Actress Kim Min-ha to host this fall's Busan film fest SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - Actress Kim Min-ha will host the opening ceremony of this year's Busan International Film Festival, to be held this fall in the southern port city. Organizers of the annual festival, now in its 31st year, said Friday that the rising actress has been chosen as the sole host of the ceremony. Since making her acting debut in 2016, she gained widespread recognition for her role in Apple TV+'s drama series "Pachinko" in 2022 and has since a July 31, 2026

Korea's June factory output hits 6-year high, chip lifts domestic front SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) - South Korea's factory output soared to a six-year high in June as robust automobile demand complemented chip activity, lifting the broader domestic economy. Mining and manufacturing output climbed 5.8 percent from May and 6.4 percent from a year earlier, the strongest monthly performance since June 2020, according to data released Friday by the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The rebound followed a revised 2.9 percent decline in May. Automobile produc July 31, 2026

Korea's Lee heads for Argentina after state visit to Chile SEOUL, July 31 (AJP) -President Lee Jae Myung called Thursday for South Korea and Chile to transform mounting global economic uncertainty into an opportunity for deeper cooperation, urging the two countries to modernize their two-decade-old free trade agreement and broaden collaboration from critical minerals to advanced manufacturing and defense industries. Speaking at a Korea-Chile Business Roundtable in Santiago attended by business leaders from both countries, Lee said the c July 31, 2026

KAI signs MOU with Embraer on aircraft structures SEOUL, July 30 (AJP) - Korea Aerospace Industries has signed a memorandum of understanding with Brazilian aerospace company Embraer to begin strategic cooperation in the field of aircraft structures, the company said Thursday. The agreement was signed on July 28 during President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to Brazil, laying the groundwork for broader cooperation between the two companies in future aerospace technologies. KAI said the MOU is aimed at exploring potential busi July 30, 2026

K-pop trains idols for debut, but not for what comes after SEOUL, July 30 (AJP) - If surviving South Korea's fiercely competitive education system seems difficult, try becoming a K-pop trainee. "Once school ends, you go straight to the practice room," one trainee recalled. "There's no time to see friends or even grab something to eat together." For thousands of teenagers, that routine is the price of pursuing one of the country's biggest dreams. K-pop has built one of the world's most soph July 30, 2026

Won hits strongest level in about 5 months after Fed sends mixed signals SEOUL, July 30 (AJP) - The South Korean won strengthened to its highest level in about five months on Thursday, while government bond yields rose as currency and fixed-income markets drew contrasting signals from the Federal Reserve's latest policy decision. The won closed daytime trading at 1,437.4 per dollar, strengthening by 9.3 won from the previous session's close of 1,446.7. The currency traded between 1,435.9 and 1,447.7 during the session before returning below th July 30, 2026

KOSPI extends losses as chipmakers' strong earnings fail to lift sentiment SEOUL, July 30 (AJP) - South Korean stocks extended losses for a third straight session on Thursday, with the benchmark KOSPI hovering around 5,600 points despite strong foreign and institutional buying, as retail investors sold shares following this week's market rout. The index opened higher and appeared likely to climb back above 6,000 points, but fell in afternoon trading as concerns over semiconductor demand, renewed tensions in the Middle East and a weak overnight session July 30, 2026

Military to inspect guard operations across Army corps after ammunition controversy SEOUL, July 30 (AJP) - South Korea’s military will inspect guard operations across all Army corps after controversy emerged over a front-line unit’s decision not to keep live ammunition loaded in crew-served weapons during border guard operations. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Thursday, the Army’s Ground Operations Command will begin the inspection with I Corps and expand it to all subordinate corps. The review will look into whether other corps have July 30, 2026

Japan quake puts Korea's AI ambitions on seismic alert SEOUL, July 30 (AJP) - Every powerful earthquake beneath the East Sea sends more than tremors across South Korea. As the country races to build the world's next artificial intelligence manufacturing hub — from semiconductor fabs to hyperscale data centers — seismic resilience is becoming an industrial necessity rather than simply a matter of public safety. The urgency was underscored this week after a powerful earthquake struck southwestern Japan, temporarily disru July 30, 2026

New US envoy arrives in Seoul, pledges stronger alliance SEOUL, July 30 (AJP) - New U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel arrived in Seoul on Thursday afternoon. In a brief statement shortly after arriving at Incheon International Airport, Steel first greeted reporters in Korean, saying, "I was born in Seoul, but I stand here today representing the U.S. Standing here again brings back many emotions." Describing how she was "grateful" to be standing on South Korean soil once again, Steel said the two countries&# July 30, 2026