President Lee vows self-reliant defense amid Middle East tensions SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung said Monday that self-reliant defense is the core of South Korea’s integrated defense strategy, citing increasingly complex and fluid global security conditions. “Self-reliant defense is the most important core of integrated defense,” Lee said while presiding over the 59th Central Integrated Defense Council at the Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. The council, held annually, brings together senior officials across various na March 23, 2026

Frenzied retail stock buying triggers Seoul warning on forced liquidation SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - Leveraged stock buying by retail investors remained feverish on Monday despite 6-percent rout on escalating Gulf war fears, prompting the financial regulator to warn on forced liquidations. The Financial Supervisory Service issued a set of guidelines on Monday aimed at preventing disputes in margin trading, saying recent sharp swings in the domestic stock market had heightened the risk of forced sell-offs for investors using credit financing. “When March 23, 2026

Korean pet food firms push into Vietnam's booming market SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) — South Korean pet food companies are increasingly targeting Vietnam as a key growth market, capitalizing on the Southeast Asian country’s rapidly expanding pet economy and rising demand for premium pet care. Vietnam has quickly emerged as a strategic destination for Korean exporters. Korean-made pet food already accounts for an estimated 30-40 percent of purchases in some segments, underscoring strong brand recognition and consumer trust. Sou March 23, 2026

BTS flies to New York sporting "Keep Swimming" SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - BTS flew off to New York less than 12 hours after they successfully pulled off their comeback stage in open-air Gwanghwamun in downtown Seoul and livestreamed worldwide via Netflix, and their appearance at the Incheon International Airport created an instant buzz over their groupwear featuring "Keep Swimming", a clever marketing nod to their title song SWIM from their new album. RM, Jin, Jimin, J-Hope, Suga, V and Jungkook stepped out in matching March 23, 2026

S. Korean broadcaster wins final copyright suit against China's video platform Bilibili SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - South Korean broadcaster MBC has secured a final victory in its high-stakes copyright infringement suit against the Chinese video-sharing platform Bilibili, the company said Monday. The Jiangsu High People's Court delivered a definitive blow to the digital "safe harbor" defense long utilized by Chinese tech giants, signaling a critical shift in how Beijing enforces international intellectual property standards for foreign content providers. By March 23, 2026

Korean cracking facilities shuttering amid naphtha crunch, Seoul reacting to crisis SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - South Korea's major naphtha cracking facilities at the Yeosu Industrial Complex are shuttering as a worsening naphtha supply crunch triggered by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz forces the industry into emergency measures. LG Chem, the country's largest petrochemical firm, said Monday it would suspend operations at its No. 2 naphtha cracking center (NCC) plant in Yeosu, which has an annual ethylene production capacity of 800,000 tons. The company March 23, 2026

FX deposits fall for second month on overseas investment, import payments SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - Resident foreign currency deposits in South Korea declined for a second straight month in February, as corporate demand for overseas investments and import settlements weighed on balances. According to data released Monday by the Bank of Korea (BOK), outstanding resident foreign currency deposits at foreign exchange banks stood at $117.53 billion at end-February, down $490 million from a month earlier. The decline follows a sharper $1.4 billion drop in Janu March 23, 2026

Kookmin University holds industry seminar on robot skin research SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - The Robot Functional Skin and Hyper-Sensory Research Center at Kookmin University (KMU) held a meeting with 16 participating companies on March 17 at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square to share first-year research outcomes. The center, led by Professor Lim Si-hyung of the KMU Department of Mechanical Engineering, operates as part of the Engineering Research Center (ERC) project supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea. The project involves 10 p March 23, 2026

Asia markets slide as foreign flows unwind amid U.S. ultimatum on Iran SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) — A sharp pullback in foreign positioning rippled across Asian markets Monday after Washington issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, prompting investors to cut exposure to risk-sensitive assets. Chip-heavy markets led regional losses. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped below the 51,000 mark for the first time since Jan. 5, according to Kyodo News, dragged down by semiconductor stocks. Advantest plunged 6.76 percent, while Tok March 23, 2026

BTS week continues with back-to-back Tonight Show and Netflix documentary  SEOUL, March 23 (AJP) - BTS moved immediately into the next phase of its comeback campaign after officially returning as a full group through a livestreamed concert at Gwanghwamun on Saturday, departing for New York the following day. The K-pop superstars are set to appear on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on March 25 and 26. RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook will join Fallon in studio for their first public interview tied to a new album release i March 23, 2026