Coffee chains in Korea raise prices as global bean costs soar

SEOUL, February 5 (AJP) - Major coffee chains in South Korea, including Starbucks and Compose Coffee, are raising prices as global coffee bean costs soar to record highs, driven by climate-related supply disruptions and a weakening Korean currency. Arabica coffee futures, known as the "Coffee C" on the ICE exchange, surged to $8,397 per ton on Monday, reflecting a 19.5 percent increase from the previous month and more than doubling from last year, according to the Korea Ag

February 5, 2025

South Korean medical drama becomes most-watched non-English series on Netflix

SEOUL, February 5 (AJP) - Netflix's South Korean medical drama "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" has become the most-watched non-English TV show worldwide, surpassing the second season of the much-hyped series "Squid Game." The eight-episode series, released on Jan. 24, garnered 11.9 million views and a total watch time of 82.7 million hours for the week ending Feb. 2, the U.S. video-streaming site said on Wednesday. The second season of "Squid Game,&

February 5, 2025

Samsung Electronics leads hiring in Korea with 4,716 new jobs in 2024

SEOUL, February 05 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics remained as South Korea’s top employer in 2024, hiring 4,716 new workers despite ongoing challenges in its semiconductor business, according to data released on Wednesday by CEO Score. The firm's national pension subscriber count rose to 125,593 employees as of the end of 2024, marking a 3.9 percent increase from 120,877 in 2023. Hyundai Motor followed as the second-largest employer, with 69,285 pension subscribers, while LG

February 5, 2025

Actor Son Suk-ku most favored star in advertising

SEOUL, February 4 (AJP) - Actor Son Suk-ku appeared most frequently in TV commercials last year, according to an analysis released by an IT startup on Tuesday. IGAWorks analyzed about 9.5 million users of telecom KT's internet protocol television (IPTV) service and satellite subscribers to calculate data, also using its own mobile algorithm it developed. It found that Son was the most sought-after model with 6.96 billion ad exposures, followed by actress Go Youn-jung (

February 4, 2025

PHOTOS: Award-winning photos capture beauty of Korea's national parks

SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - The Korea National Park Service, under the Ministry of Environment, has announced the winners of its 23rd National Park Photography Contest, showcasing the country’s stunning landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and rich cultural heritage. The competition, which ran for 60 days beginning in June 2024, drew 3,676 submissions from photographers capturing the beauty of South Korea’s national parks. After five rounds of judging, a panel of experts selected 80 win

February 4, 2025

Key witnesses refuse to testify at hearing for Yoon's impeachment trial

SEOUL, February 4 (AJP) - A key witness who appeared at a hearing for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial over his botched martial law debacle in December last year refused to testify before the Constitutional Court of Korea in Seoul on Tuesday. Lee Jin-woo, former chief of the Capital Defense Command, was summoned as a witness but repeatedly declined to answer most questions, citing his legal right to remain silent. "I'm fully aware of the gravity of the mat

February 4, 2025

OpenAI beefs up AI, semiconductor ties with Korean firms

SEOUL, February 4 (AJP) - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman signaled plans to expand the company's presence in South Korea during his visit to Seoul on Tuesday, emphasizing the nation's advanced semiconductor industry and AI infrastructure. "South Korea possesses powerful industries related to AI, including semiconductors and energy, and stands as one of the nations actively embracing AI technology," Altman said at OpenAI's "Builder Lab" workshop, the company'

February 4, 2025

MBC to conduct internal probe into ex-employee's death amid workplace bullying allegations

SEOUL, February 4 (AJP) - MBC is set to launch an internal investigation into the death of its former employee on Wednesday, according to the terrestrial broadcaster. Oh Yoanna, formerly of an ex-girl band trainee, who joined MBC as a weathercaster in 2021, died in September last year. Little was known about the death of the 28-year-old until last week, when her family belatedly revealed that she had left a lengthy suicide note on her mobile phone. It took them about three months to

February 4, 2025

Russia to 'build bridge connecting North Korea across Tumen River by late next year'

SEOUL, February 4 (AJP) - Russia is moving ahead with plans to build a road bridge linking its border with North Korea, aiming for completion by late next year, according to a Russian media report. Interfax reported on Monday that Sochi-based construction firm TonnelYuzhStroi has been "designated as the sole contractor" of the project connecting Russia and North Korea in the estuary the Tumen River, also known as the Duman River here. The bridge, slated for completion b

February 4, 2025

Samsung, LG unveil latest display technologies at ISE 2025

SEOUL, February 04 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics will showcase their latest advancements in commercial display technology at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2025, with both South Korean tech giants emphasizing energy efficiency and AI-driven solutions. Samsung introduced four models of its Color e-Paper display, ranging in size from 13 inches to 75 inches, designed for outdoor use with near-zero power consumption when displaying static content. The company also

February 4, 2025