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  Customs watchdog releases list of agricultural products exempt from US tariffs SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - South Koreans will be able to check which goods are exempt from the country's recently concluded reciprocal tariffs with the U.S., the Korea Customs Service (KCS) said on Wednesday. The KCS said it compiled the list of some 248 agricultural products including coffee, tea, and fruits, which have been exempt from the reciprocal tariffs after the White House issued an executive order exempting them effective from Nov. 13. Those exempt also include seas December 24, 2025
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  Korea and US agree to work on a separate pact on nuclear-power submarine project SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) -South Korea and the United States will start working-level talks early next to write out a separate bilateral agreement on cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines, said Seoul’s national security adviser said Wednesday. In a televised briefing on his back-to-back visits to the United States, Canada, and Japan, Wi Sung-lac specified the reasons for the need for a separate pact on the submarine program, which is linked to broader security commitmen December 24, 2025
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  S. Korea's new regional carrier SUM Air to take off next year SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - SUM Air, South Korea's new regional air mobility (RAM) carrier, is set to take off from France to Seoul on the last day of this year. Founded in 2022, the carrier plans to operate domestic routes as well as short-haul international routes to nearby destinations such as Japan and China within two hours of flight time. SUM means "island" in Korean, and the carrier plans to connect cities and islands, including Ulleung, Heuksan, and Baengnyeo December 24, 2025
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  Korea's consumer confidence dips as weak won fuels inflation fears SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - South Korea’s consumer confidence fell in December as inflationary expectations rose amid persistent weakness in the won, survey data showed Wednesday. The composite consumer sentiment index (CCSI) for December dropped 2.5 points from November to 109.9, according to the Bank of Korea. While a reading above 100 indicates that optimism outweighs pessimism, several subindices pointed to growing household anxiety over economic con December 24, 2025
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  Asian shares opens higher as Christmas Eve boosts sentiment SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - South Korean and Japanese stocks opened higher on Wednesday, buoyed by the Christmas Eve spirit, while markets in China and Hong Kong stayed flat. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI rose 0.3 percent to 4,129.06 and tech-heavy KOSDAQ added 0.31 points to 919.87. Samsung Electronics fell 50 Korean won to 111,450 won ($76.2), while SK hynix gained 0.9 percent to 589,500 won. LG Energy Solution rose 0.6 percent to 390,500 won. Samsung Biologics declined 1.2 perc December 24, 2025
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  Restored incense burners at Gyeongbokgung Palace unveiled on Christmas Eve SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - Two lids for incense burners at Gyeongbokgung Palace in central Seoul have recently been restored, the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) said on Wednesday. The newly-created lids, perfectly restored to fit the burners in front of the palace's main hall, were unveiled to the public on Christmas Eve and will remain permanently on display. The two identical burners are believed to have been made by melting down a large bell in 1866, during the reign of Gojo December 24, 2025
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  A Christmas story from Seoul: in many shapes – and beyond SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - In Seoul, Christmas does not arrive in a single shape. It appears instead in layers — some rooted in history, others carried forward by habit, and still others projected in light. The city’s winter traditions do not replace one another. They accumulate. The season often begins, quietly, with a tree. Few people realize that the Christmas tree itself, as celebrated across Western societies, traces its botanical origin to Korea. December 24, 2025
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  Lotus transforms Seoul showroom into immersive art gallery SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - Lotus Cars Korea finished its art collaboration event at its flagship showroom in Seoul's upscale Gangnam district on Wednesday, merging contemporary Japanese art with high-end automotive design. The event, held from Dec. 21, drew guests from fashion, design, automotive and lifestyle sectors. London and Seoul-based creative directing teams Nazferatu and Aube Arte orchestrated the showcase. Japanese contemporary artist Ryota Daimon headlined the even December 24, 2025
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  Korean won rises 1.3% after strong verbal intervention SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - The Korean won surged more than 1 percent against the U.S. dollar in early trading Wednesday in Seoul, as suspected dollar-selling flows followed a strong verbal warning from authorities, amplifying a broader retreat in the greenback across major currencies. The dollar fell 22.8 won to 1,459.2 won as of 10 a.m., outperforming the dollar index’s 0.34 percent decline to 97.61. In a joint message issued before the market opened, senior officials at t December 24, 2025
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  North Korea spurs rural development ahead of key party congress SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - North Korea has been holding a series of opening ceremonies for new factories in provincial areas, state media reported Wednesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, a completion ceremony of a factory in Kilju, North Hamgyong Province was held the previous day with key party officials in attendance. Kilju is known for its Punggye-ri nuclear test site, where North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests. In a speech at the December 24, 2025