Chuseok Now and Then: Pleasure Weighs Over Tradition in Korea SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - Highways once jammed with cars crawling toward ancestral hometowns, kitchens filled with the labor of preparing feast tables, and families dressed in hanbok to perform rites of thanksgiving for the harvest—these were the defining images of Chuseok in South Korea. Today, in a depopulating society, the holiday looks very different. Many households skip or shorten the traditional observances, instead choosing leisure and travel. Inche October 3, 2025

UAE wins multiple awards at Philakorea 2025 in Seoul SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) - The United Arab Emirates embassy in Seoul said Friday that the UAE-based stamp collectors’ group won multiple awards at Philakorea 2025, an international stamp exhibition held in Seoul last month. The event, co-hosted by Korea Post and the Philatelic Federation of Korea, drew more than 2,000 exhibits from over 65 countries. Khalid Ali Al-Amirah received a gold medal for his display on "Dubai Mail 1909–1948," while five other memb October 2, 2025

KOSPI soars past 3,500 milestone for first time on semiconductor rally SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - The main South Korean stock index, the KOSPI, surged to a historic close on Thursday, breaching the 3,500 level for the first time on record. Driven by a frenzied rally in technology and semiconductor shares, the benchmark index climbed 93.38 points, or 2.7 percent, to settle at 3,549.21, capping a day that saw the index peak at an intraday high of 3,565.96. The powerful upward trajectory was anchored by the nation's two memory chip giants. S October 2, 2025

PHOTOS: Kindergarteners show off skills at jump rope competition SUWON, October 02 (AJP) - Over 1,500 young students from private kindergartens across Suwon participated in a jump rope competition, Thursday. The event, hosted by the Suwon Kindergarten Association, took place at the Suwon Sports Complex Gymnasium. The competition served as a platform for the children to showcase the jump rope skills they had been practicing. Enthusiastic parents and family members filled the stands, providing loud cheers for the young athletes. Jump rope i October 2, 2025

INTERVIEW: Young N. Korean defectors seek to break stigma inside and outside SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - Portraying North Korean life in a truer light—rather than through stigmatized or patronizing lenses—and linking the reclusive state with the outside world through flash drives is the core mission of young defectors, according to a human rights activist. "While media coverage has shifted from rumor-driven reports to more fact-based accounts, portrayals still tend to be oversimplified," said Seongmin Lee, who heads the Korea desk and p October 2, 2025

TRAVEL: Walking through the independence history of Malaysia, diverse ethnicities working as one KUALA LUMPUR, October 02 (AJP) - On Aug. 31, 1957, Malaysia peacefully liberated itself from British colonization. Its first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, raised his fists and declared the full independence of the nation. Today, the once British site for colonial officers stands as Independence Square, also known as Merdeka Square. While not particularly large, the square has the highest flagpole in all of Malaysia, with the country's flag standing upright sur October 2, 2025

How Seoul blends K-pop, tech and diplomacy at APEC SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - This year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit arrives at a tense moment of tariff wars between allies and rivals, but host South Korea is showcasing a deft blend of diplomacy, technology and cultural soft power. The two-day leaders’ summit, beginning Oct. 31, will cover supply chain security, digital trade rules and climate cooperation. Alongside the traditional agenda, Seoul is infusing the stage with high technology and K-pop, hi October 2, 2025

Hyundai Motor Group reports record US sales in Q3, driven by EVs, hybrids SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - Hyundai Motor Group reported its best-ever third-quarter sales in the U.S. market, Thursday, signaling resilience despite trade tensions and the looming expiration of key electric vehicle tax credits. The surge was largely attributed to burgeoning demand for its environmentally friendly vehicles. The combined U.S. sales for Hyundai and its affiliate Kia reached 480,175 units in the third quarter, a substantial 12 percent increase compared to the same October 2, 2025

Re-living Korea's past and enjoying today dictate foreign visits to Korea SEOUL, October 2 (AJP) - "Gat," the black wide-brimmed hat once essential for Korean men stepping into public, may become this year's hottest Halloween costume in Western societies. The iconic headgear – spotlighted in Saja Boys' "Your Idol" stage performance that won global fans and in Netflix's blockbuster "KPop Demon Hunters" – is now a must-try at Everland, Korea's largest theme park in Yongin, just south of Seou October 2, 2025

G-Dragon, Park Ji-sung, and other Korean superstars pitch APEC 2025 SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - The APEC 2025 organizing committee released a special promotional video ahead of the summit. K-pop star G-Dragon stars as the ambassador, with cameo appearances by director Park Chan-wook, soccer player Park Ji-sung, IVE's Jang Won-young, chef Ahn Sung-jae, and DJ Peggy Gou. Directed by award-winning Shin Woo-seok, the video begins with APEC members gathering at a fusion Korean restaurant, symbolizing Korea's cultural heritage. President Le October 2, 2025