China's foreign minister Wang Yi arrives in Korea via Gimpo Airport Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China and China's foreign minister, waves to reporters at Seoul Gimpo Business Center in Seoul, August 19, 2026. August 19, 2026

Chinese FM Wang Yi arrives in Seoul for two-day visit SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for talks with his South Korean counterpart Cho Hyun. Wang's two-day visit marks his first trip to South Korea since September 2021 and the first meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers since they met in Beijing last September. During their talks, the two ministers are expected to discuss bilateral ties, the situation on the Korean Peninsula and other regional issues. T August 19, 2026

KOSDAQ-listed medical device maker recognized for growth potential SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - Medical device maker Next Biomedical has been recognized as a rising KOSDAQ-listed firm for the second year in a row, it said on Wednesday. It said it was selected for the Korea Exchange's "rising star" program again this year, which recognizes promising companies based on factors such as technology, financial health and growth potential. The firm attributed the recognition to its technology for controlling bleeding during endoscopic procedures August 19, 2026

Hyundai Motor faces first full-day strike in a decade this week SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - Unionized workers at Hyundai Motor are set to stage their first full-day strike in a decade later this week as South Korea's metalworkers' union expands labor action across the auto industry. Beginning with four-hour partial strikes on Wednesday and Thursday, the automaker's union has decided to launch an eight-hour full-day strike on Friday, followed by another four-hour walkout next Monday and Tuesday. Another round of strikes follows a seri August 19, 2026

Won rises to strongest level in nearly 11 months SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - The South Korean won strengthened to below 1,400 per dollar on Wednesday for the first time in nearly 11 months, amid fading expectations of a September Fed rate cut and steady exporter dollar selling. The dollar-won exchange rate stood at 1,399 around noon, breaking below the 1,400 mark for the first time since Oct. 2, 2025, when it was at 1,399.5. As of 2:50 p.m., it stood at 1,398.3, compared with the previous day's daytime close of 1,411.8. The st August 19, 2026

S. Korea says no one knew Trump would cut joint drills SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - South Korea had no advance word that President Donald Trump would order this week's combined military exercises cut back, and neither did officials in his own administration, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday. The move shortened the exercise by nearly a week, underscoring a sudden and highly unusual shift in alliance operations. Cho Hyun told the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee that the government learned August 19, 2026

Biotech firm surges after US approval of new cancer therapy SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - Biotech firm Sillajen's shares surged on Wednesday, bucking a sharp market selloff, as the first U.S. approval of an oncolytic virus therapy in 11 years revived investor interest in companies developing similar cancer treatments. Its shares were trading 13 percent higher at 2,390 won in early afternoon trading after jumping as much as 29.79 percent to an intraday high of 2,745 won. The gain came despite a broad market selloff, with the benchmark KOSPI do August 19, 2026

Finance minister denies discrimination against US firms amid business concerns SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy Koo Yun-cheol said Wednesday that the South Korean government would never discriminate against foreign companies, stressing that businesses investing in the country should be treated the same as South Korean firms, regardless of where they are headquartered. At a luncheon meeting in central Seoul hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) in central Seoul, Koo made the remarks amid o August 19, 2026

AI-themed expo brings business leaders together in southern Seoul SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - An artificial intelligence (AI)-themed business expo is underway in Seoul, according to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) Organized by KITA, COEX and DMK Global, the AI Summit Seoul & Expo (AISE), which kicked off its three-day run at COEX in southern Seoul on Wednesday, runs through Friday, bringing together some 118 companies from seven countries. The expo, which combines an AI conference with a business exhibition, has expan August 19, 2026

South Korean retail investors flock to leveraged ETFs on Wall Street SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - South Korean retail investors sharply increased their bets on U.S. stocks in July, pouring billions of dollars into leveraged funds and the American depositary receipts (ADRs) of chipmaker SK hynix amid a retreat in the domestic market, according to an analysis of Korea Securities Depository (KSD) data compiled by AJP on Wednesday. South Korean investors made US$3.79 billion in net purchases of the Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL) in July, August 19, 2026