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  New military chiefs of South Korea, US hold first phone talks SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - South Korean and U.S. military chiefs spoke by phone on Friday to discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) here said. JCS chief Jin Young-seung talked with his U.S. counterpart Dan Caine for the first time since assuming his post late last month. The two agreed on the importance of maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula and deterring North Korean threats through a strong alliance October 17, 2025
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  GM's plan to close service centers reignites rumors of exit from South Korea SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - GM Korea’s plan to sell its directly operated service centers has ignited a labor dispute and stirred speculation about the automaker’s long-term commitment to South Korea. The company, a subsidiary of U.S.-based General Motors, said the decision stems from weak domestic sales and chronic financial losses. In May, GM Korea announced plans to sell nine service centers and idle land at its Bupyeong plant in Incheon — a move it has not re October 17, 2025
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  Samsung Biologics shareholders approve spin-off with overwhelming support SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Samsung Biologics Co. said on Friday its shareholders voted overwhelmingly to approve a plan to spin off its investment division, with 99.9 percent backing the proposal at an extraordinary general meeting in Incheon. The approval paves the way for the creation of Samsung Epis Holdings, a pure holding company that will take over the parent's entire stake in biosimilar developer Samsung Bioepis, while Samsung Biologics will remain as the surviving entity October 17, 2025
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  OPINION: Stricter regulations push young people's dreams of owning home further out of reach SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - "I waited for the government to bring housing prices under control, but now it's almost impossible to buy a home even with dual incomes," lamented one salaried worker. Two years ago, he put off purchasing a home, but his dream has now collapsed, following a new set of even stricter real estate and loan regulations announced earlier this week by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Under the measures aimed at curbing soaring ho October 17, 2025
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  Samsung invests in US biotech firm specialized in early cancer detection SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics and Samsung C&T will jointly invest $110 million in Grail, a U.S. biotechnology company specializing in early cancer detection, as the South Korean conglomerate expands its footprint in digital health care, the firms said Friday. Grail, a subsidiary of Illumina, has developed technology that detects cancer-related DNA fragments in blood samples and uses artificial intelligence to predict both the presence and likely location of c October 17, 2025
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  Swedish royals tour SM Entertainment to explore K-pop's global reach SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel visited SM Entertainment on Thursday, highlighting the growing cultural ties between Sweden and South Korea and the global influence of the K-pop industry, the company said Friday. The royal couple’s visit to the Seoul-based entertainment powerhouse was part of their official trip to South Korea, which focuses on fostering exchange in the cultural and creative sectors. At SM Entertainme October 17, 2025
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  OPINION: Rising tide of hate, from Washington to Seoul SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - The legacy of Donald Trump’s presidency continues to cast a long shadow across the world. His overt flirtation with white nationalism and xenophobia helped normalize racial prejudice in American discourse — and its ripple effects have not stopped at the U.S. border. Across Europe and Asia, far-right movements have found renewed confidence, reshaping politics and stoking divisions once thought to have faded into history. In Europe, anti-immi October 17, 2025
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  Seoul confident of Washington's "understanding" on Korea's FX situation SEOUL, Oct. 17 (AJP) – Seoul held firm against U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand that Korea’s pledged $350 billion investment be made in upfront cash, expressing confidence that Washington’s financial and trade officials understand Korea’s vulnerability to large foreign capital outflows. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said U.S. officials have shown understanding of Korea’s position. “I met Secretary S October 17, 2025
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  USFK lodges protest over raid by prosecutors SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has lodged a protest over an abrupt raid on its base in Pyeongtaek in July. In a letter sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier this month, Lt. Gen. David Iverson, deputy commander of the USFK, expressed concerns over the July 21 raid of Osan Military Base by independent prosecutors investigating disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle late last year. Washington took issue with the raid, s October 16, 2025
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  Asian stocks upbeat, KOSPI leads the pack to new highs SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Asian shares extended gains on Thursday as expectations for a U.S. rate cut outweighed concerns over renewed trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. Korea’s benchmark KOSPI jumped 2.49 percent to close at a record high of 3,748.37, driven by strong foreign and institutional buying. Nine of the top 10 blue chips advanced, led by an 8 percent surge in Hyundai Motor and a 7 percent rise in Kia Motors amid growing optimism for a breakthrough in October 16, 2025