Korea launches first private Korea-India association for southern pivot traction

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Former and incumbent diplomats, along with large and small businesses, joined hands Friday to launch South Korea’s first non-governmental Korea–India friendship association, adding private-sector momentum to Seoul’s expanding southern pivot beyond China and Southeast Asia. “India is now the world’s most populous country with a median age in the 20s among its 1.5 billion people. It is set to overtake China not only in populat

October 31, 2025

TOPIK website restored after data center fire, tests to resume normally

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - The official website for the Test of Proficiency in Korean, or TOPIK, has resumed normal operations, about two months after a fire at a government data center forced cancellations of some tests, the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education said Friday. The restoration means that upcoming tests, including those scheduled for November, will be held as planned, officials said, adding most systems related to test administra

October 31, 2025

Kia's profit plunges as US tariffs, strong dollar weigh on margins

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - South Korean automaker Kia reported a steep drop in quarterly profit despite record revenue and global sales, Friday, as higher tariffs and currency fluctuations eroded margins in key markets. The company said its operating profit for the third quarter fell 49.2 percent from a year earlier to 1.46 trillion won ($1.06 billion), even as revenue climbed 8.2 percent to 28.69 trillion won. Net profit declined 37.3 percent to 1.42 trillion won. “Desp

October 31, 2025

Woori Card launches QR-based payment service in Indonesia

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Woori Card has become the first South Korean credit card company to introduce a QR-based payment and cash withdrawal service in Indonesia. The company unveiled the service on Friday at the 2025 Indonesia Digital Finance Festival in Jakarta, in partnership with the Korea Financial Telecommunications & Clearings Institute. The system allows users to make payments and withdraw cash using a single QR code generated through Woori Card’s mobile app.

October 31, 2025

Japan's Nikkei tops 52,000 for first time as Asian markets trade mixed

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Asian stock markets were mixed on Friday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 surging past the 52,000 mark for the first time in its 75-year history, while Chinese and Hong Kong shares slipped and South Korea’s benchmark index traded little changed. As of late morning, Japan’s Nikkei 225 was up 1.5 percent at 52,089.30, building on a week of record-breaking gains. The index crossed 50,000 on Monday and 51,000 on Wednesday before reaching another mil

October 31, 2025

South Korea to complete military satellite network with final launch on Sunday

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - South Korea is set to complete its first military reconnaissance satellite network this weekend with the launch of a rocket carrying its fifth and final satellite under its “425 Project." The Ministry of National Defense said Friday that the rocket will lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 2 p.m. (KST) on Nov. 2. Once operational, the five-satellite constellation will allow South Korea to monitor North Korean mili

October 31, 2025

Samsung SDI works with BMW, Solid Power of US to develop next-generation EV batteries

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Samsung SDI said Friday it has entered a three-way partnership with BMW and U.S.-based Solid Power to develop and test solid-state batteries for electric vehicles, deepening a long-running collaboration with the German automaker as the global race to commercialize next-generation batteries intensifies. Under the agreement, the three companies will work together to improve the energy density and safety of solid-state batteries using Solid Power&r

October 31, 2025

OPINION: Why K-food must become trusted global brand

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - Korean food has become a fixture on dining tables around the world. In New York, restaurants serve gochujang-marinated steak. In Paris, supermarkets feature kimchi sections. Across Southeast Asia, spicy instant noodles have achieved near–pop culture status. Even in the United States, retailers like Costco and Walmart now boast bustling K-food aisles. What began as a culinary curiosity has evolved into a living cultural experience — one that

October 31, 2025

South Korea's factory output slips in September, but investment surge signals upbeat outlook

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - South Korea’s industrial production dipped in September as auto exports faltered under the weight of higher U.S. tariffs, but a sharp rebound in capital investment suggested that the manufacturing sector may be regaining its footing amid a global semiconductor boom and signs of easing trade frictions. According to data released Friday by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, manufacturing output fell 1.2 percent from the previous month — the fi

October 31, 2025

OPINION: China's rare earth leverage tests America — and its allies

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) - At the APEC summit in Gyeongju, the summit between the leaders of the United States and China drew intense global scrutiny. After months of escalating trade friction, the world watched as Washington and Beijing sought a breakthrough. No major trade deal emerged. Still, the two sides agreed to a temporary pause in their hostilities: China postponed its planned export restrictions on rare earth elements, announced on Oct. 9, while the United States suspende

October 31, 2025