US bill on naval ship construction could open doors for Korea's shipbuilders

SEOUL, February 14 (AJP) - South Korea’s shipbuilding industry is expressing cautious optimism following the introduction of a bill by Republican U.S. senators that would permit naval vessels to be built by allied nations. Since 1965, U.S. law has required all military ships and key components to be constructed domestically by American workers. However, the proposed legislation would allow the U.S. to contract naval shipbuilding to nations with which it has a mutual defen

February 14, 2025

Korean shipbuilder unveils nuclear-powered container ship design

SEOUL, February 14 (AJP) - HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering has unveiled its first design for a nuclear-powered container ship, incorporating Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, at the Houston Maritime Nuclear Summit. The vessel, which has received an approval from the American Bureau of Shipping, eliminates the need for internal combustion engines and fuel tanks, repurposing the traditional engine room space for additional container storage. The design also fe

February 14, 2025

BLACKPINK's Jisoo revs up with new solo album

SEOUL, February 14 (AJP) - Jisoo, a member of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, is releasing her solo mini album on Friday, according to her agency Blisoo. The album "AMORTAGE" marks her first solo album in nearly two years since her single "ME" in March 2023. To convey the album's themes of love and breakups, the word was coined by combining "amor," the Spanish word for love, with "montage," a cinematic technique of juxtaposing different sce

February 14, 2025

Social media linked to surge in overseas shopping fraud

SEOUL, February 14 (AJP) - A sharp rise in online shopping fraud linked to overseas direct purchases has been reported by South Korea’s consumer watchdog, with a majority of cases originating from social media advertisements. The Korea Consumer Agency said Friday it found that 82.3 percent of fraud victims accessed fraudulent shopping sites through social media content or targeted advertisements. Instagram was the most common platform associated with these scams, accounti

February 14, 2025

Netflix's hit dating show to return for fifth season

SEOUL, February 14 (AJP) - Netflix's popular reality dating show "Single's Inferno" will return for a new season, according to the U.S. streaming giant. "Thanks to the immense interest from viewers, we decided to produce its fifth season. The next season will be even more exhilarating," Netflix said during a press event on Thursday. While the exact release date for the upcoming season has not been decided, the hit dating show has become the first South

February 14, 2025

Constitutional Court sets additional hearing date for Yoon's impeachment trial

SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - The Constitutional Court of Korea on Friday scheduled an additional hearing for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial over his botched martial law debacle last December. The hearing, the ninth of its kind will be held at 2 p.m. next Tuesday. Yoon's legal representatives complained that the court is rushing the proceedings "unlawfully and unfairly" without providing sufficient time for his defense. They also made repeated reque

February 13, 2025

North Korea 'begins dismantling inter-Korean facility at Mt. Kumgang'

SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - North Korea has begun dismantling an inter-Korean facility at Mt. Kumgang, the Unification Ministry said on Thursday. Once a symbol of inter-Korean cooperation, the facility, used for reunions of families separated by the Korean War at the scenic resort, is the last remaining one among those built by the South for inter-Korean projects amid a thaw in relations between the two Koreas in the early 2000s. "North Korea's unilateral demolition of th

February 13, 2025

Acting president signals willingness to discuss extra budget

SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - Acting President Choi Sang-mok said Thursday that the government is open to discussions on a proposed supplementary budget, as concerns grow over economic uncertainty. “With a national policy consultation meeting on the agenda, it would be useful to discuss the fundamental principles of the supplementary budget,” Choi, who also serves as deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance, said during a National Assembly session on econ

February 13, 2025

South Korean teen snowboarder wins gold in men's halfpipe at Winter Asiad in Harbin

SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - South Korean snowboarder Kim Geon-hui on Thursday won the men's halfpipe event at this year's Winter Asian Games currently underway in Harbin, China. The teen snowboarder, who had finished first with a score of 78 points in the qualifying round earlier this week, secured gold after the final round scheduled for Thursday was canceled due to strong gusts at a ski resort located about 200 kilometers southeast of Harbin. His compatriot Lee Jio, who

February 13, 2025

Trump's tariff war threatens South Korea's economic backbone

SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war is sending shockwaves through South Korea’s export-driven economy, as tariffs now extend beyond steel and aluminum to key industries such as automobiles and semiconductors. Trump announced Sunday that the United States would impose a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports from March 12, without exception. He also signaled that additional tariffs on automobiles, semiconductors,

February 13, 2025