Lee holds first bilateral meeting with Japanese PM in Canada

SEOUL, June 18 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Canada on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit on Tuesday. After speaking over the phone last week, they met in person for the first time since Lee took office earlier this month. Lee began the talks with ice-breaking remarks likening the two countries to neighbors sharing a "front yard," and added, "There may be differences in opinion, but both countrie

June 18, 2025

Neighboring private schools in Seoul connect through exchange classes

SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - Primary students from two private schools in southern Seoul had a special opportunity to interact through a series of classes as part of a two-day event last week. Fourth to sixth-grade students from the British international school Dulwich College Seoul and the country's oldest Catholic school Gyeseong Elementary School, took turns visiting each other's campuses for a day. More than 180 students immersed themselves in a variety of extracurricular clas

June 17, 2025

K-ART: Reimagining the Buddha's path: 'Eight Views, Eight Senses'

SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - In Eight Views, Eight Senses (팔관팔감, 八觀八感), artist Jeong Ha-yul takes on one of Buddhist art's most revered visual forms, the Palsangdo, or "Eight Scenes from the Life of the Buddha." Traditionally painted in temples, these works trace eight defining moments in Siddhartha Gautama's journey, from birth to enlightenment, and to final nirvana. But for Jeong, the Palsangdo is more than a historical or religious artifact. It'

June 17, 2025

South Korea heightens travel advisory for Iran

SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - South Koreans are advised to avoid travel to Iran as its conflict with Israel further escalates, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday. The ministry heightened its travel advisory for all of Iran with immediate effect, urging South Koreans currently in the country to "leave as soon as possible." It also advised those planning to travel to the Middle Eastern country to cancel or postpone their trips. Several areas there had already been u

June 17, 2025

Hanwha Ocean eyes Brazil oil platform deal

SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - Hanwha Ocean is preparing a bid for a major Brazilian offshore oil platform project, signaling its return to the high-stakes Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) market. The company’s participation in the Petrobras-led P-86 project marks its first FPSO tender. It also reflects a broader strategic pivot toward high-value offshore energy infrastructure as the global industry recovers from years of volatility and underinvestment. Hanwha Oc

June 17, 2025

Bilateral talks between Seoul and Washington canceled as Trump leaves G7 early

SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung, who is in Canada attending the Group of Seven (G7) summit, was unable to hold his planned talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday. According to the presidential office here, the two were scheduled to sit down for talks on the sidelines of the summit, but the meeting was canceled after Trump decided to cut his G7 trip short. In a press briefing in Calgary, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lak also said, "Trump is hurr

June 17, 2025

Hyundai Glovis invests $145 million to acquire Asiana Airlines' cargo unit

SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - Hyundai Glovis has stepped up its ambitions in global air logistics, committing 200.6 billion won (approximately $145 million) to a private equity fund backing Air Incheon’s acquisition of Asiana Airlines’ cargo division. The move strengthens Glovis’s position in the freight sector and grants it preemptive rights in the event of a future sale of the combined cargo carrier. The investment was disclosed in a regulatory filing on June 16 an

June 17, 2025

TRAVEL: A taste of Busan's past and future at Jagalchi Market

SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - Nestled along the vibrant Nampo-dong beachfront in Busan, Jagalchi Market stands as an enduring symbol of the city's rich maritime heritage. For well over a century, this bustling hub has drawn both local residents and a steady stream of international visitors, making it an essential stop for anyone exploring Busan. The market’s origins trace back to 1922, when a consignment sales center for the Busan Fisheries Cooperative was established on thi

June 17, 2025

S. Korea plans $14 billion second supplementary budget to boost economy

SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - The South Korean government is expected to introduce a 20 trillion won (approximately $14.6 billion) supplementary budget on Thursday, part of a broader effort to revitalize the nation’s faltering export-driven economy. The proposal, which would mark the second supplementary budget of 2025, is scheduled for submission at the cabinet meeting on June 19. It follows a 13.8 trillion won stimulus package announced in May and is aimed at boosting domestic cons

June 17, 2025

South Korea slides in global competitiveness ranking

SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - South Korea fell seven notches to 27th place in global competitiveness rankings, according to a report released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) on Tuesday. The annual report by the Swiss business school, which ranks some 69 countries around the world based on four key categories — economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure — placed South Korea at 27th, down from 20th last yea

June 17, 2025