Red bull high-wire performance held in Seoul Estonian Red Bull slackline athlete Jaan Roose performs the 'Red Bull Seoul Highline' walk roughly 120 meters above Gwanghwamun Intersection in Seoul, October 1, 2026. October 2, 2026

Red bull high-wire performance held in Seoul Estonian Red Bull slackline athlete Jaan Roose performs the 'Red Bull Seoul Highline' walk roughly 120 meters above Gwanghwamun Intersection in Seoul, October 1, 2026. October 2, 2026

Korean investors turn to Japan on weak yen and AI boom SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) — South Korean retail investors are increasingly looking across the Korea Strait as a stalling market at home and volatile U.S. bond prices turn their attention to Japan’s weak yen and expanding opportunities in the AI supply chain. South Korean investors bought $4.65 billion worth of Japanese stocks in the first nine months of 2026, up 94 percent from $2.40 billion a year earlier, according to the Korea Securities Depository (KSD). Purchases of October 2, 2026

Drone pratfalls expose gap in Korea's battlefield testing SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - South Korea builds machines that patrol the depths, fly faster than sound and power entire cities. Yet at its military showcases, drones have lately struggled with something more basic: staying in the air. In just over five weeks, two loitering munitions plunged into the sea after launch from a Navy warship, six of 17 demonstrations faltered at a Defense Ministry technology showcase, and a small target drone fell from the sky during a nationally televised A October 2, 2026

Seoul stocks reclaim 7,000 as foreigners sell sixth day SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - South Korea's main stock index closed back above 7,000 on Friday for the first time since before the Chuseok holiday even as foreign investors sold for a sixth straight session. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 32.4 points, or 0.5 percent, to 7,003.7. Individuals sold a net 1.72 trillion won ($1.27 billion) and foreigners 143.8 billion won ($106.5 million). Institutional investors bought 381.4 billion won ($282.4 million). The gro October 2, 2026

Chipflation hastens Korea's decline as a gaming powerhouse  SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - South Korea is on course to become the fourth country to reach $1 trillion in annual exports, powered by chips that accounted for nearly half its $121 billion in overseas shipments last month alone. But the boom comes with a cost for consumers. As memory makers devote more production capacity to the giant cloud operators and advanced processors driving the AI buildout, supplies for everyday electronics are tightening. The resulting p October 2, 2026

TWICE's Nayeon teams up with Brazilian DJ Alok SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - TWICE member Nayeon teamed up with Brazilian DJ Alok for a new dance-pop single released Friday, JYP Entertainment said. "Bye Bye Inhibitions" combines Alok's electronic production with Nayeon's vocals and was released worldwide at midnight in each market. The track was first previewed during Alok's set at Brazil's Rock in Rio festival in September, where he played the song featuring Nayeon's recorded vocals. The collab October 2, 2026

Hyundai, Kia set U.S. sales record SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor and Kia posted record U.S. sales in the third quarter as hybrid deliveries jumped more than 50 percent. Hyundai, Genesis and Kia sold a combined 506,200 vehicles from July through September, up 5.4 percent from a year earlier. Hyundai and Genesis together sold 269,541 vehicles, while Kia delivered 236,659. Hybrid models were the main growth engine. Combined hybrid sales rose 53.4 percent to a record 138,112 units, while electric vehicle October 2, 2026

T.O.P, Nana confirm as latest K-couple SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - Former BIGBANG member T.O.P and actress Nana have confirmed they are in a relationship, their agencies said Friday. T.O.P's agency Topspot Pictures said the two became acquainted during the shoot and developed a relationship around June. Nana's agency Sublime separately also confirmed their relationship status. Nana appeared alongside T.O.P in the music video for the title track of his first solo studio album "Top Spot", released in October 2, 2026

Kazakhstan opens honorary consulate in Daejeon SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - A satellite company in South Korea's central city of Daejeon became home to Kazakhstan's newest diplomatic post on Friday, with its chairman serving as the Central Asian country's honorary consul. Ambassador Asset Issenali presented the consular patent to Lee Sung-hee, chairman of CONTEC Space Group, at a ceremony at the company. Lee was formally appointed on May 12 to a five-year term covering Daejeon, South Jeolla Province and Jeonbuk State. October 2, 2026