Naver's counterfeit crackdown lifts seller revenues by 34%, study finds SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) - Naver's anti-counterfeit measures have driven a 34 percent rise in seller revenues and a 20 percent increase in sales volume on its e-commerce platform, according to research released by the company's user protection and self-regulation committee. The findings, led by Kim Ji-young, a professor at Sungkyunkwan University, drew on transaction data from sellers who cooperated with Naver's counterfeit prevention program. Brands participating in the in March 26, 2026

South Korea to buy back $3bn bonds to bolster market SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) -South Korea will buy back 5 trillion won ($3.3 billion) of sovereign bonds in a rare market intervention to cap a surge in yields that have overshot the policy rate by more than 100 basis points amid the prolonged Middle East conflict. The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) said Thursday it will conduct the buyback on Friday, targeting Korea Treasury Bonds (KTBs) with maturities ranging from two to 10 years — one of the largest liquidity injections March 26, 2026

Many teenagers still addicted to smartphones despite overall decline SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) - About a quarter of South Koreans were at risk of overdependence on smartphones last year, according to a survey released Thursday. The risk was similarly high among young children but decreased among adults and those in their 60s compared with the previous year. The Ministry of Science and ICT conducted one-on-one interviews with about 10,000 households nationwide to survey patterns of smartphone usage. Some 22.7 percent of smartphone users were classifi March 26, 2026

From "mind the gap" to driver's seat, hands-on experience SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) -From “mind the gap” practice to a glimpse inside the driver’s cabin, elementary students stepped into the world of urban rail operations during a hands-on safety program in Incheon. Students from Gyulhyeon Elementary School explored an electric train during a safety experience program at the Gyulhyeon Depot in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, on March 25. Hosted by Incheon Transit Corporation, the program gave 23 students hands-on exposure to urban March 26, 2026

Rising subprime borrowers face delinquency risk amid fast rate rises in Korea SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) - A growing pool of overleveraged, subprime borrowers is emerging as a key financial risk in South Korea, with war-driven surge in market and dollar rates amplifying repayment stress. Data released Thursday by the Bank of Korea (BOK) showed the share of “subprime borrowers” — defined by the BOK as individuals with loans from three or more financial institutions, belonging to the bottom 30 percent income bracket and holding low credit rating March 26, 2026

Samsung targets rebounding marriage boom to drive AI home appliance sales SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is betting on a revival in South Korea’s marriage market to accelerate adoption of artificial intelligence-powered home appliances, positioning its latest all-in-one washer-dryer as a centerpiece for newlyweds building automated homes. At a media briefing in Gangnam on Thursday, the company unveiled the 2026 Bespoke AI Combo, integrating upgraded hardware with generative AI features as part of its push to dominate the premium &l March 26, 2026

KOSPI slips on chip concerns as hopes for Middle East ceasefire lift Asian markets SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) - Asian markets mostly opened higher on Thursday amid growing hopes for a possible ceasefire in the Middle East. In contrast, South Korean stocks fell as semiconductor shares dropped over concerns that Google's "TurboQuant" could reduce demand for memory chips. Earlier investor sentiment improved as signs of possible talks between the U.S. and Iran lifted Wall Street overnight. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.66 percent to 46,429.49, the S March 26, 2026

Hyundai's US, Europe plants run full while Southeast Asia lags SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group is facing widening disparities across its global production network, with plants in the United States and Europe operating at or above full capacity while Southeast Asian facilities remain underutilized. The divergence comes as the automaker accelerates localization strategies amid rising global protectionism, but weak demand and intensifying competition have weighed on its Southeast Asian operations. According to Hyundai Motor Group on March 26, 2026

Trump's Beijing trip rescheduled for mid-May amid prolonged Middle East conflict SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in mid-May, the White House said on Wednesday, after their summit was postponed due to the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. Announcing a newly-arranged date for the summit originally scheduled for next week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "I'm pleased to announce that in China will now take place in Beij March 26, 2026

Most top officials got richer last year SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) - Most high-ranking government officials and lawmakers saw their wealth increase last year, mainly due to a rise in the value of their real estate and stocks, according to figures released by the Government Ethics Committee on Thursday. Some 1,903 public servants including central and provincial officials required to declare their wealth, reported average personal assets of 2.09 billion Korean won (US$1.3 million) as of the end of last year, up about 148 millio March 26, 2026