Samsung Live: Another last-ditch round of talks underway as strike deadline looms SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics and its largest labor union returned to the negotiating table on Tuesday for a second day of government-mediated talks, with a planned full-scale strike just two days away. Negotiators from both sides are working to reach a deal over disputes involving wages and performance bonuses following massive profits fueled by an unprecedented artificial intelligence (AI)-driven semiconductor supercycle. According to Samsung insiders, the closed- May 19, 2026

Automakers under pressure to hike prices amid spiraling manufacturing costs SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) - Rising prices for car parts and other key materials, including batteries and semiconductors, coupled with the weak won, are adding to pressure on automakers to raise vehicle prices. With price hikes expected to accelerate in the second half of this year, concerns are also growing that demand could weaken if South Korea's temporary tax breaks for car buyers expire at the end of the year. According to industry insiders on Tuesday, prices for key materials and May 19, 2026

[AJP Spiritual Asia ①] Why humanity must rediscover Asia's spiritual heritage in age of AI A Grand Asian Journey Toward Civilization, Religion, Humanity and the Future Humanity in the 21st century stands at the threshold of a profound civilizational transformation. Artificial intelligence has begun to learn human language and patterns of thought. Robots and algorithms are steadily replacing large portions of human labor and judgment. Never before has mankind enjoyed such material abundance, and yet never before has it entered such a deep psychological unease. Econ May 19, 2026

Starbucks Korea removes controversial campaign after CEO sacked SEOUL, May 19 (AJP) -Starbucks Korea apologized and Shinsegae Group, the retailer that owns the largest coffee chain in South Korea, quickly dismissed its chief executive Monday after facing fierce public backlash and condemnation from President Lee Jae Myung over a controversial “Tank Day” marketing campaign launched on the anniversary of South Korea’s May 18 pro-democracy uprising. The coffee chain had promoted discounted “Tank” tumblers through an May 19, 2026

AJP Eye: Samsung strike crisis lays bare Korea's dependence on one company SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) -A rare coalition of voices — the government, opposition politicians and even the central bank — has united this week to try to head off a walkout at the world's largest memory chipmaker, underscoring the outsized weight of Samsung Electronics - responsible for roughly one-fifth of South Korea's exports and the benchmark KOSPI index. What began as a labor dispute over bonuses has rapidly become a national economic and political flashpoint, e May 18, 2026

Iran stays silent on HMM Namu in call with Seoul SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Iran’s foreign minister blamed the U.S. and Israel for instability in the Middle East during a phone call with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, while Tehran made no mention of a recent attack on a Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iran’s foreign ministry. The call, reportedly requested by Seoul, was the first between Cho and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi since the HMM Namu was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz in May 18, 2026

Hyundai Motor Group signs multilateral MOU to build hydrogen ecosystem in Hong Kong SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group said Monday it has signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding with nine other companies to create a hydrogen ecosystem in Hong Kong, positioning the city as a gateway for the group's broader push into the Asia-Pacific hydrogen market. Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Engineering & Construction signed the agreement during the International Hydrogen Development Symposium 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The May 18, 2026

Hyundai Motor, Kia expand EV research network with Indian universities SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - South Korean automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia have expanded their joint research network with leading Indian universities to strengthen core technologies in electric vehicle batteries and electrification, the companies said Monday. Four universities — IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology Nagpur and Tezpur University — signed agreements to participate in the network under the Hyundai Center of Excellence for futu May 18, 2026

Netflix, AEG Presents announce plans for 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' concert tour SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Streaming giant Netflix and live entertainment company AEG Presents announced on May 15 that they plan to develop a global concert tour based on the animated film "KPop Demon Hunters," though no performers, tour dates or cities have been announced. The two companies said the project would draw on the film's music and fictional K-pop universe to create a live stage experience for audiences worldwide. Neither company disclosed the format of the May 18, 2026

Samsung takes aim at OLED dominance with ultra-bright micro RGB TV SEOUL, May 18 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is intensifying its assault on the ultra-premium television market, leveraging next-generation display technology and generative artificial intelligence to challenge the dominance of OLED panels. The South Korean tech giant's 2026 Micro RGB TV (Model: R95H) is garnering strong endorsements from major tech reviewers in the U.S. and U.K., signaling a potential shift in the high-end display landscape. The strategy heavily targets the t May 18, 2026