Ryu Hae-ran captures maiden LPGA major title in breakthrough victory SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - Golfer Ryu Han-ran on Sunday won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship to claim the first LPGA major title of her career. In the fourth and final round at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, the 25-year-old carded a 2-under 70 to finish at 13-under 275, securing her long-awaited maiden major championship. She also became the first South Korean to win the tournament since Amy Yang claimed the title two years ago. The win came after an imp June 29, 2026

CJ CheilJedang launches gim snacks in push for premium health-food market SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) - CJ CheilJedang, South Korea's largest food maker, announced Monday it has rolled out three new bibigo gim bugak snacks, betting on rising appetite for traditional seaweed treats at home and abroad. The crispy snacks, made from dried laver coated in glutinous rice paste and fried, revive a labor-intensive handcrafting method the company said captures the deep aroma and richness of the seaweed. The lineup comes in original, spicy and shrimp flavors. Th June 29, 2026

Kakao union holds this month's second "log-out" day SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) -Messaging at Kakao, whose chat platform is used by most South Koreans, is expected to remain unaffected by a one-day collective union action to log off from work on Monday. Kakao said it has activated a real-time response system to ensure stable operation of KakaoTalk and other key services and minimize inconvenience to users as unionized workers stage what they call a "Logout Day." The action comes after labor and management failed to narrow June 29, 2026

Seoul with Samsung and SK to unveil 10-year chip expansion roadmap SEOUL, June 29 (AJP) -South Korea on Monday is unveiling a 10-year roadmap to cement its chipmaking supremacy through the AI transition, spending that could cost household conglomerates Samsung and SK well above $650 billion. The map redrawing will be announced at 2 p.m. at the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae, where President Lee Jae Myung will be joined by Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and ministers overseeing industry, science, energy, climate June 29, 2026

South Korean footballers to return home quietly after early World Cup exit SEOUL, June 28 (AJP) - South Korea's national football squad will return home later this week after being eliminated from this year's World Cup, having spent the past few days waiting in vain as the country's slim hopes of advancing to the next round faded. According to the Korea Football Association, head coach Hong Myung-bo is set to arrive at Incheon International Airport on Tuesday with several players and coaching staff, including striker Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint- June 28, 2026

Samsung Biologics workers vote to leave group-wide union as bonus divide deepens SEOUL, June 28 (AJP) - Unionized workers at Samsung Biologics have voted to leave a group-wide labor union consisting of employees across Samsung affiliates, in a move reflecting growing divisions within the conglomerate's broader union structure. According to the biopharmaceutical company, its workers decided on Sunday to withdraw from the wider union grouping all Samsung employees to form their own independent union, following a five-day vote that began last Wednesday. Of t June 28, 2026

Lee to unveil mega chip cluster plan amid already heated debate SEOUL, June 28 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is set to unveil a mega plan this week to build a new semiconductor cluster, an initiative involving massive investment that could reshape the country's chip industry. Lee is expected to outline details of the plan during a press briefing scheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday, with Samsung Group chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won also in attendance, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung on Sunday. June 28, 2026

South Korea offers support as death toll from quakes rises in Venezuela SEOUL, June 28 (AJP) - After powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last week, the death toll has been rising, with aftershocks hampering rescue efforts. Some 1,430 people have been confirmed dead, with at least 68,900 missing and about 3,200 injured, with the toll expected to rise further as search efforts continue, according to Jorge Rodríguez, the president of Venezuela's National Assembly speaking on state television on Saturday. The two deadly earthquakes, June 28, 2026

South Korea, Japan seek deeper cooperation as defense chiefs meet in Seoul SEOUL, June 28 (AJP) - South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back held talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi in Seoul on Sunday. Their talks came amid efforts to improve ties between the two neighboring countries and strengthen cooperation across defense and other sectors. Koizumi's visit also follows Ahn's trip to Tokyo in January this year, after the two met multiple times in recent months on the sidelines of international gatherings and other occasions. June 28, 2026

Fresh hostilities in Strait of Hormuz raise doubts over shaky Iran deal SEOUL, June 28 (AJP) - Concerns over the safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz have heightened again after Washington launched fresh airstrikes against Iranian military targets in response to drone attacks on vessels, exposing the fragility of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Washington and Tehran as the two sides pursue follow-up talks. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian military targets on Friday after June 28, 2026