CJ CheilJedang to supply PHA bioplastic to India's Konspec as global green materials push gains pace SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - CJ CheilJedang said Monday it will supply polyhydroxyalkanoate, or PHA, to Konspec, one of India's leading bioplastic compound manufacturers, marking the latest step in the South Korean food and biotechnology giant's push to commercialise its biodegradable materials business globally. Under the arrangement, CJ CheilJedang will deliver PHA to Konspec, which will use the material to produce compounds optimised for cutlery products such as forks and kniv March 30, 2026

Pulmuone inks MOU with Konkuk University animal hospital to promote canine blood donation culture SEOUL, March 30 (AJP) - Pulmuone's pet food division has signed a memorandum of understanding with the blood donation center at Konkuk University's veterinary hospital to promote a culture of canine blood donation in South Korea, the food company said Monday. Under the agreement, Pulmuone's pet business unit will provide cash and in-kind support to the KU I'M DOgNOR Blood Donation Center at Konkuk University Animal Hospital over the next three years, backing public a March 30, 2026

AI beginning to crowd out young Koreans from elite professions SEOUL, March 27 (AJP) – Jenny Kim, 23, a senior at Yonsei University, had thought finding a job would be secure once she entered a top Seoul university majoring in engineering, but many of her peers are now despondent. “There may not be much left to do in computer engineering,” she said, as artificial intelligence has already replaced much of the entry-level back-office corporate work. Sophomore Kim S.H., studying structural engineering, also said he and his p March 27, 2026

Many teenagers still addicted to smartphones despite overall decline SEOUL, March 26 (AJP) - About a quarter of South Koreans were at risk of overdependence on smartphones last year, according to a survey released Thursday. The risk was similarly high among young children but decreased among adults and those in their 60s compared with the previous year. The Ministry of Science and ICT conducted one-on-one interviews with about 10,000 households nationwide to survey patterns of smartphone usage. Some 22.7 percent of smartphone users were classifi March 26, 2026

CJ CheilJedang builds food industry's first automated frozen kimbap line to chase global demand SEOUL, March 25 (AJP) - CJ CheilJedang has constructed the food industry's first automated frozen gimbap production facility at its CJ Blossom Campus in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, as the South Korean food giant moves to scale up its global kimbap business. The fully automated line handles every stage of production — from filling and rolling to cutting and tray packaging — and took about 18 months to develop, according to CJ on Wednesday. The company said t March 25, 2026

Folk Museum anchors Gwanghwamun beyond BTS spotlight SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - Gwanghwamun, the historic gateway to Gyeongbokgung Palace, briefly became the center of the world last Saturday as BTS turned it into a global livestream stage. But just steps away, another kind of crowd continues to gather — one drawn not by spectacle, but by story. On ordinary days, that stop is the National Folk Museum of Korea. Museums have been enjoying a surge in popularity, fueled in part by last year’s “K-pop Demon Hunters” March 24, 2026

Seoul gains traction as fine-dining destination SEOUL, March 24 (AJP) - Seoul is rapidly emerging as a destination for global gourmets, with interest in the city's fine dining rising sharply recently. According to an analysis by Singapore-based online travel agency Trip.com, searches for fine dining restaurants in Seoul are on the rise. The biggest increase came from Singapore at 22.2 percent from a year ago, followed by Japan at 21.7 percent, Thailand at 17.9 percent and Hong Kong at 15.7 percent. Among South Kore March 24, 2026

Ryu Hyun-jin retires from national team after WBC as Korea loses to Dominican Republic SEOUL, March 14 (AJP) - South Korean ace Ryu Hyun-jin will retire from international baseball after the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), bringing an end to a national team career that spanned two decades. Ryu started for South Korea in the WBC quarterfinal against the Dominican Republic at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, on Friday, pitching 1⅔ innings. He threw 40 pitches and allowed three hits and two walks while striking out one batter and giving up three runs. South Korea was March 14, 2026

Dancing the morning away in Seoul — alcohol-free SEOUL, March 10 (AJP) — On a quiet Saturday morning in Seoul’s Bukchon hanok village, house music pulses through the narrow alleys long before most cafés open their doors. Instead of the thump of late-night clubbing, the crowd gathers just after sunrise. Some arrive fresh from a weekend run. Others come with coffee in hand. Within minutes, strangers begin dancing together in the crisp morning air. Welcome to Seoul’s newest social ritual: the morning rav March 10, 2026

Korea's inflation steady in Feb, but at risk as it is mostly fed by soft energy prices SEOUL, March 06 (AJP) -South Korea’s inflation held steady in February despite the Lunar New Year factor - keeping consumer prices within the central bank’s 2 percent target range for a sixth straight month - but may come under pressure as the recent easing mostly came from cheaper energy prices that have reversed following the outbreak of war in the Middle East. The consumer price index rose 2.0 percent from a year earlier in February to 118.40 (2020=100), unchanged March 6, 2026