US naval commander visits HJ shipyard

SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Rear Admiral Neil Koprowski, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea, visited the Yeongdo shipyard of HJ Shipbuilding and Construction last week, the company said in a statement Monday. During the visit, Admiral Koprowski toured the Busan-based shipyard with his staff, inspecting ongoing naval vessel construction and facilities capable of large-scale maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations. He was greeted by Yoo Sang-cheol, the shipbuilder’s chi

April 14, 2025

Indonesia attracts S. Korean beauty industry to Bali expo

SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - The Embassy of Indonesia in South Korea hosted a briefing session on Monday to promote the upcoming "Bali Wellness and Beauty Expo 2025," inviting around 50 South Korean business operators from the beauty, cosmetics, wellness, and travel sectors. The event was held at the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul and served as a platform to introduce the inaugural expo and possible collaboration opportunities between the two countries. “This expo aims to

April 14, 2025

Young adults face toughest job market in 12 years in South Korea

SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Employment among South Koreans in their late 20s dropped sharply in the first quarter of 2025, marking the steepest quarterly decline in more than a decade, according to government data released Monday. The number of employed individuals aged 25 to 29 fell by 98,000 compared with the same period last year, the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) reported. The last time employment in this age group declined so severely was in the third quarter of

April 14, 2025

Hyundai, Kia post record quarterly sales in India

SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. posted their highest-ever quarterly sales in India, the world’s third-largest automobile market, during the first three months of 2025. According to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the two companies sold a combined 229,126 vehicles in the first quarter, a 1.5 percent increase from the 225,686 units sold during the same period last year. The growth reflects the companies’ sustained m

April 14, 2025

Former DP leader maintains lead over rivals in poll ahead of presidential election

SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - With the presidential election less than two months away after disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's ouster, Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, remains far ahead of other candidates, a new poll shows. According to a survey of over 1,500 adults conducted last week by pollster Realmeter and released on Monday, 48.8 percent expressed support for Lee as the most suitable presidential candidate. Former Employment and

April 14, 2025

China halts rare earth exports; Korean industries brace for impact

SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - China has suspended exports of rare earth minerals essential to a range of advanced technologies — including electric vehicles, semiconductors and robotics, the New York Times reported Monday. Analysts say China's move could reverberate across global supply chains and disrupt key sectors of South Korea’s manufacturing industry. According to the report, Beijing has halted shipments of rare earth elements and associated magnetic materials wid

April 14, 2025

Korea opens pavilion at Osaka Expo, highlighting technology, tradition, sustainability

SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - South Korea opened its national pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo, Sunday, aiming to showcase its technological innovation, cultural heritage, and vision for a sustainable future over the course of the six-month international event. Organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, the opening ceremony marked the start of a 184-day exhibition set within one of the expo’s signature structures, the

April 13, 2025

Trump exempts smartphones from sweeping tariffs

SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - The Trump administration has granted exemptions on a range of electronic devices, including smartphones and personal computers, from a broad package of reciprocal tariffs — a move that offers significant relief to major global tech firms such as Apple and South Korea’s Samsung Electronics. In a notice published April 12, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that select categories of electronics — including smartphones, laptops, PCs, ser

April 13, 2025

Criminal trial of Yoon Suk Yeol will begin Monday

SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - The criminal trial of former President Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled to begin Monday at the Seoul Central District Court. Yoon, who was removed from office by a unanimous ruling of the Constitutional Court on April 4, faces charges of leading an insurrection after attempting to mobilize military forces on Dec. 3. He is the fifth former South Korean president to face a criminal trial. The proceedings are set to open at 10 a.m. As a defendant,Yoon is re

April 13, 2025

Foreign job seekers explore new opportunities at networking event in Seoul

SEOUL, April 12 (AJP) - Nearly 100 foreigners gathered in Seoul’s trendy Seongsu-dong on Saturday for a networking event aimed at helping international students and jobseekers explore career opportunities in Korea. Hosted by Exprivé, a company that connects over 10,000 foreign influencers to promote Korean culture worldwide, the event brought together participants and businesses from various industries. Exprivé CEO Baek Min shared the

April 12, 2025