K-pop shares going "Up, Up, Up" in their "Golden" moment

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - K-pop stocks are on a roll, humming along to the chart-topping "up, up, up" tune of "Golden" from Netflix's animated blockbuster "KPop Demon Hunters." The four household K-pop agencies have been riding on the Sony film's surprise success and its soundtrack. Shares of YG Entertainment have more than tripled from 32,300 won ($23.38) a year ago to 97,600 won this month. Those of SM Entertainment soared from 58,100

September 16, 2025

Travel advisory issued for parts of Cambodia

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - A travel advisory was issued for some parts of Cambodia amid a rise in employment scams and detentions involving South Korean nationals, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday. The advisory includes a special travel warning for Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Bokor Mountain in Kampot Province, and Bavet, a border town in Svay Rieng province. The ministry urged South Koreans planning to visit these areas to cancel or postpone their trips. Tho

September 16, 2025

TRAVEL: Finding solace at old traditional house in Nonsan

NONSAN, September 16 (AJP) - In an age of hyper-modernity, where sleek hotels and digital conveniences dominate our travels, there's a certain magic to stepping back in time. It's a magic that comes not from flawless service, but from the slight, delightful inconvenience of history itself. This is the experience that awaits at Myeongjae Historic House, where a stay is not just a night's rest, but a journey into the heart of Korea’s rich past. Nestled in the se

September 16, 2025

SK hynix dwarfs Korean peers in tax and KOSPI contribution

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - SK hynix continues to soar on global artificial intelligence boom, towering over its local archrival Samsung Electronics in both tax contributions and stock performance. The memory giant reported 2.77 trillion won (about $1.95 billion) in corporate tax payment for the first half of 2025, nearly tripling 908.9 billion won paid by No. 2 taxpayer, according to disclosures from Korea's top 50 listed companies. The hefty tax bill reflects SK hynix's

September 16, 2025

Z-gen South Korean chaebol heirs embrace paths once off-limits

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - The Generation Z heirs and heiresses of South Korea’s powerful chaebol families are breaking out of their traditionally cloistered worlds, venturing into public spheres once considered off-limits — from serving in the military to debuting as entertainers. For decades, children of Korea’s leading business dynasties largely stayed in the shadows and confined to their own insulated world. Their lives typically revolved around elite overse

September 16, 2025

PHOTOS: Global game festival unfolds in the heart of Seoul

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - Walking along Cheonggyecheon, visitors stepping into Hiker Ground were immediately greeted by giant screens playing game videos. Familiar soundtracks filled the air, emphasizing that this was not just an exhibition but a cultural space. The sky-blue entrance structure signaled the festival period, and for ten days, the venue in central Seoul became a "sanctuary of games," drawing in countless enthusiasts. On the s

September 16, 2025

S. Korea mulls renaming term for N. Korean defectors as integration deepens

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said the government is studying the possibility of changing the widely used Korean term "Talbukmin" (탈북민, translated as defector) to refer to North Korean arrivals, reflecting a shift in perceptions as more North Korean-born residents take active roles in society. According to the Ministry of Unification on Tuesday, Chung's remarks were made during his opening speech session of the

September 16, 2025

US aircraft carrier skips trilateral exercise with South Korea, Japan

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - A U.S. aircraft carrier is not participating in this year's trilateral exercise with South Korea and Japan, military officials here said Tuesday. The weeklong air and naval exercise, dubbed "Freedom Edge" involving Aegis destroyers, frigates, fighter jets, patrol aircraft, refueling planes, and helicopters, which kicked off early this week, is currently underway in waters near South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju. Aimed at str

September 16, 2025

Labor shortage, not low wages, drives foreign hiring by SMEs in South Korea, survey shows

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - A recent survey by the Korea Federation of SMEs (KBIZ) reveals that more than nine out of ten small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that employ foreign nationals do so primarily due to difficulties in hiring domestic workers. The survey, conducted in July on 503 businesses with 50 or more employees, found that 93.8 percent of respondents cited "difficulty in hiring domestic workers" as their primary reason for employing foreign workers.

September 16, 2025

Annual Busan film fest to kick off with Park Chan-wook's latest thriller

SEOUL, September 16 (AJP) - This year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) will begin its 10-day run, with an outdoor red carpet event in the southern port city on Wednesday. Award-winning director Park Chan-wook's latest film, "No Other Choice," starring Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin, has been selected as the curtain-raiser for BIFF, with Lee Byung-hun hosting the opening ceremony. The thriller, based on American writer Donald E. Westlake's novel "

September 16, 2025