South Koreans head abroad for Chuseok while foreign tourists pour in

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - As Chuseok, one of the country's largest holidays of the year, is set to begin later this week, many South Koreans are traveling abroad en masse, opting trips over the traditional ritual of visiting their ancestral graves, while rising numbers of foreign tourists here are raising expectations for a boost to the domestic travel industry. According to global online travel platform Trip.com, the number of South Koreans traveling overseas during the wee

September 29, 2025

Samsung Heavy signs partnership with Indian shipyard

Namgoong Geum-seong of Samsung Heavy Industries, right, and Vipin Kumar Saxena of India's Swan Shipyard pose after signing an MOU on Sept. 29. Courtesy of Samsung Heavy Industries SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries said Monday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Swan Defence and Heavy Industries, an Indian shipyard, in a move to expand its global footprint in shipbuilding and marine projects. The agreement positions Samsung Heavy

September 29, 2025

Gov't services remain crippled as recovery drags on

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - A nationwide network outage caused by a fire at a state-run data center has entered its fourth day, with recovery efforts still below 5 percent. As of Monday, key services, including Government24, remain offline, and full recovery is expected to take at least two weeks. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, only 30 of nearly 650 affected systems have been restored, with a recovery rate of just 4.6 percent, following the fire at the Natio

September 29, 2025

OpenAI appoints former Google Korea head as first South Korea chief

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - OpenAI has named Kim Kyung-hoon, a former head of Google Korea, as its first chief executive in South Korea, the company announced Monday. Kim, who has more than two decades of experience in global technology and consulting, will lead OpenAI’s strategic partnerships and oversee the expansion of its artificial intelligence ecosystem in the country. The appointment comes amid surging demand for the company’s products in South Korea. Wee

September 29, 2025

OPINION: South Korea's illusion of peace

At the recent United Nations General Assembly, President Lee Jae Myung unveiled his "END Initiative," a plan aimed at ending the Cold War on the Korean Peninsula through exchange, normalization, and denuclearization. While presented as a flexible, multi-pronged approach, the initiative raises a critical, uncomfortable question: Does South Korea still suffer from the fatal illusion that North Korea can be coaxed away from its nuclear arsenal? The reality is that Lee&rs

September 29, 2025

INTERVIEW: Stronger South Korea-Japan cooperation needed to navigate U.S.-China rivalry and foster future industries

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - "Japan is a 'nation of accumulation,' known for its craftsmanship built over time. In contrast, South Korea is a 'nation of flow,' quickly adapting and integrating changes. By combining these strengths, South Korea and Japan can create a new balance against the U.S. and China," said Professor Guk Joong-ho of Yokohama City University. In an interview with Aju Business Daily earlier this month, Guk highlighted the need for South

September 29, 2025

Most postal services resume after fire at gov't data center

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - The Korea Post has resumed part of its financial services after a two-day disruption caused by a fire at a state-run data center in Daejeon. However, mail delivery and some administrative systems are still being restored, and full recovery is expected to take more time. The Ministry of Science and ICT said that all financial services including check card payments, internet banking, and ATM transactions, were back to normal as of Sunday night, while m

September 29, 2025

OPINION: Technical roadmap for Korean AI models

South Korea's global ambition in the AI transformation — a goal of both national significance and export potential — hinges on mastering challenges that continue to plague tech giants in the U.S. and China. The key to success won't be model size alone, but a technical focus on building trust, combating deception, and ensuring truthful, ethically aligned AI behavior. The most immediate technical hurdle is the phenomenon of hallucination — the AI's

September 29, 2025

CJ Logistics expands US cold chain network with new Kansas hub

SEOUL, September 28 (AJP) - South Korea's CJ Logistics said Sunday it has opened a new cold chain logistics center in New Century, Kansas. The facility is specifically designed to manage the storage and transport of refrigerated and frozen goods, utilizing specialized temperature control systems to maintain product freshness and quality. The new center's proximity to major highways allows for fast, same-day transport to key Midwestern cities, the company said. The

September 28, 2025

Emart24 becomes first Korean convenience store in Laos

SEOUL, September 28 (AJP) - South Korean convenience store chain Emart24 announced its entry into the Laotian market, Sunday, becoming the first Korean convenience store brand to establish a presence in the country. The entry follows a strategic franchise agreement with Laos-based conglomerate, Kolao Group. The partnership will see Emart24 convert 50 existing KOK KOK MINI convenience stores, currently operated by Kolao Group, into Emart24 outlets, alongside the opening of new

September 28, 2025