BLACKPINK's Jisoo to return with new single 'CLICK' SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) -BLACKPINK's Jisoo will release a new single, "CLICK," on Sept. 4, her agency Blissoo said Tuesday. The release will mark Jisoo's first solo music in 11 months since "EYES CLOSED," her collaboration with former One Direction member Zayn, released last October. Blissoo said further details about the new single would be unveiled in stages ahead of its release. Jisoo debuted as a member of BLACKPINK in 2016 and has August 25, 2026

Iran blacklists five ships linked to S. Korean carrier Sinokor SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - Iran has blacklisted five vessels linked to South Korean shipping company Sinokor Maritime over alleged violations of its rules for crossing the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran steps up pressure over the strategic waterway. The five ships are the Cyprus Prosperity (IMO 9595216), Mombasa B (IMO 9739501), Singapore Prosperity (IMO 9419967), Sweden Prosperity (IMO 9588392) and Rotterdam Energy (IMO 9508859). All five appear on a list of 45 vessels designated as August 25, 2026

Jeju woman's death raises questions over handling of missing adult cases SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - A body believed to be that of a woman who went missing on Jeju Island more than three months ago was found earlier this week, raising questions over how police handle and investigate missing people after her case was apparently closed prematurely without confirming her safety. Police said the remains, believed to be those of 37-year-old Jang Mi-ran, were discovered on Monday at a palm tree farm in Hallim, a tourist town on the southern resort island, about a August 25, 2026

KOSPI extends losses on deepening chip selloff SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - South Korean stocks fell more than 3 percent Tuesday morning as foreign investors took their cue from an overnight rout in U.S. chip stocks to dump Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. The benchmark KOSPI opened at 6,539.37, down 2.35 percent from Monday's close, and extended its decline to 6,490.65, down 3.08 percent, as of 10:22 a.m. The junior KOSDAQ fell 2.9 percent to 789.48. Selling was broad, with 247 stocks advancing and 610 declining, while 41 w August 25, 2026

SK hynix union rejects stock-heavy wage deal SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) -SK hynix union members on Tuesday narrowly rejected a tentative wage agreement that would have shifted a larger share of profit-sharing bonuses into company stock, sending labor and management back to the bargaining table as the chipmaker tries to spread its AI windfall across employees and shareholders while its shares remain well below earlier highs. The proposed 2026 wage and collective bargaining agreement was defeated with 50.08 percent, or 7,535 member August 25, 2026

Lee to hold private meetings with Samsung, Hyundai chiefs SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is reportedly arranging to meet with Samsung Group chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Eui-sun this week, following a private dinner with SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won last week. But Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday declined to confirm whether Lee would meet with them, saying it does not comment on the president's private schedule. Such meetings come as Lee has stepped up cooperation with business leaders sinc August 25, 2026

Hyundai Motor reaches tentative wage deal after 60 hours of strikes SEOUL, August 25 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor and its labor union reached a tentative wage agreement, granting workers bonuses of more than 400 percent of monthly pay plus 12.7 million won ($9,189), ending a two-year run of strikes at South Korea's largest carmaker. The deal, reached after a two-day on Tuesday, 17th round of bargaining at the company's Ulsan plant, also lifts base monthly wages by 100,000 won and awards each worker 15 company shares, 500,000 won in welfare points a August 25, 2026

Chip tax windfall to fuel record 2027 budget for Korea SEOUL, Aug. 25 (AJP) — South Korea is packaging a record budget of 800 trillion won ($579 billion) for the first time for 2027, with spending set for its first double-digit increase since the global financial crisis as a chip-driven tax bonanza gives the government room to accelerate fiscal expansion even as monetary policy tightens and public debt continues to climb. The Ministry of Planning and Budget is putting the finishing touches on the spending plan, which is expect August 25, 2026

Korea's Aug consumer confidence falls on volatile stocks and prices SEOUL, Aug. 25 (AJP) — South Korea's consumer confidence fell for the first time in four months in August as a stock-market correction and accumulated price pressures weighed on sentiment despite solid economic conditions, central bank data showed Tuesday. The Bank of Korea's Composite Consumer Sentiment Index (CCSI) fell 2.3 points from a month earlier to 104.5, snapping three straight months of gains since May. The index nevertheless remained above the benchmark o August 25, 2026

Taiwan drone defense gaps emerge as US-Korea drills scale back SEOUL, August 24 (AJP) - As the United States and South Korea scaled back their largest summertime military exercise, defense experts in Taiwan were highlighting gaps exposed by their own drills, calling for stronger layered air defenses against drones and other low-altitude threats. Taiwan's assessment follows its annual Han Kuang exercise, held from Aug. 5 to 14 to test the island's ability to respond to a potential Chinese attack. Hsiao-Huang Shu, an associate research August 24, 2026