Trump's tariff war threatens South Korea's economic backbone

SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war is sending shockwaves through South Korea’s export-driven economy, as tariffs now extend beyond steel and aluminum to key industries such as automobiles and semiconductors. Trump announced Sunday that the United States would impose a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports from March 12, without exception. He also signaled that additional tariffs on automobiles, semiconductors,

February 13, 2025

Slasher gets 15 years in prison for attacking opposition leader

SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a 15-year prison sentence for a man in his late 60s, surnamed Kim, who attacked Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party in January of last year. Kim was indicted for stabbing Lee's left neck with a knife on Jan. 2 last year in Busan while Lee was visiting the southern port city. Due to the brutal assault, Lee sustained an injury to his internal jugular vein and underwent surgery, being hospi

February 13, 2025

INTERVIEW: AI translation startup aims for further growth with global expansion

SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence-assisted services and products, crowdsourced translation startup Flitto is riding the wave of new technologies and eying for further expansion. As part of this effort, it plans to establish its U.S. subsidiary next year. Having already built a strong competitive edge, with over 70 percent of its revenue coming from the U.S. market, the firm aims to further solidify its presence by enhancing its offerings for g

February 13, 2025

Foreign Ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan to meet in Tokyo next month

SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - The foreign ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan are expected to hold talks in Japan next month. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will have a trilateral meeting in Tokyo on March 22, Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun reported on Thursday, citing multiple government sources. If held, this will be the first such meeting since November 2023, when the ministers from the

February 13, 2025

White House touts Hyundai Steel's potential US investment in levying steel tariffs

SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - A day after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a sweeping 25 percent tariff on imported steel and aluminum, the White House highlighted Hyundai Steel’s potential investment in the United States, framing it as a step to bolster American manufacturing. In a fact sheet, the White House stated that Trump’s decision to eliminate loopholes and exceptions would “strengthen the U.S. steel and aluminum industries.” The statement also n

February 13, 2025

PHOTOS: Koreans celebrate first full moon of lunar New Year

SEOUL, February 13 (AJP) - The first full moon of the lunar New Year, Jeongwol Daeboreum, was celebrated across the country on Feb. 12. Traditionally, on Jeongwol Daeboreum, people eat ogokbap (five-grain rice) and participate in various events, praying for health and well-being.

February 13, 2025

LG Electronics stakes its future on premium tech, global expansion

Editor's Note: This article is the sixth installment in our series on Asia's top 100 companies, exploring the strategies, challenges, and innovations driving the region's most influential corporations. SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - For more than a decade, LG Electronics has held its position as the world’s leading OLED television manufacturer, a distinction it has maintained for 11 consecutive years. But beyond its dominance in consumer electronics, the South Kor

February 13, 2025

PHOTOS: All-Chinese K-pop girl group debuts with 'Bubble Gum'

SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - BLINGONE China, a K-pop girl group composed entirely of Chinese members, made its official debut on Feb. 12 at the World K-pop Center in Seoul. The group’s title track, Bubble Gum, blends energetic hip-hop dance beats with bright, synth-driven melodies, embodying the hybridized sound that has become a hallmark of the K-pop genre. With a catchy chorus and classical overture elements, the song is designed to be instantly memorable and easy to sing along to.

February 12, 2025

Schoolchild died from multiple stab wounds, autopsy reveals

SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - An autopsy revealed that the cause of death of an 8-year-old, who was killed by a school teacher in Daejeon earlier this week, was due to multiple wounds from a sharp object, police said Wednesday. According to police, the teacher in her 40s confessed that she was searching for targets for her knife attack last Monday and ended up coaxing the girl into an extracurricular room after class, telling her she had a book for her. After the rampage, she report

February 12, 2025

Hanwha Hotels & Resorts to acquire Ourhome for 8.7 trillion won

SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) - Hanwha Hotels & Resorts announced Wednesday it will acquire a 58.62 percent stake in South Korean food service company Ourhome for 8.7 trillion won ($6.5 billion). The company said in a regulatory filing that it will initially acquire 50.62 percent of shares from major shareholders, including former Vice Chairman Koo Bon-sung and Chairwoman Koo Mi-hyun. The remaining 8 percent owned by Koo Bon-sung will be purchased through a third party, it said.

February 12, 2025