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  Jobseekers face toughest market amid manufacturing slump SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Amid the prolonged economic downturn, the country’s toughest job market meant there were only 0.4 positions available per jobseeker last month, the lowest level seen in more than two decades. According to a monthly report released on Monday by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the number of jobs available per jobseeker fell to 0.4 in July, down from 0.51 a year ago and also the lowest since July 1999. Job ads posted on government recruitment sit August 12, 2025
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  Business leaders from South Korea and Viet Nam forge partnership at forum in Seoul SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Business leaders from South Korea and Viet Nam gathered for a forum in Seoul on Tuesday to explore new opportunities for economic cooperation and strengthen partnership between the two countries. Co-hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Vietnamese Embassy, and Viet Nam's Ministry of Finance, the forum took place, coinciding with the visit of Vietnamese Communist Party Ge August 12, 2025
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  KT posts record quarterly operating profit driven by robust AI-related business SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Telecom giant KT Corp posted 1.01 trillion won of operating profit in the second quarter, it said on Monday. The highest quarterly profit in its history was driven by its artificial intelligence (AI)-related business that grew 13.8 percent on-year. Its consolidated revenue also stood at 7.43 trillion won (or US$5.4 billion) during the period between April and June, a 13.5 percent increase from the same quarter last year. Even excluding approximately 390 b August 12, 2025
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  Commemorative US coin honoring activist of Korean decent issued this week SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Commemorative 25-cent coins featuring American activist Stacey Park Milbern are now available in the U.S., making her the first woman of Korean descent to appear on U.S. currency. The quarters honoring her life and legacy went on sale starting this week "in two- and three-roll sets, as well as 100-coin bags," according to the U.S. Mint. The issuance came several months after the Mint revealed this year's honorees to be featured on the backs August 12, 2025
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  Majority of South Korean firms look to reenter Russian market once war ends SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Amid Russia's prolonged war against Ukraine, a majority of South Korean companies that previously operated in Russia hope to return to the market, a new survey suggests. According to a report based on the survey of some 528 companies and released on Tuesday by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), some 79.2 percent of South Korean firms that halted exports to Moscow due to the war expressed their intention to return to the market. The main August 12, 2025
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  Forum marks first year of formalizing South Korea's diplomatic relations with Cuba Participants pose for a photo at a forum at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul on Aug. 11, 2025. AJP Han Jun-gu SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Academic scholars, diplomats and other government officials gathered for a forum at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul on Monday. Hosted by the university's Institute of Latin American Studies, the forum was held to celebrate the formalization of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Cuba about a year ago, with participa August 12, 2025
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  Hyundai Steel signs deal for joint global CCUS hub project SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Hyundai Steel has signed a deal with several global steelmakers and related companies for a joint research project to identify hub sites for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), the company said on Monday. CCUS is a set of technologies that capture carbon dioxide generated during steelmaking, then either use it for various applications or permanently store it underground to prevent its release into the atmosphere. The project, led by global eng August 12, 2025
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  CJ CheilJedang posts sales drop amid slowdown in domestic consumption SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - Food manufacturer CJ CheilJedang posted an operating profit of 353.1 billion won or approximately US$253.8 million in the second quarter, down about 7 percent as domestic consumption remains sluggish, despite robust sales in overseas markets. According to financial reports released on Tuesday, the country's largest food giant's consolidated revenue including sales from its logistics unit stood at 7.24 trillion won in the period between April and June August 12, 2025
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  Samsung seeks to capitalize on US push for domestic chip production SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics aims to capitalize on rising U.S. demand for domestically produced advanced semiconductors, with plans to begin cutting-edge 2-nanometer production at its facility in Taylor, Texas starting next year while rival TSMC maintains a Taiwan-first strategy. The South Korean chipmaker is installing 2-nm production equipment at the plant with aims to start operations by 2026, according to industry sources on Sunday. Samsung and TSMC are the tw August 11, 2025
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  Lee's first pardon includes slew of 'controversial' political figures SEOUL, August 11 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung has decided to pardon a slew of politicians and several others to mark the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day which falls on this Friday, despite some public criticism that is likely to stir a fresh round of political disputes. The decision was made at a cabinet meeting chaired by Lee on Monday, just a day after his return from a weeklong summer vacation. According to the Ministry of Justice, the special amnesty aimed at "prom August 11, 2025