INTERVIEW: Mysterious Hungarian bomb maker in Korean independence fight to come alive in upcoming book by ex-Hungarian envoy

SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - A Western engineer aiding Korean independence fighters in assembling bombs against imperial Japan sounds like a scene from historical fiction. But former Hungarian ambassador to South Korea Mózes Csoma found that it was real — and is preparing a book on the remarkable story of a Hungarian who joined Korea’s struggle for independence. "As a historian, I find deep meaning in the story of someone who fought for another people&rsquo

October 27, 2025

PHOTOS: As APEC opens in Gyeongju, Seoul feels the buzz

SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - As the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit opened on Monday in Gyeongju, national attention has fixed on the gathering of world leaders. Though Gyeongju sits some 230 kilometers southeast of Seoul, the capital is equally swept up in the APEC fervor. Excitement over the high-profile event has spread across the country, with banners and displays promoting APEC visible throughout Seoul. At major landmarks such as Seoul Station and the Gwanghwamu

October 27, 2025

Trump makes another overture to Kim, but any impending meeting remains in doubt

SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump has once again expressed eagerness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his brief visit to South Korea this week. "I'd love to meet with him if he'd like to meet, I got along great with . If he wants to meet, I'll be in South Korea," Trump told reporters on Monday aboard Air Force One while traveling from Malaysia to Japan as part of his Asian tour, which includes South Korea for the Asia-Paci

October 27, 2025

K-fashion joins APEC sponsorship as young labels expand global reach

SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - Breaking into the global mainstream has long been a challenge for Korean fashion labels. Yet the rise of social media—coupled with the global influence of K-pop stars and K-dramas—has propelled a new wave of brands such as Matin Kim and platforms like Musinsa to the forefront of the international fashion scene, celebrated for their blend of style, affordability, and authenticity. Matin Kim, which this month made its debut on Amazon following s

October 27, 2025

Seoul pushes ASEAN ties beyond trade to digital and maritime fronts

SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - South Korea is moving to expand relationship with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) beyond trade and economic front to push for common security goals amid volatility around Asia-Pacific superpowers – the United States and China. President Lee Jae Myung, in his address at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, described ASEAN as "neighbors who have overcome hardships together," calling the bloc South Korea's closest part

October 27, 2025

KOSPI and Nikkei hit record highs as Asian stocks ride wave of foreign buying

SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - Asian shares surged Monday as South Korea’s KOSPI and Japan’s Nikkei 225 both closed at all-time highs, driven by renewed foreign buying and strength in semiconductor and industrial stocks. The benchmark Kospi jumped 2.57 percent to finish at 4,042.83, marking its highest close on record. Chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix once again led the advance, joined by shipbuilding and nuclear-energy plays. Samsung Electronics surged 3.24 percent to 102,

October 27, 2025

HOT STOCK: Samsung Heavy flies to 52-week high on multiple upsides

SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries surged Monday to a new 52-week high on multiple catalysts — the successful domestication of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage-tank technology, speculation over a possible visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to its shipyard during APEC 2025, and a string of new orders. Shares of Samsung Heavy jumped about 16 percent to 28,800 won ($20.1) as of 3 p.m., nearly tripling from roughly 11,000 won at the start of the year.

October 27, 2025

HOT STOCK: Hyundai E&C uplifted by milestone nuclear energy deal in Texas

SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - Hyundai Engineering & Construction rose sharply Monday, touching as high as 71,000 won ($50) before closing at 69,100 won, up nearly 4 percent, as the KOSPI finished at a record high. The rally followed news that the Korean builder will play a key role in front-end engineering design for four large nuclear reactors in Texas, marking a major step toward entering the U.S. nuclear energy market. The project in Amarillo is part of a vast private power grid

October 27, 2025

APEC Week: from RM to hanbok, K-culture competes for global spotlight

SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - Iconic K-pop star G-Dragon has set the tone for this week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju with a playful 75-second promotional video featuring President Lee Jae Myung as a runway marshaller guiding arriving aircraft. Another K-pop figurehead, BTS leader RM, will carry the cultural baton, delivering a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit before executives from 21 member economies, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. K-pop

October 27, 2025

APEC Week: Beyond Trump and Xi, APEC leaders bring diverse agenda

SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - As South Korea prepares to host the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju this week, global attention is fixed on the expected encounter between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. But away from the media spotlight, many of the region's other leaders are arriving with their own priorities — from digital transformation and green energy to demographic change and inclusive growth. According to APEC, this year

October 27, 2025