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  Asian markets rise on hopes of pro-stimulus government in Japan SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Asian equities advanced on Monday, lifted by optimism that Japan may soon usher in a pro-stimulus government — a prospect that helped counterbalance mixed economic signals from China and cautious sentiment across the region. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI index gained 1.3 percent, supported by renewed optimism over a tariff deal with Washington and resilient semiconductor exports. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ also edged higher, though gains were more muted, October 20, 2025
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  Cambodia scam networks and Korean deaths expose youth struggles at home SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - The murder of a South Korean student kidnapped for forced crime in Cambodia has shocked the nation — and exposed the hidden world of young Koreans trapped in Southeast Asia's online-scam networks. The body of a 22-year-old university student, surnamed Park, was found near Bokor Mountain in southern Cambodia in early August after his family received a ransom call. Cambodian police later arrested several Chinese nationals suspected of running the on October 20, 2025
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  Korean central bank likely to save ammunition in this week's rate meeting SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - South Korea’s central bank, like most of its Asian peers, is expected to hold fire on interest rates this week, preserving policy ammunition amid mounting uncertainties from U.S. tariff and trade policies. At Thursday’s Monetary Policy Board meeting, the Bank of Korea (BOK) is widely forecast to keep its benchmark rate unchanged at 2.50 percent, maintaining its cautious stance since the last cut in August. The decision comes as inflation show October 20, 2025
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  Two more rescued in Cambodia as about a dozen nabbed in online scams after crackdown SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Two more South Koreans were rescued and about a dozen others reportedly involved in online job scams and phishing schemes were arrested in Cambodia, following a crackdown, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told reporters during a press briefing in Seoul on Monday. According to Cho, they are expected to be repatriated this week, following last Saturday's deportation of more than 60 South Korean detainees allegedly involved in similar crimes in the Southeast As October 20, 2025
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  Once Asia's creative powerhouse, Korean cinema faces its reckoning SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Korea's once-vibrant movie scene is struggling to bring audiences back to theaters, and without serious soul-searching, it may follow the same decline once seen in Japanese and Hong Kong cinema. Multiplex chains are shuttering nationwide, often blaming global streaming platforms for their decline, but insiders argue the problem runs deeper — a shortage of compelling, diverse stories worth watching on the big screen. "The audience isn October 20, 2025
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  Korea's winter street snacks evolve from local comforts to global favorites SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Korean street food gyeran-ppang — literally “egg bread” — has joined the ranks of the French baguette and Montreal bagel on CNN’s list of “50 of the World’s Best Breads,” underscoring how globalized and inventive Korean street food has become. “There’s buried treasure within every loaf of gyeran-ppang,” CNN wrote. “Individually sized wheat breads with a whole egg baked inside are amon October 20, 2025
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  Kolmar Korea to develop AI-driven cosmetics factory under government project SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Cosmetics manufacturer Kolmar Korea said Monday that it has been chosen by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to lead the development of an artificial intelligence–integrated autonomous manufacturing system for cosmetics — an ambitious effort to transform how beauty products are made. The initiative, known as the AI Factory Project, aims to surpass current “smart factory” systems by using real-time data and AI models to a October 20, 2025
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  Security alert to be raised ahead of APEC summit SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - In preparation for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju next week, the government is set to implement a series of anti-terrorism measures while raising the country's alert levels later this week. According to the Prime Minister's Office on Monday, the measures are part of coordinated efforts by relevant agencies to ensure a proactive response to a potential rise in terror threats and other crimes during the multil October 20, 2025
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  KAIST develops light-based process that boosts hydrogen catalyst efficiency sixfold SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - A research team at KAIST has developed a light-powered process that can produce high-performance hydrogen catalysts using only a fraction of the usual energy. The technique uses an ultra-short flash of light to generate extreme heat, enabling the rapid creation of advanced materials for clean energy applications. The study, led by Professor Il-Doo Kim, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and Professor Seongyool Choi, School of Electrical Engine October 20, 2025
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  JW Pharma's hemophilia A treatment added to WHO's Essential Medicines List SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - South Korea's JW Pharmaceutical said Monday that Hemlibra, its treatment for hemophilia A, has been added to the World Health Organization’s 2025 Essential Medicines List (EML) and the Essential Medicines List for Children (EMLc). Hemlibra is the only preventive therapy available for both patients with and without inhibitors, offering sustained protection against bleeding through a single subcutaneous injection every four weeks — a major October 20, 2025