Samsung's China semiconductor sales decline while US revenue grows SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics posted diverging fortunes in China and the United States in the first half of 2025, as U.S. sanctions weighed on Chinese demand and American technology companies fueled a surge in semiconductor purchases. Samsung's exports to China fell 11 percent year-on-year to 28.79 trillion won (about $20.7 billion), down from 32.35 trillion won a year earlier. Sales to the United States, by contrast, climbed to 33.48 trillion won, overtaking Ch August 18, 2025

[K-Pop] BLACKPINK gears up for November album release amid global tour success SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - K-pop girl band BLACKPINK is set to release a new album in November, according to YG Entertainment's chief producer Yang Hyun-suk. The announcement came through a video posted Monday on the company's official YouTube channel, where Yang provided updates on several YG artists, including TREASURE and BABYMONSTER. "The BLACKPINK members and their producer have been working very hard to prepare (for a new album)," Yang said, adding: "We August 18, 2025

[K-Tech] Korean battery firms pour billions into research despite idle factories SEOUL, August 18 (AJP) - South Korea’s top battery makers are stepping up investments in research and development, even as their plants sit partially idle and competition from China intensifies. In recent reports, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On disclosed sharply reduced factory utilization rates for the first half of 2025. LG Energy Solution’s operating rate dropped to 51.3 percent, down from 73.6 percent in 2022. Samsung SDI reported 44 percent, while SK On c August 18, 2025

Upbit operator fined $165 million for tax evasion SEOUL, August 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange operator, Dunamu, has paid more than 22 billion won, or about $165 million, in back taxes after authorities accused the company of tax evasion — adding to the regulatory pressures already weighing on the firm. Dunamu, which runs the Upbit trading platform, disclosed that the Seoul Regional Tax Office levied 22.6 billion won in corporate and related taxes following an audit. The investigation, led August 17, 2025

[K-Tech] Samsung emerges as alternative to TSMC with landmark Tesla, Apple deals SEOUL, August 17 (AJP) - Just six months ago, Samsung Electronics’ foundry unit was mired in uncertainty. Hemorrhaging nearly 2 trillion won, or about $1.5 billion, in annual losses and struggling to attract clients, the division’s very survival was in doubt. Now, a pair of blockbuster deals with Tesla and Apple has jolted the business into a new trajectory. Samsung announced last month that it had secured a $16.5 billion contract with Tesla to produce advanced arti August 17, 2025

S. Korea, India to seek ways to deepen economic partnership SEOUL, August 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s Foreign Minister, Cho Hyun, and his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, held talks in New Delhi, Saturday (local time) as the two countries marked the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership and pledged to expand cooperation in security, technology and defense. Cho's visit come amid a flurry of high-level exchanges between the two governments, including a summit meeting between President Lee Jae Myung and Prime Mini August 17, 2025

Scorching heat to persist next week after torrential rains SEOUL, August 16 (AJP) - Scorching heat gripped most of South Korea on Saturday, with advisories in effect nationwide and feels-like temperatures climbing to as high as 37 degrees Celsius. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), daytime highs ranged from 31 to 36 degrees Celsius in the southeastern city of Daegu and nearby North Gyeongsang Province, while the southwestern province of Jeonbuk recorded 33 degrees. After heavy rains across the country last we August 16, 2025

Comedy-drama 'My Daughter Is a Zombie' draws 4 million viewers SEOUL, August 16 (AJP) - Comedy-drama "My Daughter Is a Zombie" has drawn more than 4 million moviegoers less than two weeks after its release, becoming the biggest box-office hit of the year. According to the Korean Film Council on Saturday, the film attracted 290,000 viewers on Friday alone, bringing the total to 4.05 million. It is the fastest release this year to reach the milestone. Released on July 30, the film has stayed No. 1 at the box office since opening August 16, 2025

Washington signals Asian allies to 'pull their weight' on defense ahead of summit with Seoul SEOUL, August 16 (AJP) - A senior U.S. defense official on Friday urged Asian allies to increase defense spending and take on greater responsibilities for collective defense, echoing Washington’s push for fairer burden-sharing ahead of a summit with Seoul. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, "It’s common sense that all allies, especially in Asia, need to pull their weight. That’s how we get peace thro August 16, 2025

Special envoys from Seoul meet Prabowo, vow closer bilateral ties SEOUL, August 15 (AJP) - Special envoys sent to Jakarta this week pledged their readiness to enhance ties with Indonesia after talks with President Prabowo Subianto and senior officials, the foreign ministry said on Friday. Led by Cho Jeong-sik of the ruling Democratic Party, a handful group of lawmakers arrived in Jakarta on Monday for a four-day trip as part of President Lee Jae-myung’s broader diplomatic outreach to key Asian partners since taking office in early June. August 15, 2025