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  South Korea, U.S. to launch parallel talks on nuclear submarine, fuel cycle issues SEOUL, December 21 (AJP) -South Korea and the United States plan to begin simultaneous, issue-by-issue consultations next year to implement leaders’ agreements on Seoul’s nuclear-powered submarine program, civilian uranium enrichment and the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, South Korea’s national security adviser said Sunday. Wi Sung-lac said the two sides agreed to “launch consultations all at once” starting next year as follow-up measures to agr December 21, 2025
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  OPINION: When all that glitters mixes with FX markets For decades, gold sat politely outside the foreign-exchange conversation. It was a hedge against inflation, a shelter in crises, an asset of last resort—but rarely a variable that moved currencies themselves. Exchange rates were explained in the familiar grammar of trade balances, interest-rate differentials and capital flows. Gold belonged to another chapter. That separation is beginning to fray in Asia. The first clear signal has come from Thailand. In recent month December 20, 2025
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  Korean court revisits authoritarian-era anti-communism conviction SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) -A South Korean court has fully acquitted Anglican Church of Korea priest Yoon Jung-hyeon, overturning his 1975 conviction under the now-abolished Anti-Communism Law after a retrial held nearly five decades later. The Seoul Northern District Court ruled on Dec. 11, 202, that Yoon was not guilty, and the verdict became final last Friday. The court said it could not rule out the possibility that coercive interrogation or mistreatment occurred during t December 20, 2025
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  BYD makes fast inroads in Korea with sales nearing 5,000 EV cars SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) -BYD, China’s largest electric-vehicle manufacturer, has rapidly established a foothold in South Korea’s imported-car market, breaking into the top 10 foreign brands within its first year of local operations. According to the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association on Dec. 19, BYD sold 4,955 vehicles through November, accounting for 1.78 percent of the imported-car market. Based on recent sales momentum, full-year deliveries are December 20, 2025
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  Korea's first private rocket launch put off on technical glitch SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) -South Korean space launch startup Innospace has called off the launch attempt of the country's first privately-developed rocket, HANBIT-Nano, after engineers identified a technical issue during final countdown procedures in Brazil. The launch was scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Friday local time (9:30 a.m. Saturday in Korea) at the Alcantara Space Center, but was halted about an hour before liftoff when an abnormality was detected in a valve used to fill December 20, 2025
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  Korea's FTC chief signals suspension on Coupang if fault confirmed in data leak SEOUL, December 20 (AJP) -Ju Biung-ghi, chairman of South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission, said authorities are keeping open the possibility of slapping business suspension e-commerce giant Coupang following a large-scale leak of customer personal data. Speaking on KBS’ “NewslineW" on Friday afternoon, Ju said the FTC is mobilizing “all available means,” including dispute mediation and support for consumer lawsuits, to assist those affected by December 20, 2025
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  K-Handmade Fair SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest handmade exhibition, K-Handmade Fair 2025, opened on Dec. 18 at COEX B Hall in southern Seoul. Held under the theme “Happy Pages,” the four-day event runs through Dec. 21. The fair features handmade works across a wide range of categories, including crafts, design, art, interior items, fashion, accessories and beauty products, with around 600 booths participating. Visitors can meet creators in person at booths sho December 19, 2025
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  Asian markets rally as BOJ ends policy uncertainty SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Asian equities closed higher on Friday as investors welcomed signs of cooling U.S. inflation and the Bank of Japan’s long-anticipated interest rate hike, which helped clear a major policy overhang across the region. The BOJ’s move allowed markets to look past fears of a disorderly yen carry-trade unwind — at least for now — lifting benchmark indices across Asia. In Seoul, the KOSPI rose 0.65 percent to close at 4,020.55, reclai December 19, 2025
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  Unionized rail workers threaten indefinite strike again SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Unionized railway workers on Friday again threatened to launch an indefinite strike starting next Tuesday, citing the failure to fulfill agreements over bonus payments. State-run rail operator KORAIL's workers, who called off a planned strike at the last minute earlier this week after tentatively agreeing to further discussions on performance-based bonuses, said they will go on strike from the first train next Tuesday unless the agreements are fulfille December 19, 2025
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  Krafton, Naver, Mirae Asset pool capital for Asia startup bets SEOUL, December 19 (AJP) - Game developer Krafton said on Friday it will set up an Asia-focused investment fund with Naver and Mirae Asset Group worth up to 1 trillion won ($740 million), betting on fast-growing technology companies across the region. The fund, named the Krafton–Naver–Mirae Asset Unicorn Growth Fund, will target promising technology firms in major Asian markets, including South Korea and India. The partners said the vehicle aims to generate long-ter December 19, 2025