Kakao Mobility launches recruitment drive for end-to-end autonomous driving engineers SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - Kakao Mobility announced it has launched a recruitment drive targeting engineers in four autonomous driving specialties as the South Korean mobility platform accelerates its push to develop in-house end-to-end self-driving technology. The company said Friday it has created a dedicated "Physical AI" tab on its hiring page and will recruit experienced engineers in autonomous driving AI, SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), hardware, and elect March 20, 2026

BTS Live D-1: Leader RM injured ahead of landmark Seoul comeback SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - K-pop sensation BTS' leader and rapper RM has injured his ankle during a rehearsal for the seven-member band's comeback performance scheduled on Saturday, the agency said. The injury means fans will be unable to witness a full-scale choreography by the rapper or the group as a whole during their highly anticipated return. This setback occurred just as the ensemble concluded a nearly four-year hiatus necessitated by mandatory military service. The pe March 20, 2026

IMF to factor Middle East shock into world economic outlook in April SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - The International Monetary Fund perceives rising downside risks in the global economy from volatility in energy prices and financial market stemming from Middle East conflict and will factor the negative impact on growth and inflation into its updated economic outlook in April, according to a senior official. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol met visiting Dan Katz, First Deputy Managing Director of the International Mo March 20, 2026

Kia targets 13 EV models by 2030, accelerates PBV and software pivot SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - Kia outlined plans to expand its electric vehicle lineup to 13 models by 2030 and deepen its push into purpose-built vehicles and software-defined cars, as the automaker seeks to reposition itself amid a global slowdown in EV demand. President Song Ho-sung presented the strategy at the company's annual general meeting held at its headquarters in southern Seoul on Friday, identifying three priorities: EV mass-market expansion, growth of its purpose-built v March 20, 2026

Kookmin University joins major EU research project for quantum and AI security SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - Kookmin University Professor Yoo Il-sun has been selected to participate in Horizon Europe, the European Union’s premier research and innovation program. This partnership marks a significant milestone for South Korean academia, positioning the university at the forefront of a global effort to integrate quantum technology with digital security. The three-year project, known as the Quantum Computing European Union–South Korea Working Team (QuoUSKW March 20, 2026

Korea stays out of joint statement by US allies condemning Iran SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - South Korea signaled strategic caution by staying out of a joint statement by key U.S. allies, condemning Iran over its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz while stopping short of committing to the U.S. call for naval support in the region. warships to the crippled waterway. A foreign ministry official said Friday that Seoul is “well aware of the situation” regarding the joint statement by the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Ne March 20, 2026

BTS Live D-1 : Gwanghwamun choice hinged on true identity of BTS - Korean: organizers SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) -Delving into BTS’ identity was the starting point of the comeback project, and that process ultimately led to “Koreanness” and, in turn, to the iconic setting of Gwanghwamun, organizers said Friday. “‘Why Gwanghwamun?’ was the question we heard most,” said Yoo Dong-joo, president of HYBE Music Group APAC, during a media briefing. Yoo said the historical resonance of Gwanghwamun was central to the thematic arc of &ld March 20, 2026

US pitches Alaska to South Korea and Japan as Gulf substitute for energy import SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) -While pressuring allies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Washington is also selling them an alternative — Alaska. The pitch is becoming increasingly explicit: if South Korea and Japan are unwilling or unable to shoulder more of the military burden in the Gulf, they can instead buy into a U.S.-controlled energy system that bypasses it. That strategy gained a timely boost on Wednesday, when the United States showcased investor appetite for its Ar March 20, 2026

Seoul readies contingency as Qatar LNG force majeure looms SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - South Korea has prepared a contingency plan for a worst-case scenario in which liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from Qatar are completely halted as missile strikes on the Gulf state’s key energy infrastructure raise the risk of prolonged supply disruption, according to government officials in Seoul Friday. The move underscores how the escalating Iran war is beginning to hit global energy supply chains directly, with retaliatory attacks now extending March 20, 2026

BTS Live D-1: Music video for SWIM surpasses four million views in thirty minutes SEOUL, March 20 (AJP) - The official music video for SWIM, the lead single from the fifth full-length album by the musical group BTS, amassed more than four million views on YouTube within thirty minutes of its 1:00 p.m. (0400 GMT) release today. This rapid digital consumption follows a nearly four-year hiatus during which the seven members completed their mandatory military service. The unprecedented interest serves as a primary indicator of the global anticipation for the March 20, 2026