BOK nominee Shin claims he shed foreign assets ahead of hearing SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) — Shin Hyun-song, nominee for governor of the Bank of Korea, defended the central bank’s interventionist stance to curb excessive dollar strength against the won, describing the country’s foreign exchange buffers as “robust” against external shocks. In a written response released Monday ahead of his parliamentary confirmation hearing, Shin warned that a sharp rise in the dollar-won rate fuels inflationary pressure while increasin April 13, 2026

Yuhan wins FDA orphan drug tag for Gaucher disease candidate SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - South Korean drugmaker Yuhan said its experimental Gaucher disease therapy YH35995 has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), unlocking a suite of regulatory and commercial incentives as the company pushes into rare disease treatment. The FDA's orphan drug program is designed to spur development of therapies targeting conditions affecting small patient populations with limited treatment options. Designated drugs April 13, 2026

Korean LCCs streamline routes and payroll on Gulf war impact SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - The Gulf war is not yet two months old, but South Korean low-cost carriers are already scaling back long-haul routes and trimming payroll as surging fuel costs and a weakening won curb overseas travel. T’way Air has begun accepting applications for unpaid leave from cabin crew, marking its first such program since August 2024, according to industry sources Monday. The airline said the move is intended to manage crew fatigue and adjust workloads follo April 13, 2026

Kumho Tire to supply tires for Škoda's electric SUVs SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Kumho Tire will supply original equipment (OE) tires to Czech automobile manufacturer Škoda Auto, the tiremaker said on Monday. Kumho's flagship Ecsta PS71 tires, designed to optimize handling and braking on both dry and wet roads, will be fitted on Škoda Auto's electric SUVs, the Enyaq and Elroq, both built on Volkswagen's MEB electric vehicle platform. Škoda Auto has been a wholly owned subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group sin April 13, 2026

Exo starts world tour as 32,000 global fans fill Seoul arena SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - K-pop boy band Exo members -- Suho, Chanyeol, D.O., Kai, and Sehun -- opened their sixth concert tour in Seoul last Friday. The group performed for 32,000 fans over three days at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul, marking the band's first concert series in six years and four months. The three-day concert in Seoul proved that the group remains a major force in the K-pop scene despite a long break from the stage. Their last major tour was held in 2019, and April 13, 2026

Korean stock turnover more than triples in Q1 amid heavy volatility SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) -South Korea’s stock market activity more than tripled in the first quarter, as heightened volatility following war-driven shocks disrupted the KOSPI’s red-hot rally and amplified trading momentum. According to the Korea Securities Depository Monday, the daily average value of stocks, bonds and other securities processed reached 35.8 trillion won ($26.5 billion) in the January–March period. The figure rose 31.6 percent from a year earlier and April 13, 2026

Asian stocks retreat near 1% amid imminent US reverse blockade at Hormuz SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) — Asian markets opened broadly lower Monday on renewed spike in oil price after the U.S.-Iran showdown spilled over to the Strait of Hormuz following failed weekend peace talks. The pullback, however, remained relatively contained at around 1 percent, suggesting markets are still pricing in a controlled escalation and a potential pathway toward stabilizing the critical waterway. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI fell 0.79 percent to 5,812.82 as of April 13, 2026

South Korea posts record early-April exports despite Middle East crisis SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Despite geopolitical risks amid the prolonged conflict in the Middle East, South Korea posted its highest-ever exports for the first 10 days of this month, driven by strong demand for semiconductor chips. According to data from the Korea Customs Service (KCS) released on Monday, exports during the period from the first day of April to last Friday totaled US$25.21 billion, up 36.7 percent from a year earlier, surpassing the previous record for the same period, April 13, 2026

Kia's fully facelifted Seltos leads small SUV market last month SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - Kia sold 4,983 units of its Seltos in the domestic market last month, the most in the small sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment for March, according to sales figures released by its parent company Hyundai Motor on Monday. Kia gave the Seltos its first major facelift in six years, giving it a bolder, more angular look in line with the brand's overall lineup, along with improved convenience and safety features. The popular SUV has held the top spot in its April 13, 2026

Sookmyung University highlights human-centered AI research at global conferences SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) - The Empathic AI Women's Engineering Talent Training Team at Sookmyung Women's University in South Korea is presenting a series of research papers at major international computer science conferences. As part of the Brain Korea 21 program, the team is developing human-centered artificial intelligence designed to address social isolation and communication barriers. Professor Kim Byung-Gyu leads the multidisciplinary group, which conducts research on em April 13, 2026