Samsung's AI-powered vacuum draws praise from global reviewers

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics’ latest foray into the premium home appliance market — the Bespoke AI Jet 400W cordless vacuum cleaner — is garnering positive attention from international technology reviewers, many of whom have highlighted the device’s powerful suction, adaptive AI cleaning features, and versatile accessories. Positioned as Samsung’s flagship cordless vacuum model, the Bespoke AI Jet 400W aims to appeal to consumers seeking

May 13, 2025

Hybe chairman Bang summoned to testify in Kakao founder's stock manipulation trial

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - A South Korean court has summoned Bang Si-hyuk, the chairman of Hybe and the creator behind K-pop wonder BTS, to testify as a witness in the ongoing trial of Kakao founder Kim Beom-su over alleged stock manipulation tied to Kakao’s 2023 acquisition of SM Entertainment. According to legal sources on Tuesday, the Seoul Southern District Court issued a subpoena to Bang on May 8. Unless he provides a valid reason for absence, Bang is required to appear in c

May 13, 2025

South Korea's AI-generated games face regulatory hurdles

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - South Korea’s game industry is bracing for heightened regulatory oversight as lawmakers confirm that video games utilizing artificial intelligence will fall under the country’s new Artificial Intelligence Basic Law, set to take effect in January 2026. According to a report released Tuesday by the National Assembly Research Service, games that employ generative AI models are likely to be classified as “AI products,” placing them under a r

May 13, 2025

Samsung Display unveils next-generation screens at Display Week 2025

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Samsung Display is showcasing a suite of advanced display technologies that reflect the company's growing ambitions in next-generation screen innovation at the annual Display Week 2025 exhibition. The event, which continues from Tuesday through Thursday, features several never-before-seen prototypes and refinements to existing display technologies. Display Week, organized by the Society for Information Display, remains a key showcase for cutting-edge visu

May 13, 2025

Renowned conductor Chung Myung-whun named music director of Italy's La Scala

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - Renowned South Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun has been appointed as the next music director of Italy’s prestigious Teatro alla Scala in Milan, marking the first time an Asian musician will hold the position in the opera house’s 247-year history. La Scala announced the appointment on its official website on May 12 (local time), stating that Chung will succeed current music director Riccardo Chailly and begin his term in 2027, serving until Febru

May 13, 2025

Korea, Malaysia resume FTA talks to close gap in key areas

SEOUL, May 13 (AJP) - South Korea and Malaysia are set to resume negotiations this week in Kuala Lumpur as the two nations seek to advance their bilateral free trade agreement. The talks, scheduled from Tuesday through Thursday, mark the sixth round of negotiations since the process resumed in March 2024. The South Korean delegation is headed by Kwon Hye-jin, the country’s chief trade negotiator from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Malaysia’s team is led b

May 13, 2025

Experts debate diplomatic strategies amid shifting global landscape at seminar in Seoul

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - A number of lawmakers and experts gathered in Seoul on Monday for a seminar to discuss diplomatic strategies and security measures amid a rapidly shifting global political landscape. Hosted by Aju Business Daily, the seminar was held in Yeouido, where participants engaged in a heated debate over strengthening the alliance with the U.S. in response to North Korea's continuous development of its nuclear weapons program as well as other global challenges since

May 12, 2025

US, China agree to roll back tariffs, pause trade war

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - The United States and China announced Monday that they had reached a preliminary agreement to reduce and temporarily suspend a series of reciprocal tariffs, marking a significant step toward de-escalating a trade conflict that has rattled global markets for weeks. Following a weekend of closed-door negotiations in Geneva, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the two countries had agreed to a 90-day pause on implementing new tariffs, with both sides commit

May 12, 2025

SK Telecom reports slight dip in profit, reaffirms customer data safeguards

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest wireless carrier SK Telecom reported a marginal decline in net profit for the first quarter of 2025, as increased corporate taxes offset gains from its expanding artificial intelligence businesses. The company said Monday that net income for the three months ending in March fell 0.1 percent to 361.6 billion won ($258.3 million), compared with 361.9 billion won during the same period a year earlier. The decrease was attributed to hi

May 12, 2025

Wife of DP presidential candidate slapped with fine again in appeals court

SEOUL, May 12 (AJP) - The wife of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP)'s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung was slapped with a 1.5 million won fine for election law violations by an appeals court on Monday. The Suwon District Court upheld the sentence from the first trial, which had been handed down in November last year. Kim Hye-kyung was indicted in February last year for allegedly using her husband's corporate expense card in August 2021, when Lee was serving as

May 12, 2025