Hyundai Motor's assembly line in Ulsan halted over staffing dispute SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - One of two production lines at Hyundai Motor's plant in Ulsan was halted Monday after unionized workers blocked a Genesis G80 hybrid test vehicle from entering the line amid a dispute over staffing for new models. The stoppage began at around 9 a.m. at the plant's Genesis assembly unit as Hyundai sought to place the test vehicle on the line ahead of future mass production. Company managers urged workers to resume production, but the line remained November 3, 2026

Korean Air to require Ebola screening form for US-bound passengers SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - Korean Air is set to require passengers on flights bound for the U.S. to fill out an Ebola-related health screening form as part of measures to prevent the spread of the disease, starting this week. According to the country's flag carrier on Tuesday, the measure, which follows an order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), takes effect for flights departing from South Korea on Wednesday. Under the order, all passengers November 3, 2026

Sookmyung review maps how PFAS poison human cells SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - So-called forever chemicals can damage human cells from the outside in, starting with the membrane that wraps each cell and reaching the structures that supply its energy, according to a new review from Sookmyung Women’s University. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of synthetic chemicals that break down so slowly in the environment that they have earned the forever label. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Develop November 3, 2026

North Korea conducts 'major' weapons tests SEOUL, November 3 (AJP) - North Korea has conducted a series of "major" weapons tests including one involving a cluster warhead intended to be mounted on a strategic cruise missile, state media reported on Tuesday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North's Missile General Bureau conducted the tests the previous day, with one to assess the destructive power of a dispersal warhead, and another to examine a missile's ability to carry ou November 3, 2026

Hanjin ownership battle brews ahead of Korean Air-Asiana merger SEOUL, November 02 (AJP) -A fresh ownership battle is brewing over Hanjin KAL, the holding company of Korean Air, just six weeks before the flag carrier's landmark merger with Asiana Airlines on Dec. 17, as Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae moves to bolster his stake against an aggressive buildup by construction conglomerate Hoban Group. The ownership contest comes at a critical juncture for Cho, who is preparing to complete the nearly six-year integration of South Korea's t November 2, 2026

US House science chair urges stronger Korea ties to counter China SEOUL, November 02 (AJP) - The United States and South Korea have never been closer industrial partners — from chips to space exploration and nuclear energy — and their cooperation can help counter China’s growing technological reach, the chairman of the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee told AJP. “While our nations will naturally have different economic considerations, we must remain closely aligned when it comes to protecting critical tech November 2, 2026

KOSPI rebounds while Asian stocks end mixed SEOUL, November 2 (AJP) - Asian stocks ended mixed on Monday. South Korea's benchmark KOSPI rebounded about 2 percent on institutional buying, while Japan's Nikkei 225 and Taiwan's TAIEX slipped after last Friday's selloff in U.S. technology shares. In Seoul, the KOSPI rose 128.34 points or 2.24 percent to close at 5,859.08 after opening lower and falling as much as 1.99 percent to 5,616.50 early in the session. Institutional investors bought a net 1.23 trillion w November 2, 2026

Hyundai Motor suffers sluggish sales in October SEOUL, November 2 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor saw its sales decline last month while its affiliate Kia posted strong growth, largely driven by robust demand for sport utility vehicles (SUVs). According to sales figures released on Monday, the automaker sold some 329,773 vehicles worldwide in October, down 6.3 percent from a year earlier. Its domestic sales fell 8.9 percent to 49,042 units, while overseas sales dropped 5.9 percent to 280,731 units. In contrast, Kia sold 291,219 vehicl November 2, 2026

AI necessity draws Korean chipmakers closer to Japan SEOUL, November 02 (AJP) - History has often intruded on business between South Korea and Japan, two of Asia’s technology powerhouses. In 2019, a dispute over compensation for wartime forced labor spilled into semiconductor supply chains. Japan tightened export controls on critical chipmaking materials, and the two countries removed each other from lists of preferred trading partners. Since then, Korean manufacturers accelerated efforts to replace Japanese supplies with d November 2, 2026

Koreans aren't rushing to embrace homegrown weight-loss drug — yet SEOUL, November 02 (AJP) - Weekly weight-loss injections have become common among appearance-conscious South Koreans, and a homegrown alternative has joined the ever-expanding market. Following a familiar path taken by Korean challengers in industries from cars to cosmetic injections, Hanmi Pharmaceutical is betting that a lower price can steal some Korean users from Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro. Hanmi's Eppe, or efpeglenatide, reached selected clini November 2, 2026