026

Kia to retire 14-year-old K9 amid sagging demand for sedans SEOUL, July 07 (AJP) -Kia will retire its flagship K9 luxury sedan by the end of this year, industry officials and union sources said Monday, ending a 14-year production run as the automaker shifts investment toward electric vehicles, purpose-built vehicles and software-defined cars amid dwindling demand for large gasoline-powered sedans. The company has ruled out a facelift, a full redesign or even an annual model-year update, according to the sources, signaling that no successo July 7, 2026