GM Korea dismisses exit speculation, pledges $300 million investment for 2026

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - General Motors (GM) Korea on Monday moved to quell persistent speculation about a market withdrawal, unveiling a sweeping 2026 business strategy that underscores its commitment to both exports and domestic sales. GM Korea held its "GM Korea 2026 Business Strategy Conference" at the Cheongna Proving Ground in Incheon, where executives highlighted the country's pivotal role in the Detroit automaker's global supply chain. The company said it

December 15, 2025

South Korea, US conduct joint anti-terror drill in Seoul

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - A joint drill between South Korea and the U.S. is underway in Seoul, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday. The two-day drill, dubbed "Winter Tiger," which runs Tuesday, is aimed at responding to nuclear and radiological terrorism, involving about 120 officials from both countries. Participants are simulating a radiological terror attack to evaluate emergency response capabilities and cooperation strategies between the two countries

December 15, 2025

SK On expands at home with big bet on LFP amid uncertainty in global battery market

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - SK On is building a 3-gigawatt-hour lithium iron phosphate (LFP) facility at its Seosan complex in what would become the largest pure-play energy storage system (ESS) production site in Korea, a bold scale-up aimed at catching up with larger domestic rivals seeking to capitalize on power demand driven by AI investment. The facility, designed to roll out ESS capacity sufficient to power 40 to 50 large-scale data centers annually, will mark SK On's first

December 15, 2025

South Korea's SeAH secures long-term aluminum supply deal with Boeing

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - SeAH Aerospace & Defense Materials, a unit of SeAH Besteel Holdings, said on Monday it has signed a long-term supply agreement with Boeing to provide high-strength aluminum alloy materials for commercial aircraft. Under the deal, SeAH Aerospace will begin supplying aluminum alloys used in aircraft fuselages and wings to the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer from 2026, the company said. Financial terms were not disclosed. The agreement

December 15, 2025

Vehicle-free weekends along Cheonggyecheon Stream to resume after six-month pause

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Vehicles will again be banned along the Cheonggyecheon Stream on weekends and public holidays starting on New Year's Day, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Monday. The traffic restriction, first implemented in 2005 to improve the walking environment and convenience for pedestrians, will resume after being suspended in July for about six months due to local merchants' complaints about reduced sales. A roughly 450-meter stretch will be c

December 15, 2025

South Korea's Samsung C&T teams up with Polish firm on small modular reactors

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Samsung C&T’s construction division said on Monday it has signed a partnership agreement with Poland’s Synthos Green Energy to jointly develop small modular reactor (SMR) projects in central and eastern Europe. The agreement provides for cooperation on SMR development in Europe, including feasibility studies, site selection and environmental impact assessments, starting with projects in Poland. The signing ceremony was attended by

December 15, 2025

Fire at Paju elementary school leaves three injured, hundreds evacuated

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - A fire broke out at an elementary school in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on Monday. According to fire authorities, the blaze started around noon in the school's second-floor science lab. Firefighters were immediately dispatched to the scene to extinguish the blaze, but three staff members inhaled smoke, with two being transported to the hospital. A total of 307 students and staff were evacuated. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire

December 15, 2025

[UPDATE] Police Sweep Kakao building following bomb threat; No explosives found

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Authorities in South Korea on Monday conducted a large-scale search operation at tech giant Kakao's office building in Pangyo, south of Seoul, following a bomb threat report, but no explosive devices were discovered. Police said a joint team of approximately 70 officials — including police officers, firefighters, and military personnel — was deployed to the site, but no unusual or suspicious findings were reported during the operation

December 15, 2025

Korea's ex-president brooded on martial law scheme more than a year before acting out

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) -Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol brooded over a scheme to invoke martial law to “eliminate political opponents and consolidate power” before October 2023, more than a year before the stunning decree was declared in December 2024, a special counsel investigation claimed Monday. The finding was detailed by Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk, who led a 180-day probe into allegations of insurrection and foreign collusion surrounding the Decem

December 15, 2025

Nearly 90% of South Koreans use streaming services

SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Nearly 90 percent of South Koreans use online streaming services and platforms, with an average of 2.1 subscriptions per person, according to a survey by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency. The survey, based on face-to-face interviews with 6,554 people conducted over three months starting in July, found that 54.2 percent of subscribers were paid users. YouTube led with 85.4 percent of users, followed by Netfli

December 15, 2025