Sign unveils vision for 'digital sovereignty' through national blockchain infrastructure

SEOUL, November 02 (AJP) - Blockchain technology is moving beyond individual and corporate applications to become the foundation of digital sovereignty at the national level. Amid this shift, global blockchain company Sign is drawing attention for presenting a new framework for state-led blockchain governance. During Korea Blockchain Week held in Seoul last month, Sign released a new white paper titled "Sovereign Infrastructure for Global Nations (S.I.G.N.)." The paper o

November 2, 2025

Korea scores win on national interests and regional leadership on AI and K-culture via APEC

GYEONGJU, November 01 (AJP) - South Korea on Saturday successfully wrapped up the 2025 APEC Summit in Gyeongju, securing major diplomatic, economic, and security wins while ushering regional economies toward a rare consensus on an AI-driven economic roadmap, a non-protectionist community, and the recognition of cultural creation as a regional growth engine — underscoring its K-culture power. President Lee Jae Myung declared the adoption of the Gyeongju Declara

November 1, 2025

Kazakhstan eyes Korean investment for AI-driven smart city, industrial growth

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 01 (AJP) - Kazakhstan is courting South Korean investment for its next phase of industrial and digital transformation, including an AI-centered smart city project and new transport initiatives, Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov said Thursday. Speaking at a briefing held at The Hilton Hotel ahead of the Kazakhstan Global Investment Round (KGIR) in Astana, Kuantyrov said the two countries share common goals in digitalization and artificial intelli

November 1, 2025

Nvidia to supply 260,000 GPUs to South Korea in sweeping AI partnership

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Nvidia has unveiled a sweeping initiative to deploy about 260,000 advanced graphics processing units to South Korea, partnering with the government and four major corporations in a deal valued at up to 14 trillion won ($10.5 billion), the company disclosed Friday. The chipmaker said it will work with Samsung Electronics, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group and Naver Cloud to build what it terms "AI factories" across the Asian nation, marking one of its

November 1, 2025

HOT STOCK: Hyundai Motor stocks fly on Trump and Jensen Huang effect

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Listed units of Hyundai Motor Group rode the APEC wave on Friday, lifted by eased tariffs during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit and the halo of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, whose appearance dominated the APEC scene after Trump’s departure. Hyundai Motor closed up 9.4 percent at 290,000 won ($203). Hyundai Glovis rose 10.4 percent, and Hyundai AutoEver surged 26 percent to finish at 203,500 won. The rally was fueled by the long-awaited settlemen

October 31, 2025

'K-Submarine' moves to the center in Korea's defense ambition

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Nuclear submarines, once a politically sensitive topic in South Korea, have abruptly moved into the mainstream after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Seoul's pursuit of a nuclear-powered submarine program. With Washington's unusually explicit approval, President Lee Jae Myung elevated submarine cooperation to the top of his diplomatic agenda, raising the issue in back-to-back summits with Canada and Thailand on the sidelines of the APEC

October 31, 2025

AI firm among two bidders seeking to acquire Homeplus

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - An artificial intelligence company has joined the bid to acquire Homeplus, the troubled South Korean retail chain now under court-led rehabilitation. Homeplus said Friday that multiple bidders had submitted letters of intent by the deadline. While Homeplus did not reveal details of the participants, one bidder is reportedly Harex InfoTech, an AI solutions firm. The AI firm reportedly plans to raise about $2 billion in the United States to financ

October 31, 2025

KOSPI and Nikkei duo end historic week on upbeat note, other Asian markets low-key

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - South Korean and Japanese equities extended their record-setting momentum on Friday, moving in lockstep toward new highs while most other Asian markets ended lower amid mixed regional sentiment. Japan’s Nikkei 225 led the advance, soaring 2.25 percent to 52,478, the first time the benchmark has ever topped the 52,000 threshold. The rally accelerated after Bank of Japan Governor Ueda Kazuo signaled a pause in rate hikes, reinforcing expectations f

October 31, 2025

LG Chem posts 43% jump in Q3 operating profit on cost cuts, battery unit recovery

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - South Korea's LG Chem reported a 42.6 percent quarter-on-quarter increase in operating profit for the third quarter on Friday, driven by its battery unit's improved performance and company-wide cost reduction efforts despite sluggish global demand. The chemical giant posted an operating profit of 679.7 billion won (around $476 million) for the July to September period, up 38.9 percent from a year earlier, while revenue fell 1.9 percent to 11.2 trill

October 31, 2025

S. Korea evolving beyond outsourcing clinical testbed as global R&D investment nears $1 bn

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s biopharmaceutical sector has expanded rapidly over the past decade, yet new breakthrough drugs have been scarce and the country has produced no Nobel Prize winners in science — a stark contrast to neighboring Japan’s 22 laureates in natural sciences this century. But there may be hope as global pharmaceutical giants ramp up investment and clinical activity in Korea. The Korean Research-based Pharma Industry Association (KR

October 31, 2025