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  Lee calls for end to 'pro-labor vs. pro-business' divide SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for an end to the long-standing dichotomy that pits workers against employers, vowing to deliver "real growth" through cooperation between labor and management. Speaking at a Labor Day ceremony at the Blue House on Friday — the first such event ever held at the former presidential compound — Lee said the country could only move forward by abandoning the "outdated binary" of pro-labor ve May 1, 2026
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  Apple's incoming CEO signals new products as quarterly revenue hits record SEOUL, May 01 (AJP) - Apple's incoming chief executive John Ternus voiced strong confidence in the company's product pipeline, hinting at new categories on the horizon as the iPhone maker posted record fiscal second-quarter revenue. Speaking on a conference call on Thursday (local time) after Apple reported results for the January-March quarter, Ternus, who takes the helm in September from Tim Cook, said the company had "an incredible roadmap" ahead and was prepari May 1, 2026
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  UPDATE: Samsung Biologics union demands immediate talks as first-ever strike begins SEOUL, May 1 (AJP) - Samsung Biologics, the world's largest contract drug manufacturer by volume, was rocked on Friday by the first full-scale walkout in its 15-year history, with the union demanding management return to the bargaining table at once and the company warning of losses of up to 640 billion won ($434 million). The Samsung Biologics chapter of the Samsung Group labor union launched the strike on Friday, Labor Day, after 13 rounds of wage talks since December collap May 1, 2026
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  As romance revives from recession in Korea, dating mimics reality TV SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - For Jason Park, a corporate analyst in his mid-30s, the math of modern romance simply wasn’t adding up. Buried in work under lingering post-pandemic social atrophy, the prospect of a chance encounter felt less like a possibility and more like a statistical anomaly. "If I hadn't been there that day two years ago, I would still be wrapped up in work," Park says, glancing shyly at his girlfriend, Choi, a freelance announcer in her 30s. May 1, 2026
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  Asian stocks fall across the board as oil prices surge SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI fell 1.38 percent to close at 6,598.87 on Thursday as rising oil prices dragged Asian markets lower. Brent crude futures jumped more than 5 percent in Asian trading, pushing regional stocks down over 1 percent. The junior KOSDAQ also dropped, closing at 1,192.35, down 2.29 percent. The main index rose to as high as 6,750.27 during the intraday session, setting a new intraday record. However, it later fluctuated and decline April 30, 2026
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  Visitors taste bitter exile at Gyeongbokgung royal kitchen SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Visitors gather at the Saenggwabang kitchen inside Gyeongbokgung Palace on April 30 to participate in a program exploring the life of Danjong, the sixth ruler of the Joseon Dynasty. The event, titled "Yuju: Spring in the Saenggwabang," runs from April 27 to May 3. This historical program has gained significant attention following the massive success of the film The King's Warden. The movie, which depicts the tragic April 30, 2026
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  At War 60 Days: Decoupling deepens in Korean markets as stocks rally alone SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) — Decoupling across South Korean asset markets has intensified over the past two months of war in the Middle East, with equities extending a solo rally while the currency and bond markets remain under pressure. With few safe havens in a wartime environment, equities have emerged as the primary risk asset. In contrast, the won and government bonds — more exposed to macroeconomic stress — have been weighed down by disruptions to the Strait o April 30, 2026
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  Samsung Elec flags prolonged AI-driven memory crunch as orders stretch to 2027 SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics said surging artificial intelligence demand is likely to keep memory markets exceptionally tight well into next year, with orders now extending as far as 2027, underscoring the depth of the current supply squeeze. The company, already swamped with orders stretching into next year, said the extraordinary tightness will persist and that production will remain unaffected even if labor action proceeds. “Our capacity far lags behind April 30, 2026
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  HMM reaches labor-management deal to move HQ to Busan SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s HMM, the world’s eighth-largest shipping company, said Friday that its labor and management have reached an agreement to relocate the company’s headquarters to the southern port city of Busan, the country’s main maritime gateway, resolving a long-standing dispute that had raised concerns over labor strikes and disruptions to global logistics. Busan, home to South Korea’s largest port, has been positioning itself April 30, 2026
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  Hanwha Aerospace posts solid Q1 earnings, record-high order backlog SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - Hanwha Aerospace reported solid first-quarter earnings on the back of improved performance in its aerospace division and key subsidiaries, while its order backlog reached a record high amid steady growth in overseas contracts. The company said Thursday that its consolidated revenue rose 5 percent year-on-year to 5.751 trillion won ($3.9 billion) in the January–March period, while operating profit climbed 21 percent to 638.9 billion won. By segment, t April 30, 2026