KITA and KOSA partner to accelerate artificial intelligence adoption in trade sector SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - The Korea International Trade Association and the Korea Artificial Intelligence and Software Industry Association signed an agreement on May 13 to accelerate artificial intelligence transformation and enhance the global competitiveness of South Korean exporters. The two organizations established the partnership at the Trade Tower in Seoul to help businesses navigate changing international trade conditions, the Korea International Trade Association said Wednesday May 13, 2026

K-shaped economy deepens across Asia on AI momentum SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - A widening economic divide is emerging across Asia, as semiconductor-driven economies such as South Korea and Taiwan ride record-breaking stock rallies while manufacturing-heavy nations including India, Thailand and the Philippines struggle under the weight of a historic oil shock. The bifurcation, sharpened by the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has produced what economists describe as a "K-shaped" recovery, in which the gains from the ar May 13, 2026

T'way Air returns to black in Q1, ending two years of losses SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Budget carrier T'way Air posted an operating profit of 19.9 billion Korean won (US$14 million) in the first quarter of this year, returning to the black for the first time in eight quarters. In a preliminary report released on Wednesday, the airline posted first-quarter revenue of 612.2 billion won, up about 37 percent from a year earlier, and an operating profit of 19.9 billion won, marking its first return to the black after eight consecutive quarters o May 13, 2026

Kookmin University alumni selected for Cannes immersive competition SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Two South Korean Kuukmin University alumni directors have been named to the official Immersive Competition at the 79th Cannes Film Festival for their experimental installation, the university said Wednesday. The project, titled VOOOOOO---PEEEEEE---, was created by Woopark Studio's directors Woo Hyun-ju and Park Ji-yoon. The Immersive Competition is a specialized category at Cannes that focuses on virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR), and interactiv May 13, 2026

K-ramyeon makers race overseas as Nongshim eyes 60% global sales SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - South Korea's instant noodle makers are accelerating a pivot abroad as a saturated home market and surging foreign appetite for K-food reshape the industry, with Nongshim unveiling its most aggressive overseas push yet. Nongshim CEO Jo Yong-chul said Tuesday that the company aims to lift overseas sales to more than 60 percent of total revenue and reach 7.3 trillion won ($4.88 billion) in sales by 2030, alongside a 10 percent operating margin. Overseas busin May 13, 2026

Korea's M2 growth runs twice Japan's, deepening inflation and FX dilemma SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - South Korea’s liquidity expanded sharply in March, with much of the abundance funneling toward the red-hot asset market rather than helping to bolster weakening economic fundamentals and creating a headache for monetary authorities battling looming imported energy-triggered inflation and a stubbornly weak currency. The M2 money supply reached 4,132.1 trillion won ($2.76 trillion) in March, up 5.6 percent from a year earlier, according to the Bank of Kor May 13, 2026

Seven Korean eateries join the NYT list of New York's 100 best restaurants for 2026 SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Seven Korean restaurants were included in The New York Times’ latest list of “The 100 Best Restaurants in New York City in 2026,” underscoring the growing influence of K-food and cuisine across New York’s cosmopolitan dining scene. The highest-ranked Korean restaurant was Meju, which placed fourth on the list. The restaurant, led by chef Hooni Kim, was praised for its fermentation-focused tasting menu hidden behind a banchan shop in L May 13, 2026

NCT's Jaehyun sells out for his first fan concert after military discharge SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - K-pop boy band NCT's Jaehyun sold out within minutes for both dates of his upcoming Seoul fan concert, which would be his first major solo event since completing mandatory military service, SM Entertainment said Wednesday. “JAEHYUN FAN-CON TOUR in SEOUL” will take place on June 6 and 7 at Jamsil Indoor Stadium. Tickets released through Melon Ticket on Monday and Tuesday were immediately snapped up after sales opened, according to SM Entertainm May 13, 2026

Iran war likely to sideline North Korea at Trump-Xi summit of reduced ambitions SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - North Korea is expected to take a back seat at this week’s summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping as the Iran war, disruption in the Strait of Hormuz and intensifying superpower rivalry overshadow Pyongyang in what increasingly appears to be a crisis-management meeting rather than a breakthrough summit. Iran looms large over the two superpowers even as both sides seek to avoid openly framing the summit around the conf May 13, 2026

ASIA INSIGHT: Bangkok's survival in socialist ring In the sweltering heat of the Indochinese Peninsula, Bangkok is performing a masterclass in geopolitical hedging that the West—and its neighbors—ignore at their peril. The thick, humid silence of the Kanchanaburi jungle is about to be broken by a sound that remains unfamiliar to many in the West. It is not the roar of an American-made turbine or the familiar cadence of English-language commands that have echoed through these valleys since the early years of the Reag May 13, 2026