Nvidia's Jensen Huang steals the show in Seoul, outshining Trump and Xi

SEOUL, October 31 (AJP) -Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping may have dominated global headlines during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation events in South Korea, but the figure who truly captivated the Korean public was the chief executive of the world’s most valuable company. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang drew hundreds of reporters the moment he landed in Seoul on Thursday. By evening, the southern Gangnam district had nearly ground to a halt as crowds

October 31, 2025

Seoul nears nuke submarine ambition upon Trump blessing

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Whether by catering to personal ego or through a calculated diplomatic playbook, Seoul secured what had long seemed unattainable: U.S. backing for a nuclear-powered submarine, delivered during U.S. President Donald Trump's brief visit ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Before departing Korea, Trump posted Thursday that Seoul would build its "Nuclear Powered Submarine in the Philadelphia Shipyards," signaling

October 30, 2025

Court rules NewJeans must remain under ADOR, rejects bid for independence

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - The future of K-pop girl group NewJeans — who shot to global stardom upon their 2022 debut — has been thrown into uncertainty after a Seoul court ruled in favor of their agency HYBE on Thursday. The court determined that all five members remain exclusively bound to ADOR, a HYBE sublabel, until 2029, regardless of their claims of contract breaches and unfair treatment. The decision extinguishes hopes for an early stage comeback for NewJeans,

October 30, 2025

Asian stocks end flat Thursday as U.S.–China talks yield little beyond gestures

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Asian stock markets ended mostly flat on Thursday, as the highly anticipated summit between the United States and China produced little beyond diplomatic optics, offering no meaningful signals on trade or geopolitical issues. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.2 percent to 4,087, after a volatile session in which the index tested the 4,100 level and touched a fresh intraday high of 4,146.72. Among large caps, Hyundai Motor, Hanwha Ocean, Samsung Ele

October 30, 2025

Korean tech giants vie to win attention with latest innovations at APEC

GYEONGJU, October 30 (AJP) - A trifold handset stole the limelight as South Korean tech heavyweights vied to impress global visitors with next-generation technologies showcased across the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit venue in Gyeongju. All the familiar Korean corporate names — Samsung Group, SK Group, Hyundai Motor Group and LG Electronics — mounted large-scale exhibitions at the Expo Park on Thursday, effectively offering a preview of what

October 30, 2025

Leverage builds as South Korean investors chase stock gains

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) — South Koreans are taking on more debt to invest in stocks, as a wave of market optimism drives both leveraged trading and record cash holdings at brokerages. Margin loans — money borrowed from securities firms to buy shares — climbed above 25 trillion won ($18.1 billion) for the first time, reaching 25.1 trillion won as of Thursday, according to data from the Korea Financial Investment Association. That represents an 8 percent increase

October 30, 2025

Xi enters as Trump exits the APEC stage

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - What should have been a venue for championing free trade and regional cooperation on shared challenges — from AI governance to climate change — instead turned into a geopolitical showcase between the world's two superpowers. Gyeongju, the ancient Silla capital hosting South Korea's first APEC summit in 20 years, became the stage for a U.S.–China hegemony face-off as President Xi Jinping arrived just as U.S. President Donald Trump

October 30, 2025

Lee stresses China's 'constructive role' for North Korea's denuclearization

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung has stressed China's "constructive role" in maintaining peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, Beijing's Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday. Lee said South Korea "urgently needs China's constructive role in order to achieve a substantive solution" for nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula, in a written interview with the state-run news agency coinciding with Chinese President Xi Jinpi

October 30, 2025

Shinsegae Duty Free follows Shilla in retreat from Incheon airport as losses mount

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Another of South Korea’s leading duty-free operators is retreating from Incheon International Airport, as mounting rental costs and sluggish traveler spending continue to erode profits in what was once one of the world’s most lucrative retail hubs. Following Shilla Duty Free’s withdrawal last month, Shinsegae Duty Free said Thursday it will return part of its concession rights at the Incheon airport, citing heavy financial losses and a

October 30, 2025

Hyundai Motor's Q3 profit dips 29% on U.S. tariff shock; shares hold firm on trade deal

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor reported a sharp retreat in third-quarter operating profit Thursday as the spike in U.S. auto tariffs wiped more than $1 billion from the automaker’s bottom line, but reiterated that its EV and expansion strategy in the U.S. remains intact regardless of setbacks. South Korea’s largest automaker — and the world’s No. 3 as of March — said operating profit fell 29.6 percent on quarter and 29.2 percent on year to 2.

October 30, 2025