[K-Pop] aespa's "Rich Man" album tops iTunes charts in 14 countries SEOUL, September 06 (AJP) - South Korean girl group aespa claimed the top spot on iTunes Top Songs charts in 14 countries with their sixth mini-album "Rich Man," their agency SM Entertainment said Saturday. The album, released Friday, dominated charts in 14 countries including Thailand, Taiwan, and Russia. It also secured positions within the top 10 in 29 countries including the United States, France, and Japan. "Rich Man" swept China's digital music platf September 6, 2025

South Korea-US trade complaints double as Trump tariffs undermine FTA benefits SEOUL, September 06 (AJP) - South Korean exporters are grappling with mounting trade barriers as complaints about US market access surged to twice last year's levels, undermining benefits from the bilateral free trade agreement amid Washington's protectionist pivot. Trade grievances filed with South Korea's FTA support center jumped to 1,526 cases in the first seven months of this year, already surpassing the full-year 2024 total of 1,380 cases, according to data from th September 6, 2025

US immigration raid at Hyundai Motor, LG Energy Solution battery plant comes amid ongoing economic cooperation SEOUL, September 06 (AJP) - U.S. immigration authorities arrested 475 people including about 300 South Korean nationals at a Hyundai Motor Group battery plant construction site in Georgia, creating diplomatic tensions just weeks after Seoul pledged billions in American investments. The sweeping raid Friday (local time) at the 3000-acre Hyundai Motor Group-LG Energy Solution joint venture facility came as the two countries were conducting follow-up negotiations on tariffs and investm September 6, 2025

TRAVEL: Cruising the inland sea of Chungju Lake JECHEON, September 04 (AJP) - The Han River, which flows through the heart of Seoul, is formed where the Namhan River from North Chungcheong and the Bukhan River from Gangwon meet at Yangsu-ri in Gyeonggi before winding through the capital and emptying into the Yellow Sea. On the Namhan River sits Chungju Dam, South Korea’s largest concrete gravity dam, begun in 1978 and completed in October 1986. The dam’s completion created Chungju Lake, a vast inland body September 5, 2025

[K-Drama] Song Joong-ki returns to romance drama after 9 years SEOUL, September 05 (AJP) - Actor Song Joong-ki will return to a romance drama for the first time in nine years with a new Friday series on a local cable channel. "It was exciting to finally find a script that touched me again. I wanted to play a character who feels real and ordinary, and that made filming enjoyable," Song said at a press conference on Thursday. The series "My Youth" follows a former child star who becomes a florist and reunites with his fir September 5, 2025

LG Electronics targets doubling Europe appliance revenue within five years SEOUL, September 05 (AJP) - LG Electronics outlined plans to double its European home appliance revenue within five years and become the region's leading appliance brand, according to statements made Friday (KST) during a media briefing at IFA 2025 in Berlin. Home and Living Solutions division head Ryu Jae-chul presented the company's European market strategy focusing on B2B, direct-to-consumer sales, and non-hardware services to achieve sustainable growth. The European ap September 5, 2025

South Korea, Italy reaffirm economic ties as 'complementary commons' SEOUL, September 5 (AJP) - South Korea and Italy reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic cooperation at the first business forum in Seoul on Friday, with a focus on advanced technology as both countries face resource constraints and aging populations. The forum, co-hosted by the Italian Embassy in South Korea, the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), September 5, 2025

Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping pledge unshakable ties through summit meeting SEOUL, September 05 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing on Thursday for their first summit in nearly seven years, signaling an effort to revive ties that had weakened as Pyongyang deepened its alignment with Moscow. The two leaders held talks at the Great Hall of the People on Thursday, the day after attending China's "Victory Day" military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. According September 5, 2025

PHOTOS: Journey back to Joseon in heart of Seoul, Buam-dong's Mok-in Museum SEOUL, September 05 (AJP) - Tucked away in the quiet residential neighborhood of Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, the Mok-in Museum Mokseokwon feels like a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. The first sight upon entering is the outdoor exhibition garden, where more than 800 stone carvings are spread across the grounds. Large and small statues stand at every corner, evoking the atmosphere of a Joseon-era stone mason’s workshop. Scholar statues and childlike figures appear to meet th September 5, 2025

Joint Korean university team uses magnetic nanohelices to control electron spins at room temperature SEOUL, September 05 (AJP) - Researchers from Korea University and Seoul National University have created tiny magnetic structures that can control the spin of electrons at room temperature, a breakthrough that could push spintronics — a new kind of electronics — closer to real-world use. The study, led by Professor Kim Young-keun of Korea University and Professor Nam Ki-tae of Seoul National University, was published in Science on September 4, 2025. Their team successful September 5, 2025