First lady skips official engagements due to ear-related illness

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - First Lady Kim Hea Kyung is not accompanying President Lee Jae-myung to his summit with outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Busan on Tuesday. In a press briefing at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, presidential physician Park Sang-min said that Kim "suffered sudden dizziness last night" and was diagnosed with otolithiasis, an inner ear condition that causes vertigo. "She got much better but still experiences di

September 30, 2025

INTERVIEW: S. Korea invests in rural resilience as climate extremes worsen

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - South Korean farmers are feeling the intensifying pressures of climate change, from searing heat to destructive rains. Few know this better than Kim In-jung, the newly appointed head of the Korea Rural Community Corporation, who says the task before him is nothing less than safeguarding the nation’s food supply. “We are all experiencing the effects of climate change,” Kim said in an interview on Sept. 22. “This summer,

September 30, 2025

HD Hyundai Heavy begins overhaul of US Navy ship in Ulsan

The U.S. Navy's Alan Shepard supply vessel/ HD Hyundai Heavy Industries SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has begun maintenance work on the U.S. Navy’s supply vessel USNS Alan Shepard, a contract that underscores the growing role of South Korean shipyards in servicing American military assets in Asia. The 41,000-ton vessel, part of the Navy’s 7th Fleet, has arrived at Yeompo Pier near Ulsan for a scheduled overhaul, the company said Monday. Th

September 30, 2025

[South Korea-Japan Ties] Korea, Japan explore power link as AI drives electricity demand

Editor’s Note: Aju Business Daily is publishing a special series to mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Japan. The series reflects on the renewed relationship between the two neighbors. SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - As artificial intelligence drives a surge in global electricity demand, South Korea and Japan are positioning themselves as unlikely but pragmatic partners in rethinking the future of power infrastructure.

September 30, 2025

[South Korea-Japan Ties] Food makers set sights on Japan to conquer global palates

Editor's Note: Aju Business Daily is publishing a special series to mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between South Korea and Japan. The series reflects on the renewed relationship between the two neighbors. SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - With South Korean cuisine's growing global appeal, Japan is emerging as the next key market for its further growth. According to a report released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Mon

September 30, 2025

Korea unsure about a currency swap tied to trade deal with US-security adviser

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - South Korea is not "optimistic" about securing a currency swap agreement as a safeguard for the pledged $350 billion investment to the United States, according to Seoul's top security official, who nevertheless expected a trade deal to lower tariffs for Korean exports to eventually come through. "Our government has suggested a currency swap line, but it will not be easy, given precedent in how the U.S. has handled such arrangement

September 30, 2025

OPINION: Robo-taxis promise change. But do they deliver progress?

Innovation has become one of the most abused words in our collective vocabulary. Every new app, gadget or piece of software is branded as revolutionary, as if the mere act of introducing technology were synonymous with progress. Robo-taxis, for instance, are being touted as the future of urban mobility. But let’s be clear: simply rolling out driverless cars is not innovation. Real innovation does not mean discarding the old for the shiny and new. It means expandin

September 30, 2025

Lee travels to Busan for talks with outgoing Japanese PM

SEOUL, September 30 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is holding talks with outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Busan on Tuesday. The two leaders will discuss expanding cooperation in areas such as declining population and regional development as well as advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and hydrogen energy. Although not on the official agenda, South Korea's stalled tariff negotiations with the U.S. are also likely to be discussed, given t

September 30, 2025

Major battery pack fires pose setback to Korean battery makers' ESS bet

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - A fire from an aging lithium battery storage system that triggered a nationwide disruption of South Korea’s electronic public services has cast a shadow over its maker, LG Energy Solution (LGES), and the government’s renewable transition drive centered on energy storage systems (ESS). LGES, the country’s top battery producer, has been betting heavily on ESS to offset a slowdown in electric vehicle demand. According to Mirae Asset Securit

September 29, 2025

PHOTOS: In memory of Japan's forced mobilization victims

SEOUL, September 29 (AJP) - South Korea held simultaneous memorial services in Seoul and Busan to honor Koreans who were conscripted into forced labor under Japanese colonial rule. At the ceremonies, religious leaders from Buddhism, Catholicism and Protestant Christianity offered rites of comfort to the victims and their families. Officials, civic leaders and ordinary citizens laid flowers and burned incense, while a student choir and traditional musician Oh Jung-hae p

September 29, 2025