Latest news
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Starbucks brings back plastic straws in South Korea
SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - Starbucks has reintroduced plastic straws to its stores in South Korea for the first time in seven years — though this time, they come with a green upgrade. The coffee chain has begun piloting new straws made from sugarcane-based bioplastics at approximately 200 stores nationwide. Starbucks was among the first major coffee chains in South Korea to eliminate conventional plastic straws in 2018, replacing them with paper versions as part of a sweeping
June 26, 2025 -
North Korean defectors recount plight at UN human rights event in Seoul
SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - North Korean defectors recounted their harrowing journeys of escape and the plights they endured at an event in Seoul this week, informing international experts on human rights violations in the isolated country. Hosted by the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul, the two-day event which kicked off on Thursday was part of the drafting process for a ten-year assessment of the human rights situation in North Korea. The event brought together human rights exp
June 26, 2025 -
President Lee calls for 'fair growth' and capital market reform in first parliamentary address
SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung called Wednesday on lawmakers to back his push to revive the economy and support struggling households, calling the effort "the most urgent task we must address today." Delivering his first policy speech at the National Assembly since taking office, Lee urged cooperation on a supplementary budget designed to stimulate growth and stabilize livelihoods. "On June 4, right here in the National Assembly, I took the president
June 26, 2025 -
Korean regulator claims Novo Nordisk cut needle supply to boost obesity drug sales
SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - South Korea’s antitrust regulator has issued a formal warning to Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk for cutting off supplies of specialized insulin pen needles used by children with diabetes, in order to prioritize the production of its blockbuster obesity drug, Ozempic, government officials said on Thursday. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) concluded that Novo Nordisk violated competition laws when it unilaterally terminated supply contracts
June 26, 2025 -
Neople workers launch Korea's first game industry strike
SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - Employees at Neople, a key subsidiary of gaming giant Nexon and the developer of the popular Dungeon & Fighter franchise, have begun a strike, marking the nation’s first labor walkout in the gaming sector. The strike, which began on Wednesday, June 25, involves unionized workers from Neople’s Seoul office, who stopped reporting to work immediately. Employees at the company’s Jeju headquarters are joining on a staggered schedule —
June 26, 2025 -
China's Tencent expands global reach with gaming, AI, fintech at its core
Editor's Note: This article is the 24th installment in our series on Asia's top 100 companies, exploring the strategies, challenges, and innovations driving the region's most influential corporations. SEOUL, June 26 (AJP) - Tencent Holdings is one of China’s most powerful technology companies. It reported revenue of 180.02 billion yuan ($25.1 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 13 percent increase from a year earlier. The company’s financial
June 26, 2025 -
Milano Cortina 2026 brings Olympic message to Seoul with focus on sustainability and inclusion
SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) - The Olympic spirit made a stop in Seoul on Wednesday as Italy's organizing team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games hosted a media day in Gangnam. With just over a year and a half to go, the event offered a preview of what is being billed as the most geographically expansive and environmentally conscious Winter Olympics in history. Covering 22,000 square kilometers across northern Italy, the Games will blend modern urban energy with the beauty of the
June 25, 2025 -
S. Korea and Türkiye deepen energy ties with focus on renewables
SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) - South Korea and Türkiye took a step toward closer cooperation in clean energy with a joint seminar held on Tuesday at the National Assembly in Seoul. The event brought together lawmakers, diplomats, business leaders, and energy experts to explore how both countries can work together to tackle the global energy transition and enhance energy security. The "Korea–Türkiye Renewable Energy Seminar" was co-hosted by National Assembly memb
June 25, 2025 -
Korea, Saudi Arabia launch joint initiative to help small companies
SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) announced on Wednesday a new initiative aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises break into the rapidly evolving Saudi Arabian market. Starting July 7, the ministry will begin accepting applications from Korean companies interested in launching operations in Saudi Arabia under a government-backed program designed to overcome longstanding regulatory, cultural, and religious barriers. Despit
June 25, 2025 -
South Korean central bank warns of stablecoin risks to financial stability
SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) - South Korea’s central bank and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) have raised fresh alarms over the systemic risks posed by the rapid rise of stablecoins, warning that widespread adoption could trigger destabilizing financial shocks and threaten monetary sovereignty. In its financial stability report released Wednesday, the Bank of Korea cautioned that stablecoins — cryptocurrencies pegged to traditional currencies — are vulnerable
June 25, 2025
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South Korea, Japan and US conduct aerial drill as defense chiefs meet
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Korea to dispatch veterinary medicine trade mission to Chile, Mexico
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PHOTOS: Pictorial album of Mount Paektu landscapes
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North Korea hails historic treaty in bid to mend ties with China
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KOSPI surges above 3,200 for first time since 2021
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Korean exporters brace for weaker second half as tariff uncertainty looms
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Samsung to launch XR headset this year, targeting Apple, Meta
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Daboseong Gallery unveils additional imperial and aristocratic treasures from China
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Record early heat wave leads to surge in heat-related illnesses
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Hyundai Motor unveils high-performance EV, Ioniq 6 N