Bitcoin surges past $111,000 as US fiscal fears spark flight from traditional assets

SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - Bitcoin soared to an all-time high on Friday, breaching $111,000 amid growing unease over U.S. fiscal policy and a broad retreat from traditional safe-haven assets. The world’s largest cryptocurrency reached $111,466.48 on Coinbase at 9:45 a.m., eclipsing its previous record of $109,358 set in January. The rally comes as investors seek alternatives to government bonds and equities, both of which have been roiled by market turbulence. The surge in Bitco

May 23, 2025

PHOTOS: Hands-on K-food experience

SEOUL, May 23 (AJP) - Students from the University of Georgia recently got a taste of Korean cuisine, literally, participating in a hands-on cooking program at Sempio's headquarters in central Seoul. On May 22, the students delved into making popular dishes like Geotjeori, a fresh kimchi, and Bulgogi, the classic marinated beef. Sempio, a Korean food company, organized the event to introduce the visitors to the country's rich food culture and provide them with a direct experience of c

May 23, 2025

Korean Air, Asiana join hands for forestation project in Mongolia

SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - Korean Air said Thursday it has launched its annual reforestation project in Mongolia, joined for the first time by employees from Asiana Airlines. Roughly 260 new and supervisory employees from both airlines traveled to the “Korean Air Forest” in Baganuur District, on the outskirts of the city to participate in two weeks of tree-planting and forest maintenance. In a show of partnership, Korean Air employees flew on Asiana-operated flights and vic

May 22, 2025

Kakao spins off sagging Daum portal to focus on core business

SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - South Korean tech conglomerate Kakao has spun off its long-struggling Daum portal business into a wholly owned subsidiary, ending an 11-year integration between the two companies. The board of directors approved the move on Thursday, establishing the new entity under the leadership of Yang Joo-il, who currently heads Kakao’s content division and oversees Daum operations. The spin-off, according to the company, is part of a broader effort to streamline

May 22, 2025

LG Electronics solidifies lead in premium TV market in Europe

SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - LG Electronics has surpassed 10 million OLED television sales in Europe, a milestone that underscores the South Korean tech giant’s continued dominance in the region’s premium TV segment. The achievement, reached in April 2025, comes 12 years after LG first brought OLED (organic light-emitting diode) technology to market in 2013. While it took eight years to reach the first 5 million units sold, the company doubled that number in just four years.

May 22, 2025

Soprano Sumi Jo to receive France's highest cultural honor next week

SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - Soprano Sumi Jo is set to receive France's highest cultural honor next week, according to the Korean Cultural Center in Paris. Jo will be awarded the Commander's medal of the Order of Arts and Letters in recognition of her contributions to French art. Established in 1957 by the French Ministry of Culture, the prestigious award recognizes individuals who have made "significant contributions to the arts and literature both in France and int

May 22, 2025

PHOTOS: Inside high-speed delivery culture of Dongdaemun fashion district

SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - In the warren-like alleys of Dongdaemun Shopping Complex, Seoul’s sprawling wholesale fashion hub, a unique culture built on speed has quietly defined the rhythm of commerce for decades. Here, the hum of motorcycles and the shuffle of small delivery trucks are as much a part of the landscape as bolts of fabric and sequins glinting in warehouse light. For more than 40 years, Dongdaemun has operated not just as a wholesale marketplace, but as a vital a

May 22, 2025

Girl band TWICE to drop new full-length album in July

SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - K-pop girl band TWICE will release a new album in July. More than a month ahead of the album's release slated for July 11, their management agency JYP Entertainment teased fans with a video on social media earlier this week. The 14-minute teaser clip shows all nine members in blue outfits, with clues hinting at the impending release of their fourth full-length album "This Is For." The upcoming album comes nearly four years after their last full

May 22, 2025

Wine tasting contest underway in Seoul

SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - Lotte Department Store announced on Thursday the return of its popular blind wine tasting event, “The V:lind." Inspired by the famed 1976 Judgment of Paris — where a panel of French judges, in a blind tasting, ranked California wines above their French counterparts — Lotte’s initiative aims to elevate consumer appreciation through taste alone, stripping away biases tied to origin or price. This year’s edition has expanded i

May 22, 2025

PHOTOS: Traditional way of rice planting

SEOUL, May 22 (AJP) - The staple food for Koreans is rice, a grain deeply interwoven with the nation's history and culture. Each May, the paddies across the country come alive as farmers begin the arduous process of cultivating this essential crop. Traditionally, this involved flooding the fields, meticulously preparing the soil, and hand-planting delicate rice seedlings, known as "mo." While modern machinery now dominates most of these tasks, allowing for efficient preparati

May 22, 2025