LG Electronics to expand automotive software business

SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - LG Electronics said Thursday that it has joined SDVerse, a global automotive software marketplace established by General Motors, Magna, and Wipro — a move that underscores the South Korean company’s growing ambitions in vehicle software. Billed as the industry’s first open marketplace for automotive software, SDVerse brings together automakers, Tier 1 suppliers, and developers to accelerate software innovation across the mobility sec

October 23, 2025

Bank of Korea holds rate steady at 2.5% amid FX, housing instability

SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.50 percent for October, maintaining its cautious stance amid continued volatility in foreign exchange and housing markets. The Monetary Policy Board decided to hold the overnight call rate steady for the sixth consecutive month, citing limited room for monetary easing as it monitors the impact of the pending Korea–U.S. trade deal linked to a $350 billion investment package and the gov

October 23, 2025

Taihan Cable & Solution expands South Africa plant to target region's growing power market

SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - South Korea's Taihan Cable & Solution is expanding its manufacturing footprint in Africa as part of a broader effort to strengthen its competitiveness in the region’s growing power infrastructure market. The cable manufacturer held a ceremony on Oct. 22 to mark the expansion of its power cable plant in South Africa, operated by its subsidiary M-TEC. The project is designed to meet surging demand for medium- and low-voltage cables, which ac

October 23, 2025

Japanese director of Korean descent to visit Seoul next month to promote his hit film

SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - Japanese film director and screenwriter of Zainichi Korean descent Lee Sang-il will visit Seoul next month. His visit, slated for mid-November to promote his latest film "National Treasure," also known as "Kokuho" comes ahead of its release in here on Nov. 19. The film, an adaptation of a novel by Shuichi Yoshida that chronicles the passionate lives of men devoted to art over half a century, was an instant hit in Japan shortly aft

October 23, 2025

North Korea says it tested 'cutting-edge weapon system'

SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - North Korea has successfully test-fired hypersonic projectiles, state media reported Thursday, calling them a "new weapon system." The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said "two hypersonic projectiles" were launched from areas near Pyongyang the previous day and "hit the target" in North Hamgyong Province. "The new weapon system was tested as part of the defense capability development program to enhan

October 23, 2025

Government push for real estate watchdog stirs debate in South Korea

SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - The South Korean government is moving to create a new real estate oversight agency with investigative powers, a plan that has divided opinion among policymakers and industry experts. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Thursday it is pushing for the establishment of the body under the Prime Minister’s Office to monitor illegal practices such as price manipulation, false listings, and fraudulent contracts. The proposed agency wo

October 23, 2025

Sticky points still in place in final stretch of Korea–U.S. trade deal talks

SEOUL, October 23 (AJP) - “It ain’t over till it’s over,” senior Seoul officials said as they wrapped up last-mile marathon talks in Washington over a trade agreement tied to South Korea’s $350 billion investment pledge in exchange for relief from a 25 percent U.S. import levy. After a two-hour meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Kim Yong-beom, policy chief to President Lee Jae-myung, told reporters, “We discussed many remainin

October 23, 2025

KAIST tops student survey as applications continue to climb

SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - KAIST has been ranked the top university in South Korea among respondents in their 10s to 50s, according to the 2025 INUE–Korea Economic Daily University Survey, reflecting the school's growing reputation for innovation and creative education. The university said Wednesday that 6,991 students applied for early admission to its undergraduate program for the 2026 academic year, up 7.6 percent from a year earlier. The competition rate rose from 7.9

October 22, 2025

Türkiye and Korea mark 75 years since Turkish Brigade's arrival

SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - A ceremony was held at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul on October 22 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Turkish Brigade's arrival during the Korean War. The event, organized by the Turkish Embassy in the Republic of Korea, commemorated the landing of Turkish troops in Busan on October 17, 1950, as part of the United Nations Command. Around 21,000 Turkish soldiers served in Korea between 1950 and 1953, with nearly 900 killed and missing, while 244

October 22, 2025

Koreans get serious about park golf, launching the first pro qualifying test

SEOUL, October 22 (AJP) - Korea's love for golf is no secret, but the craze over its miniature, cheaper cousin turned serious this week as the nation hosted the world's first Professional Park Golf Pro Qualifying Test. The three-day competition began on Wednesday at Hanyeoul Park Golf Course in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, drawing 380 participants. Until just a few years ago, park golf — a hybrid between golf and croquet — was largely seen as a leisurely pastime

October 22, 2025