Korea FX deposits hit record amid SK hynix dollar wave SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) -South Korea's foreign currency deposits surged to a record in July as proceeds from SK hynix's blockbuster U.S. share sale washed through the Korean financial system while both corporations and individuals stocked up on dollars amid the won's sharp rebound. Resident foreign currency deposits at domestic foreign exchange banks stretched $15.01 billion from June to an all-time high of $128.34 billion at the end of July, according to the Bank of Kor August 28, 2026

Paint factory fire in Cheonan leaves at least 3 dead SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - A fire broke out at a paint ingredient factory in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province on Friday, leaving three people dead, according to fire authorities. The fire started at around 11:40 a.m., prompting firefighters to rush to the scene. They discovered three people dead inside the facility and were still working to contain the blaze while searching for anyone missing. An emergency alert was also issued around noon, urging nearby residents to stay safe a August 28, 2026

Korea widens anti-scalping rules SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - South Korea began enforcing tougher anti-scalping rules for concert and sports tickets Friday, rolling out the detailed penalties and procedures behind a law that expanded the definition of illegal ticket buying and resale. The enforcement decrees under the Performance Act and the National Sports Promotion Act took effect Friday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said. The underlying laws, amended in February, newly banned illegal ticket buyin August 28, 2026

Genians, SANDS Lab jump on AI cyberattack warning SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - South Korean cybersecurity stocks surged Friday after more than 100 global technology and security companies warned that AI-powered cyberattacks could become far more widespread and sophisticated in the coming months. Shares of Genians, which provides security software for corporate networks and individual devices, jumped 26.76 percent to 18,330 won as of 10:55 a.m. on the KOSDAQ, after rising as much as 28.56 percent to an intraday high of 18,590 won. SAND August 28, 2026

Korea picks SKT, Kakao, KT for nationwide AI service project SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - South Korea has selected SK Telecom, Kakao and KT to build AI services for the public under a government project aimed at widening access to artificial intelligence, the Ministry of Science said Friday. The three consortiums were chosen from six applicants following written and presentation evaluations that assessed their AI model competitiveness, GPU and infrastructure plans, user convenience, service quality and safety, and contribution to Korea's AI August 28, 2026

NPS posts 27% H1 return as KOSPI doubles SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - South Korea's National Pension Service posted a 27.22 percent return in the first half, roughly seven times the average for the same six-month period over the previous six years, as an extraordinary rally in Korean stocks propelled the fund to its strongest start in recent years. The performance came as the KOSPI more than doubled from the end of December through June before a correction began in July, leaving the latest pension report as a snapshot of r August 28, 2026

T'way Air's Incheon-Paris route carries 200,000 passengers in 2 years SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - T'way Air has carried more than 200,000 passengers between Incheon and Paris since launching the service two years ago, the budget carrier said on Friday. The service began on Aug. 28, 2024, and served over 200,000 passengers through about 490 round-trip flights over the past two years. The milestone comes as the airline continues to strengthen its presence on long-haul routes to Europe through both passenger and cargo services. South Korean travelers August 28, 2026

KOSPI slips on chip losses despite Nvidia rally SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) — South Korean shares retreated Friday as investors digested the Bank of Korea's back-to-back rate hikes, with losses in major chip and biotech stocks overwhelming the positive spillover from Nvidia's overnight surge. The KOSPI traded at 6,818.87, down 1.29 percent, as of 10:30 a.m. amid broad selling and thin turnover. Losers outnumbered gainers 575 to 294. Foreign investors led the outflows, selling a net 233.5 billion won ($169.1 million) August 28, 2026

Stray Kids to open Japan tour at Tokyo National Stadium SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - K-pop boy group Stray Kids will become the first foreign male artist to hold a solo concert at Tokyo National Stadium, the group's agency JYP Entertainment said Friday. The group will perform at the venue, also known as MUFG Stadium, on Aug. 29 and 30 as the first overseas stop of its new world tour, "RUN IT." The tour opened in Seoul in July with five sold-out shows at KSPO Dome. Stray Kids will continue the Japan leg with concerts at August 28, 2026

Sookmyung maps titanium nanomaterials for cancer treatment SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - Porous crystals built around titanium can carry a cancer drug through the bloodstream, hold it shut until they reach a tumor, and then be switched on from outside the body to attack the cells around them. That range of jobs, long divided among separate materials, is converging on a single compound, according to a review article led by Sookmyung Women's University professor Lee Jung-bok. The paper appeared this month in Coordination Chemistry Reviews August 28, 2026