Original Beer Company launches first canned lagers through GS25 SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - Original Beer Company, a South Korean craft brewer known for its champagne-style bottled beers, will launch its first canned products through GS25 convenience stores nationwide on June 11 as it seeks to expand beyond premium retail channels and reach a broader consumer base. According to the company Wednesday, the initial lineup consists of OBC Lager Helles and OBC Lager Vienna, priced at 13,000 won ($8.5) for a four-can bundle. The launch marks the brewery June 10, 2026

U.S.-Iran tensions and SpaceX debut weigh on Asia, drag KOSPI below 8,000 SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - The volatile Seoul market gave ground Wednesday, surrendering part of the previous session's explosive gains as investors locked in profits while renewed military clashes between the United States and Iran rattled global markets. As of 10:33 a.m., the benchmark KOSPI was down 2.80 percent at 7,870.03, extending losses after slipping below the 8,000-point mark earlier in the session. The junior KOSDAQ edged up 0.27 percent to 970.38. The Korean won als June 10, 2026

KAIST researchers teach robots human judgment using short videos SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - Researchers in South Korea have built an artificial intelligence system that allows robots and self-driving cars to figure out human intentions just by watching a handful of videos. The new method heavily cuts down the amount of data needed to train these machines, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology said Wednesday. A research team led by Professor Yoo Chang-dong at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)'s elect June 10, 2026

North Korean state media highlights Xi's visit with extensive front-page coverage SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - North Korean state media gave extensive coverage to Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pyongyang earlier this week, highlighting close ties between the two traditional allies. In its Wednesday edition, the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper devoted four of its six pages to Xi's two-day visit and his summit with leader Kim Jong-un. Along with more than 50 photos, it carried detailed accounts of Xi's itinerary in Pyongyang, from his arrival on June 10, 2026

South Korea's workforce over 70 tops 2 million as aging and poverty reshape labor market SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - More than 2 million South Koreans aged 70 and older were employed last year to make up a record 7.5 percent of the country's workforce, underscoring how rapid aging and persistent old-age poverty are reshaping the labor market. According to Ministry of Data and Statistics, the number of employed people aged 70 or older reached 2.16 million in 2025, nearly doubling from 1.22 million in 2018. Their share of total employment climbed from 4.5 percent to 7. June 10, 2026

Kakao workers stage first walkout in company history over bonus dispute SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - Kakao's labor union launched the first partial strike in the company's history, escalating a standoff with management over performance bonuses. The walkout ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with an hour-long midday break on Wednesday, amounting to about four hours of stoppage. Union members marched through the company's Pangyo branch in Seongnam, south of Seoul. Workers at five entities — the main Kakao corporation, Kakao Pay, Kakao Enterprise, D June 10, 2026

What does SpaceX's upcoming IPO signal for Asia? SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - For years, investing in space felt more like science fiction than finance, more akin to dreaming about Mars. Fascinating and ambitious, it nevertheless seemed far distant from everyday economic activity. But that is beginning to change. Should SpaceX move ahead with its initial public offering (IPO) later this week, the larger story is not the stock itself. It is the arrival of the space industry as a mainstream industrial sector, one that could reshape techno June 10, 2026

Russian envoy stresses restoration of bilateral ties with South Korea amid diplomatic strain SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - Russian Ambassador to South Korea Georgy Zinoviev pushed for repairing relations between Moscow and Seoul during a diplomatic reception Tuesday, pointing to recent remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin to back his stance. Hosting the Day of Russia event at the embassy in Seoul, Zinoviev pointed out that while the two nations have shared decades of strong cooperation, their relationship is currently dealing with serious roadblocks. "Nonetheless, June 9, 2026

Won gains on NPS hedge; bonds rebound SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - The South Korean won extended its gains for a second straight day Tuesday after foreign exchange authorities formalized currency hedging measures for the National Pension Service (NPS). The bond market also rebounded for the first time in four sessions, helped by bargain-hunting and reports that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) may keep its government bond purchases at current levels. In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won closed at 1,512.1 per dollar, up 22.9 w June 9, 2026

North Korea returns to international headlines amid renewed China-Russia rivalry SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - North Korea's young ruler Kim Jong-un, who once dominated international headlines through his unprecedented courtship with U.S. President Donald Trump during the latter's first term, is back on front pages – this time under the arms of the elder strongmen of a resurgent authoritarian axis. During his latest visit to Pyongyang — his first in seven years — Chinese President Xi Jinping called for expanded exchanges with North Korea in June 9, 2026