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  One in 10 marriages in Korea involved international couples last year SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - One in 10 marriages in South Korea last year involved international couples, according to government data released Thursday. Statistics Korea reported multicultural marriages increased by 17.2 percent to 20,431 cases in 2023, compared to the previous year. International marriages accounted for 10.6 percent of all marriages in the country, up 1.5 percentage points year-on-year. The proportion recovered from the pandemic-era low of 7.2 percent in 2021. November 7, 2024
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  Yoon congratulates Trump on election win SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol phoned U.S. president-elect Donald Trump to congratulate him on his election win, the presidential office said on Thursday. During a telephone conversation that lasted about 10 minutes, Yoon congratulated Trump on his sweeping victory in Wednesday's election and discussed various issues including North Korea's recent troop deployment to Russia to support its war in Ukraine, Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-h November 7, 2024
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  President Yoon defends his wife, rejects calls for probe SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol apologized for a mounting scandal involving his wife Kim Keon Hee and other related allegations in a televised press conference on Thursday. The apology came as he appeared to realize that it could no longer be delayed and that public concerns needed to be addressed, with his approval ratings continuing to plummet. Yoon offered explanations about Kim's alleged involvement in candidate nominations ahead of the general electio November 7, 2024
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  South Korea posts $11.1 billion current account surplus in September SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - South Korea's current account surplus reached 15.58 trillion won (US$11.1 billion) in September, marking its fifth consecutive month in the black, driven by robust exports, the Bank of Korea said on Thursday. The surplus was nearly double the $6.52 billion recorded in August and stands as the third-largest September figure on record. Outbound shipments rose 9.9 percent from a year earlier to $61.67 billion, extending gains for the 12th straight month November 7, 2024
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  OPINION: South Korea's data center industry: growth and challenges amid power supply and regulatory pressures SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - The data center market influencers of technological advancements, such as implementation of cloud computing, deployment of 5G networks, government digitalization initiatives and increasing mobile and internet penetration, have significantly accelerated the demand for data centers. Asia is slower to experience the growth of AI adoption alongside generative AI when compared to the US, but the impending demand for increased data center capacities continues to exi November 7, 2024
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  OPINION: How Trump's presidency might change global economy SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 election – and his threat to impose tariffs on all imports to the United States – highlights an important problem for the global economy. The U.S. is a technological powerhouse, spending more than any other country on research and development and winning more Nobel prizes in the last five years than every other country combined. Its inventions and economic successes are the envy of the globe. But the rest o November 7, 2024
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  South Korea braces for trade headwinds as Trump returns to power SEOUL, November 6 (AJP) - With his strong protectionist and America-first policies, Donald Trump’s likely return to the U.S. presidency is expected to exert mounting pressure on South Korea's export-driven economy. The former president has floated the idea of universal tariffs of 10 to 20 percent on goods from all other countries, and a 60 percent punitive tariff on Chinese imports. Former Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has recently warned his policies could be “cata November 6, 2024
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  What does Trump's return to White House mean for South Korea? SEOUL, November 6 (AJP) - Former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump is making a return to the presidency in a surprising fashion as he achieved an electoral college majority by securing sweeping victories in key battleground states such as Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, defeating his Democratic rival and Vice President Kamala Harris. "It's a political victory that our country has never seen before, nothing like this. I want to thank the American peo November 6, 2024
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  VISUALS: Seoul's blind ritual chanting preserved through generations SEOUL, November 6 (AJP) - A rare performance of Seoul Blind Chanting, an ancient Korean ceremony recognized as part of Seoul's cultural heritage, took place Tuesday at Miari Pass Art Theater in Seoul on Wednesday. The ritual, which dates back to the Joseon dynasty (1392- 1910), held a unique status as one of the few religious ceremonies permitted within Seoul's city walls during an era when most other rituals were prohibited. The traditional practice, featuring chanters reciting an November 6, 2024
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  PHOTOS: Cafe industry show opens in Seoul SEOUL, November 6 (AJP) - Cafe Show Seoul, a major coffee and food service exhibition, opened Wednesday at COEX convention center in Seoul, bringing together industry professionals and vendors showcasing products. The four-day trade show, features exhibits of coffee, tea, bakery products, desserts and ice cream. The show is jointly organized by the-cup, a digital platform specializing in cafe management resources, and exhibition planner Exporum. November 6, 2024