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  Appellate court upholds two-year sentence for former PPP leader SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - Kweon Seong-dong, the former leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), was again sentenced on appeal to two years in prison for bribery charges on Tuesday. The Seoul High Court upheld the earlier sentence in the first trial and ordered Kweon to forfeit 100 million won ($68,000) for accepting illegal political funds from the Unification Church, better known as the Moonies. Earlier in January, Kweon was found guilty of receiving 100 million w April 28, 2026
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  Samsung mulls TV pullout option after smartphone-like defeat in China SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) -Samsung Electronics is weighing a pullout from its TV business in China, in what would mark a second setback in the world’s second-largest market after its retreat from smartphones. Samsung Electronics said Tuesday that “no such decision has been finalized,” responding to speculation over a possible withdrawal. A company spokesperson said market conditions in China are under review, but denied reports of a full exit from its TV and home a April 28, 2026
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  From stillness to spectacle: spring festivals at palaces in Seoul SEOUL, April 27 (AJP) -Once defined by stillness, Seoul’s royal palaces are learning how to absorb noise and hordes of outsiders. At Gyeongbokgung Palace, the gravel crunches not under a lone guard’s step but beneath waves of visitors — cameras raised, hanbok skirts sweeping past sneakers, languages overlapping in the spring air. What was once a space of restraint now pulses with movement. The 2026 Spring Royal Culture Festival has made that shift unmistaka April 28, 2026
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  Jipyeong Soju expands offline retail reach with Lotte Mart listing SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - Jipyeong announced that its premium distilled spirit Jipyeong Soju has secured shelf space at Lotte Mart, expanding its offline retail footprint after an earlier listing at E-Mart. Unlike conventional rice-distilled spirits, the company explained that Jipyeong Soju blends three grains — rice, barley and sorghum — in what is described as an optimized ratio, yielding a layered flavor profile that balances the spice of sorghum, the nuttiness of barle April 28, 2026
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  Samsung SDI narrows Q1 loss, eyes profit turnaround in H2 SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - Samsung SDI reported an operating loss of 155.6 billion won ($105.5 million) for the first quarter of 2026, sharply narrowing its deficit from 434.1 billion won a year earlier. The South Korean battery maker disclosed Tuesday in a regulatory filing that revenue climbed 12.6 percent year-on-year to 3.576 trillion won, while net profit swung to a positive 56.1 billion won. The battery segment, which accounts for the bulk of revenue at 3.354 trillion won, cut April 28, 2026
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  Korea business sentiment rises on illusion of recovery as inventories shrink SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) — Pessimism among South Korean businesses eased to a 21-month low in April, but the improvement largely reflected inventory drawdowns driven by Middle East supply disruptions rather than a genuine recovery in demand, data showed Tuesday. The Composite Business Sentiment Index (CBSI) for all industries rose 0.8 point from a month earlier to 94.9, the highest since July 2024, according to the Bank of Korea. Despite the gain, the index remained below th April 28, 2026
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  KOSPI extends record-setting rally as chip halo trickles down SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) — The KOSPI extended record-setting rally Tuesday with eyes on the 7,000 milestone, shrugging off the stalemate in U.S.-Iran talks even as the conflict nears the 60-day mark this week. As of 11:00 a.m., the benchmark index rose 0.65 percent to 6,658.25, as foreign and institutional investors continued buying despite retail profit-taking. Market breadth remained tight, with gainers narrowly outpacing losers 424 to 409. Investor sentiment was buoyed by April 28, 2026
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  Hyundai Rotem signs deal for local production of K2 tanks in Poland SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - Hyundai Rotem has signed a contract with a Polish defense firm for the production and maintenance of South Korea's K2 battle tank, it said on Tuesday. The signing ceremony, which follows a preliminary deal signed in August last year, was held in Warsaw the previous day and was attended by Hyundai Rotem CEO Lee Yong-bae and Bumar-Łabędy CEO Monika Kruczek. Under the contract with Bumar-Łabędy, a subsidiary of Poland's state-run defense group Polsk April 28, 2026
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  Civilization designer urges transition to meaning as AI automates traditional productivity SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) -Captain Kang Sang-bo, a South Korean civilization designer and author of The Master Key, argues that the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into production and social structures requires a radical reassessment of human value. Speaking in a recent interview, Kang stated that the core transition of the AI era is not a matter of increasing technical skill but moving from "methods" to "meaning." He maintained that this shift is essenti April 28, 2026
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  Washington 'restricts intelligence sharing on North Korea,' raising security concerns in Seoul SEOUL, April 28 (AJP) - The U.S. has reportedly restricted the sharing of certain intelligence related to North Korea, raising concerns in South Korea about possible frictions between the two allies and surveillance gaps in joint monitoring capabilities. According to multiple government sources, Washington has limited access to technical intelligence including satellite data on North Korean nuclear facilities since early this month. Some relevant military information such as image April 28, 2026