Micron's blowout Q3 and contracts harbinger for extended memory heyday * Updated with additional information SEOUL, June 25 (AJP) - Micron Technology Inc. delivered a stunning 74 percent revenue jump for the quarter ended May and projected the AI-driven memory boom to extend well into 2027, setting the stage for another stretch of red-hot earnings for its larger South Korean peers in the memory market powering the AI age from datacenters to smart devices. The U.S. chipmaker posted fiscal third-quarter revenue of $41.46 billion, a 74 percent jump f June 25, 2026

SK hynix takes fight with Samsung to Wall Street via $33 billion ADR issue *Updated with additional information SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) -SK hynix is launching a roughly $33 billion public offering tied to a Nasdaq listing of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), a move that could globalize its shareholder base and intensify its competition with home rival Samsung Electronics beyond memory chips and into the battle for global capital. In a regulatory filing after the Seoul market closed Wednesday, the company said its board approved a plan to list ADRs on t June 24, 2026

Months-long beauty festival kicks off in Seoul in bid to attract foreign tourists SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - Seeking to turn growing global interest in South Korean beauty products into tourism, the country's annual beauty festival kicked off its months-long run on Wednesday, offering foreign visitors hands-on experiences ranging from skincare consultations to K-pop-inspired makeup sessions. Organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization, the festival will run through Sept. 30, with major pop-up event June 24, 2026

Korea readies customs support for Hyundai's Saemangeum AI robot hub SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - South Korea is moving to strengthen customs support for Saemangeum as Hyundai Motor Group's planned 9 trillion won ($6.5 billion) investment in artificial intelligence, robotics and clean energy begins to take shape in the reclaimed industrial zone on the country's west coast. Korea Customs Service Commissioner Lee Jong-wook visited the Saemangeum Development Agency in Gunsan on Wednesday and met agency chief Moon Seong-yo to discuss customs measures June 24, 2026

The luxury of reading in the AI age SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - In an age of short-form videos and instant answers, reading a book may gradually become a rarity — and perhaps even a luxury, something admired and increasingly envied. That may explain the crowds. The 2026 Seoul International Book Fair opened on June 24 for its 68th edition, bringing together 538 publishers, literary agencies and publishing-related organizations from 18 countries. As in recent years, tickets sold out in advance an June 24, 2026

Leverage handover arrives even as KOSPI party goes on SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - South Korea's stock market is hot, volatile and increasingly dependent on borrowed momentum. Government-approved leveraged exchange-traded funds have added another layer of risk, producing side effects within weeks of their launch and prompting an unusual public mea culpa from regulators. Single-stock leveraged ETFs tied to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, which allow investors to bet on twice the daily movement of the shares, plunged 24 to 25 percent d June 24, 2026

Lee visits front-line unit near maritime border ahead of Korean War anniversary SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday visited a front-line military unit near the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border with North Korea and stressed the importance of strong deterrence to maintain peace. His visit to the Marine Corps unit on Yeonpyeong Island, one of the country's westernmost islands, came a day ahead of the 76th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-53). Lee sat down with service members for lunch, where he un June 24, 2026

Korea's migration to developed status rejected and the won is why SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - The stock market rebounded, but the Korean won slipped deeper toward crisis-era lows after South Korea once again failed to make MSCI's developed-market watchlist, a sober reminder that the currency - not the equities - is the stumbling block to an upgrade. The KOSPI has quadrupled over the past 18 months to become one of the world's best-performing equity markets since 2025, but its rally alone was not enough. For years, Seoul has tried to secu June 24, 2026

Canada's sub project tests viability of 12-vessel fleet SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - Canada's multibillion-dollar plan to acquire 12 advanced submarines is increasingly becoming a test of workforce capacity as much as military procurement, with the country's marine industry projected to face a shortage of more than 8,000 skilled workers by the end of the decade. The emerging labor crunch is raising questions over how Ottawa will staff two specialized submarine maintenance hubs planned for the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, just as it pre June 24, 2026

Korean Air Force holds first live-fire drill against drone swarm SEOUL, June 24 (AJP) - The South Korean Air Force has conducted its first live-fire exercise against a swarm of drones, using Vulcan cannons, a portable laser system and shotguns to shoot down 50 targets. The Air Force Missile Defense Command carried out the exercise Tuesday at a training range on the country’s west coast in response to the growing threat posed by drone swarms on modern battlefields, the Air Force said Wednesday. Eight Vulcan cannons opened fire simultaneou June 24, 2026