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  The hidden engine of Nuri's success: HD Hyundai Heavy's ground launch system SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - When South Korea’s Nuri rocket lifted off before dawn on Thursday, attention naturally turned to the spacecraft streaking into the sky. But the success of the launch was rooted firmly on the ground — specifically, in the complex launch system engineered and operated by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. For the fourth mission in a row, the country’s largest shipbuilder played a pivotal but largely unseen role in enabling one of South Korea& November 27, 2025
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  South Korea's Hyundai Glovis secures $720 million LNG transport contract SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - Hyundai Glovis said on Thursday it has signed a long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping contract worth about 960 billion won ($720 million) with a major global trading company, marking one of the largest gas-transport deals in the company’s portfolio. The contract, which runs for up to 15 years, will be serviced by a newly built 174,000-cubic-meter LNG carrier — a vessel large enough to transport more than half of South Korea’s November 27, 2025
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  Fire at Hallym University forces hundreds of students to evacuate in Chuncheon SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - Hundreds of students were evacuated overnight after a fire broke out at a university in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, in the early hours of Thursday. The fire occurred at around 1:27 a.m. on the fourth floor of a dormitory at Hallym University. Fire alarms sounded, prompting 346 students to evacuate, and no injuries were reported. The blaze damaged part of the building including two electrical panels before being extinguished in about 20 minutes. Po November 27, 2025
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  National Assembly set to vote on arrest motion for PPP's former floor leader SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - The National Assembly is set to decide on whether to pass the arrest motion for Choo Kyung-ho, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP)'s former floor leader over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law debacle in December last year. Choo has been accused of interfering with parliamentary efforts to lift the martial law declared by Yoon on Dec. 3. The motion, initiated by independent prosecutors investigatin November 27, 2025
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  Homeplus sale stalls as main auction draws no bidders SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - The planned sale of Homeplus has stalled after the main auction attracted no bidders, deepening uncertainty over the future of the South Korean hypermarket chain. Two companies had taken part in the preliminary bidding but both withdrew ahead of the final auction. The main auction closed at 3 p.m. on Wednesday with no proposals submitted. Sources from Homeplus said on Thursday it will continue to accept offers until Dec. 29, the deadline for filing November 27, 2025
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  Delinquencies on Korea's mom-and-pop business loans hit highest level since 2015 SEOUL, November 27 (AJP) - Delinquencies on loans to South Korea’s mom-and-pop businesses rose to their highest level in more than nine years in the third quarter, even as the banking sector’s overall nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio edged down, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said on Thursday. The NPL rate for personal business loans climbed 0.02 percentage points from the previous quarter to 0.61 percent, the highest since June 2015. The FSS attributed the November 27, 2025
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  North Korea highlights need for nuclear submarines North Korea's Korean Central News Agency criticized the recent U.S.-South Korea joint statement, claiming it reveals a hostile stance and could destabilize military security in the Asia-Pacific region. The agency argued that South Korea's pursuit of nuclear submarines could lead to a 'nuclear domino effect' and escalate an arms race. This response followed the joint fact sheet released on Nov. 14. North Korea's reaction is perplexing, given its own nuclear d November 27, 2025
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  South Korea ushers in private-led space era with 4th Nuri launch GOHEUNG, South Korea, November 27 (AJP) - South Korea opened a new chapter in its space program Thursday with the successful fourth launch of the homegrown Nuri rocket — the first assembled by Hanwha Aerospace — marking a decisive shift toward a private sector–driven space industry. The 200-ton, three-stage rocket lifted off from the Naro Space Center at 1:13 a.m. and entered a sun-synchronous orbit 600 kilometers above Earth, deploying a next-generation medium November 27, 2025
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  Korean Inc.'s USD hoarding is inevitable as U.S. trade and FDI footprints deepen SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) - South Korea’s finance minister signaled the government had even asked major exporters for help in propping up the won — a reversal of the usual dynamic that underscores the urgency on the FX front. But expectations for meaningful action remain low, as companies tied to massive U.S. investment commitments have little incentive to part with their dollar reserves. The won’s annual average has already exceeded 1,400 per dollar this year, su November 26, 2025
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  PHOTOS: Korea Grand Sourcing Fair opens in Seoul, draws global buyers SEOUL, November 26 (AJP) — South Korea’s trade agency is hosting a large-scale sourcing fair in Seoul this week to boost global opportunities for K-beauty and K-food exporters. The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) opened the 2025 Korea Grand Sourcing Fair (KGSF 2025) on Tuesday at COEX, bringing together promising Korean exporters and major global buyers. First launched in 2009, the annual event has become a key platform for connecting domestic suppliers November 26, 2025