South Korean PM meets BOK chief amid KRW concerns SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong held an unusual closed-door meeting early Tuesday, signaling the government’s reinforced determination to arrest the prolonged weakness of the Korean won that is rippling through every corner of Asia’s fourth-largest economy — from inflation and purchasing power to investment sentiment and long-term growth potential. The meeting, held at the government December 9, 2025

K-leggings stretch across Asia as XEXYMIX, Andar accelerate regional expansion SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - South Korean athleisure brands known for form-fitting designs tailored to Asian body types are gaining strong traction across Southeast Asia, riding the broader “K-everything” wave sweeping the region. XEXYMIX, led by Chief Executive Lee Soo-yeon, said Tuesday it recently wrapped up a three-day pop-up in Jakarta — a key step in deepening its presence in Indonesia, one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing fitness and wellness market December 9, 2025

Ssangyong E&C secures hospital construction project in Singapore SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - South Korea's Ssangyong Engineering & Construction has secured a major hospital construction contract from Singapore’s Ministry of Health. The company said on Tuesday it won a contract worth $580 million to build the outpatient building at Alexandria Hospital, as part of a joint venture in which it holds a 40 percent stake alongside Japan’s Shimizu and Singapore’s Kimly. The project includes a three-level basement and a 12- December 9, 2025

Lee to visit Japanese PM's hometown next month SEOUL, December 9 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung is planning a visit to Japan's historic city of Nara next month for a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Nara, the ancient capital during the island country's early imperial era, is Takaichi's hometown. As part of shuttle diplomacy to strengthen bilateral ties, Lee previously said he had expressed his desire to visit Nara during a meeting with her in late October on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific December 9, 2025

South Korea weighs stockpiling as copper prices break records SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Copper prices have surged to record highs as supply disruptions and rising demand from emerging technologies tighten the global market. The South Korean government plans to secure a 60-day stockpile of key minerals by next year. Lawmaker An Do-geol of the Democratic Party has called for an additional 39,000 tons of copper reserves over the next five years to support expanding power grids and data center infrastructure. According to the London Meta December 9, 2025

All 12 CubeSats aboard Nuri rocket establish communication with ground stations SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - All 12 CubeSats launched aboard South Korea’s fourth Nuri rocket mission have successfully established communication with ground stations, confirming the full success of the launch, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute said on Monday. Previously unresponsive satellites — including EEE Tester-1 developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, SpaceInTech’s B-1000 and Quaternion’s PERSAT — have now made contact. The December 9, 2025

Park Chan-wook's film earns multiple Golden Globe nominations SEOUL, December 9 (AJP) - Award-winning director Park Chan-wook's latest film "No Other Choice" has been nominated for the annual Golden Globe Awards. According to nominations for the prestigious awards unveiled on Monday with winners to be revealed next month, Park's 12th feature will compete against "Blue Moon," "Bugonia," "Marty Supreme," "Nouvelle Vague," and "One Battle After Another" in the category of &quo December 9, 2025

INTERVIEW: Data centers, nuclear power to drive next wave of overseas construction SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - South Korean construction companies must move beyond traditional building roles and reposition themselves as comprehensive value creators to remain competitive globally, said Han Man-hee, chairman of the International Contractors Association of Korea (ICAK). In an interview, Han said international clients are increasingly seeking partners capable of improving quality of life through integrated urban and infrastructure solutions, rather than firms focus December 9, 2025

South Korea's fixated weak won calls for a long-term policy reset SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - South Korea is running out of quick fixes. With the local currency stuck in the band of 1,470 won per dollar for nearly a month and inflation pressures reawakening, economists say the country can no longer rely on ad-hoc tools, verbal interventions, or temporary tax cuts to stabilize forex. Instead, the entrenched weakness of the won is exposing the need for a fundamental, long-term overhaul of the nation’s macroeconomic, energy-import, and capit December 9, 2025

For South Korean stars, fame comes with a lasting moral burden SEOUL, December 08 (AJP) - Comedian Park Na-rae has become the latest South Korean celebrity to disappear from public view after failing to withstand the country’s notoriously unforgiving ethical expectations for public figures. After a monthlong barrage of online criticism and allegations of workplace mistreatment from former managers, Park announced Monday she would “step away” from entertainment until the controversy is fully resolved. Her departure leaves a sla December 8, 2025