Samsung Live: Seoul presses management and union not to give up on talks SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) -The South Korean government pressured the management and union of Samsung Electronics not to give up talks to avert a general strike starting Thursday that could rattle the core chip sector sustaining Asia’s fourth-largest economy and one of the world’s hottest stock markets against Gulf war shocks. The presidential office Wednesday expressed “deep regret” after three days of government-mediated wage talks collapsed in Sejong City, while May 20, 2026

aespa to open 'LEMONADE' pop-ups in Seoul, LA, New York and Shenzhen SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - K-pop girl group aespa will open a series of pop-up events in Seoul and major overseas cities to celebrate the release of its second full-length album “LEMONADE,” SM Entertainment said Monday. The album is scheduled for release at 1 p.m. on May 29 on major streaming platforms and as a physical album. The pop-up campaign, titled “aespa WEEK - MAKE IT LEMONADE,” will run from May 29 to June 7 across Yeouido and Banpo in Seoul. In the ca May 20, 2026

Kazakhstan ties Golden Horde legacy to tech ambitions SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - The Kazakhstan Embassy in Seoul released a statement on Wednesday detailing an international symposium in Astana that frames the heritage of the Golden Horde as a pillar for the country's modern technological transformation. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that the medieval empire's advanced administrative and trade systems serve as historical precursors to the nation's current digital infrastructure goals. The UNESCO-backed event highlight May 20, 2026

AJP Review: A guide to international taxation in AI age SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) -The world of international taxation has never been simple. But in the age of artificial intelligence and digital commerce, it has become extraordinarily complex. As multinational corporations move capital, data, and services across borders at unprecedented speed, governments around the world are entering an increasingly sophisticated struggle to defend their tax sovereignty. International cooperation aimed at preventing tax avoidance has tightened dramaticall May 20, 2026

Samsung Live: Union to launch 18-day strike as planned after marathon talks collapse SEJONG, May 20 (AJP) -Samsung Electronics faces an unprecedented 18-day strike from Thursday after the union walked out of government-mediated marathon talks over revisions to the employee reward system at the tech giant whose market valuation has swelled to nearly $1 trillion amid the AI boom. Management and the Korean tech giant’s largest union held three days of talks at a government complex in Sejong under the mediation of the National Labor Relations Commission May 20, 2026

Seoul, Washington to launch working group to advance nuclear submarine deal SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - South Korea and the United States have agreed to launch a bilateral working group to implement security agreements reached at their summit last October, including Washington’s approval for Seoul to build nuclear-powered submarines. U.S. Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker is set to visit Seoul within weeks to lead an interagency delegation for the talks. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-jo May 20, 2026

Korean banks' Q1 net profit edges down on bond valuation losses SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Although South Korean commercial banks saw their interest income expand in the first quarter of this year, driven by loan growth and improved net interest margins (NIM), their overall net profit declined due to widening valuation losses on bond holdings triggered by a sharp spike in market interest rates. Analysts say that while household debt continues to grow, the banking sector's profitability structure is becoming increasingly sensitive to interest rate vo May 20, 2026

Kia to provide vehicles for FIFA World Cup athletes and officials SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - Kia will provide more than 600 vehicles for this summer's FIFA World Cup, the automaker said on Wednesday. At an event in Los Angeles the previous day, Kia pledged to supply over 660 vehicles ahead of the quadrennial sporting event, which kicks off in June, as one of the tournament's official sponsors, aiming to broaden its brand exposure in the global market. The vehicles, which included Kia's key models such as the Carnival, K4, Niro, Soren May 20, 2026

KOSPI, Nikkei extend slide as global bond yields hit multi-decade highs SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - South Korean and Japanese equities extended losses Wednesday as a global bond rout intensified, with surging long-term yields rattling stock markets that had largely shrugged off Middle East tensions amid the AI-driven rally. As of 10:13 a.m., the benchmark KOSPI fell 0.87 percent to 7,208.53, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ dropped 1.97 percent to 1,062.49 amid persistent foreign selling. The Japanese Nikkei 225 also weakened as government bond yields climbed t May 20, 2026

LG CNS pushes AI-powered smart factory platform into North America SEOUL, May 20 (AJP) - LG CNS announced it has stepped up efforts to expand its artificial intelligence-driven smart factory business in North America, positioning its proprietary Factova platform as a gateway for small and mid-sized manufacturers seeking to automate production lines. The IT services arm of South Korea's LG Group said Wednesday that it was the only Korean firm to exhibit at IoT Tech Expo 2026 in San Jose, California, held from Monday to Tuesday, an event that dra May 20, 2026