Daegu Photo Biennale to bring together 200 photographers from over 30 countries

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - The Daegu Photo Biennale will be "the best yet," Daegu Arts Center director Kim Hee-chul said Wednesday. The 10th Daegu Photo Biennale, hosted by the city of Daegu, begins next Thursday and runs for two months. This year’s theme is "Life," with about 200 photographers from more than 30 countries taking part and roughly 700 works, including photographs, videos and installations. Kim and this year’s artistic director,

September 11, 2025

South Korea bets on return of Chinese visitors to fuel tourism boom

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - South Korea is riding a banner year in tourism, fueled by the surging global popularity of K-pop, and expects further momentum from a visa-waiver program for Chinese travelers set to begin at the end of this month. As part of efforts to boost the tourism industry, the program will take effect on Sept 29, allowing short-term visa-free entry for Chinese travelers until June next year, following China's similar move in November last year, coinciding with

September 10, 2025

New presidential committee's appointment of K-pop impresario expected to boost tourism, drive economic benefits

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - With the surging popularity of K-pop and other megahit series of South Korean dramas and shows, the country has been experiencing a cultural renaissance lately, with expectations that it will expand further into global markets. To capitalize on the resurgence of the Korean Wave including the latest global hit like Netflix’s South Korean anime "KPop Demon Hunters," the government has launched a new presidential committee to further promote

September 10, 2025

South Korea launches task force to fast-track offshore wind projects

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - The South Korean government has launched a new task force aimed at accelerating the deployment of offshore wind power, a strategic move to boost energy security and support the nation's growing, AI-driven economy. The pan-government task force, led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, held its first meeting on Wednesday, bringing together various ministries to address major bottlenecks hampering projects, including complex permitting process

September 10, 2025

KOSPI hits record high on hopes of US rate cuts, tax relief

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI index closed at a record high on Wednesday, lifted by heavy foreign and institutional buying amid optimism about potential U.S. interest rate cuts and speculation that the government may ease capital gains taxes for large shareholders. The KOSPI gained 54.48 points, or 1.7 percent, to finish at 3,314.53, surpassing the previous record set more than four years ago. Foreign investors led the rally, with net purchases

September 10, 2025

South Korea launches AI push in robotics, self-driving cars

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - South Korea unveiled an ambitious plan on Wednesday to transform its manufacturing sector through artificial intelligence, launching a project that brings together more than 1,000 companies, universities and research institutions. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, aims to bridge what officials call a weak link in the country’s industrial base: the lack of collaboration between manufacturers and fast-growing AI firm

September 10, 2025

Chinese firms challenge Coupang's grip on Korea's e-commerce market

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Coupang, South Korea’s homegrown e-commerce champion, has turned profitable and doubled its sales in recent years. But its dominance faces a new test: the rapid advance of Chinese discount platforms offering rock-bottom prices and building out local logistics networks. AliExpress, owned by Alibaba, and Pinduoduo’s Temu have surged in popularity among Korean consumers drawn to their ultra-low prices. AliExpress now counts nearly 10 million m

September 10, 2025

Korean e-commerce companies forge alliances to counter Chinese rivals

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s e-commerce industry is shifting from cutthroat rivalry to strategic cooperation as domestic players seek to blunt the advance of low-cost Chinese platforms. Naver, the country’s dominant search engine, and Market Kurly, a premium fresh-grocery delivery service, recently unveiled “Kurly N-Mart" joint project. The venture links Naver’s platform with Kurly’s logistics network and offers free overnight delive

September 10, 2025

Iranian Embassy in Seoul showcases culture through music, history and dialogue

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Seoul hosted a cultural event on September 9, presenting Iran's history, arts, and traditions to South Korean guests through presentations, music, and dialogue. Dr. Fatemeh Yousefi opened by placing Iran geographically and historically at the crossroads of Asia. She said, "Iran has more than seven thousand years of history and civilization," pointing to UNESCO-listed sites such as Persepolis a

September 10, 2025

OpenAI opens office in South Korea, its largest market in Asia-Pacific

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - OpenAI, the San Francisco artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT, has opened an office in Seoul, its third in Asia and 12th worldwide. “Our mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity,” Jason Kwon, OpenAI’s chief strategy officer, said at a press briefing in Seoul, Wednesday. “We can’t achieve that mission unless we are partnering closely with countries like Korea.” So

September 10, 2025