South Korea urges North Korea to come forward for talks

SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - The Ministry of Unification on Monday urged North Korea to break its silence and return to dialogue, stressing that opportunities for peace on the Korean Peninsula including talks with the U.S. remain open. "South Korea will continue to work toward restoring inter-Korean relations," said Ministry spokesperson Koo Byung-sam during a regular briefing, offering another conciliatory gesture to the isolated country. But the ministry refrained from c

November 3, 2025

Korean Economy/Business Calendar

SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - Nov. 4, Tue Consumer Price Index, October 2025 (Ministry of Data and Statistics) Q3 Results (EcoPro BM) Q3 Results (Krafton) Q3 Results (GS E&C) Nov. 5, Wed Economically Active Population Survey, August 2025 (Ministry of Data and Statistics) Q3 Results (Naver) Q3 Results (EcoPro and its subsidiaries) Q3 Results (Kakao Bank) Q3 Results (Doosan Enerbility) Q3 Results (Hanwha Solutions) Nov. 6, Thu Multicultural Population Dynamic

November 3, 2025

Foreign home purchases fall to 32-month low in S. Korea after new restrictions

SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - Purchases of residential properties by foreigners in the Seoul metropolitan area fell to their lowest level in nearly three years last month, following the government’s introduction of tighter restrictions on foreign real estate transactions. According to data from the court, 560 foreigners completed ownership transfers for homes in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon in October — the fewest since February 2023, when only 427 transaction

November 3, 2025

SK brings global tech giants as well as Korean startups in AI agent ecosystem

SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - SK Group, chip-strong and central to South Korea's AI ambitions through alliances with global leaders such as Nvidia, OpenAI and Amazon Web Services, is positioning itself as a front-runner in the emerging field of AI agent services by leveraging its strengths in high-performance memory chips, wireless networks and hyperscale data-center technologies. "AI is no longer a competition of scale, but a competition of efficiency. This paradigm shift is

November 3, 2025

Celltrion wins Irish approval for purchase of Eli Lilly plant in New Jersey

SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion said Monday that it has received approval from the Irish government for its planned acquisition of Eli Lilly’s manufacturing facility in the United States, leaving only U.S. regulatory clearance before the deal can close. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission of Ireland granted final approval for the purchase on Oct. 31, according to Celltrion. The deal requires the review under Irish

November 3, 2025

Heritage agency raises concerns over Seoul's decision to ease height limit near Jongmyo Shrine

SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) on Monday expressed regret over a decision to raise a height limit for buildings in Seoul's derelict district of Sewoon near Jongmyo Shrine. The KHS had been in talks with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to adjust the height limit for the area, which is slated for redevelopment into an urban complex, but the city government abruptly decided last week to raise the limit from 71.9 meters to 145 meters. The KHS worri

November 3, 2025

Samsung C&T wins $1.4 billion carbon capture contract in Qatar

SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - Samsung C&T’s construction division has won a $1.4 billion contract to build one of the world’s largest carbon compression and transport facilities in Qatar. The contract, valued at 1.91 trillion won, was awarded by QatarEnergy LNG, the state-run liquefied natural gas producer, and covers engineering, procurement and construction for the project. The new facility will be built about 80 kilometers north of Doha, in Ras Laffan Indust

November 3, 2025

Red-hot chip streak bolsters KOSPI as other Asian markets stay muted

SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI extended its record-setting rally on Monday, far outperforming other Asian markets as optimism from the APEC week—marked by Nvidia-linked momentum, eased U.S. tariffs, and expectations of China lifting its unofficial ban on Korean content—kept risk appetite high. The KOSPI rose 1.9 percent to 4,183.52 in early trading, while the KOSDAQ gained 1 percent to 909.09. SK hynix briefly touched 600,000 won ($419)

November 3, 2025

UPDATE: Hanwha Aero and Hyundai Rotem show off K-defense muscles in Q3

SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - South Korean weapons makers kept up their record-setting earnings streak in the third quarter, powered by solid demand for Korean defense systems known for proven technology and rapid delivery. Hanwha Aerospace posted its strongest third-quarter performance on record, lifted by robust exports and solid contributions from subsidiary Hanwha Ocean — underscoring the group’s growing dominance across Korea’s expanding defense-industrial value

November 3, 2025

Coming-of-age indie film continues impressive run at box office

SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - Low-budget film "The World of Love" directed by Yoon Ga-eun has attracted over 60,000 viewers since its release late last month. The impressive feat for an independent film came after positive word of mouth boosted its popularity, with the 119-minute film still drawing hordes of moviegoers in its second week since its release on Oct. 22. In particular, it continues to draw viewers despite being shown on fewer screens, becoming the only film

November 3, 2025