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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
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  Can upcoming APEC summit offer breakthrough in inter-Korean relations with Xi and Trump in attendance? Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un arrive at a state reception in Beijing on Sept. 3, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of China's "Victory Day." TASS-Yonhap SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - With Chinese President Xi Jinping set to visit South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit late next month, experts are speculating on a possible breakthrough in inter-Korean relations. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung' September 23, 2025
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  Celltrion acquires New Jersey plant for $330 million to mitigate tariff risks SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - South Korea's Celltrion said Tuesday it had acquired an Eli Lilly manufacturing facility in New Jersey for about $330 million, a move aimed at expanding its U.S. presence and shielding the company from steep tariffs that could be imposed under the Trump administration. The 45,000-square-meter plant, which includes two production lines, will be operated by Celltrion USA. Chairman Seo Jung-jin said the purchase was part of a broader “Made in U September 23, 2025
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  Korean memory giants await super bumper years on AI harvest SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - South Korea’s memory giants and investors are betting on a looming chip super cycle that could prove the most lucrative and enduring yet, fueled by the surging appetite for artificial intelligence (AI). SK hynix is poised to lead the AI-driven memory race, having leapt ahead in conventional DRAM and seized the initiative in high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a critical component for powering AI chips. The company is expected to command at least half of September 23, 2025
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  Hyundai Capital launches financing services for car buyers in Indonesia SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - South Korean financing company Hyundai Capital said Tuesday it had launched a new automotive finance company in Indonesia, aiming to strengthen its foothold in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing car markets. The joint venture, created with Indonesia’s Sinarmas conglomerate and Shinhan Bank Indonesia, will operate under the brand name Hyundai Finance. The company plans to offer a suite of services for car buyers, including deferred September 23, 2025
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  LIG Nex1 signs pact with Airbus to bolster air defense cooperation SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - South Korean defense firm LIG Nex1 said Tuesday it had signed an agreement with Airbus Defense and Space to expand collaboration on integrated air defense systems. The agreement, finalized on Sept. 22 at LIG Nex1’s headquarters in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, builds on an earlier pact signed during the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition in 2023. Company officials said the latest deal aims to strengthen research in integrated a September 23, 2025