S. Korean National Assembly Speaker meets N. Korean and Russian leaders in Beijing

SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik had two rare encounters in Beijing on Wednesday, a brief greeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and a short conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. One ended with little more than a nod, the other touched upon inter-Korean relations. According to Woo's office, the encounter with Kim took place in a waiting room ahead of China's "Victory Day" military parade at Tianan

September 4, 2025

French bestseller 'Empire of the Ants' to be released as webtoon

SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) - French novelist Bernard Werber’s 1991 bestseller "Empire of the Ants" will be released as a full-color webtoon in Korea and France in November. Weber is one of the most popular foreign novelists among South Korean book lovers. First published in 1991, Empire of the Ants explores human and ant societies through science fiction, focusing on survival, evolution and social order. Translated into Korean in 1993, the novel became a bestseller a

September 4, 2025

Korea's top business lobby ties economic recovery to green growth

SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - South Korea’s most powerful business lobby urged the government Thursday to pair consumer stimulus with an ambitious green transition as the country struggles with sluggish growth and rising climate pressures. The Federation of Korean Industries, which represents the country’s largest conglomerates, presented a seven-point “renewal” strategy that it said could both spur household consumption and advance the nation’s carbon ne

September 4, 2025

South Korea finds lifeline in Southeast Asia as US tariffs weigh on exports

SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - South Korea’s exports to Southeast Asia surged in August, offsetting declines in shipments to the United States as Washington’s trade barriers increasingly disrupt bilateral flows. Exports to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations rose 12 percent from a year earlier to a record $10.89 billion, the trade ministry said Thursday. It was the third consecutive month of growth to the bloc, which has become an increasingly vital market for Korean

September 4, 2025

KAIST and LG Energy Solution develop EV battery capable of charging in 12 minutes and driving 800km

SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - A joint team of researchers in South Korea has developed a powerful new battery that can charge in just 12 minutes and allow electric vehicles to drive up to 800 kilometers on a single charge. This new battery's performance also lasts for over 300,000 kilometers and could help solve some of the biggest problems in the EV industry. The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) said on Thursday that a research team led by Professor K

September 4, 2025

Trump calls Beijing parade 'impressive,' mentions Kim and Putin

SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - United States President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was "very surprised" that Chinese President Xi Jinping did not highlight America’s role in World War II during a speech at a military parade in Beijing. "I watched the speech last night. President Xi is a friend of mine," Trump told reporters at the White House as he met with Polish President Karol Nawrocki. "I thought that the United States should have been mentioned la

September 4, 2025

Russian envoy underscores Soviet role in Korea's liberation at Seoul exhibition

SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - The Russian Embassy in South Korea opened an exhibition in Seoul on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of the Korean Peninsula. The event, titled "Remembering the Liberation of the Korean Peninsula," is being held at Gallery Kartina and runs through September 26. Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev used his welcome remarks to highlight what he called the decisive role of the Soviet Union in Ja

September 4, 2025

[K-Culture] S. Korean Tony-winning musical 'Maybe Happy Ending' to hit theaters next month

SEOUL, September 4 (AJP) - South Korean musical "Maybe Happy Ending," which swept six awards at this year's Tony Awards in the U.S., is set to be released as a film in theaters next month, its distributor said Wednesday. Kino Films, the film's distributor, said the it will premiere exclusively at the multi-screen chain Megabox nationwide from October 2. Written by South Korean lyricist Hue Park and composed by American composer Will Aronson, the musical debute

September 4, 2025

Kim, Putin vow to boost ties in Beijing summit

SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in Beijing on Wednesday, pledging to strengthen their partnership and voicing support for each other's strategic priorities, Pyongyang's state media reported Thursday. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim and Putin discussed "long-term plans for cooperation" in detail and "reaffirmed their steadfast will to continue to lead the bilat

September 4, 2025

US patent firm alleges LCD patent infringement by LG Electronics

SEOUL, September 04 (AJP) - A U.S. intellectual property management company has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission, accusing LG Electronics and several other television manufacturers of infringing patents covering liquid crystal display (LCD) technology. BH Innovations LLC named South Korea’s LG, China’s Hisense and TCL, and U.S.-based Vizio as respondents in the case, according to data released Thursday by the patent information platform RP

September 4, 2025