US State Department's post for North Korean human rights envoy remains vacant again

SEOUL, April 23 (AJP) - Washington's special envoy in charge of North Korean human rights issues has once again been left vacant since early this year, it was belatedly revealed on Tuesday. According to the U.S. Department of State, Julie Turner who "worked over the past 20 years to strengthen democratic institutions and promote human rights throughout the East Asia and Pacific Region" now serves as the acting deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Huma

April 23, 2025

With AI in focus, Naver, Kakao brace for earnings

SEOUL, April 23 (AJP) - South Korea’s leading tech companies, Naver and Kakao, are set to release their first-quarter earnings for 2025 next month, amid intensifying pressure to keep pace in the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. According to a filing with the Financial Supervisory Service on Wednesday, Naver will announce its results on May 9 via a conference call, while Kakao is scheduled to release its earnings a day earlier, on May 8. Analysts anti

April 23, 2025

Festival featuring top New Zealand wines to return next month

SEOUL, April 23 (AJP) - A festival showcasing premium wines from New Zealand will be held in Seoul and Busan next month. Hosted by the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea, also known as the Kiwi Chamber, the annual festival, first held in 2009, will feature around 25 varieties of wine this year including whites and reds from top wineries across the island country. Among others, Sauvignon Blanc is particularly popular among consumers here, thanks to the crisp white wine's

April 23, 2025

Prosecutors take over high-profile stock manipulation case linked to former first lady

SEOUL, April 23 (AJP) - South Korea’s financial watchdog said it will refer a high-profile stock manipulation case possibly involving the country’s former first lady, Kim Keon Hee, to prosecutors on Wednesday. The Securities and Futures Commission, which oversees investigations into irregularities in the nation’s financial markets, will vote during its regular meeting on filing criminal complaints against individuals implicated in the manipulation of shares in Samb

April 23, 2025

PPP's presidential candidates whittled down to four

SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - The ruling People Power Party (PPP)'s presidential candidates were whittled down to a four-way race on Tuesday, ahead of the upcoming presidential election slated for early June. Based on a two-day opinion poll of some 4,000 respondents, consisting of PPP supporters and undecided voters, conducted earlier this week, after last week's series of debates in which the candidates outlined their agendas and visions for the presidency, the PPP narrowed down

April 22, 2025

Recipients of Ramon Magsaysay Award honored in Seoul

SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - An event honoring past South Korean recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award was held at a hotel in central Seoul on Tuesday, as part of celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Seoul and Manila. Co-hosted by the Philippine Embassy in Seoul and the foundation that presents the annual award, the event brought together dozens of attendees including some of past recipients, diplomats, and other officials. Known as the "Nob

April 22, 2025

LG Display eyes turnaround as demand for OLED TVs surges in China

SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - Sales of televisions equipped with Korean-made OLED (organic light-emitting diode) panels are rapidly gaining ground in China’s premium TV market, reflecting a notable shift in consumer preferences and industry momentum. According to market research firm Omdia, OLED panels are projected to account for 78.3 percent of premium televisions priced above $2,500 in China this year. That figure marks a sharp increase from 47.2 percent in 2024, suggesting a g

April 22, 2025

South Korean military holds artillery drills near border

SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - Live-fire artillery drills were conducted along the inter-Korean border for the first time in several years, military authorities said on Tuesday. To enhance the military's combat readiness, around 60 rounds were fired from more than a dozen self-propelled howitzers, hitting targets at a firing range in Paju, Gyeonggi Province the previous day. The drills came about seven years after Seoul and Pyongyang signed a cross-border pact in 2018 pledging to ce

April 22, 2025

Procurement dispute emerges over Korea's first privately-led geostationary satellite

SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - A procurement dispute has erupted over South Korea’s first privately-led geostationary satellite development project, underscoring growing competition in the country’s burgeoning space sector. Industry sources said Tuesday that the committee overseeing the Chollian Satellite 5 project selected LIG Nex1 as the preferred negotiation partner for developing the satellite bus. The decision prompted a formal objection from rival bidder Korea Aerospace

April 22, 2025

Korea urged to boost efforts to stabilize pharmaceutical supply chains

SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - South Korea is lagging behind other major nations in implementing systems to address pharmaceutical supply chain instabilities, according to a report by the Korea Institute of Science&Technology Evaluation and Planning (KISTEP). In its latest edition of "Science, ICT Policy and Technology Trends," KISTEP underscores the urgent need for specific legislation and comprehensive mapping of supply chains to ensure a stable supply of medications during

April 22, 2025