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  NTS to crack down on tax evaders in real estate inheritances SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - The National Tax Service plans to intensify its probe of real estate transferred from wealthy parents to children to evade inheritance and other taxes, the watchdog said in a meeting at the government complex in Seoul on Thursday. The probe is expected to target some 2,077 apartment owners in Seoul's affluent districts of Gangnam, Gangdong, Seocho and Songpa as well as Mapo and Seongdong districts north of the Han River, where prices have soared in December 4, 2025
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  AI takes front seat in Korean bio "foundries", betting on reduced cost and risks SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - South Korea's bio industry is going all in on artificial intelligence, betting that the technology will slash time, cost and risk in drug discovery, with eight out of 10 companies are now diverting at least 10 percent of their revenue to AI deployment. "AI is set to play a pivotal role in our sector, and its impact on the industry will be profound," said Lee Seung-kyu, vice chairman of Korea Bio. "Compared to the vague expectations we ha December 4, 2025
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  South Korea's Kolon Industries joins hands with Canadian firm for fuel cell business SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - Kolon Industries said Thursday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Canada’s Ballard Power Systems to expand cooperation in hydrogen fuel cell components, strengthening its push into the clean-energy sector. The agreement was signed at the World Hydrogen 2025 event held at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Ballard, founded in 1979, is a major global supplier of high-efficiency, durable hydrogen fuel cell technology used in buses December 4, 2025
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  SK hynix unveils major reorganization to bolster HBM, AI-era memory leadership SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - SK hynix said Thursday it has created a dedicated high-bandwidth memory (HBM) unit to provide faster technical support and bolster market responsiveness in North America. It also established a new team responsible for HBM packaging, quality and yield management across development and mass production. The move is aimed at reinforcing its position in the global AI era and ensure sustainable growth, the company said. The company also plans to esta December 4, 2025
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  South Korea launches world's largest hydrogen expo, eyes global leadership SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - World Hydrogen Expo 2025, billed as the world's largest hydrogen industry exhibition, kicked off at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on Thursday, drawing 279 companies and organizations from 26 countries. The four-day event, running through Dec. 7, marks the inaugural edition combining the former H2 MEET exhibition and International Hydrogen Conference into a unified platform. The expo spans 22,000 square meters showcasing the full hydrogen value ch December 4, 2025
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  South Korea's union membership rises to 2.77 million SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - South Korea’s trade union membership increased to 2.77 million at the end of last year, up by about 40,000 from a year earlier, the Ministry of Employment and Labor said on Thursday. The national unionization rate held steady at 13 percent as the pool of eligible workers continued to expand. The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) remained the country’s largest labor umbrella group with 1.2 million members, accounting for 43.3 perce December 4, 2025
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  PHOTOS: A walk shaped by trains (Gwangju) -1- SEOUL, December 3 (AJP) - The flavors from lunch still linger, but now it is time to walk through Songjeong itself. Even without leaving the station area, small scenes reveal how long people have lived and moved through this neighborhood. The pace is slower here, and the traces of time sit close to the surface. Songjeong Kobrang Fairy Village — stories tucked between homes Past the 1913 market and deeper into the residential lanes, bright murals begin to appe December 4, 2025
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  Thailand marks National Day in Seoul with tribute to late Queen SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - Thailand's ambassador to South Korea emphasized Bangkok's commitment to a more active global role and deeper cooperation with Seoul during a National Day reception held at Lotte Hotel Seoul on December 3. The event, hosted in the Crystal Ballroom, brought together about 300 diplomats, scholars, media members and business leaders, according to organizers. Before the formal program began, guests observed a one-minute moment of silence in memory of December 4, 2025
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  Fewer top scorers as last month's university exam proves tougher SEOUL, December 4 (AJP) - This year's university entrance exam was tougher than last year's, with only five students achieving perfect scores, down from 11 the previous year. According to test results released by the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) on Thursday, five students including one retaker who took the test last month, scored perfectly across all sections. With English being the most challenging section, the number of perfect scorers in math December 4, 2025
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  Travel guidebook event highlights Kazakhstan as 'blue ocean' for Korean tourists SEOUL, December 04 (AJP) - Kazakhstan's ambassador in Seoul said tourism is emerging as a new bridge between his country and South Korea, speaking at a book launch held at Lotte Hotel Seoul on December 3 for the travel guide "Travel Kazakhstan" by author Seo Byung-yong. "It's a delight for me to be in front of such a wonderful audience, the true friends of Kazakhstan and the wonderful partners who are always here to support us," Ambassador Nurgali Arys December 4, 2025