Korea, Malaysia resume FTA talks to close gap in key areas

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - South Korea and Malaysia are set to resume negotiations this week in Kuala Lumpur as the two nations seek to advance their bilateral free trade agreement. The talks, scheduled from Tuesday through Thursday, mark the sixth round of negotiations since the process resumed in March 2024. The South Korean delegation is headed by Kwon Hye-jin, the country’s chief trade negotiator from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Malaysia’s team is led b

May 13, 2025

Experts debate diplomatic strategies amid shifting global landscape at seminar in Seoul

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - A number of lawmakers and experts gathered in Seoul on Monday for a seminar to discuss diplomatic strategies and security measures amid a rapidly shifting global political landscape. Hosted by Aju Business Daily, the seminar was held in Yeouido, where participants engaged in a heated debate over strengthening the alliance with the U.S. in response to North Korea's continuous development of its nuclear weapons program as well as other global challenges since

May 12, 2025

US, China agree to roll back tariffs, pause trade war

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - The United States and China announced Monday that they had reached a preliminary agreement to reduce and temporarily suspend a series of reciprocal tariffs, marking a significant step toward de-escalating a trade conflict that has rattled global markets for weeks. Following a weekend of closed-door negotiations in Geneva, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the two countries had agreed to a 90-day pause on implementing new tariffs, with both sides commit

May 12, 2025

SK Telecom reports slight dip in profit, reaffirms customer data safeguards

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest wireless carrier SK Telecom reported a marginal decline in net profit for the first quarter of 2025, as increased corporate taxes offset gains from its expanding artificial intelligence businesses. The company said Monday that net income for the three months ending in March fell 0.1 percent to 361.6 billion won ($258.3 million), compared with 361.9 billion won during the same period a year earlier. The decrease was attributed to hi

May 12, 2025

Wife of DP presidential candidate slapped with fine again in appeals court

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - The wife of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP)'s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung was slapped with a 1.5 million won fine for election law violations by an appeals court on Monday. The Suwon District Court upheld the sentence from the first trial, which had been handed down in November last year. Kim Hye-kyung was indicted in February last year for allegedly using her husband's corporate expense card in August 2021, when Lee was serving as

May 12, 2025

PHOTOS: Presidential campaign starts for June 3 election

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - The official campaign for the June 3 snap presidential election, triggered by the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, began on May 12. Although seven candidates registered, the election is expected to be a three-way race among Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party. The presidential candidates will engage in official campaigning until June 2, the day before the election.

May 12, 2025

Ex-president declines to comment at first public court appearance

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - Disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday appeared for a trial over charges of insurrection and abuse of power over his botched martial law debacle late last year. During his previous two court appearances last month, Yoon managed to avoid public attention by being whisked into the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul through a secluded passageway from the underground parking lot. Amid controversy over alleged preferential treatment of the

May 12, 2025

PHOTOS: Exploring treasures of Gyeongbokgung Palace

SEOUL, May 09 (AJP) - Once the resplendent heart of the Joseon Dynasty's royal lineage, Gyeongbokgung Palace stands as a testament to both the kingdom's foundational aspirations and its resilience through periods of upheaval. Erected in tandem with the dynasty's establishment, the palace met a devastating fate during the Japanese invasion in 1592, succumbing entirely to flames. The Gyeongbokgung that graces Seoul today bears the imprint of a later era, with sections re

May 12, 2025

OECD warns of slowing growth in South Korea

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - South Korea’s potential economic growth is projected to dip below 2 percent next year, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, raising fresh concerns about the long-term health of Asia’s fourth-largest economy. The OECD forecast South Korea’s potential GDP growth rate at 1.98 percent for 2026 — a slight but symbolic decline from this year’s estimate of 2.02 percent. The revision reflects a broader

May 12, 2025

K-pop festival in Japan becomes business platform for Korean firms

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - South Korean companies secured export agreements valued at $9.76 million during business matchmaking sessions held alongside a major K-pop festival in Japan, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) said Monday. The business-to-business consultations, organized by KOTRA, took place on May 8 at the Tokyo International Forum, coinciding with KCON Japan, an annual K-pop showcase hosted by entertainment conglomerate CJ ENM. The three-day event featu

May 12, 2025