Korea Zinc weighs US strategic mineral smelter: reports SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Korea Zinc is considering building a strategic mineral smelter in the southeastern United States, according to media reports, on Monday. The world’s largest non-ferrous metal smelting company convened an emergency board meeting at its Seoul headquarters to discuss the potential project, which could involve investment from the U.S. Department of Defense and local defense-related investors, according to industry sources. The proposed smelter wou December 15, 2025

PHOTOS: Korean-born diplomat represents Ghana SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Ghana's newly appointed Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Kojo Choi, officially commenced his diplomatic mission on Dec. 11, presenting his credentials to President Lee Jae Myung. Ambassador Choi, whose birth name is reported as Choi Seung Eub, is a naturalized Ghanaian citizen and a successful businessman, marking a significant first as the first Korean-born diplomat to serve as an African nation's ambassador to South Korea. The ambassado December 15, 2025

Doosan Enerbility signs steam turbine supply deal for Qatar plant SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Doosan Enerbility said on Monday it has signed a contract with Samsung C&T to supply key equipment for a power plant in Qatar, in a deal valued at about 1 trillion won ($730 million). The project involves the construction of a 2,400-megawatt gas-fired power plant located around 10 kilometers southeast of Doha. Under the agreement, Doosan Enerbility will supply two 430-megawatt steam turbines, generators and related auxiliary equipment, with deliver December 15, 2025

Korean AI models score poorly in college exam math vs global rivals: study SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) -South Korea's homegrown artificial intelligence language models significantly underperformed compared with leading international counterparts in solving college entrance exam–level math problems, according to a study by a research team led by Professor Kim Jong-rak at Sogang University. The study tested five major Korean-language AI models against five global models, including ChatGPT, using math and essay questions drawn from university entran December 15, 2025

South Korea's HJ Shipbuilding secures first US Navy MRO contract SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - South Korea's HJ Shipbuilding has signed its first maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) contract with the U.S. Navy, marking its entry into the shipbuilding cooperation project between South Korea and the United States, the company said on Monday. The contract covers mid-level maintenance of the USNS Amelia Earhart, a 40,000-ton dry cargo and ammunition ship operated under the U.S. Navy’s Naval Supply Systems Command and Military Sealift Co December 15, 2025

South Korea's LS Cable considers Virginia site for rare earth magnet factory SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - South Korea's LS Cable said Monday it is considering building a rare earth permanent magnet factory in the United States. The company is currently reviewing Chesapeake, Virginia, as a potential site for the investment and is in talks with state authorities. Rare earth permanent magnets are critical components in advanced industries, including electric vehicles, wind turbines and defense systems such as fighter jets. China accounts for about 85 p December 15, 2025

Police raid Unification Church over bribery allegations SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Police on Monday raided about a dozen locations of the powerful Unification Church, also known as the Moonies over allegations of bribing political figures. The raid began at around 8:50 a.m., when a special investigation team from the National Police Agency carried out a search and seizure at the sprawling residence of the church's leader Han Hak-ja in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province and 10 other facilities in Seoul. The raid came after Minister of O December 15, 2025

OPINION: How to harness AI in education Consider this. AI can automate tasks but it cannot replace relationships. AI can generate content but it cannot provide judgment. AI has knowledge but teachers have lived experience. AI amplifies teachers but it does not replace them. That said, AI should not be feared but leveraged. Education now has a responsibility to equip teachers and students with the skills, tools, and ethical guidelines required for meaningful learning and responsible innovation in an AI-powered wo December 15, 2025

Independent prosecutors set to wrap up six-month probe into martial law debacle SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Independent prosecutors are set to brief on the findings of their investigation on Monday into disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched Dec. 3 martial law debacle last year. Wrapping up their six-month-long probe led by prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, they will explain the details of the investigation that led to charges against 27 individuals including Yoon. Of the 12 arrest warrants requested, five were issued. Prosecutors have also sought an December 15, 2025

OPINION: Rethinking economic security in age of AI SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - In early December, Reuters reported that private capital would help launch the “Invest America Program,” a cornerstone policy of President Trump’s second term. Michael Dell and his wife pledged $6.25 billion to activate what are known as Trump Accounts, an initiative embedded in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law in July. Under the program, every American child born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, will receive $1, December 15, 2025