Ankara anchors S. Korean industrial future as Middle East war chokes global supply SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - The assembly lines in South Korea's southern industrial city of Ulsan and the semiconductor hubs of Gyeonggi, south of Seoul, are facing a systemic threat as a full-scale conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel has effectively paralyzed the primary energy lanes of the world since the end of February. With the Strait of Hormuz blocked and the flow of Middle Eastern crude to South Korea curtailed, the Embassy of Türkiye in the Republic o April 21, 2026

Korea-India summit pivots steel, shipbuilding toward new growth axis amid China pressure SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - South Korea’s steel and shipbuilding industries, long squeezed by China’s dominance, are turning to India as a new anchor for growth, with Seoul and New Delhi moving to lock in deeper industrial cooperation at the highest level. During the first Korean presidential visit to India in nearly eight years, President Lee Jae Myung and Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to elevate bilateral ties into an industry-wide partnership built on joint ventures April 21, 2026

Hyundai Motor's Q1 earnings to reflect tariff and war costs  SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor is expected to post a sharp drop in first-quarter earnings, as rising tariff burdens, war-related disruptions and currency-driven costs squeeze margins despite relatively resilient global demand. According to data compiled by FnGuide, the automaker’s operating profit is forecast at 2.4 trillion to 2.6 trillion won, down 38 to 50 percent from a year earlier. The company is set to report results on Thursday. The downgrade reflects inte April 21, 2026

South Korea expresses regret over Japanese PM's offering to war shrine SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - South Korea expressed "regret" on Tuesday after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Japan's war dead but also enshrines convicted war criminals from World War II. "We express deep disappointment and regret that responsible leaders in Japan have repeatedly made offerings to or visited the shrine," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. The stat April 21, 2026

Samsung Display locks in Apple foldable edge over China SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - South Korea’s premium OLED champion Samsung Display has reasserted itself as Apple Inc.’s primary iPhone panel supplier, staging a decisive comeback against Chinese rivals and tightening its grip on the high-end display market as Apple prepares to enter the foldable era. Samsung Display sharply expanded its share of Apple’s iPhone OLED supply chain in 2025, helped by production setbacks at China’s BOE and a reported three-year excl April 21, 2026

Police seek arrest warrant for HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk over alleged IPO fraud SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - South Korean police have applied for an arrest warrant for Bang Si-hyuk, chairman of BTS agency HYBE, on allegations that he misled investors ahead of the company’s initial public offering (IPO), authorities said Tuesday. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Financial Crimes Investigation Unit said it requested the warrant from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office on charges under the Capital Markets Act. The move comes about 16 April 21, 2026

Forced share cancellations redraw control map across Korea Inc. SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - Mandatory treasury share retirements are rapidly reshaping ownership structures across South Korea’s conglomerates, with cancellations surging past $30 billion in the first quarter alone under a tougher Commercial Act of South Korea. According to a study of 73 conglomerates and 339 affiliates by corporate tracker CEO Score, listed firms canceled shares worth 42.52 trillion won ($30 billion) in the January–March period—more than triple the April 21, 2026

Number of EVs tops 1 million in cumulative registrations SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - The number of registered electric vehicles this year has surpassed 100,000 as of last week, bringing cumulative registrations to more than 1 million, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment said on Tuesday. The milestone is coming faster than in previous years, as it took until early July to hit 100,000 registrations last year, and until mid-September a year earlier. Until March, EVs accounted for about 20 percent of new vehicle registrations, or 8 April 21, 2026

Naver, Krafton, Mirae Asset unveil India-focused tech fund during presidential visit SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - South Korean internet giant Naver joined forces with gaming company Krafton and financial services firm Mirae Asset to hold a briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday to promote the Unicorn Growth Fund, a jointly established investment vehicle targeting up to 1 trillion won ($681 million) in high-growth technology companies across Asia with India at its core. The briefing was held on the sidelines of President Lee Jae Myung's three-day state visit to India, the f April 21, 2026

"Fight Club" goes digital in Korea, dragging teenage violence into the spotlight SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - In the 1999 American cult classic Fight Club, members of an underground brawling group follow one defining rule: never talk about it. In today’s viral digital landscape in South Korea, violence is no longer hidden — it is performed, filmed and monetized in plain sight. Across YouTube, Telegram and livestreaming platforms, a burgeoning genre of “fight content” is blurring the line between sport and exploitation, drawing millions of v April 21, 2026