Trump extends deadline for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz or face 'hell' SEOUL, April 6 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump once again postponed his deadline, giving Iran one more day before carrying out his threat to bomb its power plants if Tehran fails to meet U.S. demands. Setting a new deadline, already extended from an earlier March 27 deadline, Trump wrote on his social media platform on Sunday, "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran." He also used strong language to warn that Iran would " April 6, 2026

Private contracts offer some relief for Korea from Australia's hint of LNG export curbs SEOUL, April 06 (AJP) -South Korea’s liquefied natural gas supply chain faces a fresh hit as Australia — an increasingly critical supplier amid Middle East disruptions — signals possible export curbs to prioritize domestic demand. warning comes as Seoul leans more heavily on Australian LNG to offset heightened risks stemming from the Middle East war. Despite government reassurance of stable supply, industry officials caution that tightening export controls by m April 6, 2026

Seoul remains cautious while more foreign vessels slip through the Strati of Hormuz SEOUL, April 05 (AJP) -A number of foreign-flagged vessels have begun slipping through the heavily militarized Strait of Hormuz, offering tentative signs of movement in a waterway that remains effectively under Iran’s control — but for South Korea, the path out is still far from clear. The latest breakthroughs have come from Europe and Japan. A French-owned container ship operated by CMA CGM successfully transited the strait this week, becoming one of the first We April 5, 2026

BOK nominee holds half of assets in foreign currency, raising concerns ahead of hearing SEOUL, April 5 (AJP) - Shin Hyun‑song, a nominee to lead the Bank of Korea, holds more than half of his assets in foreign currencies, raising concerns over potential conflicts of interest. According to a financial disclosure submitted to the National Assembly on Sunday ahead of his confirmation hearing slated for later this month, Shin and his family including his spouse and eldest son hold total assets of 8.24 billion Korean won (approximately US$5.49 million). Of that, ro April 5, 2026

'The King's Warden' continues successful box-office run, drawing 16 million viewers SEOUL, April 5 (AJP) - Director Jang Hang-jun's "The King's Warden" has attracted over 16 million viewers in about two months after its release in early February, the film's distributor said on Sunday. According to Showbox, the period drama drew about 153,000 moviegoers last Saturday alone to surpass 16 million in cumulative theater attendance since its release on Feb. 4, making it the third film to reach the milestone after the 2014 historical epic "The A April 5, 2026

LG's clothing-care machine surpasses 2 million units in cumulative global sales SEOUL, April 5 (AJP) - LG Electronics' clothing-care contraption, called the LG Styler, has sold over 2 million units in cumulative global sales, the home-appliance giant said on Sunday. The milestone comes just five years after over 1 million units were sold in 2021, about a decade after its release in 2011. The machine, which resembles a combination of a wardrobe and a fridge, removes odors, dust, and wrinkles while sterilizing clothes, all without the time-consuming effo April 5, 2026

Refiners hit by avalanche of woes as crude volatility, supply risks mount SEOUL, April 5 (AJP) - A surge in oil prices has given domestic refiners a short-term boost, but industry watchers warn that their gains may quickly evaporate as market volatility and supply constraints are expected to continue amid the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. At least until last month, refiners managed to keep operations steady by relying on existing inventories and alternative supplies, but risks are rising as crude prices swing sharply and securing feedstock beco April 5, 2026

Trump ratchets up 'hell' threat against Iran as his ultimatum deadline looms SEOUL, April 5 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump made yet another ominous threat to Iran on Saturday, saying Tehran has 48 hours to make a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on his social medial platform Truth Social, Trump said, "Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them." The fresh threat was a reminder of his earlier ultimatum to Tehran, just one April 5, 2026

S.Korea civil service exam attendance slips to 75 percent, competition intensifies SEOUL, April 04 (AJP) - The attendance rate for South Korea's national Grade 9 civil service written exam edged down to 75 percent this year, while overall competition continued to climb, the government said Saturday. Out of 108,578 eligible applicants, 81,479 took the 2026 exam held across 17 cities and provinces, according to the Ministry of Personnel Management. The 75 percent turnout marks a slight decrease from 75.2 percent last year and 75.8 percent in 2024. April 4, 2026

S. Korea pump prices extend gains on prolonged Middle East conflict SEOUL, April 04 (AJP) - Retail gasoline and diesel prices in South Korea continued their upward trajectory on Saturday, driven by concerns over a prolonged conflict in the Middle East. The national average price of gasoline stood at 1,938.6 won ($1.28) per liter as of 9 a.m., up 6.8 won from the previous day, according to Opinet, the Korea National Oil Corp.'s price information portal. The average price of diesel also rose, climbing 6.3 won to 1,929.4 won per liter. Pric April 4, 2026