Doosan Enerbility signs $650 million deal to build gas-fired power plant in Vietnam

SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - South Korean energy company Doosan Enerbility has secured a contract valued at approximately 900 billion Korean won, or $650 million, to build a major gas-fired power plant in southern Vietnam, in partnership with the state-owned Petrovietnam. The agreement, signed on June 6 in Hanoi, marks one of the largest foreign energy infrastructure deals in Vietnam this year. The project involves construction of a combined cycle gas turbine power plant, located rou

June 10, 2025

President Lee invites public to help select top government officials

SEOUL, June 10 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung has invited Tuesday South Koreans to help select key members of his new administration, opening a one-week nomination period for senior government posts including ministers, vice ministers, and heads of public institutions. The initiative announced on Jun. 10 is part of the president’s broader push to build what he calls a “citizen-led government.” The public can submit recommendations through a dedicated website run

June 10, 2025

Shinsegae scion to debut in K-pop group

SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - Moon Seo-yoon, the eldest daughter of Shinsegae International President Chung Yoo-kyung and a scion of one of South Korea’s most prominent retail dynasties, is set to debut as a K-pop idol later this month. Moon, 22, will perform under the stage name Annie as a member of ALLDAY PROJECT, a five-member co-ed group managed by The Black Label, a prominent music agency known for representing artists such as Taeyang of Big Bang and Rose of Blackpink. The group

June 9, 2025

Daiso's budget cosmetics find devoted following

Editor's Note: This is the fourth article in our series exploring the evolving landscape of the Korean beauty industry and the products that captivate international visitors. SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - In South Korea’s bustling beauty market, a surprising contender has quietly become a cultural force: Daiso, the ultra-low-cost retailer known more for household goods than cosmetics. The chain, beloved by locals and tourists alike, is defying expectations — and industry

June 9, 2025

President Lee agrees with Japanese PM to strengthen bilateral ties through phone call

SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung has agreed Monday with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru through their first-ever phone call that it is important for South Korea and Japan to strengthen bilateral ties and accelerate cooperation. The 25-minute call, held around noon, marks the two leaders’ first official conversation since Lee’s inauguration five days earlier. The Presidential Office’s spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung said that Lee thanked Ishiba f

June 9, 2025

Lee aims for diplomatic reboot at upcoming G7 summit in Canada

SEOUL, June 9 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung is set to embark on his first overseas trip just over a week after taking office earlier this month, as he heads to Canada to attend the G7 summit this weekend. Just about ten days into his single, five-year term, Lee will make his debut in multilateral diplomacy, as he meets leaders of major countries at the three-day summit in Alberta, which kicks off on Sunday. Lee's upcoming visit will be the fifth by a South Korean president

June 9, 2025

South Korean manufacturers accelerate shift to smart factories

SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - As industries worldwide undergo sweeping technological and structural shifts, manufacturers are redefining production at its core. Nowhere is this transformation more pronounced than in South Korea, where industrial heavyweights, such as Samsung, Hyundai and LG, are rapidly embracing the smart factory — an integrated, data-driven model reshaping global manufacturing norms. From intelligent communications to AI-driven production lines, the South Kore

June 9, 2025

Samsung maintains lead in European microwave market for 10th straight year

SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics retained its position as the top-selling microwave brand in Europe for the 10th consecutive year in 2024, according to data from market research firm Euromonitor. The South Korean electronics maker captured a 12.8 percent share of the European market by sales volume, cementing its lead in a region it has dominated since 2015. The Euromonitor survey covered 19 European countries. Samsung attributed its continued success to a combination o

June 9, 2025

Court postpones Lee Jae-myung's trial citing presidential immunity

SEOUL, June 09 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung will not face trial during his presidency in a key election law case, as a high court in Seoul postponed proceedings indefinitely on Monday, citing constitutional protections for a sitting head of state. The Seoul High Court announced on Jun. 9 that it had canceled a hearing previously set for Jun. 18 in Lee’s ongoing retrial. No new date was set. The court said the decision was made “in accordance with Article 84 of the C

June 9, 2025

South Korean musical makes for real 'happy ending,' sweeping Tony Awards

SEOUL, June 9 (AJP) - South Korean musical "Maybe Happy Ending" took home the top honor along with five other gongs at this year's Tony Awards in the U.S. on Sunday, making for a real happy ending to the night. At an awards ceremony held in New York, the musical, which received ten nominations, won six awards for its Broadway production including "Best Musical," "Best Book of a Musical," "Best Original Score," "Best Scenic Design of a

June 9, 2025