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  OPINION: South Korea's defense rise owes debt to Russia SEOUL, October 28 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung recently declared that South Korea aims to become the world’s fourth-largest defense exporter by 2030 — a bold vision reflecting the country’s growing role in the global arms market. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, South Korea ranked 10th in defense sales in 2023. Its share of global arms exports surged from 1 percent in 2012–2016 to 2.8 percent in 2017–2021 on averag October 28, 2025
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  Korea's Q3 GDP adds stronger than expected 1.2% on quarter, sentiment weakens ] Seoul, October 28 (AJP) -South Korea’s economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter, expanding 1.2 percent on quarter on the back of a rebound in capital investment and a modest recovery in consumer spending, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea on Tuesday. The stronger-than-expected growth — up from 0.7 percent in the second quarter and following a 0.2 percent contraction in the first — was largely driven by renewed capit October 28, 2025
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  World Korean business leaders gather in Incheon for economic summit INCHEON, October 27 (AJP) - About 2,000 Korean business leaders from around the globe convened in Incheon for a four-day economic summit aimed at strengthening commercial ties between overseas Korean entrepreneurs and domestic firms. The 2025 Korea Business Expo Incheon opened Monday at Songdo, south of Incheon, drawing about 1,500 Korean businesspeople from abroad and 500 domestic participants including corporate executives and government officials. The four-day convention, runn October 27, 2025
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  INTERVIEW: Mysterious Hungarian bomb maker in Korean independence fight to come alive in upcoming book by ex-Hungarian envoy SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - A Western engineer aiding Korean independence fighters in assembling bombs against imperial Japan sounds like a scene from historical fiction. But former Hungarian ambassador to South Korea Mózes Csoma found that it was real — and is preparing a book on the remarkable story of a Hungarian who joined Korea’s struggle for independence. "As a historian, I find deep meaning in the story of someone who fought for another people&rsquo October 27, 2025
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  PHOTOS: As APEC opens in Gyeongju, Seoul feels the buzz SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - As the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit opened on Monday in Gyeongju, national attention has fixed on the gathering of world leaders. Though Gyeongju sits some 230 kilometers southeast of Seoul, the capital is equally swept up in the APEC fervor. Excitement over the high-profile event has spread across the country, with banners and displays promoting APEC visible throughout Seoul. At major landmarks such as Seoul Station and the Gwanghwamu October 27, 2025
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  Trump makes another overture to Kim, but any impending meeting remains in doubt SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump has once again expressed eagerness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his brief visit to South Korea this week. "I'd love to meet with him if he'd like to meet, I got along great with . If he wants to meet, I'll be in South Korea," Trump told reporters on Monday aboard Air Force One while traveling from Malaysia to Japan as part of his Asian tour, which includes South Korea for the Asia-Paci October 27, 2025
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  K-fashion joins APEC sponsorship as young labels expand global reach SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - Breaking into the global mainstream has long been a challenge for Korean fashion labels. Yet the rise of social media—coupled with the global influence of K-pop stars and K-dramas—has propelled a new wave of brands such as Matin Kim and platforms like Musinsa to the forefront of the international fashion scene, celebrated for their blend of style, affordability, and authenticity. Matin Kim, which this month made its debut on Amazon following s October 27, 2025
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  Seoul pushes ASEAN ties beyond trade to digital and maritime fronts SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - South Korea is moving to expand relationship with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) beyond trade and economic front to push for common security goals amid volatility around Asia-Pacific superpowers – the United States and China. President Lee Jae Myung, in his address at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, described ASEAN as "neighbors who have overcome hardships together," calling the bloc South Korea's closest part October 27, 2025
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  KOSPI and Nikkei hit record highs as Asian stocks ride wave of foreign buying SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - Asian shares surged Monday as South Korea’s KOSPI and Japan’s Nikkei 225 both closed at all-time highs, driven by renewed foreign buying and strength in semiconductor and industrial stocks. The benchmark Kospi jumped 2.57 percent to finish at 4,042.83, marking its highest close on record. Chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix once again led the advance, joined by shipbuilding and nuclear-energy plays. Samsung Electronics surged 3.24 percent to 102, October 27, 2025
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  HOT STOCK: Samsung Heavy flies to 52-week high on multiple upsides SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries surged Monday to a new 52-week high on multiple catalysts — the successful domestication of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage-tank technology, speculation over a possible visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to its shipyard during APEC 2025, and a string of new orders. Shares of Samsung Heavy jumped about 16 percent to 28,800 won ($20.1) as of 3 p.m., nearly tripling from roughly 11,000 won at the start of the year. October 27, 2025