Viet Nam highlights its active role in APEC and close partnership with South Korea

SEOUL, October 26 (AJP) - The Embassy of Viet Nam in Seoul reaffirmed Viet Nam's active and responsible participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and underlined the country's strong cooperative ties with South Korea ahead of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju. "Since joining APEC in 1998, Viet Nam has made active and responsible contributions to the forum, promoting peace, stability, cooperation, and regional economic integrat

October 26, 2025

Geologist says Pohang earthquake was man-made, triggered by geothermal fluid injection

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - The 2017 Pohang earthquake was a man-made disaster caused by fluid injection at a geothermal power plant, according to Kim Kwang-hee, professor of geological and environmental sciences at Pusan National University. Speaking at the policy forum "Pohang, Asking Again: Accountability and Prevention of Recurrence" held at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Seoul on October 23, Kim said the quake was an induced seismic event, not a

October 24, 2025

Experts urge easing proof standards, turning Pohang's quake legacy into a cultural asset

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Legal and academic experts called for fairer compensation standards and stronger accountability in the long-running case over the 2017 Pohang earthquake, saying South Korea must rebuild public trust while preventing similar disasters. The discussion took place on October 23 at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Yeouido, where the "Pohang Earthquake Damage Policy Seminar" gathered lawyers, professors, and local representative

October 24, 2025

East Asian markets upbeat before Trump's arrival next week

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Asian markets ended mostly higher Friday on optimism surrounding U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming Asian tour, which includes back-to-back summits with leaders of South Korea, China, and Japan. In Seoul, the KOSPI climbed 2.0 percent to close at 3,921.52, reclaiming the 3,900 threshold as chip bellwethers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix extended gains. Japan’s Nikkei 225 advanced 1.3 percent to 49,282.19, supported by expectations of rene

October 24, 2025

Rare freshwater fish returns to life in Seoul's Cheonggyecheon Stream

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Cheonggyecheon has run through the heart of Seoul for more than six centuries — once a bustling stream in the old market district during the Joseon Dynasty, later entombed beneath concrete as the city modernized. Since its restoration in 2005, the waterway has evolved from a civic project into a living symbol of ecological renewal — proof that nature, when given room and care, can return even to the center of a metropolis. Ne

October 24, 2025

HOT STOCK: Korea's battery stocks going up, up, up — but analysts warn against chasing golden moment

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - South Korea’s secondary battery shares are leading Seoul’s tech-driven rally, fueled by stronger electric vehicle (EV) sales and booming demand for energy storage systems (ESS). As of 3:15 p.m. Friday, Ecopro jumped 5.6 percent to 85,100 won ($59), extending its surge amid renewed optimism in the battery sector. LG Energy Solution rose 4.8 percent to 465,500 won, supported by sustained institutional buying across major battery makers. Isu Chemic

October 24, 2025

HOT STOCK: Korean refiners rally on Russia sanctions, petrochemicals join ride

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - South Korean refinery shares surged Friday as oil prices spiked following U.S. sanctions on Russia’s top refiners, Rosneft and Lukoil, elevating petrochemical sector long weighed down by overcapacity and an industrial slowdown. SK innovation, the market leader, jumped 7.6 percent to 133,900 won ($93.2), while S-Oil gained 2.5 percent to about 74,900 won. The rally followed a sharp climb in West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude prices after W

October 24, 2025

D-7: Korean Inc. to indulge APEC guests with latest innovations

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - A drone gala will light up the night sky and hydrogen-powered limousines will shuttle guests who can try out the world's first tri-fold smartphones. K-Pop Demon Hunters-themed snacks and K-beauty items will be everywhere. All things Korean — now globally adored — will fill the APEC venue in Gyeongju next week as Korean Inc. flaunts its latest innovations and hottest creations. From semiconductor titans to clean-energy pioneers, this year'

October 24, 2025

Seoul gears up for Halloween with safety measures

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday that several safety measures have been implemented in about a dozen areas in the capital, ahead of Halloween later this month. Under the measures effective until Nov. 2, district officials, police, and firefighters in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will carry out patrols, inspections, and traffic control in Seoul's entertainment district of Itaewon, trendy alleys around Hongik Un

October 24, 2025

South Korea makes baby step in same-sex recognition through census inclusion

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - South Korea has taken a small but symbolic step toward recognizing diverse family structures by including cohabiting couples for the first time in its national census — a quiet shift in a country still wrestling with traditional views on marriage and gender. The 2025 Population and Housing Census, conducted from Wednesday through mid-November, now includes a new category for "unmarried cohabiting partners," the Ministry of Data and St

October 24, 2025