Constitutional Court holds hearing in Yoon's absence

SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - President Yoon Suk Yeol skipped a hearing for his impeachment trial, over his botched martial law debacle last December, which was held at the Constitutional Court of Korea in Seoul on Tuesday. Yoon's legal representatives said that he had intended to attend but changed his mind at the last minute, as the day's hearing would primarily focus on arguments from previous sessions, with no witnesses present. Except for the first two hearings, which b

February 18, 2025

Actor Yoo Ah-in released with suspended sentence for habitual drug use by appellate court

SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - Actor Yoo Ah-in was released on Tuesday after an appellate court handed down a suspended sentence for habitual drug use. The 39-year-old had been sentenced to one year in prison at his first trial and had been detained. The Seoul High Court sentenced Yoo to one year in prison on Tuesday, with a two-year suspension, along with a fine of two million won ($1,385). The court explained that the severity of the sentence in the first trial was excessive and un

February 18, 2025

Korean newspapers to file complaint against Naver over AI training

SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - The Korean Association of Newspapers (KAN) announced plans to file a complaint with the nation’s antitrust agency against Naver, alleging the company used news content without permission to train its artificial intelligence models. The move follows Naver’s recent acknowledgment that it had utilized news articles to develop its generative AI services, including HyperCLOVA and HyperCLOVA X. “With this complaint, we aim to establish a fai

February 18, 2025

Samsung Electronics take measures to boost shareholder value

SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics announced on Wednesday that it will cancel 3 trillion won ($2.2 billion) worth of treasury shares on Thursday and acquire an additional 3 trillion won in shares by mid-May, a move aimed at enhancing shareholder value. The decision follows the company’s November 2024 commitment to repurchase and partially cancel 10 trillion won worth of shares over one year. Of the newly approved 3 trillion won buyback, 2.5 trillion won will b

February 18, 2025

INTERVIEW: Venezuelan envoy stresses now is time to shape next 60 years of relations with South Korea

SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - As Venezuela and South Korea mark the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year, Venezuelan Chargé d'Affaires Isabel Di Carlo Quero emphasized the importance of reflecting on past achievements and defining a vision for the future of the bilateral relationship. Reflecting on the significance of the anniversary, Di Carlo Quero likened diplomatic relations to human relationships that require renewal and commitment. "This 60th anniver

February 18, 2025

New Balance to establish Korean subsidiary in 2027

SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - New Balance plans to establish a South Korean subsidiary in 2027, a move that could signal a shift away from its longstanding partnership with E-Land World, which has overseen the brand’s operations in South Korea since 2008. The Boston-based athletic wear manufacturer said it would extend its licensing agreement with E-Land World until 2030, covering children's footwear and apparel lines. The decision comes as New Balance solidifies its presence

February 18, 2025

South Korean firms showcase cutting-edge military solutions at defense expo in Abu Dhabi

SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - South Korean firms are showcasing their advanced solutions at the largest defense exhibition in the Middle East, which kicked off in Abu Dhabi earlier this week. The week-long event, IDEX 2025, which kicked off on Monday, features 1,350 defense firms from 65 countries, bringing together more than 130,000 defense officials. Hyundai Rotem is showcasing a K2 tank variant tailored for the desert climate and terrain of the Middle East. Equipped with a fully

February 18, 2025

Korea's move to regulate platforms faces US trade pressure

SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - South Korea’s attempt to rein in dominant online platforms has hit a roadblock, as recent trade threats from the Trump administration cast uncertainty over the initiative. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) is reassessing its position on the Platform Competition Promotion Act (PCPA), a proposed law designed to curb unfair practices by major digital platforms. The bill has faced resistance from Washington, raising concerns over potential trade fri

February 18, 2025

Over 140,000 visitors enjoy outdoor sledding along Han River this winter

SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - Winter recreational facilities in parks along the Han River in Seoul ended their seasonal operations last week after attracting more than 140,000 visitors over the past two months, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The city government said on Monday that more than 140,000 people visited three outdoor sledding rinks —Ttukseom, Jamwon, and Yeouido — between late December and last Sunday. They drew about 1,300 visitors a day and 4,40

February 18, 2025

SK hynix names head of newly-established subsidiary in US

SEOUL, February 18 (AJP) - SK hynix has appointed Lee Woong-sun as president of its newly established West Lafayette LLC subsidiary in Indiana, which will oversee the company's semiconductor packaging operations in the United States. The appointment follows SK hynix's announcement in April 2024 to invest $3.87 billion in building an advanced packaging facility for AI memory chips in West Lafayette, Indiana. The facility, scheduled to begin mass production of next-genera

February 18, 2025