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  China leaps on global corporate stage while Korean Inc. stagnates SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - China is rapidly widening its footprint in the global corporate landscape while the Korean Inc. has remained stagnant, according to an analysis by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). KCCI study of Forbes’ Global 2000 rankings showed that the number of Chinese firms on the list surged to 275 this year from 180 in 2015. By contrast, Korean names thinned from 66 to 62 over the same period. The U.S. population strengthened from 575 to September 24, 2025
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  Kakao deploys ChatGPT to defend ubiquitous rank among Koreans SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - Kakao Corp., South Korea's dominant messaging platform, announced the most sweeping overhaul in KakaoTalk's 15-year history on Tuesday, unveiling plans to embed OpenAI's ChatGPT directly into the app in a bid to restore public trust after a series of scandals and to sharpen its edge against both domestic and global competitors. The integration, revealed at the company's annual if(Kakao)25 conference in Yongin, will launch in October and re September 24, 2025
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  IMF raises South Korea's growth forecast but warns of structural risks SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - The International Monetary Fund raised South Korea’s economic growth outlook for this year to 0.9 percent, up slightly from the 0.8 percent it projected in July. But the fund cautioned that the country must push ahead with structural reforms and long-term fiscal consolidation if it wants to strengthen its growth potential. The revised forecast came after the IMF's annual consultation with Seoul, conducted from Sept. 11 to 24. The fund l September 24, 2025
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  Barnburner 'KPop Demon Hunters' sparks Seoul pilgrimage boom SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - The climactic final battle of "KPop Demon Hunters," where HUNTR/X delivers the crushing blow to the demon, unfolds at Seoul's iconic Namsan Tower. The landmark scene has turned the tower into the pinnacle stop on the growing "pilgrimage" trail for fans tracing the film's shooting locations. Namsan Tower's appeal goes beyond fandom. With its cable car ride, panoramic skyline views, and the famed "love-lock" tradi September 24, 2025
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  Lee seeks UN chief's help for peace on Korean Peninsula SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for the UN's cooperation to ensure peace and security on the Korean Peninsula during a meeting with Secretary-General António Guterres. After delivering his keynote speech at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Lee met with Guterres, praising his leadership at the multilateral organization, stressing the UN's "crucial" role in addressing global crises and resolving internation September 24, 2025
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  Seoul weighs phased investments, revenue sharing to counter US tariff demands SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - Negotiations between Washington and Seoul over a $350 billion investment package remain mired in disagreement, delaying the conclusion of a deal that was expected to ease tariffs and deepen economic ties between the two allies. In July, the two countries reached a preliminary understanding to lower mutual tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent, including reductions on automobiles, in exchange for South Korea committing to a massive investment in the September 24, 2025
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  Rookie boy band's debut album ranks 15th on Billboard 200 SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - K-pop boy band CORTIS's debut album has made it onto the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart for this week. According to Billboard's latest chart released Tuesday, the quintet's "Color Outside The Lines" ranked 15th, just a few weeks after its release earlier this month, an impressive feat for a rookie K-pop act. The album contains five tracks including "What You Want," a song about pursuing dreams with confidence. CO September 24, 2025
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  South Korea presses for currency swap with US as $350 billion deal hangs in balance SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - South Korea’s negotiations with the Trump administration over a $350 billion investment package remain unresolved, casting uncertainty over the country’s trade relationship with Washington and fueling worries about foreign exchange stability. The deal, first outlined in July, envisioned lowering mutual tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent, with Seoul channeling $350 billion into U.S. projects — including $150 billion for a shi September 24, 2025
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  South Korean casino operator embraces AI to transform industry SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - Grand Korea Leisure, a casino operator known for its foreigner-only “Seven Luck” casinos, said on Tuesday it has established an “AI Innovation Team” to accelerate the gambling industry’s transition into artificial intelligence. The company, led by Chief Executive Yoon Doo-hyun, framed the initiative as a shift from earlier digital upgrades — which largely focused on efficiency through conventional IT — toward September 24, 2025
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  Lee outlines phased approach to North Korea's denuclearization at UN SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung outlined his vision for peace on the Korean Peninsula in a keynote speech at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. Speaking seventh, he pledged to end Cold War-era hostility and confrontations in the region and to promote global peace through his so-called "END initiative," which highlights exchange, normalization, and denuclearization as its key principles. "History tells us that exchange and cooperat September 24, 2025