PHOTOS: Thrills on the water

SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - In the heart of Gangwon Province's mountainous terrain, the Naerincheon Stream in Inje stands as a premier destination for thrill-seeking rafters. Widely regarded as a top spot for the sport in South Korea, the waterway is prized for its lengthy and challenging stretches of rapids. During the sweltering summer months, the stream's combination of intense whitewater and picturesque scenery makes it a popular escape for those seeking to combat the oppressive h

August 18, 2025

Annual joint military exercise with US kicks off

SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - South Korea's annual joint military exercise with the U.S. began on Monday, involving some 18,000 South Korean troops and a similar number of U.S. personnel. Dubbed Ulchi Freedom Shield, the exercise runs until Aug. 28 and includes computer-simulated drills as well as field training to strengthen the two allies' combined defense posture against North Korean threats and other security challenges. Although the overall scale of the exercise remains u

August 18, 2025

Joint research team uncovers RNA quality control mechanism that slows aging

SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - A joint research team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Yonsei University, and the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) has identified a key protein that regulates the pace of aging by maintaining the quality of ribonucleic acid (RNA). The discovery points to a potential new strategy for treating age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's. The researchers found that a ribosome quality-contr

August 18, 2025

Idle South Korean youth cost economy billions, study finds

SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - South Korea’s growing population of “discouraged youth” — those neither working nor looking for work — imposed an estimated economic burden of 53.4 trillion won, or about $38.4 billion, between 2019 and 2023, according to a study released Monday. The research, commissioned by the Federation of Korean Industries and conducted by Lee Mi-suk, an economics professor at Changwon National University, found that the annual cost of lost

August 18, 2025

Samsung's China semiconductor sales decline while US revenue grows

SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics posted diverging fortunes in China and the United States in the first half of 2025, as U.S. sanctions weighed on Chinese demand and American technology companies fueled a surge in semiconductor purchases. Samsung's exports to China fell 11 percent year-on-year to 28.79 trillion won (about $20.7 billion), down from 32.35 trillion won a year earlier. Sales to the United States, by contrast, climbed to 33.48 trillion won, overtaking Ch

August 18, 2025

[K-Pop] BLACKPINK gears up for November album release amid global tour success

SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - K-pop girl band BLACKPINK is set to release a new album in November, according to YG Entertainment's chief producer Yang Hyun-suk. The announcement came through a video posted Monday on the company's official YouTube channel, where Yang provided updates on several YG artists, including TREASURE and BABYMONSTER. "The BLACKPINK members and their producer have been working very hard to prepare (for a new album)," Yang said, adding: "We

August 18, 2025

[K-Tech] Korean battery firms pour billions into research despite idle factories

SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - South Korea’s top battery makers are stepping up investments in research and development, even as their plants sit partially idle and competition from China intensifies. In recent reports, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On disclosed sharply reduced factory utilization rates for the first half of 2025. LG Energy Solution’s operating rate dropped to 51.3 percent, down from 73.6 percent in 2022. Samsung SDI reported 44 percent, while SK On c

August 18, 2025

Upbit operator fined $165 million for tax evasion

SEOUL, August 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange operator, Dunamu, has paid more than 22 billion won, or about $165 million, in back taxes after authorities accused the company of tax evasion — adding to the regulatory pressures already weighing on the firm. Dunamu, which runs the Upbit trading platform, disclosed that the Seoul Regional Tax Office levied 22.6 billion won in corporate and related taxes following an audit. The investigation, led

August 17, 2025

[K-Tech] Samsung emerges as alternative to TSMC with landmark Tesla, Apple deals

SEOUL, August 17 (AJP) - Just six months ago, Samsung Electronics’ foundry unit was mired in uncertainty. Hemorrhaging nearly 2 trillion won, or about $1.5 billion, in annual losses and struggling to attract clients, the division’s very survival was in doubt. Now, a pair of blockbuster deals with Tesla and Apple has jolted the business into a new trajectory. Samsung announced last month that it had secured a $16.5 billion contract with Tesla to produce advanced arti

August 17, 2025

S. Korea, India to seek ways to deepen economic partnership

SEOUL, August 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s Foreign Minister, Cho Hyun, and his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, held talks in New Delhi, Saturday (local time) as the two countries marked the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership and pledged to expand cooperation in security, technology and defense. Cho's visit come amid a flurry of high-level exchanges between the two governments, including a summit meeting between President Lee Jae Myung and Prime Mini

August 17, 2025