Kakao enters second mediation as labor unrest spreads SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - Labor and management at Kakao entered a second round of mediation at the Gyeonggi National Labor Relations Commission, with the talks widely seen as a make-or-break moment that could push South Korea's dominant messaging platform into its first-ever headquarters strike. The two sides failed to bridge their differences during a first session on May 18, extending the deadline for a resolution, entering the next round Wednesday. Four Kakao affiliates — K May 27, 2026

South Korea links Iranian missile to cargo ship attack SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Wednesday that an older Iranian anti-ship missile is highly likely to have struck the cargo ship HMM Namu earlier this month, signaling a sharp escalation in diplomatic tensions. The conclusion marks a decisive shift from the stance of strategic caution maintained by South Korea since the May 4 attack in the Strait of Hormuz. According to earlier government briefings and maritime records, the HMM Namu, a May 27, 2026

Annual beauty trade fair opens in Seoul with over 800 booths SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - A trade fair for cosmetics and beauty products kicked off at COEX in southern Seoul on Wednesday. Organized by Korea International Exhibition, the three-day expo, dubbed "CosmoBeauty Seoul" and now in its 40th year, brought together hundreds of companies and industry professionals as well as buyers around the world, with around 800 booths showcasing a diverse range of cosmetics from haircare and nail products to spa services, in May 27, 2026

AJP Watch: Liquidation frequency flags deep retail loss in Korea's stock craze SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - KOSPI is on fire, surging more than 93 percent so far this year. But the bonanza has hardly been evenly shared. On Wednesday, decliners overwhelmed gainers 826 to 75 even as the benchmark index closed near a record 8,330, underscoring how narrowly concentrated the world's best-performing rally has become. The imbalance also helps explain why South Korean retail investors were forced to dump borrowed stocks on one out of every six trading days over the past May 27, 2026

Hyundai Rotem wins state projects for AI-based unmanned military robots SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - Hyundai Rotem said Tuesday it has been selected for two state-funded research and development projects aimed at advancing unmanned robot technologies based on physical artificial intelligence. The company said it was chosen as the final contractor for two projects commissioned by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). The industry ministry project focuses on developing control software that can manage multipl May 27, 2026

Number of newborns in S. Korea reaches highest in seven years SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - The number of newborns in South Korea in March rose above 25,000, marking the highest level for the month in seven years, government data showed Wednesday. The rebound in births has now extended into a second straight year, supported by a rising number of marriages and more births among women in their early and late 30s. According to South Korea’s monthly population data for March released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, 25,200 babies were born May 27, 2026

AJP Focus: War-driven metal rally lifts South Korea's battery makers, squeezes carmakers SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - A war-driven oil shock is reshaping the economics of South Korea's electric vehicle supply chain, lifting prices of lithium, nickel and cobalt to multi-year highs and handing the country's top battery makers a long-awaited tailwind even as carmakers Hyundai Motor and Kia confront fresh cost pressure. Battery-grade lithium traded at US$25.15 per kilogram on May 13, more than triple the $8.10 average of June last year and the highest level since September May 27, 2026

Survey shows South Korean smokers harbor misconceptions about electronic cigarettes SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - Nearly half of South Korean smokers trying to quit believe electronic cigarettes help them stop smoking, despite strong warnings from medical experts that the devices hinder cessation efforts. The findings were released Wednesday at a forum in Seoul organized by the Korean Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco and the Korea Medical Broadcast Journalists Association. Researchers polled 500 smokers aged 25 to 59 who had attempted to quit in the past year May 27, 2026

South Korea's AI bonus wars set off domino effect beyond chips SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - May is typically a labor unrest season in South Korea, but this year the epicenter of disputes is no longer traditional factories — it is high tech. The bonus bonanza at the country's two chipmakers, which rode the AI wave to become two of only three Asian companies valued at more than US$1 trillion, is spilling across industries. Employees from manufacturers to platform operators and biotech firms are demanding a greater share of record earnings, May 27, 2026

Lee to mark first anniversary in office with news conference early next month SEOUL, May 27 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung will hold a news conference early next month to mark his first anniversary in office and set out his vision and goals going forward. In a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday, Lee Kyu-yeon, senior presidential secretary for public relations, told reporters that the press conference will be held on June 8, where Lee will "reflect on his first year in office" and lay out his vision and key tasks for his second year. May 27, 2026