Philippine Embassy celebrates 75 Years of friendship with Korea through its weaving culture

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) -The Embassy of the Philippines in the Republic of Korea kicked off a special exhibition celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Philippines. The opening ceremony held in Insadong, a cultural hub in central Seoul, attracted dozens of distinguished guests. The exhibition showcases various woven textiles from across the Philippines, highlighting the rich history of the country’s weaving culture. Featuring

December 17, 2024

President Yoon to defend himself at public impeachment hearing

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol will "firmly and confidently" defend his position during the public hearing for his impeachment trial, his legal representative said Tuesday. Yoon faces accusations of rebellion and abuse of power after being suspended from office on Dec. 14 when the National Assembly passed an impeachment bill with 204 votes in favor, 85 against, three invalid votes, and eight abstentions. The vote for the impeachment motion was spar

December 17, 2024

Korean firms' growth slows amid sluggish demand for chips in PCs, smartphones

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korean companies' growth slowed in the third quarter as weak demand for regular semiconductors used in PCs and smartphones and a downturn in the petrochemical sector hit the manufacturing industry. According to data released by the Bank of Korea on Tuesday, combined sales of 23,137 companies subject to external audits rose 4.3 percent year-on-year in the July-September period. While growth increased from 1.2 percent in the first quarter to 5.3

December 17, 2024

IKEA cancels plans to build major logistics center near Seoul

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - IKEA Korea has decided to cancel its plans to build Asia's largest integrated logistics center in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul. According to a regulatory filing on Tuesday, the company has abandoned its plans to build a logistics hub in the Poseung district of the city. The company will also sell the land, which spans 102,000 square meters and is valued at about 55.5 billion won ($38.6 million). IKEA Korea explained the decision was due to changes in

December 17, 2024

First lady earns 'Lady Macbeth' tag amid South Korea's marital law turmoil

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - British daily The Times has put its focus on first lady Kim Keon Hee over the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. In an article on Monday headlined "South Koreans blame president's 'Lady Macbeth' for martial law," the daily wrote, "Critics suggest made his disastrous decision in part to protect his wife..... from investigation and potential prosecution." The tag may refer to the ambitious wife in Macbeth, one o

December 17, 2024

Number of foreign workers in South Korea tops 1 million for first time

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The number of foreign workers in South Korea surpassed 1 million for the first time this year, with many concentrated in mining and manufacturing jobs, according to government data released Tuesday. The Statistics Korea report showed that as of May, the resident foreign population aged 15 and older totaled 1.561 million, a 9.1 percent increase from a year earlier. Among them, 1.01 million were employed, up 9.4 percent year-on-year. The steady rise in fo

December 17, 2024

U.S. confirms North Korean casualties in Russia for first time

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Several U.S. officials have confirmed North Korean casualties for the first time since their deployment to Russia. "We do believe that they have suffered some significant losses, killed and wounded, but it's difficult for me to put an actual number on it. I would say, certainly in the realm of dozens, several dozens," said the White House's national security adviser John Kirby on Monday. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller als

December 17, 2024

'Buldak' maker Samyang to establish plant in China

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - Samyang Foods, known for its "Buldak" spicy chicken-flavored instant noodles, is set to establish its plant in China. The Korean food maker announced on Monday its plans to establish its production subsidiary and first overseas plant in China. The Chinese subsidiary will be set up through its Singaporean branch, Samyang Singapore Pte. Ltd. Samyang Foods disclosed an investment plan of about 64.7 billion won (US$45 million) for the Singaporean

December 17, 2024

Hyundai Mobis develops new battery cooling technology for EVs

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korea's leading auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis unveiled a new battery cell cooling material aimed at preventing battery overheating during ultra-fast charging of electric vehicles, the company said on Tuesday. The cooling technology, called pulsating heat pipes (PHP), consists of aluminum alloy and refrigerant positioned between battery cells. It exhausts heat outside the batter cells ten times more efficiently than conventional aluminum material

December 17, 2024

U.S. reaffirms strong alliance with South Korea amid Yoon's impeachment

SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - The U.S. on Monday reaffirmed that its alliance with South Korea remains unaffected by President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment last week. "There will be no diminution in the alliance" between the U.S. and South Korea, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. He added, "That alliance is not just an alliance between presidents. It is an alliance between governments and an alliance between peoples. And our commitment to that alli

December 17, 2024