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  KOSPI rises on easing Middle East tensions, but falls short of 6,000 threshold SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - The South Korean stock market closed higher on Tuesday, lifted by easing oil prices and signs of diplomatic progress between the U.S. and Iran, though tensions in the Strait of Hormuz kept investors cautious. The country's benchmark KOSPI rose 2.7 percent to close at 5,967.8 after briefly breaking above the 6,000 level in early morning trade. The index repeatedly hovered around the threshold throughout the session but failed to sustain its gains, losing m April 14, 2026
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  War resilience draws Korean retail money home, but sustainability in question SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) -South Korean equities have shown surprising resilience so far against the backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions, helping to bring home retail capital previously deployed in U.S. markets. Yet how durable — and how deep — this reshoring trend will prove remains uncertain. “Tax incentives can act as a supporting factor, but not the primary driver,” said Shin Hyun-han, a finance professor at Yonsei University’s School of B April 14, 2026
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  South Korea's refining edge turns Achilles' heel in Gulf shock SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) — South Korea’s world-class oil refining industry — long a pillar of its export strength — is fast turning into a structural vulnerability as the Gulf crisis disrupts energy flows and exposes the economy’s deep dependence on imported crude. Global investment banks are rapidly turning cautious. French lender Natixis on Monday slashed its 2026 growth forecast for South Korea to 1 percent from 1.8 percent, marking one of the st April 14, 2026
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  Seoul-born, 1955: two women set to anchor U.S.-Korea diplomacy SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Two women born in the same year, in the same city — Seoul in 1955 — are poised to represent Washington and Seoul in each other’s capitals, an unlikely symmetry that underscores the increasingly transnational nature of modern diplomacy. The White House on Monday (local time) nominated Michelle Steel, a former California congresswoman, as ambassador to South Korea, formally requesting Senate confirmation. If confirmed, Steel would return to he April 14, 2026
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  Statue of Joseon-era war hero gets bathed SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - The landmark statue of Admiral Yi Sun-shin, one of the key attractions in central Seoul, was washed down on Tuesday. The cleaning work on the statue of the naval commander who repelled Japanese invaders in a famous 16th-century maritime battle during the Joseon Dynasty came a day after the nearby statue of King Sejong the Great in Gwanghwamun was also cleaned, as part of regular maintenance and preservation efforts with the arrival of spring. Dust and othe April 14, 2026
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  Seoul spring festival turns Han river into a theme park SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Seoul's signature spring festival, the "Seoul Spring Festival," has transformed the Han River into a vibrant cultural hub. Running from April 10 to May 5, the iconic seasonal festival is Seoul's premier culture and tourism event that offers visitors trendy experiences involving K-Beauty, K-Fashion, K-Pop, K-Food, and K-Art all in one place. This year's festival takes place along the Han River, featuring diverse programs including a April 14, 2026
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  Disgraced former first couple reunite in rare court appearance together SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - Kim Keon Hee, the wife of disgraced former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday appeared as a witness in Yoon's trial over election-related violations. Tuesday's hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul drew particular attention as it was the couple's first court appearance together, also marking their first encounter in several months since being held in separate remand prisons. After taking an oath, Kim answered only a fe April 14, 2026
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  Kookmin University professor selected for national food yeast research project SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - To address food supply instability caused by climate change, Professor Park Yong-chul was selected for a government-funded core research project to develop precision fermentation technology using food-grade yeast, Kookmin University said Tuesday. The project, titled "Development of a genetic tool kit for the food yeast Candida utilis for precision fermentation and application to food material production," is part of the 2026 Basic Research Program April 14, 2026
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  Seoul targets sovereign AI and AI belt in Saemangeum for new strategic funding SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) -South Korea will channel around 10 trillion won ($7.4 billion) into a new slate of strategic industries from high-value OLED displays to sovereign artificial intelligence and AI infrastructure belt along the southern coast in a bid to widen its technological edge over fast-following rivals and anchor future growth engines. The second round of “mega projects” under the 150 trillion won National Growth Fund spans six areas — next-generation b April 14, 2026
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  KAIST and Microsoft Research develop automated system to fix time-related AI errors SEOUL, April 14 (AJP) - To reduce hallucinations, including time-based errors in large language models (LLMs), a joint team of researchers developed an automated diagnostic system that uses classic database theory to ensure AI provides up-to-date information, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology said Tuesday. The research addresses a common frustration for users who find that chatbots often provide outdated facts. For example, when asked about a recently appointe April 14, 2026