Trump administration's immigration crackdown puts Korean firms in US on edge

SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - Korean companies with sprawling manufacturing projects in the United States are bracing for major disruptions as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration crackdown, now extending its reach to foreign-led construction sites. The detention of hundreds of workers last week at a Hyundai Motor–LG Energy Solution battery plant under construction in Bryan County, Ga., has jolted South Korean executives and policymakers. Though officials in

September 8, 2025

Lee meets with ruling and opposition leaders

SEOUL, September 8 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung said Monday that national unity would be his top priority, as he met with the leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul. The luncheon meeting came for the first time several weeks after Jung Chung-rae of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and Jang Dong-hyuk of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) were elected party leaders last month. Lee, who again wore his signature red

September 8, 2025

[K-Pop] BTS' Brother band CORTIS drops teaser for 'FaSHioN' ahead of debut album release

SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - CORTIS, the new boy band from BigHit Music and the label's third act following BTS and TXT, unveiled a teaser video for their follow-up track "FaSHioN" on Sunday, one day before the official release of their debut album. The clip, released September 7 on HYBE Labels' YouTube channel, features dramatic scenes set against New Zealand's snow-covered mountains, a junkyard, and city streets, punctuated by a car-crash effect design

September 8, 2025

KAIST develops new database technology that could make AI agents much smarter

SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - The Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST) has developed a new database system that brings together two types of databases, relational and graph, into a single, more powerful platform, the prestigious institute said Monday. The technology, called "Chimera," is expected to help create AI agents that can think more like humans by understanding not just simple facts but also complex connections between them. Relational databas

September 8, 2025

Defense company LIG Nex1 establishes European hub in Munich

SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - South Korean defense firm LIG Nex1 said Monday that it has opened a representative office in Munich, establishing its first operational hub in Europe. The office was inaugurated on Sept. 4 with a ceremony attended by LIG Nex1’s chief executive, Shin Ick-hyun, along with German officials and executives from European defense firms. The company said the Munich office will serve as a platform for deeper collaboration with European partners in resea

September 8, 2025

E-cigarette users show higher nicotine addiction than traditional smokers, study finds

SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - Users of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products may be more dependent on nicotine than conventional cigarette smokers, according to a government-commissioned study released Monday, challenging industry claims that the alternatives are less addictive or less harmful. The research, conducted by the Korea Association on Smoking or Health at the request of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, surveyed 800 smokers between the ages of 20 and 69 nation

September 8, 2025

Labor strife deepens at GM Korea amid speculation over company's future

SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - General Motors Korea resumed formal wage negotiations with its labor union on Monday, the first such talks in nearly two months, as disputes over restructuring and persistent speculation about the automaker’s long-term presence in South Korea add to rising tensions. Talks began at 2 p.m., marking the 14th round of bargaining this year and the first since July 15. In the interim, the two sides had engaged in lower-level discussions without reaching

September 8, 2025

[K-Pop] BLACKPINK's Rosé wins award for her viral hit at this year's MTV VMAs

SEOUL, September 8 (AJP) - Rosé, a member of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK took home an award at this year's MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in the U.S. on Sunday. At the awards ceremony in New York, she accepted the "Song of the Year" award for her global hit song "APT." Inspired by a South Korean drinking game, the catchy song in collaboration with pop star Bruno Mars went viral shortly after its release in October last year. In her acceptance speec

September 8, 2025

Korean firms experiment with four-day workweek amid fierce debate

SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - Some of South Korea’s biggest corporations are experimenting with shorter workweeks and flexible schedules, as the nation debates sweeping labor reforms that include cutting the workweek to four days and extending retirement ages. President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to phase in a 4.5-day workweek as a first step toward a four-day schedule without a reduction in pay. Labor unions have embraced the idea: both the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions a

September 8, 2025

Matcha finds new home in Korea's old tea culture

SEOUL, September 08 (AJP) - On a damp but sunlit Friday evening in Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Village, a narrow stairway leads to a sleek three-story building tucked among winding alleys. As the door swings open, a cool breeze and a faint herbal scent rush out to meet the line of visitors. Inside, the walls are washed in green. Foreign tourists crowd the hall, perched on moss-colored couches and sipping lattes so vibrantly green they look almost painted. At the center of the roo

September 8, 2025