• 
  From BTS to global idol incubator: HYBE's next chapter Editor's Note: This article is the 38th installment in our series on Asia's top 100 companies, exploring the strategies, challenges, and innovations driving the region's most influential corporations. SEOUL, October 1 (AJP) - HYBE, the Korean entertainment powerhouse behind BTS, has become a defining force in the global music industry. What began as Big Hit Music under founder Bang Si-hyuk has grown into a multi-label empire that not only produces K-pop superstars bu October 1, 2025
• 
  PHOTOS: October brings burst of color to Korea's landscapes SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - The Korean Peninsula is undergoing a dramatic seasonal transition, as October ushers in the full splendor of autumn. Across South Korea, the landscapes are beginning to transform, with mountains and fields now donning the brilliant, kaleidoscopic hues of fall foliage and late-season flowers. This annual display of natural beauty coincides with a palpable sense of anticipation among the public. Excitement is building nationwide as people prepare for the October 1, 2025
• 
  Korean shipbuilders out to defend LNG dominance as orders revive SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - Korean shipbuilders have dominated the global orderbook for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers this year, securing 14 out of 16 new orders and leaving none for Chinese rivals despite an overall market slowdown. The global LNG market has long been split between Korea and China, with Korea’s lead appearing at risk until last year. But Korean yards have pulled ahead again in 2025, buoyed by shifts in demand and trade policies. China October 1, 2025
• 
  Trump open to Kim talks "without preconditions" as North Korea intensifies outreach SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - The White House said on September 30 that U.S. President Donald Trump remains open to talking with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "without any preconditions," a move that has fueled speculation about renewed summitry when Trump travels to South Korea later this month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Responding to a question about whether Trump might seek a meeting with Kim during his visit to the southeastern city of Gye October 1, 2025
• 
  INTERVIEW: Global Cybersecurity Forum speakers warn of Korea's vulnerability to cyberattacks and crimes SEOUL, October 1 (AJP) - South Korea’s position as one of the world’s most digitalized societies also makes it highly vulnerable to cyberattacks and crimes, warned guest speakers at the Global Cybersecurity Forum. "Traditional defenses like fences and soldiers are no longer sufficient. Cyber resilience must be treated as a core part of national security, not an afterthought," said Heidi Crebo-Rediker, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations October 1, 2025
• 
  Ex-foreign minister to assume role as South Korea's new envoy to US this weekend SEOUL, October 1 (AJP) - Former Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is set to assume her post as South Korea's ambassador to the U.S. later this week, becoming the country's first female envoy to Washington. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday said that Kang, who served as foreign minister under former President Moon Jae-in, will take on the ambassadorial role on Oct. 4. Kang previously led New York-based think tank Asia Society, which fosters relations between the U.S. October 1, 2025
• 
  Entropy plays to the Korean beat in Seongsu's hip mecca SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - Seongsu-dong, the capital of trendiness in Seoul brimming with warehouse galleries, hep cafes, and fashion-forward crowd, has been drawing international brands to pilot their newest products on Korea’s style-savvy consumers. Entropy Makeup was the latest to join the wave, opening its first standalone pop-up store at LECT in Seongsu last weekend. The two-week event spotlights the brand's new Slide Up Dough Cheek blush, a retro slide-phone–ins October 1, 2025
• 
  GM brings Super Cruise hands-free driving system to South Korea SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - General Motors on Wednesday introduced its hands-free driver assistance system, Super Cruise, to South Korea, expanding the technology beyond North America and China. The system, which allows hands-free driving under certain conditions, features automatic lane changes and driver monitoring to ensure motorists keep their eyes on the road. In South Korea, it will be available on more than 23,000 kilometers of highways and major roads. To adapt the tech October 1, 2025
• 
  Trade chief urges US to treat South Korea, Japan on separate terms SEOUL, October 01 (AJP) - South Korea’s trade minister said Wednesday that he is working to persuade Washington to recognize the differences between the South Korean and Japanese economies in tariff talks with the United States. Speaking at a policy forum in Seoul, Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo said that while the U.S. trade deficit with both South Korea and Japan appeared similar last year, the two economies diverge sharply in their industrial structures and foreign exchan October 1, 2025
• 
  South Korea to outsource non-combat roles as military personnel decline, says Defense Minister SEOUL, October 1 (AJP) - Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-back announced plans to maintain military force levels at 500,000 by combining 350,000 active-duty soldiers with 150,000 outsourced personnel, in a press briefing on the occasion of Army Forces Day on Wednesday. In his first briefing since assuming his post, he said, "We aim to maintain 350,000 active combat troops by outsourcing non-combat roles to address the declining number of military personnel." The plans appea October 1, 2025