Korean and US trade ministers meet in New York amid stalled tariff negotiations

SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - South Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in New York on Saturday to discuss follow-up negotiations on the Korea-US tariff agreement reached in July, according to multiple diplomatic sources. The ministerial talks come as working-level discussions between the two countries have reportedly reached a deadlock over detailed implementation of the trade deal. Under the July 30 agreement, the US reduced planned

September 13, 2025

PHOTOS: End of tense ordeal

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - A group of Korean workers who were recently detained and released by U.S. immigration authorities in Georgia arrived back in South Korea on a chartered flight, Friday, putting an end to a tense eight-day ordeal. The flight, which landed at Incheon International Airport, carried a total of 330 workers who had been held at detention facilities, including one in Folkston, southern Georgia. Of the total passengers, 316 were South Korean nationals. The re

September 12, 2025

KOSPI extends 9-day rally to fresh high, up 50% from April low

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - Kospi shares continued to slope upward, finishing the week at new heights, riding on the global liquidity-powered rally. Extending a nine-session winning streak, the Kospi ended Friday 1.5 percent higher at 3,395.54 — up 7 percent from Sept. 2 and 48.6 percent above the annual low in April. Foreign and institutional investors were the main buyers, while retail investors, cautious of a potential fizzle in the summer rally, took profits. The U.S. dol

September 12, 2025

TRAVEL: A barefoot journey on clay trail in Daejeon

DAEJEON, September 12 (AJP) - In a world filled with constant noise and stress, we search for ways to reconnect. Many are discovering that the simplest path to peace is a return to nature. Barefoot walking, or "earthing," has emerged as a powerful way to soothe the mind and body. And in the heart of South Korea, there's a place that embodies this philosophy perfectly: the magnificent Red Clay Trail on Mount Gyejok in Daejeon. What makes this trail so special? Th

September 12, 2025

Venezuelan exhibition in Seoul aims to build cultural bridge with Korea

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - Venezuela's Embassy in the Republic of Korea has described the new exhibition "Color Without Limits: Tribute to Carlos Cruz Diez" as a cultural bridge linking Venezuela and South Korea, highlighting how art can strengthen ties between two nations that are geographically distant yet connected by shared values. "This exhibition is an opportunity for cultural exchange between Venezuela and Korea," Isabel Di Carlo Quero, Charg&eac

September 12, 2025

South Korean workers return home after weeklong detention in Georgia

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - More than 300 South Koreans who were detained in an immigration crackdown in Georgia, the U.S. returned home on Friday after being held for about a week. A total of 316 South Koreans, along with about a dozen foreign workers, traveled by bus to Atlanta to board a chartered flight at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after being released from a detention facility the previous day and arrived at Incheon International Airport at around 3:30 p.

September 12, 2025

British Chamber's annual garden party to offer chance to enjoy beautiful autumnal night

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - The British Chamber of Commerce in Korea (BCCK) will host its annual garden party later this month. In collaboration with Dulwich College Seoul, an international school in southern Seoul, this year's party will be held in the garden of the British Ambassador's residence in central Seoul on Sept. 24. It will be a great opportunity for participants to look around the historic residence, which was built in the late 1800s and rarely open to the pu

September 12, 2025

Top US trade official urges South Korean workers to obtain proper visas after Georgia raid

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - After last week's immigration crackdown in Georgia that detained hundreds of Souh Koreans allegedly working without valid permits, the U.S. top trade official stressed the need to secure proper visas for employment, while senators promised to come up with legislative measures to prevent similar incidents. While welcoming the massive investment plans and projects of South Korean businesses including automaker Hyundai Motor Group, U.S. Secretary of Comm

September 12, 2025

S. Korea sees surge in complaints over social media livestream shopping

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - South Korea’s consumer protection agency on Friday warned of a surge in complaints from shoppers who purchased fashion items through livestreaming on social media platforms. The Korea Consumer Agency said it had received 444 complaints related to clothing and textile products sold through livestream commerce on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Naver Band and Facebook from 2022 through June 2025. The number of grievances has grown e

September 12, 2025

Hyundai says immigration crackdown will delay Georgia battery plant by 2-3 months

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor’s top U.S. executive said Friday that construction of its $7.6 billion battery plant in Georgia will be pushed back by at least two to three months. Jose Munoz, Hyundai Motor’s global president and chief operating officer, said raids at the construction site created staffing shortages as some workers returned to South Korea following mass detentions. “For the construction phase of the plants, you need to get specialize

September 12, 2025