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  Korean builders eye global opportunities under Trump presidency SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korean construction companies are assessing potential opportunities in international reconstruction projects under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, while grappling with challenges posed by interest rate hikes and exchange rate volatility. Industry analysts warn that high U.S. interest rates under Trump could weigh heavily on South Korea’s construction and real estate sectors. With the dollar-won exchange rate hovering around January 22, 2025
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  South Korea discusses defense industry collaboration with Saudi prince SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea discussed ways to strengthen defense ties with Saudi Arabia, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) here said on Wednesday. According to the arms procurement agency, Saudi Arabia's Prince Abdullah Bin Bandar Bin Abdulaziz, also the Minister of National Guard, met with DAPA chief Seok Jong-geon during Seok's three-day visit to the Middle Eastern country, which began on Jan. 19. He also talked with executives from top So January 22, 2025
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  Viet Nam emerges from political turmoil with bold reforms, strong growth SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Both the Viet Nam News Agency and Viet Nam Express ranked the death of Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the appointment of four new top leaders as the first and second biggest news stories of 2024. The Viet Nam News Agency listed the reorganization of state institutions as third and the achievement of 7.09 percent GDP growth as fourth. Let's review Viet Nam's notably eventful 2024 and gauge the direction of future changes. A ye January 22, 2025
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  New US Secretary of State vows to prioritize American interests SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - With the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, Marco Rubio began his first day as Secretary of State on Tuesday, vowing to prioritize American interests in his diplomatic agenda. The Senate unanimously confirmed the former Florida senator the previous day as the first Cabinet member to join Trump's non-consecutive second term. Trump's primary promise "when it comes to foreign policy is that the priority of the United States Department January 22, 2025
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  Korea will increase smart farms to bolster agricultural sector SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - The South Korean government has unveiled a plan to modernize its agricultural sector, aiming to transform 35 percent of the nation’s greenhouses into ICT-based smart farms by 2029. The move is part of a sweeping effort to address the dual challenges of climate change and a shrinking rural workforce. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Tuesday, under the five-year plan, the government will upgrade 35 percent of South January 22, 2025
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  North Korea's rubber-stamp parliament convenes amid Trump's return to power SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - North Korea's rubber-stamp Supreme People's Assembly is reportedly convening on Wednesday for the first time this year. The gathering comes in coincidence with the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who was sworn in earlier this week. North Korea's state media, which had disclosed the gathering last month, briefly covered Trump's inauguration early in the morning, without any commentary, marking the first time it reported on him si January 22, 2025
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  Korea Zinc hostile takeover bid likely to succeed SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - A Seoul court ruling has dealt a significant blow to Korea Zinc Chairman Choi Yoon-bum’s efforts to retain control of the world’s largest zinc smelter, paving the way for rival Young Poong and private equity firm MBK Partners to seize management control. The Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday rejected Korea Zinc’s plan to introduce a cumulative voting system for board appointments, a move that would have allowed minority shareholders January 22, 2025
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  Agency behind BLACKPINK to search for new K-pop talent next month SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - YG Entertainment, a talent mill behind K-pop icons like 2NE1, Big Bang and BLACKPINK, will search for the next K-pop stars through a nationwide audition tour that kicks off early next month. The auditions will begin in Gwangju on Feb. 7 and will make stops in several other cities including Daejeon on Feb. 8, Jeonju on Feb. 9, Daegu on Feb. 15, Busan on Feb. 16, and Seoul on Feb. 22 and 23. Open to young K-pop wannabes born between 2007 and 2014, the audi January 22, 2025
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  Song Hye-kyo ready to impress viewers with unconventional role in horror film SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - Actress Song Hye-kyo is expected to show a new side of herself in her upcoming film "The Dark Nuns" slated for release this week. Directed by Kwon Hyeok-jae, the exorcism-themed film marks Song's return to the silver screen about a decade after her appearance in "The Crossing," the 2014 Chinese epic drama directed by acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker John Woo. It is also her first venture into the horror genre in her acting career spanni January 22, 2025
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  Korean automakers, battery firms brace for fallout from Trump's trade policies SEOUL, January 22 (AJP) - South Korea’s automakers and battery manufacturers are bracing for challenges after President Donald Trump announced sweeping policy reversals, including the termination of federal electric vehicle (EV) mandates and the imposition of a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico beginning next month. Trump’s rollback of Biden-era clean energy initiatives, notably the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), threatens to upend subsidies critical to January 22, 2025