Multi-award-winning Korean pianist hospitalized after distressing message SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) -Multi-award-winning South Korean pianist Lim Dong-hyek is recuperating after being taken to a hospital Monday after police responded to concerns over a handwritten message he posted on social media that appeared to signal emotional distress. Seoul’s Seocho Police received a report at around 8:30 a.m. and located Lim in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul. He was transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment and is reported to be in stable condition, with December 16, 2025

Korea, Qatar broaden green energy ties, coinciding with National Day   SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Green energy projects, led by large-scale solar power, dominated senior-level discussions in Seoul this week as Korea and Qatar reconfirmed a broadening of bilateral energy cooperation beyond liquefied natural gas, long the backbone of their relationship. At a reception held Monday ahead of Qatar's National Day on Dec. 18, Khalid bin Ebrahim Al-Hamar, Qatar's ambassador to Korea, highlighted a flagship renewable project involving Korean companies: December 16, 2025

Asian markets weaken early Tuesday as AI jitters and rate decisions loom SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Asian equities opened Tuesday broadly lower, tracking subdued U.S. market sentiment as lingering concerns over AI valuations and looming interest-rate decisions by European and Japanese central banks weighed on risk appetite. In Seoul, the KOSPI fell 1.5 percent to 4,028 as of 10:30 a.m., extending losses for a second straight session after dropping 1.8 percent on Monday. Institutional investors were net sellers of 223 billion won ($151 million), whil December 16, 2025

Hanwha completes acquisition of Indonesia's Ciptadana Asset Management SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Hanwha Investment & Securities said on Tuesday it has completed the acquisition of Ciptadana Asset Management in Indonesia, strengthening its foothold in Southeast Asia’s fast-growing capital markets. Ciptadana Asset Management is part of Indonesia’s sixth-largest conglomerate, Lippo Group, and has more than 30 years of experience in the country’s financial sector. Hanwha agreed in 2023 to acquire an 80 percent stake in both Ci December 16, 2025

PHOTOS:$1 burger, Korea University honors priceless legacy SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Korea University students still stop by their favorite burger shop — even though its friendly owner is no longer there. Instead of ordering food, they leave flowers and handwritten thank-you notes, mourning Lee Young-chul (1968~2025), the beloved owner of Young Chul Burger, who passed away last week at the age of 57. For more than two decades, Lee sold 1,000-won burgers to hungry students near the university’s Anam camp December 16, 2025

Samsung Electronics steps up B2B push with HVAC, displays, AI solutions SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics is ramping up its push into the business-to-business market, expanding its air conditioning portfolio into industrial applications and broadening its presence in corporate displays and connected building solutions for enterprise clients. According to industry sources, Samsung has reinforced its Air Solution team within the Digital Appliances division as it shifts focus from consumer-oriented air conditioners to industrial, infrastru December 16, 2025

Celltrion launches Eylea biosimilar in Europe, secures UK healthcare tenders SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion said it launched Eydenzelt, its biosimilar version of blockbuster eye disease treatment Eylea, in major European markets including Germany and Britain earlier this month as it seeks to expand its foothold in the lucrative ophthalmology sector. The company's UK subsidiary secured National Health Service tenders in three administrative regions immediately upon launch, including northern England, the countr December 16, 2025

Hyundai Motor extends World Archery sponsorship through 2028 SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor said on Tuesday it will extend its partnership with World Archery until 2028, maintaining its title sponsorship of the World Archery Championships and the Archery World Cup. The South Korean automaker first partnered with World Archery in 2016. Under the renewed agreement, Hyundai will also sponsor the Para Archery World Series and the Indoor Archery World Series. The Para Archery World Series, a development-focused program for athlete December 16, 2025

An Se-young named world's top badminton player for third straight year SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - Badminton player An Se-young has been named this year's top player by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The world No. 1 in women's singles received the award at the BWF's annual gala dinner in Hangzhou, China on Monday, beating competitors such as Wang Zhiyi and Chen Yufei of China, and Japan's Akane Yamaguchi. With the award, An became the first female player to win it three years in a row, having first received the honor in 2023 December 16, 2025

Seoul and London upgrade FTA, lower tariff for Korean cars and consumer goods SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) -South Korea and the United Kingdom have finalized an upgraded free trade agreement that locks in permanent tariff-free access across 98 percent of South Korean tariff lines, marking one of the most comprehensive post-Brexit trade resets between the two countries. The revised agreement, signed in London on Monday by South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo and UK Trade Minister Chris Bryant, concludes two years of negotiations aimed at modernizing the bilate December 16, 2025