One-third of large South Korean companies reman profitable for past 5 years SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - Seven of South Korea's largest companies have posted an operating profit in every quarter since 2000, according to a study released on Wednesday. KT&G, Handsome, Korea Zinc, S-1, Shinsegae, CJ ENM and Hyundai Mobis remained profitable through all 106 quarters from the first quarter of 2000 through the second quarter of this year, corporate data researcher CEO Score said. The study examined standalone financial statements from 351 companies amon September 23, 2026

Hanwha, KAI team up on KF-21 long-range air-to-air missile SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - Hanwha Aerospace and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) are strengthening cooperation to develop a domestically produced long-range air-to-air missile and integrate it with South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae fighter jet. The companies said Wednesday they signed a memorandum of understanding to support the successful development of the missile system, including its integration with the KF-21 and eventual deployment. The latest agreement builds on memorandu September 23, 2026

Korean Air included among world's 10 best airlines SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - Korean Air was included among the top 10 of the world's best airlines, earning top honors for its economy-class seats and cabin crew, the South Korean flagship carrier said on Wednesday. In Skytrax's rankings for this year's World Airline Awards released on Tuesday, Korean Air ranked 10th overall, placing in the top 15 in 14 categories. The London-based aviation research and consulting firm releases the rankings annually based on surveys September 23, 2026

KOSPI rises 1.1% on chip gains, easing U.S.-Iran tensions SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) – South Korean shares extended gains for a third straight session Wednesday as institutional buying and strength in chip stocks lifted the market ahead of the Chuseok holiday. The benchmark KOSPI stood at 7,093.41 as of 9:51 a.m., up 1.08 percent from the previous session. The index had climbed as high as 7,144.02 earlier in the morning before paring its gains. Institutions bought a net 340.5 billion won of KOSPI shares, while foreign investors pur September 23, 2026

Seoul to cut regional reliance in oil imports to 50% by 2035 SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - South Korea will continue to diversify its crude oil suppliers to bring reliance on any single region to 50 percent or less by 2035, drawing lessons from the Middle East conflict after sourcing nearly 70 percent of its imports from the region. The government will also add 20 million barrels of oil storage capacity by 2030 and expand critical mineral stockpiles under its first long-term national resource security plan, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and R September 23, 2026

Lee pledges push to revive US–North Korea talks, build lasting peace SEOUL, September 23 (AJP) - South Korea will work to revive long-stalled dialogue between North Korea and the United States to lay the groundwork for ending the threat of war and establishing lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, President Lee Jae Myung told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. "Above all, the most critical task is to end the longstanding war on the Korean Peninsula and build a peace framework," Lee said in his address to the high-level session September 23, 2026

Korea looks beyond HBM. Can HBF prove as big? SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - South Korean memory makers racing to sustain a comfortable lead on the next-generation chip front have their eyes on the next big thing; high-bandwidth flash, or HBF. Six months ago, one prominent chip researcher predicted it would define the AI path. "HBM defined the last decade, but HBF will likely determine the next," Joung-ho Kim, a professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), told AJP in March. The pr September 22, 2026

Hanwha Solutions eyes China's offshore wind power cable market SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - Hanwha Solutions is showcasing next-generation extra-high-voltage cable materials and recycling technologies at Wire China 2026 in Shanghai as it seeks to expand its presence in China's offshore wind and power transmission markets. The company said Tuesday that its Wire & Cable division is participating in the exhibition from Sept. 21 to 24, displaying materials for super extra-high-voltage (SEHV) cables as well as circular solutions. Among th September 22, 2026

Algorithms reshape how tourists discover Korea SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) — Not long ago, a Lonely Planet guidebook was a staple for travelers venturing abroad. Today, a guide is at their fingertips — sometimes recommending places before they even think to look. Tallia Romanez, a 46-year-old American visiting South Korea, did not find most of the places on her itinerary in a guidebook. Instagram found them for her. “All the places I want to go are on the Instagram,” Romanez said. “I see a September 22, 2026

KOSPI remains above 7,000 after giving up early gains SEOUL, September 22 (AJP) - South Korean stocks ended slightly higher on Tuesday, remaining above 7,000 after giving up most of an early 2-percent gain. The market was lifted by an overnight surge in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor-related stocks on Wall Street, but higher oil prices and profit-taking later pared the gains. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 7,017.91, up 0.15 percent from the previous session. The index opened 2.20 percent higher at 7,161.61 and climbed September 22, 2026