TRAVEL: Glimpse into daily life in North Korea from across the Amnok River Amnok River, July 09 (AJP) - North Korea was once one with South Korea and remains close, yet unreachable. Today, we can only catch glimpses of the country under limited circumstances and in specific places. We cannot talk to them, shake their hands, or interact freely. One of the few places we can view North Korea relatively closely is from the Chinese border. While South Korea and North Korea are separated by the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, China and North Korea are sep July 15, 2025

BLACKPINK's North American tour kicks off with sell-out concerts in Los Angeles SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - K-pop girl group BLACKPINK performed in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 100,000 fans in Los Angeles over the weekend as part of their world tour. According to their agency YG Entertainment on Monday, the two-day concerts at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood were sold out shortly after tickets went on sale, packing the venue and making BLACKPINK the girl group to draw the largest crowd ever at the stadium. The enthusiastic fans erupted in cheers as the four g July 14, 2025

High-income YouTubers under crackdown over unreported earnings SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - South Korea’s tax authorities have ramped up enforcement efforts against YouTubers and other online content creators, uncovering widespread tax evasion and imposing billions of won in penalties. According to data submitted to ruling party lawmaker Jung Tae-ho by the National Tax Service (NTS), audits were conducted on 21 YouTubers in 2024 alone, resulting in 8.9 billion won (approximately $6.45 million) in penalties. The intensified scrutiny reflects gro July 14, 2025

NCT DREAM marks 9th anniversary with time travel-themed album 'Go Back To The Future' SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - As NCT DREAM approaches its 9th anniversary, the group is making a comeback with its fifth full-length album, "Go Back To The Future," built around the concept of time travel. The album was officially introduced during a press conference on Monday at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul. The seven-member group, including Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung, explores the past, present, and future in a narrative that connects their b July 14, 2025

LG targets global markets for StandbyME 2 portable screen after domestic success SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - LG Electronics will begin the global rollout of its StandbyME 2 portable screen this week. The company plans a phased international launch, starting with Hong Kong and Turkey this week. Additional markets, including the United States, Canada, Vietnam, and Singapore, will follow in July, with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Spain scheduled for August. The StandbyME 2, a second-generation upgrade of LG’s portable screen lineup, recorded stron July 14, 2025

US commits to maintaining troop levels in South Korea SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - The presence of U.S. troops in South Korea will likely remain at current levels under an annual defense bill drafted last week by the Senate Committee on Armed Services. The committee's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for next year passed last Friday contains a clause that "prohibits a reduction in U.S. military posture on the Korean Peninsula or a change in wartime operational control over the Combined Forces Command until the Secretary of July 14, 2025

Korean steelmakers struggle under US tariff pressure, global glut SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - South Korea’s steelmakers endured another punishing quarter as a persistent global supply glut collided with a sharp escalation in U.S. tariffs. Steel exports from South Korea fell 5.9 percent year-on-year to $15.63 billion in the first half of 2025, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The downturn accelerated in May and June — dropping 12.4 percent and 8.0 percent respectively — as the full effects of the Trump administr July 14, 2025

PHOTOS: Ancient rock carvings in South Korea added to UNESCO heritage list SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has finalized the inscription of a series of ancient Korean rock carvings onto its World Heritage list, recognizing the sites as significant historical and artistic treasures. The petroglyphs, discovered in the 1970s, offer a vivid glimpse into the lives of the early inhabitants of the Korean Peninsula. Located on the cliffs of the Bangudae Stream, a tributary of the Taehwa River in Ulsan, the carvings are situated on a July 14, 2025

Samsung supplies advanced image sensor to Xiaomi, challenging Sony in global market SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has begun external shipments of its newest image sensor, the Isocell JNP, to Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, marking a key step in the firm's effort to challenge Sony’s long-standing dominance in the global image sensor market. The Isocell JNP, which features Samsung’s industry-first nanoprismatic technology, has been integrated into Xiaomi’s new CIVI 5 PRO smartphone, the company’s latest flagship equipped with July 14, 2025

Soaring fruit prices in South Korea reflect strain of heat wave SEOUL, July 14 (AJP) - Fruit prices in South Korea have surged sharply in recent weeks, as an early summer heat wave scorches the country, disrupting crop yields and straining supply chains. Watermelons and napa cabbage — summertime staples — have seen particularly steep price increases, prompting emergency measures from the government. As of July 11, the average retail price of a watermelon stood at 29,115 won, or about $21.16, according to data from the Korea Agro-F July 14, 2025