PHOTOS: Fall festivals for international students SEOUL, November 07 (AJP) - South Korean universities are rolling out diverse cultural events this fall to integrate a growing international student body, which surpassed 200,000 in 2024. As the number of foreign students continues to rise, universities across the country are hosting festivals aimed at fostering cultural exchange and community. In Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Ajou University hosted its annual "Ajou International Day," showcasing the diverse cultures of its s November 7, 2025

South Korea's top enterprise software company sold to Swedish PEF SEOUL, November 07 (AJP) - Douzone Bizon, South Korea’s leading enterprise software provider, has been acquired by Swedish private equity firm EQT Partners for 1.3 trillion won, or about $940 million. The company said Friday that founder Kim Yong-woo, who held a 22.3 percent stake, and Shinhan Financial Group, with 34.8 percent, sold their shares to EQT’s special-purpose vehicle, Doronicum. The Swedish firm will control 37.6 percent of voting rights, becoming the new November 7, 2025

Azerbaijani ambassador calls for lasting peace at Victory Day reception in Seoul SEOUL, November 07 (AJP) - The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Seoul hosted a Victory Day reception on Thursday to commemorate the country's 2020 Patriotic War. The event, held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul, brought together around 100 guests, including foreign diplomats, South Korean government officials, business representatives, scholars, and members of the media. Azerbaijani Ambassador to South Korea Ramin Hasanov said the day marked the end of long-standing injustice November 7, 2025

At least three dead after collapse at retired power plant in Ulsan SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - Search operations are underway at a thermal power plant in southeastern city of Ulsan on Friday, after a large structure collapsed during demolition work the previous day. Two workers were rescued shortly after the incident at the state-run utility company Korea East-West Power, while two others were found earlier in the day but pronounced dead. One victim who was found trapped under debris also died, bringing the death toll to three. They were amon November 7, 2025

Korean robotics sector battles Chinese and Japanese competition as it bets on AI-driven revival SEOUL, November 07 (AJP) - South Korea's industrial robotics sector is struggling to find a breakthrough as it rapidly loses home ground to Chinese and Japanese rivals and faces the risk of new tariff barriers in the United States. Responding to appeals from domestic manufacturers, the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Thursday announced provisional anti-dumping tariffs of 21.17 percent to 43.6 percent on multi-jointed industrial robots with four or more axes from China and Jap November 7, 2025

Behind the buzz over K-Pop Demon Hunters, K-contents score meagerly this year SEOUL, November 07 (AJP) - Korean contents have enjoyed spectacular global exposure this year through major streaming platforms, but without the halo of K-Pop Demon Hunters — the rare breakout that dominated global charts — the industry can hardly claim meaningful wins amid a dearth of blockbuster titles, mounting production costs, and waning originality. The third-quarter results of CJ ENM, Korea’s largest entertainment and media group, offer a glimpse into this November 7, 2025

OPINION: C5+1 Summit — A New Chapter for Central Asia's Growth and Partnership SEOUL, November 07 (AJP) - On November 6, 2025, the C5+1 Summit between the United States and the five Central Asian nations convened in Washington, D.C., marking the 10th anniversary of the framework’s launch and opening a new chapter for regional cooperation. Currently, six major global partners — the United States, Japan, the European Unio November 7, 2025

After APEC glow, Korean businesses confront hard reality of 'regulatory bomb' SEOUL, November 07 (AJP) - Just days after South Korea wrapped up the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and concluded tariff negotiations with the United States, the nation’s business community is facing a surge of new domestic regulations — a shift that many executives describe as abrupt and burdensome. The government and the ruling party are moving quickly to advance legislation that would raise the retirement age to 65, accelerate national greenhouse November 7, 2025

North Korea launches ballistic missile into East Sea SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea, military authorities said on Friday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected suspicious activities at around noon, shortly before the missile was fired from North Pyongan Province. According to JCS, the missile, believed to be short-range, flew 700 kilometers before splashing into the sea near Kilju in North Hyanggyong Province. Friday's launch is the seventh this November 7, 2025

Samsung Heavy secures $199 million order to build two crude oil tankers SEOUL, November 07 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries said on Friday that it had secured an order worth about $199 million to build two crude oil tankers for a North American client, with delivery scheduled by January 2029. The deal brings the company’s total orders this year to $5.6 billion, or about 83 percent of its $5.8 billion target for merchant ships. “Following an $800 million preliminary order for offshore production facilities and a recent letter of intent November 7, 2025