AI won't change the game dynamics: Nexon's gaming chief SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - As artificial intelligence makes building games faster and cheaper, the edge will lie in the depth of context that no prompt can generate, the head of Nexon Korea. Kang Dae-hyun, co-chief executive of Nexon Korea, made the remarks Tuesday in the opening keynote of the Nexon Developers Conference (NDC), the country's largest game knowledge-sharing event, which returned to Nexon's Pangyo campus for a three-day run. "Implementation is getting easi June 16, 2026

Reconstruction fund emerges as centerpiece of Iran deal SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - A proposed $300 billion reconstruction fund has emerged as the centerpiece of the U.S.-Iran peace deal, brewing fresh interest among South Korean companies eager to re-enter one of the Middle East's largest untapped markets as President Lee Jae Myung heads to France for G7 outreach meetings. The Trump administration is expected to release key details of the memorandum of understanding this week, offering the first glimpse into an agreement that links nucl June 16, 2026

North Korean leader sends congratulatory letter for Xi's birthday SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a congratulatory message along with a flower basket to Chinese President Xi Jinping on his birthday, state media reported on Monday. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim delivered his wishes for Xi's "good health" in the message sent last Sunday, while praising his "great achievements" on the occasion of Xi's 73rd birthday. It comes after Xi visited Pyo June 16, 2026

Eight out of 10 Korean workers fear of falling behind in AI race SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - Reflecting the rapid transformation trend that is sweeping across various kinds of workplaces globally, eight out of ten workers in South Korea fear being left behind in the era of artificial intelligence, a report by the global software and technology company Microsoft showed on Monday, The report, Microsoft's 2026 Work Trend Index, based on a survey of 20,000 workers from 10 countries, highlights what Microsoft describes as a "transformation parad June 16, 2026

Lee heads to France for G7 summit after meeting Pope at Vatican SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is now heading to Évian-les-Bains to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit on Tuesday and Wednesday, after wrapping up his visit to the Vatican earlier in the week. South Korea has been invited to the summit as a partner country, making it Lee's second consecutive attendance at the summit of major economies following last year's gathering in Canada. The summit is expected to address a range of pressing global challenge June 16, 2026

KOSPI refueled on U.S.-Iran preliminary deal SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - South Korea's benchmark KOSPI posted sharp gains on Monday, buoyed by investor optimism following news of a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States. The KOSPI opened 402.50 points, or 4.95 percent, higher at 8,526.12 and extended its rally in early trading. The rapid advance triggered a buy-side sidecar six minutes after the market opened. The volatility control measure is activated when KOSPI 200 futures rise more than June 16, 2026

Korea joins Pride Month SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - South Korea's celebration of Pride Month is relatively young by global standards. The Seoul Queer Parade, now in its 27th year, is still modest in size compared with some of the world's largest Pride events that attract hundreds of thousands, and in some cases millions, of participants. Yet its growth has been striking. What began as a small gathering of about 2,000 people in 2000 has evolved into an event drawing tens of thousands each June 16, 2026

Behind the Jamsil protests: The pro-democracy politics of young Koreans SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - Unlike their clear-cut elders, young South Koreans are neither right nor left. They are simply pro-democracy, and intolerant when they believe it is under attack — whether through a martial law declaration or a shortage of ballot papers. The generational divide has become increasingly visible in recent months as South Koreans in their 20s and 30s have emerged as a new political force, distancing themselves from the country's deeply entrenched ideol June 15, 2026

Korean won, bonds rally on U.S.-Iran framework SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - The South Korean won and government bonds strengthened Monday on signs of foreign return after a de facto resolution to the monthslong Iran crisis. The won closed at 1,511.1 per dollar in the Seoul foreign exchange market, down 8.7 won from the previous session. South Korean government bonds extended last week's rally. The yield on the three-year government bond fell 6.4 basis points to 3.744 percent, while the 10-year yield dropped 7.7 basis points to June 15, 2026

Labor groups demand 12,000 won for next year's minimum wage SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - Labor groups on Monday demanded that next year's minimum wage be raised to 12,000 won (about US$8), up 13.3 percent or 1,680 won from this year's 10,320 won per hour. In a joint press conference in Seoul, workers from the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) made the demand, arguing that wages have lagged behind inflation over the past three years. They pointed out that the average minimum wa June 15, 2026