Lee meets US top tariff negotiator, pushes for progress in trade talks

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in New York and expressed hopes for progress in tariff negotiations which should be "commercially rational." Their meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly came about a month after the two met during Lee's visit to Washington for his first bilateral talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. Lee emphasized that trade talks should be "in line with the inte

September 25, 2025

Autonomous navigation advances as Samsung Heavy completes trans-Pacific test

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Samsung Heavy Industries said on Thursday that it had successfully tested an artificial intelligence–based autonomous navigation system on a trans-Pacific voyage, a milestone in the shipping industry’s push toward automation and efficiency. The system, known as Samsung Autonomous Ship (SAS), was installed on a 15,000-TEU container vessel operated by Evergreen Marine of Taiwan. The ship departed Oakland, Calif., on Aug. 25 and arrived in

September 25, 2025

OPINION: Bogota's first metro train is wake-up call for South Korea

In September 2025, Bogota welcomed its first-ever metro train, a sight that many Colombians thought they might never live to see. After seven decades of delays, false starts, and political infighting, the arrival of a sleek Chinese-built train was celebrated across the Colombian capital as a long-awaited triumph. But for South Korea, watching from afar, it should serve as something else: a moment of reckoning. As someone who worked closely on infrastructure cooperation betwee

September 25, 2025

OPINION: The age of restless youth

Kim Sang-chul, director of Global Business Research Center The world today feels as if it is locked in a cycle of turmoil. Wars drag on, economies falter, and political dysfunction seems the rule rather than the exception. For many, especially young people, frustration has boiled over into anger, and anger into action. In recent months, Southeast Asia has seen its youngest citizens — largely Gen Z — take to the streets in protest. From Jakarta to Manila, Dhaka to Dili, de

September 25, 2025

Lee chairs UN debate on AI, calls for global cooperation

SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung presided over an open debate at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, becoming the first South Korean leader to do so. The debate, chaired by Lee as the country assumed this month's rotating role as a non-permanent member, focused on how to tackle opportunities and challenges brought about by the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies. Participants including repres

September 25, 2025

Medical schools lose appeal as semiconductor careers promise six-figure salaries

SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - University applicants are increasingly opting for majors that guarantee employment at major companies after graduation, rather than medical schools, which have long been the preferred choice among many top-scoring students. This shift is particularly evident at Hanyang University, Korea University, and Sogang University, which offer semiconductor-related courses and similar programs in partnership with businesses, often leading to guaranteed positions at

September 24, 2025

KT CEO acknowledges flaws in network security after data breach

SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - The chief executive of KT Corp. acknowledged to lawmakers on Wednesday that the company had poorly managed its cellular network, which led to unauthorized mobile payment breaches and the theft of private data from hundreds of users. During a parliamentary hearing, KT's CEO, Kim Young-shub, admitted to significant security vulnerabilities related to the company's network of micro base stations, known as femtocells. "After the incident, we

September 24, 2025

How Lee's new North Korea initiative differs from previous approaches

SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung outlined a new phased approach to North Korea's denuclearization during a keynote speech at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. Dubbed the "END" initiative, it reflects his vision for easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula through exchange, normalization, and denuclearization. "We must end the era of hostility and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula," said Lee, stressin

September 24, 2025

Kakao Games launches new mobile game 'Goddess Order' worldwide

SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - Kakao Games on Wednesday announced the global launch of its latest mobile action role-playing game, Goddess Order, a retro-inspired title developed by the studio Pixel Tribe. The release covers most major markets, with the notable exception of China. Designed with 2D pixel graphics and side-scrolling action, the game seeks to evoke the nostalgia of classic console titles while tailoring the experience to mobile platforms. Players can control up to

September 24, 2025

South Korean shipbuilders surge on hopes of early industry super cycle

SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - South Korea’s shipbuilding companies are bracing for what could be an earlier-than-expected industry super cycle, as surging orders for high-margin vessels and prospects of collaboration with the United States fuel investor optimism. The combined market capitalization of HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries has more than doubled this year, reaching 92.1 trillion won (about $66 billion) as of Sep

September 24, 2025