HOT STOCK: SpaceX suppliers Korea in focus after historic debut SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - The historic Nasdaq debut of SpaceX has turned investor attention to the Korean companies inside its supply chain, with KOSDAQ-trading HVM and Sphere among the names positioned to benefit as the world's most valuable private space company enters the public market. HVM, which has supplied specialty metals to SpaceX directly since 2023, manufactures the high-strength alloys and titanium used in rockets and spacecraft, one of the few Korean firms with a co June 12, 2026

World Cup 26: Red floods Seoul as Taeguk Warriors begin World Cup journey SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) — South Korea's 2026 FIFA World Cup journey began not in Mexico but in the heart of Seoul on Friday, where office workers in red jerseys streamed into Gwanghwamun Square carrying coffee cups, national flags and hopes of a winning start against Czechia. Hours before kickoff at Guadalajara Stadium, the broad plaza beneath the statue of King Sejong was already buzzing with chants, K-pop music and the rhythmic beat of drums as supporters gathered for o June 12, 2026

South Korea agrees to launch CEPA talks with Morocco SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - South Korea has agreed with Morocco to begin talks to expand trade and industrial cooperation, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said on Friday. According to the ministry, Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo visited Morocco earlier in the week and met with his Moroccan counterpart Omar Hejira to discuss ways to boost trade and investment and broaden economic cooperation between the two countries. During their talks, both sides agreed to form a consul June 12, 2026

S. Korea, US reaffirm goal of NK denuclearization at nuclear consultative talks SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - South Korea and the United States reaffirmed their shared goal of North Korea’s denuclearization during high-level nuclear deterrence talks in Seoul on Thursday, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said, amid growing concerns that the international focus on Pyongyang’s denuclearization is weakening. The two allies held the sixth session of the Nuclear Consultative Group, or NCG, a bilateral body launched in 2023 to strengthen U.S. extended deterrence ag June 12, 2026

Prosecutors drop Min Hee-jin's complaints against HYBE executives SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Prosecutors have dropped all complaints filed by former ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin against HYBE executives, declining to indict any of the accused on charges including business interference and defamation, according to legal sources Wednesday. The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office dismissed complaints against six HYBE executives, including former HYBE CEO Park Ji-won, and four executives from Belift Lab, a HYBE subsidiary. Min, who previously serve June 12, 2026

KOSPI jumps 7 percent at open, lands above 8,300 SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - The KOSPI lands above 8,300 by leaping over 7 percent at the open Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump again claims a peace deal is close and much-hyped SpaceX IPO winds down. A quarter past the opening at 9:00 a.m. in Seoul, the KOSPI gained 7.78 percent to 8,373.11, more than eclipsing the previous 4.5 percent fall and extending this week's bout of violent swings from 4 to 8 percent. Samsung Electronics rose 10.0 percent to 329,000 won ($217) and June 12, 2026

Trump says Iran deal in 'pretty final shape' as Tehran says no final decision yet SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - A peace deal between Washington and Tehran is in its final stages and could be signed in Europe as soon as this weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the U.S. had "just made a great settlement of the war with Iran," announcing that he had canceled planned strikes against Tehran. "We have a signing soon and the documents are in pretty final shape, so we'll see," he June 12, 2026

A shipwreck, a gift and 140 Years of friendship between Korea and France SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - The story of how Korea and France first encountered each other began far from Paris — on a remote island off Korea's southwestern coast. In the spring of 1851, the French whaling ship Narval ran aground near Bigeumdo. Stranded sailors found unexpected refuge among local Joseon officials who offered food, shelter and assistance despite sharing no common language. When French consul Charles de Montigny arrived from Shanghai to retrieve t June 12, 2026

SpaceX blasts off in $1.8 trillion IPO, likely extend global capital drain through June SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) -Elon Musk's SpaceX blasted off in the world's largest and most spectacular market debut, vacuuming up tens of billions of dollars from investors worldwide and underscoring why Seoul and other Asian markets had been rattled throughout the IPO week. SpaceX on Thursday sold all 555,555,555 shares offered in its initial public offering at $135 apiece, raising $75 billion and valuing the rocket and satellite company at about $1.77 trillion. They go straigh June 12, 2026

Over 500 companies showcase latest technologies at expo in southern Seoul SEOUL, June 11 (AJP) - South Korea's largest annual tech expo in southern Seoul has been drawing visitors since its opening this week, bringing tech professionals and others together to explore the latest innovations in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and extended reality (XR). Under the theme "The Tech Nexus," the annual "Smart Tech Korea" expo, which kicked off at COEX in southern Seoul on Wednesday, runs until Friday, showcas June 11, 2026