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  South Korea closes gap with China in global shipbuilding orders SEOUL, April 6 (AJP) - Despite an overall decline in global ship orders, South Korea increased its share last month, narrowing the gap with China, according to data released by London-based Clarkson Research Services on Monday. In March, South Korea won orders totaling 1.59 million compensated gross tons (CGT) for 38 ships, accounting for about 39 percent of the global market, while China secured 2.15 million CGT for 84 ships, taking a 53 percent share. In February, South Korea April 6, 2026
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  Korean and Japanese stocks higher on tech optimism SEOUL, April 06 (AJP) - Asian equities rose modestly Monday as investors weighed conflicting signals from the Middle East, with U.S. President Donald Trump setting an April 7 deadline ahead of potential strikes on Iranian power grids while OPEC+ pledged a limited output increase, as tech-heavy Korea and Japan outperformed ahead of strong semiconductor earnings. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 1.15 percent to 53,733.44, while Korea’s KOSPI advanced 1.4 percent to 5,452.80. April 6, 2026
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  BTS becomes first K-pop act with multiweek No. 1 on Billboard 200 SEOUL, April 06 (AJP) -BTS’ fifth studio album "ARIRANG" remained at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a second consecutive week, which is the first time a K-pop act defended No. 1 beyond one week. According to a chart preview released Saturday (local time), the album held off new releases including "BULLY" by Kanye West, which debuted at No. 2, and "HADES" by Melanie Martinez at No. 3. The Billboard 200 ranks albums based on a composite metr April 6, 2026
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  GM Korea signals full turnaround as it pays out first regular dividend SEOUL, April 06 (AJP) - General Motors Korea said it will pay its first regular dividend to shareholders, marking the clearest sign yet that the once-ailing Korean unit of the U.S. automaker has completed a turnaround eight years after its Gunsan plant was shuttered and billions of dollars in public and private capital were mobilized to prevent its collapse. The automaker's board approved an interim dividend on April 3, though the company did not disclose the payout's size i April 6, 2026
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  Two low-budget South Korean films invited to compete at Moscow Int'l Film Festival SEOUL, April 6 (AJP) - Two low-budget South Korean films have been invited to compete at this year's Moscow International Film Festival, which opens in Russia next week. According to festival organizers at a press conference last week, "Journey There" and "Winter Light" will vie for the top prize in the main competition along with about a dozen other films at the 48th Moscow International Film Festival, which is scheduled to take place in the Russian capital fr April 6, 2026
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  OPINION: Korea's Hanwha Group investment in time The strength of a company is not captured by numbers alone. Revenue, profit, assets and market capitalization reflect performance in a given moment. But how a company chooses to engage with the world — the philosophy it lives by — emerges outside those figures. This is why building schools and nurturing people carries a different weight. It is not merely an act of corporate social responsibility. It is a statement about how a company understands the future &mda April 6, 2026
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  Trump extends deadline for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz or face 'hell' SEOUL, April 6 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump once again postponed his deadline, giving Iran one more day before carrying out his threat to bomb its power plants if Tehran fails to meet U.S. demands. Setting a new deadline, already extended from an earlier March 27 deadline, Trump wrote on his social media platform on Sunday, "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran." He also used strong language to warn that Iran would " April 6, 2026
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  Private contracts offer some relief for Korea from Australia's hint of LNG export curbs SEOUL, April 06 (AJP) -South Korea’s liquefied natural gas supply chain faces a fresh hit as Australia — an increasingly critical supplier amid Middle East disruptions — signals possible export curbs to prioritize domestic demand. warning comes as Seoul leans more heavily on Australian LNG to offset heightened risks stemming from the Middle East war. Despite government reassurance of stable supply, industry officials caution that tightening export controls by m April 6, 2026
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  Seoul remains cautious while more foreign vessels slip through the Strati of Hormuz SEOUL, April 05 (AJP) -A number of foreign-flagged vessels have begun slipping through the heavily militarized Strait of Hormuz, offering tentative signs of movement in a waterway that remains effectively under Iran’s control — but for South Korea, the path out is still far from clear. The latest breakthroughs have come from Europe and Japan. A French-owned container ship operated by CMA CGM successfully transited the strait this week, becoming one of the first We April 5, 2026
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  BOK nominee holds half of assets in foreign currency, raising concerns ahead of hearing SEOUL, April 5 (AJP) - Shin Hyun‑song, a nominee to lead the Bank of Korea, holds more than half of his assets in foreign currencies, raising concerns over potential conflicts of interest. According to a financial disclosure submitted to the National Assembly on Sunday ahead of his confirmation hearing slated for later this month, Shin and his family including his spouse and eldest son hold total assets of 8.24 billion Korean won (approximately US$5.49 million). Of that, ro April 5, 2026