PHOTOS: Signs of autumn approaching

SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) - August 7 marks Ipchu, the traditional start of autumn according to the East Asian calendar. This summer has been among the hottest in recent memory, with relentless heatwaves. As Ipchu passes, temperatures are expected to ease. The following images capture early signs of the season changing.

August 7, 2025

[K-Tech] Hyundai Motor, General Motors to jointly develop 5 new vehicles for North American markets

SEOUL, August 7 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Company and General Motors (GM) announced on Thursday their plans to jointly develop and release 5 new vehicles by 2028, including a commercial electric vehicle model. Four of the planned vehicles, a mid-sized pickup and a compact pickup truck, a compact sedan, and a compact sport utility vehicle, are to target Central and South American markets. All vehicles are to have the flexibility to use internal combustion or hybrid propulsion systems. Hy

August 7, 2025

Watcha enters court receivership, vows to maintain streaming service

SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) - Watcha, a South Korean streaming platform, has entered court receivership after a creditor-initiated petition. Despite the ongoing court proceedings, the company has assured users and partners that its services will continue without disruption. According to industry sources on Thursday, the Seoul Bankruptcy Court approved the commencement of Watcha’s rehabilitation process on August 4. The decision followed a petition filed by Enlight Ventures, a hol

August 7, 2025

[K-Pop] BTS' new brother band CORTIS to debut on August 18

SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) - BigHit Music has revealed Thursday the name of its highly anticipated third boy group, CORTIS. This marks the agency’s first new boy group in six years, following the debut of TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT). BTS' label launched official social media accounts for the new group and introduced the name CORTIS. The name is formed from selectively chosen letters in the phrase "COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES," which reflects the group’s philosophy

August 7, 2025

[K-Tech] Samsung SDI battery powers electric vehicle to Guinness World Record

SEOUL, August 7 (AJP) - A Samsung SDI battery-powered electric vehicle has secured a place in the Guinness Book of World Records after achieving the world's longest single-charge driving distance. Samsung SDI announced Thursday that Lucid Motors' Lucid Air Grand Touring model, equipped with the South Korean company's batteries, broke the previous world record during a single-charge driving test. The vehicle traveled 1,205 kilometers (748.7 miles) without charging duri

August 7, 2025

[K-Pop] ILLIT makes sitcom debut as college freshmen in new YouTube series

SEOUL, August 07 (AJP) - K-pop girl group ILLIT is taking on a new challenge, stepping into the world of sitcom acting for the first time since their debut. On the night of August 6, the group released the second teaser for their new self-produced content series titled "The Genre is ILLIT, Introduction to Youth Studies" through their official YouTube channel. The upcoming series "The Genre is ILLIT" follows the comedic campus life of five freshmen at the f

August 7, 2025

KAIST develops robotic sheet that folds, grips, and walks on its own

SEOUL, August 06 (AJP) - A KAIST research team has developed a new kind of robotic material that can fold itself in real time, changing its shape and function instantly without the need for reconstruction. The innovation combines physical artificial intelligence with real-time programmability and could lead to a new class of autonomous robots capable of adapting to their surroundings. KAIST announced Wednesday that Professors Kim Jeong and Park In-kyu of the Department of Mechanic

August 6, 2025

Lee mulls pardons for upcoming Liberation Day

SEOUL, August 6 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung is considering pardons next week to mark the 80th anniversary of the Aug. 15 Liberation day, the presidential office said Wednesday. His first special amnesty since taking office in early June coincides with a large-scale event in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, celebrating his inauguration. The Ministry of Justice is currently compiling a list of those eligible for the amnesty based on internal procedures and strict criteria, with firs

August 6, 2025

South Korea to allow visa-free entry for Chinese tourists starting next month

SEOUL, August 6 (AJP) - Chinese tour groups will be able to enter South Korea without visas as early as late next month. As part of efforts to boost the tourism industry, the visa-waiver program, which follows China's similar move in November last year, was decided during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok at the government complex in Seoul on Wednesday. The program, which allows short-term visa-free entry for Chinese travelers, is set to take effect on Sept. 29

August 6, 2025

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries wins US Navy ship repair contract

SEOUL, August 6 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries announced Wednesday that it has secured a contract to perform maintenance, repair, and overhaul work on a U.S. Navy vessel. The deal marks the first such agreement since the two countries began discussing broader cooperation in shipbuilding. The contract involves the USNS Alan Shepard, a Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship weighing 41,000 tons. The work will be carried out at HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Ulsan and is expected to

August 6, 2025