PHOTOS: Global game festival unfolds in the heart of Seoul

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - Walking along Cheonggyecheon, visitors stepping into Hiker Ground were immediately greeted by giant screens playing game videos. Familiar soundtracks filled the air, emphasizing that this was not just an exhibition but a cultural space. The sky-blue entrance structure signaled the festival period, and for ten days, the venue in central Seoul became a "sanctuary of games," drawing in countless enthusiasts. On the s

September 16, 2025

S. Korea mulls renaming term for N. Korean defectors as integration deepens

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said the government is studying the possibility of changing the widely used Korean term "Talbukmin" (탈북민, translated as defector) to refer to North Korean arrivals, reflecting a shift in perceptions as more North Korean-born residents take active roles in society. According to the Ministry of Unification on Tuesday, Chung's remarks were made during his opening speech session of the

September 16, 2025

US aircraft carrier skips trilateral exercise with South Korea, Japan

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - A U.S. aircraft carrier is not participating in this year's trilateral exercise with South Korea and Japan, military officials here said Tuesday. The weeklong air and naval exercise, dubbed "Freedom Edge" involving Aegis destroyers, frigates, fighter jets, patrol aircraft, refueling planes, and helicopters, which kicked off early this week, is currently underway in waters near South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju. Aimed at str

September 16, 2025

Labor shortage, not low wages, drives foreign hiring by SMEs in South Korea, survey shows

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - A recent survey by the Korea Federation of SMEs (KBIZ) reveals that more than nine out of ten small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that employ foreign nationals do so primarily due to difficulties in hiring domestic workers. The survey, conducted in July on 503 businesses with 50 or more employees, found that 93.8 percent of respondents cited "difficulty in hiring domestic workers" as their primary reason for employing foreign workers.

September 16, 2025

Annual Busan film fest to kick off with Park Chan-wook's latest thriller

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - This year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will begin its 10-day run, with an outdoor red carpet event in the southern port city on Wednesday. Award-winning director Park Chan-wook's latest film, "No Other Choice," starring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin, has been selected as the curtain-raiser for BIFF, with Lee Byung-hun hosting the opening ceremony. The thriller, based on American writer Donald E. Westlake's novel "

September 16, 2025

Opinion: Hainan FTP gains momentum, underscoring China's commitment to opening up

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) will officially launch an island-wide independent customs operation on December 18, 2025. This milestone in the development of the Hainan FTP sends a clear and unequivocal message to the world: China remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding hig

September 16, 2025

Lee Chang-yong to become Korea's first central bank governor to deliver lecture at IMF

Bank of Korea Governor Lee Chang-yong is set to become the first South Korean central bank governor to deliver the prestigious Michel Camdessus Central Banking Lecture at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, D.C. The lecture series, named after the IMF's longest-serving managing director, is a high-profile forum designed to foster collaboration with central banks and address key issues in monetary policy and the global economy. Past speakers have inc

September 16, 2025

Rookie boy band to hold three-day Tokyo Dome concert early next year

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - Rookie boy band RIIZE will hold a concert in Japan early next year, their management agency SM Entertainment said on Tuesday. According to the agency, their three-day concert is scheduled for Feb. 21 to 23 in Tokyo. "They will meet fans at Tokyo Dome for three days, just two years and five months after their debut in September 2023, becoming the fastest K-pop boy band to perform on such a large-scale stage, a testament to their immense popularity

September 16, 2025

South Korean auto exports hit record high despite global tariffs

South Korea's automobile industry is demonstrating remarkable resilience in the face of global economic pressures, reporting record-breaking exports and strong domestic performance for the second consecutive month. According to a report released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Tuesday, the sector's growth was driven by robust demand for eco-friendly vehicles and a successful pivot to new markets. Auto exports reached a record $5.5 billion in Augus

September 16, 2025

Seoul holds off US trade deal despite Japan's tariff edge

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - South Korea is holding out in protracted trade negotiations with the United States and resisting pressure to sign a deal quickly even as Washington grants Japan a softer tariff regime that could erode Korean competitiveness. According to the Federal Register, the U.S. Commerce Department confirmed a preferential 15 percent tariff rate on Japanese automobiles and auto parts starting Tuesday, a significant discount from the 27.5 percent rate applied to

September 16, 2025