South Korea and Türkiye to explore common path based on historic ties in Seoul SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - South Korea and Türkiye will convene a high-level strategic forum in Seoul on Dec. 15 to reflect on their historical ties and chart a roadmap for future comprehensive cooperation across next-generation industries and agenda on the momentum of the 75th year of the outbreak of the Korean War, where Turkey had been second only to Americans in arriving in the country to defend South Korea. Hosted jointly by the Embassy of Türkiye in the Republic of December 8, 2025

Largest animation and gaming festival wraps up after drawing 100,000 visitors SEOUL, December 8 (AJP) - South Korea's largest animation and gaming festival, the Anime X Game Festival (AGF), concluded on Sunday after attracting more than 100,000 attendees, making it the festival's most successful year yet. The three-day festival, kicked last Friday at KINTEX in Goyang, drew 40 percent more visitors than last year's 72,081. Despite sub-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall on the opening day, fans lined up early, with some even waiting overnight. December 8, 2025

Asian markets reserved in FOMC week, Japan GDP disappoints SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Cautious mood overwhelmed the Asian market opening for the week as investors awaited the rate move and direction signal from the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting later this week. South Korea's KOSPI is trading at 4,103 as of 11:00 a.m. Monday, unchanged from the end of last week. Foreign investors, selling 278.7 billion won ($189 million), and institutions, selling 124.5 billion won, are driving the weakness. Retail investors are December 8, 2025

Hyundai Mobis opens second software R&D center in Bengaluru SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Hyundai Mobis, the parts-making affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, said Monday it has established a specialized software research and development center in Bengaluru, India, as part of efforts to expand its presence in one of the world's fastest-growing automotive markets. The new facility in the southwestern Indian city, known as a hub for global technology firms and startups, will serve as a specialized base for infotainment software development. The December 8, 2025

Rosé named Variety's 'Global Hitmaker of the Year' for her viral song SEOUL, December 8 (AJP) - K-pop girl band BLACKPINK's member Rosé has been included among American weekly magazine Variety's annual "Hitmakers" list, her agency said on Monday. She was awarded "Global Hitmaker of the Year" at the magazine's ninth annual "Hitmakers" gathering in Los Angeles last Saturday, which recognizes the "artists and collaborators behind the year's 25 most popular songs." "Rising star Ros December 8, 2025

HJ Shipbuilding launches four patrol boats for South Korean Navy SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - HJ Shipbuilding held a launch ceremony on Monday for four domestically built high-speed patrol boats, strengthening South Korea’s coastal defense capabilities. The vessels were built under a 2022 contract with the Navy as part of the PKX-B Batch-II program. The ceremony took place at the company’s Yeongdo Shipyard in Busan and was attended by senior defense and industry officials, including Rear Adm. Ahn Sang-min, acting head of the ship pr December 8, 2025

Korea's LGES lands $1.4 bn EV battery deal with Mercedes-Benz SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - South Korea's top battery maker LG Energy Solution (LGES) has signed a 2.06 trillion won ($1.4 billion) electric-vehicle battery supply contract with Mercedes-Benz AG, extending the company’s streak of securing multi-billion-dollar global deals this year as automakers race to lock in long-term cell capacity. According to LGES’ regulatory filing on Monday, the contract covers battery supply to Mercedes-Benz from March 2028 through June 2035, December 8, 2025

Korean fried-chicken chain BBQ establishes European headquarters in Spain SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Genesis BBQ Group said Monday it has established a European headquarters in Spain. The South Korean fried-chicken chain said it formed a partnership with BLT F&B Group, a Spain-based operator with businesses in finance and foodservice across Spanish-speaking markets. BLT manages major restaurant brands including Domino’s Pizza and Applebee’s in the Americas, giving BBQ access to existing operational and supply chain networks. The ann December 8, 2025

OPINION: What South Korea can learn from UK housing policy SEOUL, December 8 (AJP) - Following his victory in the 2024 general election, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled an ambitious housing policy aimed at tackling what he described as a "national crisis." The plan included supplying 370,000 homes annually, totaling 1.5 million over five years, with a focus on expanding public sector involvement, developing new towns, and making use of green belt areas. His housing policy focused on two main priorities: restructuring December 8, 2025

South Korea's HD Hyundai to build shipyard in India's Tamil Nadu SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - HD Hyundai said Monday it plans to build a new shipyard in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu, strengthening its presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing maritime markets as New Delhi seeks to become a major global shipbuilding power. The South Korean shipbuilder said it signed an exclusive memorandum of understanding with the Tamil Nadu state government in Madurai. India is promoting the “Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047&rd December 8, 2025