Yoon to hold talks with Japan's new prime minister in Laos

SEOUL, October 4 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol will embark on a week-long trip later this week to attend the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Laos. According to the presidential office, Yoon will stop by the Philippines and Singapore to hold bilateral talks before heading to Laos for the summit scheduled for Oct. 8 to 11. It will be his third ASEAN summit since taking office in 2022 and his administration is ramping up efforts to expand c

October 4, 2024

Peruvian singer lights up autumnal night with fusion concert in Seoul

SEOUL, October 4 (AJP) - Peruvian singer Lenin Tamayo stole the autumnal night with a concert in central Seoul on Thursday. The multi-talented young singer, 21, who created his own music genre, dubbed "Q-pop," captivated audiences with unique and exotic performances that blend elements of K-pop with the indigenous languages widely spoken in the central Andes of South America. "Q-pop is rooted in the heritage and culture of the indigenous Quechua people, one of the

October 4, 2024

Korea Zinc begins share buyback amid control battle

SEOUL, October 4 (AJP) - Korea Zinc, the world's largest smelter, said Friday it will undertake a share buyback with its partner, U.S. investment firm Bain Capital, to acquire up to 18 percent of its shares, to fend off what it calls a hostile takeover bid by its largest shareholder, Young Poong. Korea Zinc announced that it would start a share buyback with Bain Capital at a price of 830,000 won ($622), which is 80,000 won higher than the 750,000 won proposed by Young Poong and

October 4, 2024

Dried seaweed price soars at fastest rate in 37 years

SEOUL, October 4 (AJP) – The price of dried seaweed surged by 32.7 percent in September year-on-year, marking the largest increase in nearly 37 years, according to government data. The steep rise is attributed to poor harvests caused by abnormally high sea temperatures. The average sea surface temperature from June to August reached 23.9 degrees Celsius, the highest in a decade, delaying the seeding process and reducing supply. The state-run Korea Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp.

October 4, 2024

OPINION: How Middle East conflict could influence US election – and why Arab Americans in swing states might vote for Trump

SEOUL, October 4 (AJP) - As we near the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, the conflict in the Middle East has escalated significantly. Iran just launched nearly 200 missiles on Israel, and Israel has continued its fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza. In addition to the assassination of top Hezbollah commanders, including its leader Hassan Nasrallah, Israel has struck hundreds of targets in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa and the suburbs of Beirut in the

October 4, 2024

PHOTOS: Festival features India's traditional dance in Seoul

SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) - A festival introducing India's cultural diversity to Korea kicked off at Yonsei University in Seoul on Tuesday. The nine-day event, called the "Sarang Festival," organized by the Indian Embassy to Korea and the Indian Cultural Centre, features a variety of Indian arts, including music, dance, film, and cuisine. Tuesday's opening of the festival featured a performance of Kuchipudi, one of India's eight classical dance forms, by dancers from the

October 2, 2024

PHOTOS: UAE heritage showcased on Nami Island

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - The UAE's historical heritage and unique culture were showcased at an event on Nami Island, a small island near Chuncheon, Gangwon Province last week. In cooperation with the UAE Embassy in Korea, the three-day event from Sept. 27 to 29, hosted by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, an educational institution in the Middle Eastern country, aimed to build a cultural bridge between Korea and the UAE, promoting mutual understanding. As part of the event, a scul

October 2, 2024

Octogenarian becomes oldest contestant at beauty pageant in Seoul

SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) - Choi Soon-hwa, the oldest contestant at this year's beauty pageant, narrowly missed winning the crown in Seoul early this week. At 81, she looked exquisite and graceful on stage with her silver hair at the pageant on Monday. Organizers said it was the first time a model of that age participated in the pageant, but Choi proudly stood out among younger rivals in their 20s and 30s. The pageant allows the winner to represent Korea in November's Miss Univ

October 2, 2024

Krafton to showcase new games at G-Star

SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - Korean game developer Krafton said Wednesday it will showcase several new titles during Korea’s largest game exhibition, G-Star, next month. The company, known for its popular battle royale game "PUBG: Battlegrounds," will participate in the annual event for the eighth consecutive year. This year’s G-Star is scheduled to take place from Nov. 14 to 17 at BEXCO in Busan. The company will display "inZOI," a life simulation g

October 2, 2024

Golfer Pak Se-ri wins Van Fleet Award for strengthening US-Korea relations

SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) - Korean golf pioneer Pak Se-ri received an award in New York on Tuesday for her contributions to strengthening Korea's relations with the U.S. The Van Fleet Award, named after General James Van Fleet, the U.S. commander who fought in the Korean War, is presented annually by the U.S.-based non-profit organization Korea Society to individuals who have contributed to promoting Korea and its relationship with the U.S. Previous recipients include former UN

October 2, 2024