HMM lands $3.5 billion long-term shipping contract with Vale SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - HMM has signed a 4.7 trillion won ($3.5 billion) long-term shipping contract with Brazilian mining giant Vale, locking in cargo for eight new bulk carriers for 25 years as South Korea's largest container shipper expands stable earnings outside its mainstay container business. The agreement is HMM's third major long-term contract with Vale following two 10-year deals signed in May and September last year worth a combined 1.07 trillion won, the So September 8, 2026

Repeat takers of Korea's CSAT likely highest in 23 years SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) -Nearly 200,000 repeat and non-school test-takers are expected to join South Korea's once-a-year college entrance exam on Nov. 19, the largest number in 23 years and a development likely to intensify competition for a shrinking pool of current high-school seniors. A total of 551,864 people applied to sit the College Scholastic Ability Test, or CSAT, for 2027 admissions, the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation said Tuesday. The total was dow September 8, 2026

Korea, Thailand deepen police cooperation against K-content piracy SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - South Korea's culture ministry signed an agreement with Thailand's police agency Tuesday to strengthen joint investigations into cross-border copyright crimes involving Korean content. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Central Investigation Bureau of the Royal Thai Police signed the memorandum of understanding at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul in Jongno District, the ministry said. The agreement covers cooperation on la September 8, 2026

U.S. court seizes crypto linked to North Korean IT workers SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - A U.S. federal judge has ordered the forfeiture of cryptocurrency tied to a North Korean overseas IT worker scheme, granting the Justice Department a partial victory in its effort to seize nearly 8 million dollars in virtual assets allegedly linked to Pyongyang’s sanctions-evasion network, according to NK News. The ruling comes as U.S. authorities intensify efforts to disrupt North Korea’s overseas IT workforce, which Washington says numbers September 8, 2026

PM Han vows to turn peace on Korean Peninsula into regional stability SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Tuesday that South Korea will work to turn peace on the Korean Peninsula into broader stability in Northeast Asia and contribute to global peace and shared prosperity. “The peace we seek to build on the Korean Peninsula will not remain confined to the peninsula,” Han said in a keynote speech at the Seoul Defense Dialogue in Seoul. “We will build a foundation that connects peace on the Korean Peninsul September 8, 2026

Hyundai Motor to expand future mobility education program to France SEOUL, September 8 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor will launch its educational initiative in France for the first time in Europe, the automaker said Tuesday, as part of its efforts to help young people learn about emerging mobility technologies and changes in the automotive industry. It signed an agreement with the Korean Education Center in Paris the previous day to launch its "future mobility school (FMS)" program. The program, which helps teenagers learn about the latest a September 8, 2026

KOSPI tops 7,100 as nuclear, construction stocks rally SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - South Korean KOSPI climbed above 7,100 Tuesday morning as construction and nuclear power shares surged on expectations that Korea might invest in the United States' major power projects. The benchmark KOSPI stood at 7,112.63 as of 10:45 a.m., up 1.7 percent from the previous session. The index rose as high as 7,115.92 after touching an intraday low of 7,018.53. The move took the index firmly above both the 7,000 and 7,100 levels after it closed September 8, 2026

Sejong, Hanoi sign pact to deepen ties SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - South Korea's administrative city and Vietnam's Hanoi agreed Tuesday to deepen ties in trade, talent and urban innovation, building on recent gains in business and digital cooperation. Sejong Mayor Cho Sang-ho and Vu Dai Thang, chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee signed a letter of intent (LOI) at Sejong City Hall. The document sets out a broader partnership between South Korea's administrative city and the Vietnamese capital. &ldq September 8, 2026

Samsung board faces breach-of-trust complaint SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - A shareholder group said it will file an additional criminal complaint against Samsung Electronics' entire board and executives of a company labor union over performance bonuses, widening a legal dispute over the chipmaker's profit-linked compensation scheme. The Korea Shareholders Alliance said it plans to submit the complaint to the National Office of Investigation on Wednesday at 10 a.m. outside the agency's headquarters in Seoul. The September 8, 2026

BTS draws 1.92 million on North American 'Arirang Tour' SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - BTS drew about 1.92 million people across North America on its "ARIRANG" world tour with four sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, the group's agency BigHit Music said Tuesday. The North American leg covered 31 concerts in 12 cities and ended with performances in Los Angeles on Sept. 1, 2, 5 and 6. The four LA shows drew about 282,000 people, according to the agency. The concerts were also streamed live on fan platform Weverse September 8, 2026