S. Korea, U.S. hold defense talks in Busan amid Hormuz pressure SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - South Korea and the United States will hold high-level defense talks in Busan this week amid growing pressure from Washington for a South Korean contribution to U.S. operations in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the defense ministry in Seoul Monday. The 29th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue, or KIDD, will take place in the southeastern port city from Wednesday through Friday, the Ministry of National Defense said. Kim Hong-cheol, director gene September 14, 2026

Air Premia to launch new flights to Sapporo this winter SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - Air Premia will offer a new route to Sapporo, Japan starting this winter, the low-cost carrier said on Sunday. The route to the island country's popular winter destination will begin on Dec. 2, with flights four times a week on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, using a Boeing 787-9. They will depart Incheon at 9:40 a.m. and arrive at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido at 12:20 p.m. Return flights will leave Sapporo at 1:45 p.m. and arriv September 14, 2026

Alatau City draws S. Korean partners ahead of Seoul summit SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - Two South Korean technology firms agreed this month to build a digital model of Alatau City, a Kazakh new town that remains largely empty land, in the latest of a series of Korean commitments to the project ahead of Wednesday's first summit between South Korea and five Central Asian countries. The agreement was signed on September 9 at the World Smart City Expo in Busan by AST Holdings, ILJOO GnS and the Alatau City Authority. The following day, in September 14, 2026

Lee's approval rating hits dismal low as young voters turn against him SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has fallen to a record low of 33.8 percent, according to a poll released on Monday. Pollster Realmeter surveyed more than 2,500 adults nationwide last week and found that 33.8 percent of respondents said Lee was doing a good job, down 3.6 percentage points from the previous week. It marked the ninth consecutive week of decline and the lowest since he took office in June last year. It was the lowest level September 14, 2026

SK AX wins Korean govt award for in-house AI training program SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - SK AX has gained a government validation for its in-house program training and certifying employees in generative artificial intelligence. The award was presented by The Ministry of Employment and Labor on Sept. 11 at a human-resources development conference at COEX Magok in Seoul, cited as a standout case under a government program that endorses corporate qualifications. The company has already been awarded with government validation for in-house cou September 14, 2026

North Korea conducts joint artillery firing drill, state media confirms SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - North Korea has conducted a large-scale joint drill involving artillery and missile units, state media reported on Monday, days after Pyongyang launched multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea. The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that last Saturday's drill involved selected military units from five artillery and missile units and featured what it described as new combat systems including various attack drones, tactical cru September 14, 2026

Corporate tax to top income tax '27 as chips reshape Korea's tax base SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) -South Korea’s corporate tax revenue is projected to more than double next year from this year’s supplementary-budget estimate and exceed income tax receipts for the first time in 15 years, as the semiconductor windfall is expected to continue well into 2027. Corporate tax revenue is forecast to reach a record 216.7 trillion won ($161.5 billion) in 2027, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy’s national tax revenue budget plan, September 14, 2026

'Prost!' Oktoberfest fills Seoul with beer, brass bands and crowds SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - A vast white festival tent rose across the main plaza of Seoul's Oil Tank Culture Park on Saturday, surrounded by rows of blue parasols, beer and food stalls and crowds spilling beyond its entrance. A long line stretched along the park's main walkway toward the festival grounds. In the outdoor Beer Garden, visitors moved between tables, food stands, merchandise booths and a stall renting Bavarian-style clothing. Some of the longest lines were September 13, 2026

New LE SSERAFIM single charts in 24 markets before BlizzCon set SEOUL, September 13 (AJP) - Within a day of its release, the title track from LE SSERAFIM's second single album had climbed into the upper ranks of iTunes song charts in 24 countries and territories, building momentum for the South Korean group as it prepares to close one of the world's largest gaming conventions. "Made My Night," released Sept. 11, drew more than 1.03 million streams on Spotify in its first day and entered the platform's daily top songs char September 13, 2026

Tajikistan bets on hydropower and AI 35 years after independence A country that spent the first years of its independence in civil war now counts about 300 hydropower plants, and the next thing it plans to build is an artificial intelligence center in its capital. Emomali Rahmon set out that agenda on Sept. 8 at the National Theater in Dushanbe, where Tajikistan marked 35 years of independence. The president named industrialization, green energy, digitalization and artificial intelligence as the priorities ahead. The starting point was bruta September 13, 2026