HOT STOCK: Korea's battery stocks going up, up, up — but analysts warn against chasing golden moment

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - South Korea’s secondary battery shares are leading Seoul’s tech-driven rally, fueled by stronger electric vehicle (EV) sales and booming demand for energy storage systems (ESS). As of 3:15 p.m. Friday, Ecopro jumped 5.6 percent to 85,100 won ($59), extending its surge amid renewed optimism in the battery sector. LG Energy Solution rose 4.8 percent to 465,500 won, supported by sustained institutional buying across major battery makers. Isu Chemic

October 24, 2025

HOT STOCK: Korean refiners rally on Russia sanctions, petrochemicals join ride

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - South Korean refinery shares surged Friday as oil prices spiked following U.S. sanctions on Russia’s top refiners, Rosneft and Lukoil, elevating petrochemical sector long weighed down by overcapacity and an industrial slowdown. SK innovation, the market leader, jumped 7.6 percent to 133,900 won ($93.2), while S-Oil gained 2.5 percent to about 74,900 won. The rally followed a sharp climb in West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude prices after W

October 24, 2025

D-7: Korean Inc. to indulge APEC guests with latest innovations

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - A drone gala will light up the night sky and hydrogen-powered limousines will shuttle guests who can try out the world's first tri-fold smartphones. K-Pop Demon Hunters-themed snacks and K-beauty items will be everywhere. All things Korean — now globally adored — will fill the APEC venue in Gyeongju next week as Korean Inc. flaunts its latest innovations and hottest creations. From semiconductor titans to clean-energy pioneers, this year'

October 24, 2025

Seoul gears up for Halloween with safety measures

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Friday that several safety measures have been implemented in about a dozen areas in the capital, ahead of Halloween later this month. Under the measures effective until Nov. 2, district officials, police, and firefighters in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will carry out patrols, inspections, and traffic control in Seoul's entertainment district of Itaewon, trendy alleys around Hongik Un

October 24, 2025

South Korea makes baby step in same-sex recognition through census inclusion

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - South Korea has taken a small but symbolic step toward recognizing diverse family structures by including cohabiting couples for the first time in its national census — a quiet shift in a country still wrestling with traditional views on marriage and gender. The 2025 Population and Housing Census, conducted from Wednesday through mid-November, now includes a new category for "unmarried cohabiting partners," the Ministry of Data and St

October 24, 2025

Pohang earthquake victims call for justice and stronger prevention measures

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - The National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, was filled with citizens on Thursday morning as a forum titled "Pohang, Asking Again: Accountability and Prevention of Recurrence" took place on October 23. Residents of Pohang, victims’ groups, and experts in law and geology gathered to discuss the long-running damages lawsuit stemming from the 2017 Pohang earthquake, which is now under review by the Supreme Court. Many

October 24, 2025

Son Heung-min vies for 'Newcomer of the Year' after stellar MLS debut season

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC (LAFC) has been named for Major League Soccer (MLS)'s "Newcomer of the Year." According to the finalists for the American league's year-end awards announced on Friday, Son was named among them. The awards recognize the "top performers during the regular season" across 16 MLS clubs. With the winners set to be announced in early December, other contenders for the award include Danish footballers

October 24, 2025

SK hynix, Samsung cash in on supercycle with stocks in record-setting rally

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Korea’s memory titans Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are reaping record windfalls from a red-hot chip market driven by the transition to higher-performance memory that underpins the digital and automation era — yet both remain cautious about expanding production for fear of another abrupt downturn. Investors show little concern for now, pushing both stocks to fresh highs. The combined market capitalization of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix

October 24, 2025

South Korean government signals tighter oversight of nuclear exports

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - South Korea’s trade minister expressed concern on Friday over an escalating dispute between two state-run energy companies, saying the conflict underscored the need for clearer governance in the country’s nuclear export program. The conflict centers on a roughly $1 billion cost adjustment related to the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates — South Korea’s first nuclear export project, which began operations in

October 24, 2025

No-fly zones, strict aerial restrictions set for next week's APEC summit in Gyeongju

SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - Flights and other aerial activities will be restricted near the vicinity of next week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on Friday. To ensure safety during the summit scheduled for Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, the no-fly zone will be in effect from next Monday until Nov. 2 at Gimhae International Airport, applying to all aircraft including drones and ult

October 24, 2025