OPINION: Set aside the ghost whispers — it is time for Iran and Israel to speak directly Wars in the Middle East are often described in terms of missiles, airstrikes and troop movements. Yet much of the region’s conflict unfolds elsewhere — in the shadows of diplomacy, through intermediaries, and in signals that are never formally acknowledged. This quieter dimension might be called “ghost whispering”: the informal, deniable channels through which states exert pressure, shape perceptions and influence outcomes without direct confrontation. April 15, 2026

First meeting on next year's minimum wage to be held next week SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - This year's first meeting of a committee responsible for setting next year's minimum wage is scheduled to be held next week. The committee, consisting of members from labor, employer and government representatives under the Ministry of Employment and Labor, will gather for talks at the government complex in the administrative city of Sejong on April 21. With the committee's chair remaining vacant, members in attendance are expected to elect April 15, 2026

KOSPI tops 6,100; Asian markets rise on renewed U.S.-Iran talks hopes SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - South Korea’s KOSPI climbed above the 6,100 level on Wednesday, as the benchmark index rode easing war concerns to resume its record-breaking rally that had been disrupted by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. The main index rose 2.96 percent to 6,144.26, while the KOSDAQ gained 1.93 percent to 1,143.49 as of 10:29 a.m. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.15 percent to 58,542.14. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 1.00 percent to April 15, 2026

LG CNS unveils cold-chain logistics robot at U.S. trade show, eyes North American market SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - LG CNS showcased a new warehouse automation robot capable of operating in sub-zero freezer environments at a major North American logistics trade show, as the South Korean IT services firm pushes to expand its footprint in the United States. The company unveiled its "Mobile Shuttle" system at Modex 2026 on Monday (local time) in Atlanta, where the robot was highlighted for its ability to function continuously at temperatures as low as minus 26 degre April 15, 2026

Startup Upstage becomes South Korea's first AI unicorn after raising more funds SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - Artificial intelligence (AI) startup Upstage has raised about 180 billion Korean won (about US$120 million) in its latest funding round, the company said on Wednesday. With the funding, Upstage, now valued at more than 1 trillion won, became South Korea's first unicorn among generative AI companies. According to Upstage, the fresh fund was raised in a round led by Sage Partners, a Silicon Valley-based global venture capital and early investor that has April 15, 2026

South Korea jobs rise in March, but youth outlook worsens *Updated with additional information SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) -South Korea's headline jobs market maintained resilience in March as the impact of the Gulf war remained peripheral for now, but data pointed to worsening conditions for youth, signaling a structural job cliff for young people. The number of employed people rose by 206,000 from a year earlier to 28.795 million, easing slightly from a 234,000 increase in February, according to data released by the Data and Statist April 15, 2026

Trump hints at another round of talks with Iran 'over the next two days' SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday hinted at additional peace talks between the U.S. and Iran could take place in Pakistan within the next few days. Trump said in an interview with The New York Post, "You should stay there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days." "We are more inclined to go there. It's more likely, you know why? Because the field marshal is doing a great job," he added, referring April 15, 2026

South Korea recruits foreign influencers as Seoul seeks to move beyond K-pop SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - A group of 120 international content creators is set to fan out across the South Korean provinces this year, part of an aggressive push by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to diversify the national brand, the ministry said Wednesday. Starting April 17 in the traditional stronghold of Jeonju, the project marks a calculated attempt to steer global attention away from the neon-lit aesthetics of K-pop and toward the historical substance of the rural int April 15, 2026

French Cinema Week expands to nationwide scale as diplomatic milestone nears SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - The French Embassy in Seoul launches its most ambitious cinema showcase to date on April 24, deploying 10 unreleased films across five major South Korean cities to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, the embassy said Tuesday. By expanding the festival footprint to Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, and Incheon, Paris is leveraging its cultural exports to deepen a strategic partnership that has evolved from a nineteenth-centur April 15, 2026

Korea's import-export prices surge to Asian crisis-era levels on Gulf shock SEOUL, April 15 (AJP) - South Korea's import prices jumped at the steepest pace in nearly three decades as the outbreak of a full-blown war in the Gulf triggered a sharp surge in energy prices and the U.S. dollar against the Korean won, but trade terms remained robust so far as export prices rose at a similar pace on strong global demand for refined fuels and memory chips. According to preliminary export and import price data for March released by the Bank of Korea (BOK) on April 15, 2026