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  Over 100 South Koreans brought home from Cambodia over online scams SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - The government has brought back some 107 South Korean suspects allegedly involved in online scam crimes in Cambodia, the presidential office said on Friday. During a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said a sweeping crackdown has been conducted in cooperation with the Southeast Asian country since October, making it possible to bring them back. The efforts were made following revelations of a series of kidnappings, detentions and bru December 12, 2025
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  OPINION: Thailand and Korea: A legacy of friendship and sacrifice SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - It is encouraging to see Korea and Thailand gaining renewed momentum in their economic partnership, as demonstrated at the recent Ignite Thailand–Korea Business Forum in Bangkok. More than 500 participants, including senior officials from both nations, explored cooperation in smart agriculture, advanced manufacturing, digital December 12, 2025
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  Newlyweds fall below 1 million for second straight year SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - The number of newlyweds has remained below one million for the second year in a row, the Ministry of Data and Statistics said on Friday. About 952,000 couples married last year, down 2.3 from a year earlier. First-time newlyweds with children accounted for 51.2 percent, down 1.3 percentage points from the previous year, with an average of 0.61 children per couple. Only 49.1 percent of dual-income couples had children, compared with 55.2 percent of sin December 12, 2025
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  Australia allows Hanwha to increase stake in strategic shipbuilding firm SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Hanwha Group has secured approval from the Australian government to increase its stake in Austal, a global shipbuilding and defense contractor, to 19.9 percent, the company said Friday. Austal, which operates major shipyards in the United States, builds vessels for the U.S. Navy and is considered a strategic defense asset by the Australian government. Hanwha sees the stake expansion as a step toward strengthening its shipbuilding capabilities and deepe December 12, 2025
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  Samsung Tri-Fold sells out in Korea despite hefty price SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - The priciest handset-to-date Galaxy Z Tri-Fold landed across South Korea on Friday with much fanfare, selling out on the day one as consumers lined up to try the new concept phone whose dual display wings unfold into a 10-inch tablet-like screen. The device debuted through Samsung.com and 20 stores nationwide, including Samsung Gangnam, where initial online inventory sold out almost immediately, leaving only restock notifications available. The Ga December 12, 2025
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  Hyundai Motor's Ioniq 9 outperforms BMW iX, Volvo EX90 in German magazine's SUV review SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor’s flagship electric SUV, the Ioniq 9, has taken the top spot in a major German comparison of electric SUVs, outperforming competing models from BMW, Volvo and Polestar, the company said Friday. German automotive magazine Auto Zeitung evaluated the Ioniq 9 against the BMW iX, Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3, reviewing categories including body design, driving convenience, powertrain and dynamic performance. The publication highlighted t December 12, 2025
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  Shinsegae chairman flies to US to attend dinner hosted by VP Vance SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Shinsegae Group Chairman Chung Yong-jin departed for the United States on Friday to attend a Christmas dinner hosted by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the vice president’s residence in Washington D.C. The event, scheduled for Friday evening, local time, is expected to draw prominent figures from U.S. political and business circles, as well as members of the Rockbridge Network, an American public policy and investment organization founded by Va December 12, 2025
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  Seoul Metro Union No. 1 reaches agreement, strike averted SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Seoul Metro Union No. 1 and management of Seoul Transportation Corporation, which operates Seoul Subway Lines 1-8, reached a wage and collective bargaining agreement on Friday just before a general strike. This led to the cancellation of the union's planned general strike for that day. The Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) also reached a settlement with the Korean Railway Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), lea December 12, 2025
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  KOSPI tops 4,150 as Dow hits record high SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Asian stocks in early Friday session tracked the mixed overnight performance in the United States, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit another record high even as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq slipped. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI rose 1.1 percent to 4,154.47, while the KOSDAQ edged up 0.2 percent to 936.76 as of 9:49 a.m. Institutional investors led the market with 302 billion won ($205 million) in net purchases. Foreign investors sold 64.8 bil December 12, 2025
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  Hotel Shilla president's son admitted to Seoul National University SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Hotel Shilla president Lee Boo-jin's eldest son has been accepted to Seoul National University. According to a list released by the prestigious university on Friday, his name, identified by his last name Im, appeared among the successful early-admission applicants to the university's Department of Economics for next year's academic year. Those admitted must register by next week. If he enrolls, he will follow in the footsteps of his uncle December 12, 2025