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  Overdue credit card loans rising fast in South Korea SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - South Koreans are falling behind on their credit card bills at a record pace, as higher interest rates and tighter bank lending drive more households to rely on card loans to make ends meet. According to data released by the office of Rep. Kang Min-kook of the main opposition People Power Party, citing the Financial Supervisory Service, credit card debt overdue for more than a month reached nearly 1.5 trillion won ($1.1 billion) as of the end of August October 20, 2025
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  'Progress' made in tariff Talks with US, deal expected before APEC summit SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Expectations are growing for a possible breakthrough in tariff negotiations with the U.S. as "significant progress" appears to be made. Presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom, who returned from Washington, D.C., on Sunday, said, "Significant progress was made in negotiations with the U.S., as most issues have been settled." Though some areas still require adjustments, he expressed optimism about reaching a deal to finalize trade ta October 20, 2025
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  OPINION: China's rise squeezing Korea's industrial heartlands Park Won-jae SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - Yeosu, once the beating heart of South Korea’s petrochemical industry, is now a city under strain. The port, long fueled by the hum of factories and refineries, has fallen quiet as China’s self-sufficiency in ethylene production upends the regional industrial order. Roughly three years ago, Beijing achieved full domestic production of ethylene, the cornerstone of plastics and other chemical materials. The effects on Yeosu w October 20, 2025
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  South Korean business chiefs hold unprecedented golf summit with Trump SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - South Korea's top business leaders held an unprecedented seven-hour meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at his Florida golf club on Saturday, local time, as Seoul scrambles to address mounting concerns over tariffs and trade ahead of a crucial summit. Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, and Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan atte October 19, 2025
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  S.Korean industry minister vows support for firms after U.S. detention incident SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - South Korea's industry minister pledged to protect the country's overseas investment interests and ensure citizen safety following a detention incident at an LG Energy Solution battery plant construction site in the United States. Kim Jung-kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, visited LG Energy Solution's battery factory site in Georgia and Hyundai Motor Group's Metaplant America to assess construction progress and address industry c October 19, 2025
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  TRAVEL: Malaysian chef serves heritage on a platter, from breadfruit fritters to deep-fried cow lungs SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - Standing as one of Malaysia's most celebrated chefs, Dato' Ismail Ahmad showed guests how Malay breakfast is served and what rich culinary heritage the country boasts. Inside Restoran Rebung Chef Ismail, a Malaysian heritage cuisine restaurant in Kuala Lumpur owned by the chef himself, visitors were greeted with aisles of full Malaysian breakfasts, ready to be scooped up and eaten by the platter. From cekodok sukun, a Malaysian snack m October 19, 2025
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  PHOTOS: A full-on field day under clear Autumn skies SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - "Sweeping victory, Blue Team! Cheer on, White Team!" On a clear, blue Autumn Friday, children's laughter filled an elementary school playground in Jungnang District Seoul. In Korea, schools traditionally hold a field day once a year, usually in spring or autumn. The event features a variety of games and, at times, class performances. Families join in the festivities, making it one of the biggest events of the school year — an experience October 19, 2025
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  Waseda University awards honorary doctorate to LS Chairman Koo Ja-yeol SEOUL, October 19 (AJP) - Waseda University conferred an honorary doctorate in law upon Koo Ja-yeol (Christopher Koo), chairman of LS Group's board of directors, at a ceremony attended by about 100 dignitaries from academia and business circles. The award ceremony took place at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Aizu Museum on the university's campus, with Korea University President Kim Dong-won and Waseda University President Tanaka Aiji among the distinguished guests. Koo, who j October 19, 2025
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  KOSPI survives broad Asian stock slide U.S. bank concerns SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Major Asian stock markets fell across the board Friday amid renewed jitters over the financial health of U.S. regional banks. Korean shares, however, defied the trend, extending their rally to fresh record highs. The benchmark KOSPI finished nearly flat but managed to notch a new closing high of 3,748.8, supported by strong gains in battery stocks after data showed global electric vehicle sales hit an all-time high in September. EcoPro soared 27.04 per October 17, 2025
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  Seoul mulls expanding organ donor criteria amid dire shortage SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Korea is considering expanding its organ donor eligibility to include patients who experience cardiac arrest after withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, joining a small group of countries that permit organ donation beyond brain-dead cases. The move comes amid an acute shortage of transplantable organs, with patients waiting an average of four years for a transplant. Whether the policy change can meaningfully ease the growing backlog remains uncertain, gi October 17, 2025